Rebirth: Pampered by My Children and Husband - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Mother Doesn’t Like Him Anymore?

“`

After learning that he was from the Xie Family, Lin Xu went online to search for information related to Xie Changyan.

There wasn’t much media coverage about Xie Changyan, but after a long search, Lin Xu still found a piece of news.

The person in power of the Xie Family passed away twelve years ago, leaving behind his only son, Xie Changyan, who went overseas for further studies after graduating high school and returned three years ago to take over the Xie Family.

Below was a photo of Xie Changyan at eighteen years old, whose youthful face also faintly resembled Ji Yanli in some aspects.

Unlike her, who came out of nowhere, he was a real person who had lived for thirty years.

Thinking of this, Lin Xu’s belief that he was Ji Yanli wavered even more.

Having not received a reply for a long time, Ji Tingyang became anxious and called her directly.

“You haven’t told me why you’re looking into Xie Changyan yet. Did he do something to you?”

“No, he is Zeqiu’s boss, isn’t he? I was worried they might not treat Zeqiu well, so I came to ask you,” Lin Xu vaguely made an excuse.

She still wasn’t sure whether Xie Changyan was Ji Yanli, so it was better not to tell him for the time being.

So as to avoid another false celebration like the one during the birthday banquet.

Ji Tingyang didn’t suspect anything, and knowing that she hadn’t been bullied by Xie Changyan, he felt somewhat relieved. However, hearing her concern for Ji Zeqiu, he felt a tinge of jealousy.

Muttering under his breath, “Ji Zeqiu is the face of their company. It would be good enough if he himself doesn’t act like a diva; how could they possibly treat him badly?”

“It’s only me who’s toiling away in the company…”

Hearing his complaint, Lin Xu suddenly laughed and coaxed, “Then should I come home and have dinner with you tonight?”

“Really?” Ji Tingyang’s eyes lit up.

Lin Xu pressed her lips into a slight smile, just about to reply, when she caught sight of her own reflection in the car window with her cheek pressed against a bandage, her voice caught.

Engrossed in chatting with Ji Tingyang, she had completely forgotten about her current situation.

The last time she had accidentally cut herself a bit while slicing fruit, Ji Tingyang was so anxious that he called the family doctor over, which resulted in the doctor rolling his eyes, saying the wound would have healed in a few more minutes anyhow.

If he could make such a fuss over that, then discovering her current injuries would undoubtedly drive him mad.

“I—I just remembered I have something to do tonight. Can I join you another time instead?” Lin Xu hastily changed her tune.

“…” There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Having just promised to come home for dinner with him, and then breaking that promise the very next second, Lin Xu suddenly felt a bit guilty.

Listening to the prolonged silence on the other end of the line, she nervously called out to him, “Tingyang?”

“Mhm, I’m fine,” Ji Tingyang’s tone was clearly downcast, his voice faint, “Then let’s eat together some other time.”

Lin Xu let out a sigh of relief, advised him to take care of his health a few more times, and then hung up the call.

In the office.

Ji Tingyang stared at the darkened phone screen, his gaze gloomy and his fingertips holding the phone turning white from the pressure.

His mother had clearly promised him they would have dinner together, how could she suddenly have something else to do…

If it was really something tonight, it could be rescheduled for tomorrow, so why wait for some time later?

Was it just perfunctory, did she not want to see him?

Ji Tingyang reopened his phone and scrolled through the photo album to find a picture of Lin Xu.

This photo was sent by Ji Zeqiu last time. It was a group photo with Lin Xu, which he had initially wanted to delete. But looking at Lin Xu in the picture, he felt reluctant to do so.

In the end, he cropped out Ji Zeqiu from the photo, leaving only the half that showed Lin Xu.

Ji Tingyang gazed at the smiling Lin Xu in the photo, his pupils tinged with crimson, his eyes deep and fearsome. Suddenly, the words Ji Zeqiu had once said echoed in his mind.

“Lin Xu is leaving with me. She doesn’t want you anymore.”

She doesn’t want you anymore…

So, his mother didn’t like him anymore?

“`

“`

She had promised herself that she would always love him.

Ji Tingyang’s mind was always sensitive and suspicious. In the past, when facing Wen Li, he would become irritable and paranoid just because she showed favor to other men.

Now that Lin Xu had replaced her, having her by his side had lessened these symptoms considerably, but they hadn’t disappeared.

Now they erupted because of Lin Xu’s sudden change of heart.

Ji Tingyang abruptly stood up, ignoring the secretary who was still reporting work in the office, and strode out of the office.

The secretary looked baffled as she watched the door, which Ji Tingyang had pulled open so forcibly that it struck the wall, then she hurriedly followed him, only to see his figure departing in the elevator without looking back.

The numbers on the elevator indicator jumped until they stopped at the parking garage on B1.

Is the president leaving… because it’s the end of the day?

But it’s not time to get off work yet, so did Miss Lin make an appointment with President Ji?

The secretary scratched her head and returned to her workstation, puzzled.

Lin Xu took a taxi back to her apartment, feeling unsettled the whole way there.

After much thought, she couldn’t pinpoint the reason for her uneasiness and could only force herself to relax.

“Miss Lin, I made you ginseng black chicken soup to replenish your body. Come and have some,” the housekeeper called out to Lin Xu as she carried a pot of chicken soup from the kitchen.

The housekeeper had been hired to take care of Lin Xu and had been planning various dishes and chicken soups to nourish her since hearing about her injury.

“Thank you.” Lin Xu went to sit down.

Just as she was drinking it, the sound of the doorbell rang from outside.

“Could it be Mr. Ji returning?” the housekeeper muttered to herself and walked over to open the door.

Seeing a man who resembled Ji Zeqiu by two or three points, the housekeeper was startled. “Who are you looking for?”

“Who is it?” Seeing the housekeeper frozen at the doorway, Lin Xu asked.

The next second, a figure burst in directly, heading straight for Lin Xu.

He grabbed Lin Xu’s hand and tried to lead her away with him.

“Ji Tingyang?!” Lin Xu exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

“I came to take you back…” His voice stopped abruptly as he clearly saw her cheek covered with gauze.

After a long moment, his palm gently touched her bandaged cheek, his pupils trembling, his throat dry, “What happened to your face?”

Damn.

He had discovered it after all.

Lin Xu stammered, “I, I accidentally… took a fall, and… and just…”

“Was it Ji Zeqiu’s doing!” he ground out through clenched teeth.

“No, no!” Lin Xu quickly denied.

Ji Tingyang’s fierce expression made her fear that if she denied it too slowly, he would go and start a fight with Ji Zeqiu.

“It’s still his fault. He didn’t protect you properly!” Ji Tingyang’s chest heaved violently, holding back a torrent of rage, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have let you go with him.”

“Don’t worry, I’m really okay. Look, I’m still jumping around, aren’t I?” Lin Xu rubbed his head, her voice tenderly soothing.

Ji Tingyang slowly closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder, calming his inner turmoil and unease with her gentle, comforting whispers.

But his mood was still downcast, and he muttered in a low voice, “Why didn’t you tell me…”

The clueless housekeeper covered her mouth, shocked as she watched the intimately interacting pair.

Miss Lin has another man behind Mr. Ji’s back?!

Should she tell Mr. Ji?

“`