It was only a little past four when Xu Lin arrived at the kindergarten, so he still had to wait a while.

Sitting in the front passenger seat, his mind was still in complete chaos. He couldn’t help asking, “Old Li, President Si and Manager Lin…”

The driver, Old Li, glanced over. “What about them?”

“They’re… a couple…?”

“Huh? You didn’t know? I thought you did. President Si and Madam have been married for years.”

“……”

You never said anything either!!!!

The kindergarten started dismissing students, and Xu Lin quickly adjusted his emotions before getting out of the car to pick her up.

The little princess recognized him immediately. The moment she came out, she took his hand on her own initiative and tilted her soft little face up at him. “Brother Xu Lin, where’s my daddy?”

Xu Lin looked down at her and finally started suspecting that maybe his brain really was filled with water.

Didn’t this little princess have the exact same eyes as Manager Lin?

How had he managed to get every single step wrong from the very beginning?

Xu Lin painfully forced out a smile. “Your daddy’s at the company. We’re going to see him.”

“Mhm!”

After getting into the car, the little girl climbed into her child seat by herself and buckled the seatbelt on her own. Then she made a charging gesture toward the front with boundless enthusiasm.

“Grandpa Li, let’s gooo!”

The car started moving.

Xu Lin turned around and asked, “Xiaotie.”

“Mmm~”

“What’s your mommy’s name?”

“My mommy’s name is Lin Ke.” The little girl swayed her head proudly as she recited it fluently. “My mommy’s phone number is 13XXXXX!”

Xu Lin’s face turned ashen once again.

……

Recently, there really had been some rumors circulating around the company, though none had fully surfaced yet.

That day, several coworkers gathered together in the break room, exchanging glances but not quite daring to speak openly.

After a while, someone finally lowered their voice and asked, “It can’t be true, right?”

“No idea, but when you put all the details together, it really does seem suspicious.”

First of all, during meetings, they had occasionally noticed President Si looking at Manager Lin—and his gaze was always unusually gentle.

Secondly, President Si had gone to the grasslands, and Manager Lin had gone to the grasslands too. Later, someone confirmed that President Jiang hadn’t gone anywhere during National Day and had stayed in Beijing the entire time.

Then there was the period when Manager Lin injured her hand. Someone had seen her coming to work in President Si’s car every day and secretly getting out far away from the office building.

And finally, someone had seen President Si’s car drive into an ordinary residential neighborhood.

Manager Lin lived there too.

And then, when they tried sounding out Assistant Xu, although he hadn’t said anything directly, his expression had changed.

Most importantly, President Jiang rarely came to the company specifically to see President Si. But whenever she visited the project department, she had looked toward Manager Lin’s desk several times.

Conclusion:

President Si and Manager Lin were absolutely not innocent.

The coworkers exchanged looks again and collectively sucked in cold breaths.

Just then, Lin Ke happened to come over to get some water, and the group immediately scattered.

One girl who often coordinated projects with Jiang Chengyin cast a complicated glance at the beautiful woman beside her.

Manager Lin really was beautiful.

Unlike President Jiang’s bright and striking elegance, Lin Ke had a gentler kind of beauty. The way she spoke and handled things was soft and warm too. Forget men—even women became a little dazed after spending enough time around her.

So even President Si couldn’t resist beauty like this?

The last time he brought his daughter to the company, the scene had looked so warm and harmonious. Who could’ve imagined the reality was actually this messy?

The girl sighed inwardly.

Sigh…

Lin Ke noticed her staring, shaking her head, and sighing. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing.” The girl hurriedly left the break room.

Lin Ke felt baffled.

Or rather, the entire workday had felt strange.

Everyone seemed to be looking at her oddly.

Was her makeup done badly? But she had checked the mirror, and it looked fine.

Did she do something wrong? Say something wrong?

Too strange.

After filling her cup, Lin Ke returned to her desk and said to the person across from her, “Xiao Jiang, send me the documents for the meeting later. I want to look them over beforehand.”

Unexpectedly, the coworker who usually got along well with her replied coldly today, “I don’t have them. Go ask President Shen.”

Lin Ke slowly frowned.

After sitting there for a moment, she got up and headed to Shen Wan’s office.

Hearing the knock, Shen Wan looked up, and her emotions immediately became complicated when she saw who it was.

Of course she had already heard the rumors spreading these past two days.

At first she hadn’t believed them, but because she interacted with President Si more frequently, now that she thought back on some of his behavior, even she felt the rumors weren’t entirely baseless.

Shen Wan actually liked Lin Ke quite a bit, which only made her feelings even harder to sort through.

After sending over the documents Lin Ke needed, Shen Wan finally couldn’t hold herself back anymore.

“Manager Lin… you and President Si…”

Lin Ke’s heart skipped. “What about us?”

Since she had already started, Shen Wan simply asked directly, “Are you and President Si involved?”

“You all know already?”

But Lin Ke was confused too. If everyone knew, why were they reacting like this? Were they upset she had hidden it?

The moment Shen Wan heard that answer, she deflated. Waving her hand weakly, she said, “Never mind. You can go.”

Lin Ke became even more bewildered.

Back at her desk, she turned toward Ma Chanchan, who also looked like she’d heard something.

“Chanchan, tell me honestly. What exactly happened?”

Ma Chanchan had been personally mentored by Lin Ke, so their relationship was different from the others. She absolutely refused to believe Lin Ke was that kind of person. Instead, she looked worried as she leaned closer and lowered her voice.

“Sis Ke, the company’s saying you’re President Si’s mistress. Is there some kind of misunderstanding here?”

Lin Ke’s eyes widened. “?”

Ma Chanchan continued anxiously, “You need to explain yourself quickly, or this misunderstanding is going to get huge!”

After a moment of speechlessness, Lin Ke almost laughed.

“Me? A mistress?”

Then she suddenly understood.

Right—in everyone else’s eyes, Si Yuming and Jiang Chengyin were a couple. Naturally, that made her the “other woman.”

She leaned closer and asked curiously in a whisper, “How did everyone figure out I was the mistress?”

Ma Chanchan stomped her foot anxiously. “Sis Ke, is that the important part?!”

“Of course it’s important. How can I clear up the rumors if I don’t understand them first?”

That actually made sense.

So Ma Chanchan explained, “Someone saw President Si driving you to work.”

“And?”

“Someone also saw both of you entering the same residential complex.” The more she spoke, the less confident she sounded. “Sis Ke… is it true?”

“…It’s true.”

Ma Chanchan covered her mouth.

Oh my god.

At that moment, Shen Wan walked out of her office. “Meeting upstairs at the executive office. Moscow’s online already. Hurry up.”

The project team immediately got up.

Lin Ke said quietly, “I’ll explain after the meeting.”

Then she grabbed her notebook and pen and followed everyone upstairs.

The moment she stepped into the elevator, a small empty space automatically formed around her as everyone subtly avoided her.

Lin Ke didn’t take it to heart.

In another two days, the project would be over anyway. She probably wouldn’t step foot inside Entropy Domain again after that, so these exaggerated rumors couldn’t really hurt her.

Still, when the timing was right, she should probably explain things properly.

Otherwise, the next time Si Xiaotie came to the company, people might look at her strangely too.

Today’s meeting was being held in the small conference room attached to Si Yuming’s office.

When they entered, quite a few people were already inside.

Everyone spoke quietly, and one of the vice presidents even made several shushing gestures toward the newcomers.

The Moscow side was already connected online, so silence was necessary.

Following her usual habit, Lin Ke sat down in the interpreter’s seat.

The moment she lifted her eyes, she met Si Yuming’s gaze.

She didn’t dare look too long.

Otherwise, who knew what new rumors would spread after they walked out of this room?

Lin Ke calmly sat down and prepared to begin working.

“Manager Lin, come sit over here.”

In the deathly silent meeting room, the man’s cool voice suddenly rang out.

All the curious and gossiping gazes immediately gathered on her again, most carrying traces of disdain and disgust.

Some people exchanged looks, silently sharing their contempt.

“Manager Lin?”

Lin Ke mentally chopped this man into pieces before slowly standing up and walking behind him.

“Sit beside me.”

“……”

Was there something wrong with him?

Didn’t he know what people outside were saying?!

After she sat down, the man finally stopped causing trouble.

“Alright. Begin the meeting.”

The strange gazes slowly withdrew, and Lin Ke forced herself to focus completely on work.

Half an hour later, the door to the lounge beside the meeting room suddenly opened.

Everyone instinctively looked over.

Some people froze.

The little girl who had fallen asleep after getting tired at kindergarten rubbed her eyes as she walked out. There were still faint red marks on the back of her hand from sleeping on it, and the two cute braids her teacher had carefully tied were now crooked and messy.

After taking two steps, she let out a milky little yawn.

And when she yawned, she showed absolutely no concern for image at all, opening her mouth ridiculously wide.

Lin Ke was stunned.

Why was Si Xiaotie here?

The sleepy little girl scanned the room groggily with wide eyes.

So many people…

Ah, Mommy’s here too!

She immediately ran over and threw herself into her mother’s arms.

“Mommy~”

Her voice was sticky and soft, still carrying the warmth of sleep.

The entire conference room fell silent.

Breathing itself seemed to stop.

Everyone looked at each other in utter shock.

What?

What?!

Mommy?!

Lin Ke felt awkward.

She glanced at the composed man beside her, dressed impeccably in his suit as if he were entirely uninvolved, and had no choice but to pick up her daughter and respond softly.

“Mhm.”

……

The news exploded instantly through the company’s WeChat chats.

Entropy Domain headquarters descended into chaos.

Messages flooded every group chat:

【Who the hell started the rumor that President Jiang was President Si’s wife?!】

【WHO WAS IT!!!!】

【OH MY GOD!!!】

【I owe Manager Lin an apology.】

【Me too, wuwuwu】

【@Xu Lin Assistant Xu, is this actually real?!】

【The kid literally called her Mommy and you still don’t believe it?】

Xu Lin: 【Socially deceased. Do not disturb.】

Meanwhile, the meeting in the office continued.

Lin Ke coaxed her daughter gently, “Baby, go back to the lounge and play quietly, okay? Mommy and Daddy still have work.”

Si Xiaotie obediently nodded. “Okay!”

Then she turned and smiled sweetly at the uncles and aunties around the room before running back into the lounge.

Once the tiny figure left, the small conference room could finally breathe again.

Too embarrassed to meet anyone’s eyes, Lin Ke lowered her head.

Although she had wanted to clear her name, she definitely hadn’t expected it to happen this way.

And certainly not this quickly.

From the far end of the table, the man spoke calmly.

“Continue.”

About ten minutes later, the meeting ended.

Everyone packed up their notebooks along with their still-shattered thoughts and left the room one after another.

Shen Wan stayed behind, looking at Lin Ke with obvious relief.

“You really hid it well. You had me thinking… Never mind, thank god. But seriously, this is way too shocking! How was there not a single clue?!”

Who could possibly have guessed?

President Si’s wife was actually Lin Ke!

Seeing that everyone else had left, the little girl ran out again and sweetly hugged her mother’s leg.

Lin Ke picked her up first and prompted, “Say hello.”

Si Xiaotie smiled brilliantly. “Hello, Auntie!”

“Hello there, sweetheart.” Seeing President Si’s daughter up close for the first time, Shen Wan thought inwardly: who exactly had spread the rumor that she resembled President Jiang? This adorable little face was clearly a perfect combination of President Si and Lin Ke.

Si Yuming walked over.

Si Xiaotie immediately stretched out her arms again, wanting Daddy to carry her this time, and slid right out of her mother’s embrace.

“Going home together?” the man asked while holding his daughter.

“I still need to organize the materials. You two go ahead.”

So Si Yuming went into the lounge to grab his daughter’s little backpack, and the father and daughter left work together.

Shen Wan and Lin Ke followed them downstairs.

Inside the elevator, Si Yuming asked, “Aunt Chen isn’t here, so I’m going grocery shopping. What do you want to eat?”

“Anything’s fine.”

Sitting happily in her father’s arms, Si Xiaotie immediately started ordering food.

“Daddy, I want shrimp! And little chickies!”

Si Yuming laughed. “What are little chickies?”

“Little chickies! The mushroom stew chickies!”

“Alright. No problem.”

The family of three chatted naturally together.

Then Si Xiaotie looked at her mother excitedly again. “Mommy, today Teacher Bai taught us how to wash socks! I learned! From now on, Xiaotie will wash Mommy’s socks!”

Lin Ke smiled too. “No problem.”

When they finally reached the twenty-third floor, Lin Ke stepped out first and completely missed Shen Wan’s dumbfounded expression in the corner of the elevator.

……

When she returned to the office, everyone looked slightly embarrassed upon seeing her.

Lin Ke briefly explained things to the coworkers she was closer with but didn’t say much more to the others.

She worked overtime for a while to finish up as much as possible in advance. Starting tomorrow, the remaining work would be handed over to Ma Chanchan and Xi Yue.

After receiving the instructions, Ma Chanchan straightened proudly and patted her chest.

“Don’t worry, Boss Lady! Mission guaranteed complete!”

Lin Ke flicked her forehead. “Stop calling me that.”

“What’s wrong with calling you that?” Ma Chanchan deliberately raised her voice. “You are the boss lady! Our little princess’s mommy~”

“Alright, I’m leaving. Work hard.”

“Go ahead, Sis Ke. We’ll see you on TV!”

Lin Ke smiled, then went to say goodbye to Shen Wan before carrying her things and leaving the Entropy Domain building.

When she got home, Si Yuming had already finished cooking dinner.

After washing her hands, Lin Ke sat down at the table.

Maybe it was just her imagination, but she felt his cooking skills had improved dramatically recently. The chicken stewed with mushrooms in front of her was incredibly flavorful—even better than what she’d eaten at restaurants before.

The little girl was eating enthusiastically too, sauce smeared all over her mouth.

After dinner, Si Xiaotie really did go to work.

First, she enthusiastically ran to the entranceway to collect the socks the family of three had worn today. Then, pinching her nose dramatically, she dashed toward the bathroom.

“Mommy, I want the little wash basin!”

“Mommy, where’s the laundry detergent?”

“Mommy, help me get water!”

“Mommy, how much detergent should I use?”

“Mommy, is this how you wash them?!”

Watching the tiny person sitting seriously on a little stool in the bathroom washing socks with complete concentration, Lin Ke felt her mood brighten.

“Yes, that’s right.”

She didn’t interfere, letting the little girl fully enjoy her sock-washing adventure by herself. Once she finished, Lin Ke also taught her how to hang them up to dry.

After everything was hung up, Si Xiaotie looked proudly at the balcony where her yellow dinosaur socks were clipped between Mommy and Daddy’s socks.

Hands on her hips, she turned around proudly. “Daddy, am I awesome or what?!”

Si Yuming cooperated immediately. “Awesome.”

“Hehe~”

Looking at the three pairs of socks hanging side by side, Lin Ke became momentarily distracted.

She turned back and met the gaze of the man in the living room.

After three or four silent seconds, she lowered her eyes and spoke to her daughter.

“Mommy’s going to study now. Xiaotie can sleep with Daddy tonight after your bath.”

“Mhm~”

By the time she returned to the master bedroom, it was already midnight.

Most of the lights had been turned off, but the person on the bed still wasn’t asleep.

She walked over, turned off the final lamp, and climbed into bed.

Si Yuming wrapped his arms around her.

Facing away from him, Lin Ke shifted slightly until she found a comfortable position.

“When did you find out?”

Lin Ke opened her eyes. “Find out what? That you and Jiang Chengyin were supposedly a couple?”

The man fell silent for a moment before saying quietly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know about those rumors.”

“It’s okay. It’s not important.”

How could it not be important?

She had listened to those rumors for two entire months.

Originally, Si Yuming had wanted to wait until after her exam to discuss this, but now he no longer felt it was a good idea to keep things hidden.

After thinking for a moment, he slowly explained, “Jiang Chengyin and I are just ordinary friends.”

“Her grandfather and my grandfather were close friends. Uncle Jiang also helped a lot after my parents passed away. The relationship between the Si and Jiang families isn’t something that can simply be cut off…”

Lin Ke honestly didn’t want to discuss this topic.

After being married for so many years, she had a basic level of trust regarding whether he would cheat or not. She also understood that he and Jiang Chengyin were only friends now.

But hearing this still made her interrupt him.

“So if I didn’t exist, you two would’ve gotten married, right?”

This time, the man answered without hesitation.

“No.”

“The elders on both sides never intended a marriage alliance. I know my sister may have had certain thoughts about it, but I never considered it myself. I clearly rejected both her and Jiang Chengyin.”

Lin Ke was actually surprised by that answer.

For a very long time, she had imagined some kind of relationship between them before her marriage to him. Because of that, their past had become an invisible thorn lodged in her heart.

Sometimes the thorn felt large, sometimes small.

At its worst, she couldn’t bear the thought that they had once spent years together—whether they had been lovers forced to separate, or two people trapped in unresolved ambiguity and regret.

No matter which possibility it was, she couldn’t accept it.

But now, a single sentence was enough to dissolve that thorn.

Though by now, it had already become very small.

Lin Ke pressed her lips together and quietly laughed at her own childishness.

“I understand now.”

“I can’t promise to completely cut ties with her, but rumors like this will never happen again.” He paused before continuing in a low voice, “Lin Ke, there are many things I probably haven’t handled well, but on this matter… please trust me.”

    “Okay.”