Chapter 8 Team Assist

Chapter 8: All Hands on Deck

The car pulled up to the family estate. Gu Qingyin got out and noticed Huo Xingye sitting motionless inside. She asked, puzzled, "Not staying home again today? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No," Huo Xingye replied stiffly. "I usually stay at my place near work."

Gu Qingyin understood—he was still angry. She was baffled and a bit hurt.

Having missed every stage of her son’s upbringing, she had no right to complain that he now kept secrets and refused to share anything.

Gu Qingyin took out a guardian jade pendant and handed it through the car window. "Wear this close to your body. I had your fortune read recently—your luck has been a bit low." *You might face bloodshed.*

She didn’t say the last part out loud. With the pendant shielding him, there was no need to cause unnecessary panic over something that wouldn’t happen.

Huo Xingye took it with a complicated expression, clutching it tightly.

"...Thanks."

Gu Qingyin waved it off. "We’re family—skip the politeness!"

Watching the car drive away, Gu Qingyin sighed and returned to the villa.

Hua Xin approached with a smile. "Did you give him the gift, Madam?"

Gu Qingyin nodded and sank into the couch, deflated.

"Is something troubling you, Madam?"

Gu Qingyin looked at Hua Xin and suddenly asked, "Do you have children?"

Hua Xin laughed, her voice tinged with pride. "Of course! I have both a son and a daughter, and I have a great relationship with both!"

Gu Qingyin’s eyes brightened slightly. "What’s your dynamic with your son?"

Hua Xin instantly saw through the heart of the matter. "My son is nothing like the Family Head, and my temperament isn’t like yours either. Our dynamic wouldn’t work for you."

"That’s true." Gu Qingyin’s face fell as she curled back into the sofa.

"However, I think I can see the core issue between you and the Family Head."

Gu Qingyin made a questioning sound and sat up a little straighter, serious now. "Go on."

Hua Xin spoke with conviction. "The core issue between you and the Family Head is that you’ve spent too little time together and don’t really know each other. The Family Head lacks companionship and care from his closest family. He’s used to calling all the shots himself—no one can guess what he’s thinking. I think you should make time to accompany him more, let him slowly open up, and truly accept you as his mother."

Blood matters, but without long-term emotional nurturing, it’s impossible to truly connect a mother and son’s hearts.

Gu Qingyin drifted into thought.

Seeing this, Hua Xin blinked, then nodded and quietly excused herself to avoid disturbing her.

After a long while, Gu Qingyin suddenly stood up and announced, "I’ve decided! Starting tomorrow, I’ll accompany Xingye to and from work, have his lunch delivered myself, and let him feel the warmth and love of a mother!"

Hua Xin, standing some distance away, heard every word. While pleased, she couldn’t help but remind her, "Perfect! You could also cook for him yourself."

"I’d love to," Gu Qingyin said with a troubled expression. "But I can’t. I’m a kitchen menace—my cooking’s basically poison. I can’t harm Xingye."

Hua Xin paused before nodding. "Alright. Actually, the company cafeteria’s actually decent. If you don’t mind the trouble, you could pack meals every day and eat with the Family Head."

Gu Qingyin clapped her hands. "Perfect!" But then, after a few seconds, she hesitated again. "Would I be in his way at work?"

Hua Xin wasn't sure about this either, but that didn't stop her from offering advice. "You could discuss it with the Patriarch."

Gu Qingyin wasted no time and immediately dialed Huo Xingye's number. Unsurprisingly, no one answered. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and then called Mr. Xue instead.

The call was answered promptly, and Xue Ning's respectful yet slightly puzzled voice came through. "Mother?"

"Xue, there's something I'd like to consult you about."

Xue Ning instinctively straightened his posture and responded earnestly, "Please go ahead, Mother."

Gu Qingyin suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. After collecting herself for a couple of seconds, she asked, "If—just if—I were to go to the company to accompany Xingye at work, would he agree? Would he be happy? Would I disrupt his work?"

Xue Ning froze for a second before being overjoyed. "If you were to come, the Patriarch would be absolutely delighted!"

Xue Ning thought to himself, it was about time Mother saw just how terrifying the Patriarch could be at work. The title *Great Demon King* wasn't just for show!

"Really?" Gu Qingyin sounded skeptical. "He must be very busy normally, right?"

"The Patriarch is indeed busy, but his office has plenty of space," Xue Ning's voice was enticing. "I can arrange a desk for you in his office. When you're both occupied, you can each focus on your own tasks, and when you look up, you'll see the person closest to you. How wonderful would that be?"

Gu Qingyin was tempted. "That does make some sense."

Xue Ning pressed on, "Most importantly, you and the Patriarch have been separated for many years. You need ample time to strengthen your bond as mother and son and make up for the past. But with so much going on at Huo Corporation, the only way is for you to visit the company every day."

"It's no trouble at all! As a mother, I'm willing to do anything within my power for my son!" Gu Qingyin said firmly. "Starting tomorrow, I'll accompany Xingye at work. It's settled—please inform him."

"Understood, Mother! See you tomorrow, Mother!"

After hanging up, Xue Ning turned and knocked on the office door. Approaching Huo Xingye's desk, he smiled and said, "Patriarch, Mother has asked me to inform you that she will be accompanying you at work starting tomorrow."

Huo Xingye was taken aback. How had Gu Qingyin come up with such an idea? But then it occurred to him—if she were right in front of him, he wouldn’t have to worry about her sneaking off to ghost-hunt behind his back.

After a brief silence, Huo Xingye ordered, "Bring in a desk and place it next to mine."

Xue Ning wasn’t surprised at all. He bowed respectfully and left eagerly. A desk alone wouldn’t suffice—he was determined to make sure Mother would want to stay once she arrived!

Xue Ning admitted he had personal reasons, but setting aside their employer-employee relationship, as a friend, he genuinely hoped Huo Xingye could experience normal maternal love and enjoy an ordinary yet harmonious mother-son relationship.

Plenty of time together was just the first step.

That evening, Xue Ning compiled a document containing basic information about Huo Xingye and sent it to Gu Qingyin.

From minor details like his dislike for onions to major ones like his business rivals, Xue Ning included everything he could think of, leaving nothing out.

Gu Qingyin only needed a glance to recognize the document's value. She immediately replied: Thank you for your hard work, Xue. I owe you.

Xue Ning smiled contentedly and politely responded: Just doing my job.

The next day, Gu Qingyin and Huo Xingye's cars entered the underground parking lot of Huo Corporation in succession.

Huo Xingye came forward and opened the car door for her. Gu Qingyin stepped out, carrying a lunchbox with a cheerful smile, and the two walked side by side, chatting.

"I brought breakfast. Would you like to eat together?"

Huo Xingye hesitated. He wasn’t in the habit of eating breakfast—usually, a cup of American coffee was enough.

But this was brought by Gu Qingyin herself, and she had personally invited him... Huo Xingye sighed and was about to nod when a gentle female voice interjected from the side, "The Family Head doesn’t eat breakfast, and strong-smelling food isn’t allowed in the office."