That smear of bright red announced that all her efforts during this period had been in vain.
She had planned to take a pregnancy test with a pregnancy test stick today, but now she didn't even need to go through that step.
Aunt Jiang was equally helpless when she learned that Wen Baozhu still hadn't gotten pregnant.
After all, Aunt Jiang had seen how "hard" Wen Baozhu had been trying recently. "Why don't you go to the Wong Tai Sin Temple to pay your respects after your period is over and ask for a fertility charm? I heard it's very effective."
Wen Baozhu nodded vaguely. "I'll give it a try then. Thank you, Aunt Jiang."
She returned to her room, lay down on the bed, and picked up her phone to send a message to Fu Lian, informing him that she had gotten her period today.
Not long after the message was sent, the other party replied.
[Fu Lian: Got it.]
Staring at his simple reply, Wen Baozhu was in a daze for quite a while.
She probably wouldn't be seeing Fu Lian for the next few days.
Who would have thought that at six o'clock in the evening, Fu Lian's car would stop in front of the villa on time.
When Wen Baozhu saw the car from upstairs, for a moment she thought she was seeing things.
Soon there was the sound of the door opening downstairs. Wen Baozhu quickly rushed down the stairs. When she saw the man's figure, surprise flashed in her eyes.
"Mr. Fu?"
Hadn't she sent him a message? And he had replied.
As if still unable to believe that he was actually here, she asked, "Did you leave something here and come back to get it, Mr. Fu?"
"Can't I come?" Fu Lian said calmly, his tone showing little emotion.
This was the villa he had bought, and he had personally arranged for her to live here. Naturally, he had the right to show up here anytime.
He didn't need to ask for her opinion.
Seeing her stunned expression, Fu Lian raised an eyebrow. "Don't want to see me?"
Wen Baozhu suddenly realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly shook her head. "That's not what I meant."
On the contrary, she had thought Fu Lian wouldn't want to see her.
After all, she was on her period.
Being on her period meant they couldn't continue trying to conceive. There was no point in him coming over.
If they couldn't do anything, why come?
But how could Wen Baozhu ever figure out Fu Lian's true intentions?
She could only walk over obediently, take the suit jacket he took off, and hang it on the hanger attentively.
Aunt Jiang had prepared dinner in advance. The two of them sat down and ate facing each other.
At the dinner table, they never talked.
Occasionally, the crisp sound of utensils and spoons hitting the bowl walls sounded rather out of place in the quiet atmosphere.
Wen Baozhu was a bit nervous. Since she couldn't figure out why Fu Lian had come back tonight, she was on edge throughout the meal.
"I went to the racecourse today," Fu Lian said casually, breaking the silence. "By the way, I went to check on Pearl."
Hearing the name Pearl, Wen Baozhu suddenly became worried. "How is it doing now?"
"The temperature is low in winter, so blood circulation is slow. It's also more difficult for the wound to heal," he said, then glanced at Wen Baozhu.
Her face fell, and she hesitated for a moment.
She wanted to ask if there was still a chance of treatment, but she was afraid of hearing an answer that went against her hopes, so she felt conflicted.
"However..." Knowing what she was worried about, he changed the subject. "Pearl is recovering at a good pace and has entered the next stage of treatment."
Hearing this, the stone in Wen Baozhu's heart finally dropped, and she showed a sincere smile.
"When can I go and see it?"
Fu Lian replied, "Anytime."
Seeing the joy in her eyes, Fu Lian curled his lips. "You're so eager to see a horse, but you've never been this eager to see me."
Wen Baozhu froze.
She couldn't tell if he was joking or seriously asking for an explanation.
Wen Baozhu's heart raced. She didn't know how to reply for a moment. After stammering for a while, she forced herself to stay calm and said, "I'm on my period today, so I can't serve you, Mr. Fu."
Fu Lian pondered her choice of words. "Serve? Do you think of me as an emperor favoring his concubines?"
Wen Baozhu kept her eyes down, not denying it.
Moody, tyrannical, forcing her to wear different lingerie for him every day, and when he was in a bad mood, he would even throw her to some men to play some dirty game...
If he wasn't an emperor, what was he?
Getting the answer from her silence, Fu Lian let out a soft laugh. There was no sign of annoyance in his eyes; instead, there was more amusement. "So what do you think I came here for tonight? How do you think you should serve me?"
Wen Baozhu suddenly thought of another way to please a man without having to sleep with him. Suddenly, the food in front of her became unappetizing.
She was both ashamed and angry. "Mr. Fu, please don't talk about such things during dinner."
"Where did you get that idea?" Fu Lian paused and asked her.
Wen Baozhu bit her lips again and again. It took her a long time to say, "Mr. Fu is a gentleman and would never force anyone to do something they don't want to do."
"You're right," Fu Lian said with an even deeper smile. "But if I were an emperor, I wouldn't care what others think."
Wen Baozhu was rendered speechless.
She stopped talking and lowered her head to eat slowly, wishing the dinner would last longer.
Fu Lian didn't continue to tease her either and started to eat seriously.
Dinner would eventually end. Wen Baozhu watched helplessly as Aunt Jiang came over to collect the dishes and walked into the kitchen.
Then, she looked at Fu Lian, who had moved to the sofa to read the newspaper. Afraid of being noticed by him, she quickly averted her gaze.
She tiptoed quietly past the sofa and walked towards the guest room.
Before she could reach the doorknob, the deep voice of the man came from behind. He had already noticed something. "Where do you think you're going?"
Wen Baozhu stopped in her tracks.
"Turn around."
Wen Baozhu had no choice but to turn around. Her gaze happened to meet his.
She was flustered, but she still nodded slightly and pretended to be calm. "It's getting late. I'm going back to my room to rest."
Fu Lian's eyes were expressionless. "Why don't you sleep in the master bedroom?"
Wen Baozhu straightened her back and pressed herself tightly against the door of the guest room. "I'm on my period. I'm afraid... it's not convenient to sleep with you, Mr. Fu."
Fu Lian sized her up from head to toe.
She was wearing home clothes, and her long, smooth, and shiny hair was draped over her shoulders. Her plain face, without any makeup, looked especially delicate.
Fu Lian stared at her silently, then turned around and walked towards the master bedroom.
He didn't say a word, but Wen Baozhu knew what he meant.
So she took a deep breath, gave up the idea of sleeping in the guest room for the night, and silently followed the man.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, Fu Lian curved his lips.
She was not only obedient but also sensible.
...
Fu Lian walked into the bedroom but didn't lie down on the bed right away. Instead, he sat down at the desk in the room, seemingly ready to work overtime.
Wen Baozhu felt a bit awkward in the room. Seeing that he didn't give any other instructions, she decided to take a shower in the bathroom on her own initiative.
When she came out, the man was still sitting at the desk, and the computer screen in front of him was still on.
Wen Baozhu gently wiped her hair with a towel, worried that she would disturb him.
The man had his back to her, but it was as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
"Come here."