"Those pomegranate trees on the open ground behind the mountain. Didn't they bear any seeds again this year?"
Li Wenshu was fussing over the potted plants. As if suddenly struck by a thought, she casually asked one of the servants.
"No, Madam. They didn't bear any seeds."
"Dig them out when spring comes next year." Li Wenshu didn't even raise her head and continued to focus on watering the orchid. "They're just wasting nutrients if they can't bear seeds."
Can't bear seeds.
Wen Baozhu was sitting on the living - room sofa with her legs together. Hearing these four words, her heart tightened.
Li Wenshu was in charge of the entire Fu family. How could she remember a few pomegranate trees on the open ground behind the mountain of her own home?
Every word was a veiled warning to Wen Baozhu.
After watering the orchid, Li Wenshu handed the watering can to the servant behind her.
Another servant had brewed the tea in advance. Li Wenshu simply wiped her hands with a handkerchief and then sat down on the sofa.
The tea was at just the right temperature. Li Wenshu picked up the teacup and took a sip. "I remember that Shuyi doesn't get along with you. But you two seem to be getting quite close recently?"
As soon as she said this, Wen Baozhu sat up straight. "It was just a temporary invitation. If you think it's inappropriate, I'll never have any contact with Auntie Shuyi again."
Li Wenshu sighed deeply. "We're all family. How could I think it's inappropriate? I'm her sister - in - law. After all these years in the Fu family, although she has opinions about me, I've always regarded her as my own sister."
Wen Baozhu smiled faintly. "It's because you have a broad mind and the tolerance to accommodate others."
"Once you marry into a family, you have so many constraints."
Li Wenshu shook her head as if filled with infinite emotion. "Even a wife who lives with her husband day in and day out will never be able to take the Fu surname. No matter how hard you try, you can never truly fit in. You can only barely manage to protect yourself. Don't you think so?"
It was another veiled warning.
Li Wenshu was a wife who had married into the Fu family, and so was Wen Baozhu.
Moreover, Wen Baozhu didn't even have anyone to rely on.
No matter which side she took, there was always a risk of being crushed at any time.
After hesitating and thinking for a moment, Wen Baozhu replied, "Madam, I understand what you mean. I won't be stupid. My heart will always be with you."
Li Wenshu stared at her for a while and then quietly smiled. "You're a smart one."
...
After leaving the Fu family's old mansion, Wen Baozhu found that the driver who had parked the car on the side of the road was nowhere to be seen. There was only another black car parked in the place where her car had originally been.
Wen Baozhu paused for a moment and almost instantly recognized the car.
She quickened her steps, walked to the car, and quickly opened the door. When she saw the man sitting inside, her eyes instantly lit up.
"Fu Sheng, why are you here?"
"To pick you up." Fu Lian said calmly. "I just landed and heard that someone might be bullying our Baozhu, so I came here especially to back you up."
Wen Baozhu immediately got into the car and stared at him with bright eyes, extremely surprised. "Didn't you say you were going on a business trip for a week? Why did you come back so soon?"
"Don't you want to see me?" he asked with a faint smile.
Of course Wen Baozhu wanted to see him. It was just that the surprise had come so suddenly that she hadn't had time to digest it.
At this moment, her gloomy mood was instantly swept away, replaced by excitement.
Just accelerating the project and coming back to Hong Kong a few days earlier could make her this happy. She was really easy to satisfy.
Fu Lian took her hand and placed it in his palm.
When his hand touched the jade bracelet on her wrist, he suddenly had an idea and looked at her. "How did she make things difficult for you this time? Didn't she put a chain or anklet on you this time?"
Wen Baozhu shook her head. "No. She just blamed me for not getting pregnant yet and urged me to speed up."
Fu Lian said, "I was negligent before and made you suffer."
He gently rubbed her wrist as if trying to smooth out the bone - scraping pain from the past, even though the wound had long since healed. "Next time, I'll never let you be wronged."
After saying that, he pulled her into his arms.
The familiar woody scent was mixed with the weariness and fatigue of a long journey.
He wasn't lying. He had really just gotten off the plane. Even his overcoat carried the strange smell of a foreign land.
Another part of Wen Baozhu's heart turned soft.
She took the initiative to hug him and carefully touched his chin. But the stubble pricked her and made her frown. "Fu Sheng, you're so unkempt."
"Me, unkempt?" Fu Lian laughed and deliberately asked in a cold tone. "Who did I do this for? You're so ungrateful."
Wen Baozhu giggled and then kissed his lips to show her submission and flattery.
Fu Lian's breathing gradually became heavy. What was originally just a light kiss was now deepened under the man's control until desire was sparked.
One couldn't be too unrestrained in the car.
Fu Lian let her go. "Do you have any plans later?"
"None."
Fu Lian nodded. "Since that's the case, I'll fulfill the promise I made to you last time today."
---
Fu Lian took Wen Baozhu to a private restaurant for dinner.
The place had excellent privacy and served only the rich and famous. There was no noise or commotion here, only the elegant sound of the piano.
Apart from the two of them, there were no other diners. But even so, one didn't feel the place was desolate.
The two of them were sitting face to face. Fu Lian was flipping through the menu.
He was very elegant and gentlemanly. He would even ask Wen Baozhu about her preferences and food taboos in advance.
This felt like a date.
But Wen Baozhu only dared to think about it in her heart. She didn't dare to say it out loud.
It would be too self - important and overestimating herself.
Fu Lian had been very gentle and considerate to her recently, but if she really thought she was that important, it would be too unrealistic.
Wen Baozhu was very sensible. It was enough to enjoy the moment.
Because she was distracted, Wen Baozhu didn't hear the waiter asking her what she wanted to drink.
"What are you thinking about?" Fu Lian's gaze fell on her face.
"Nothing." Wen Baozhu quickly came to her senses. Seeing the waiter, she quickly replied, "A glass of orange juice, please."
After the waiter left, Fu Lian asked slowly, "You've been distracted a lot recently. Do you have something on your mind?"
"No. Maybe I haven't been sleeping well recently."
During the days when Fu Lian was on a business trip, Wen Baozhu suffered from insomnia every night.
Maybe it was because she had gotten used to sleeping in someone's arms. Suddenly sleeping alone in a large, empty bed felt so unfamiliar.
When the food was served, Fu Lian slowly cut the steak.
His movements were elegant, a kind of leisurely and self - assured nonchalance and proficiency, which made him look extremely pleasing to the eye.
Wen Baozhu picked up the glass and took a sip of the ice - cold orange juice. The smooth taste cleared her mind. "Will you go to work this afternoon, Fu Sheng?"
Fu Sheng's time was precious. In the business world, every second counted. She felt really uneasy that he was spending so much time on her.
Fu Lian put down his knife and fork. "Weren't you clamoring to apologize to Zhou You some time ago? Was it just a passing fancy or have you forgotten about it?"
Only then did Wen Baozhu remember that Fu Lian had indeed promised her.
"She has a pottery class this afternoon. I'll take you there."