Unable to voice her true thoughts, Wen Baozhu could only choose to remain silent.
It took a long while before she softly said, "That's all. Thank you, Mr. Fu."
With her stubborn little face and her smooth hair cascading over her shoulders, she resembled a cat huddled in a corner, lacking a sense of security.
Fu Lian stared at her for a while with a calm look in his eyes. Finally, he seemed to sigh helplessly and said, "Baozhu, why can't you be more candid?"
"If you want something, you have to tell me so that I can understand."
A person in a high - position doesn't like subjective questions. They prefer multiple - choice questions. And they especially dislike having to guess.
But how could Wen Baozhu answer?
Was she supposed to say, "I really don't want you to get engaged to Fang Yuan"?
When a person is overly naive, they're just being foolish.
Seeing that she was still reluctant to say more, Fu Lian let out a laugh and said that she had become a mute bird that couldn't speak. "Why are you so reluctant to talk? You're usually so chatty. Did you hurt your mouth just now? Let me take a look."
Mentioning what had just happened, Wen Baozhu felt extremely embarrassed and turned her head to the side. "Mr. Fu, stop teasing me."
Fu Lian chuckled softly.
It wasn't because of her sudden shyness, but because he had discovered today that beneath her seemingly always - obedient exterior, there was actually a hint of rebellion.
For example, challenging him in public.
But this kind of rebellion wasn't off - putting. Instead, it piqued his interest, and he wanted to see more vivid and unexpected sides of her.
In any case, she couldn't escape his grasp.
"If you don't want to talk, then listen to me."
Wen Baozhu lifted her head from the man's embrace and quietly listened to him.
"Regarding my marriage, Fu Yeting insisted on settling it even when he was on his last breath."
As he said this, his voice was calm, but the mockery in his tone was obvious.
A few years ago, Fu Yeting suddenly suffered a serious illness and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment in the middle of the night.
During the rescue, the doctor issued a critical condition notice three times. When he was wheeled out of the operating room, he was barely breathing.
Even so, he gritted his teeth and arranged Fu Lian's marriage.
At first, it was supposed to be with the Meng family. However, the Meng family refused, saying that their daughter was too young to get married. That's how the Fang family got the chance to offer their daughter, Fang Yuan.
Only after seeing the two families sign the marriage contract did Fu Yeting finally pass away without any worries.
In reality, neither the Meng family nor the Fang family could provide any support or assistance.
This marriage contract was meant to tie Fu Lian to a family he couldn't rely on, restricting his actions and achieving a balance so that he wouldn't have an advantage in competing with Fu Nian.
The huge inheritance he left behind was, whether intentionally or not, without a designated heir.
So, for the time being, the power fell into Li Wenshu's hands.
As Fu Yeting's only legal wife and the biological mother of both Fu Lian and Fu Nian, Li Wenshu had the legal right to designate the next heir of the Fu Group.
Wen Baozhu had already guessed the answer. "Mrs. Li doesn't plan to let Mr. Fu inherit, right?"
Fu Lian replied, "It's more than just not planning."
Li Wenshu wanted him to completely give up his right to inherit the property, handing over all the wealth and interests to Fu Nian.
Even more sadly, this was also Fu Yeting's decision.
Li Wenshu was just carrying out his will.
Wen Baozhu had expected something like this, but when she heard that he was supposed to give up his inheritance rights, she couldn't control her expression and gasped.
"Why?" she exclaimed. "Mr. Fu is also her son. How could she be so..."
She didn't dare to say the word "cold - blooded".
Even an upright official has trouble settling family disputes, let alone the complex clan relations of the Fu family.
Fu Lian could tell what she wanted to say from her hesitation, but he didn't get angry. His tone just turned colder. "Because they never regarded me as their own son."
Wen Baozhu immediately curbed her curiosity.
Prying into the details of a wealthy family was of no significance to her, and it might even bring trouble.
In the cold social jungle, Wen Baozhu had her own survival rules in the city.
That was - don't ask, don't listen, and don't look.
She pursed her lips and played with the buttons on Fu Lian's pajamas. "But Mr. Fu is still very outstanding. You've earned your reputation and trust on your own."
"Now, everyone in Hong Kong hopes that you'll be the heir of the Fu Group. I believe that in the end, the result will be in line with the people's wishes."
He gently slapped away her fidgety little hand and threaded his fingers through hers, interlacing them. "What about you? Do you hope that I'll get the Fu Group in the future?"
"Of course I do."
"You're an unfaithful little widow." He tightened his grip on her hand slightly. "You're Fu Nian's wife. Have you forgotten so soon?"
Wen Baozhu knew he was just joking. She smiled and coquettishly said, "So what? My heart is on Mr. Fu's side."
"Who do you have in your heart?" Fu Lian deliberately asked again.
"Mr. Fu."
She answered naturally. Only later did she realize what she had said, and her cheeks instantly flushed.
The words that had slipped out accidentally seemed like a confession.
Damn it. Why did she say what was in her heart?
However, Fu Lian didn't seem to take it seriously. He just laughed. "Baozhu finally admits that she has me in her heart. There's progress."
Wen Baozhu was in a daze. Looking at the man's smiling lips, she almost got lost for a moment.
She shook her head to keep herself awake and not sink into the dream the man had created.
"Mr. Fu is so capable, and Mr. Fu has already passed away. Why do you still have to fulfill this marriage contract?"
Afraid that he might think she was trying to stop his engagement, she casually added, "Do you really want to jump into a situation where you know your hands and feet will be tied?"
Fu Lian smiled. "It's just an unimportant marriage. If it can make people let their guard down, it's not a bad thing."
Make people let their guard down?
Who?
Li Wenshu or the Fang family?
Wen Baozhu didn't understand, but Fu Lian didn't explain in detail. Instead, he kissed her lips. "Creating some false appearances can save a lot of trouble. Why not do it?"
Wen Baozhu's heart suddenly sank.
Was Fu Lian being so open with her today also to make her let her guard down and fall completely into his love net?
The man in front of her wore the most perfect and gentle mask in the world.
He wasn't a person who acted on emotions. Once he set his mind on something, he wouldn't be influenced by others.
No one could change his decision.
But, as if Fu Lian could read minds, he immediately said, "But our Baozhu is different."
"Our Baozhu doesn't ask for anything and won't betray me. I'm willing to tell Baozhu everything."
He naturally wrapped his arm around her waist, and his big hand rested on her abdomen. "Moreover, now Baozhu is pregnant with my child. In the future, you'll be the mother of my child. We're the closest people to each other."
The man's body heat passed through the skin, warm and comforting.
Wen Baozhu trembled slightly and leaned into Fu Lian's embrace.
For a moment, she had an illusion that they were a loving couple, looking forward to the birth of their love child together.
"Mr. Fu, I actually have another wish. Can you help me fulfill it?"
"After you're done with this busy period, I want to go home and visit my grandma."