The wind on the Peak blew by. The sweat that had just broken out had evaporated, and the cold began to seep in gradually.
Whether it was because of Li Wenshu's words or the sudden drop in temperature at this moment, Wen Baozhu started to feel cold. She pressed her scarf with her hand to keep the wind out.
"What kind of look is that in your eyes?" Li Wenshu frowned, noticing the hesitation in Wen Baozhu's eyes. "Do you think I'm lying to you?"
"No." Wen Baozhu lowered her eyelashes. "It's just... it's too shocking. I need time to digest it."
"You don't have to worry about me treating A Lian badly." Li Wenshu pursed her lips and sneered. "They're both my sons. I definitely won't favor one over the other."
"Since their father passed away, A Lian has been in charge of all the affairs of the Fu family. He's had plenty of opportunities to build his own connections. Even if he doesn't get the inheritance, he can still make a living on his own in the future."
Li Wenshu glanced at Wen Baozhu. "Moreover, the child you're carrying is his. The Fu family will recognize this bloodline and train the child as an heir."
"Train the child as an heir..." Wen Baozhu murmured. "Do you mean that the Fu family will directly let this child inherit everything in the future?"
Bypass Fu Lian and hand over everything directly to this unborn child?
Li Wenshu smiled faintly. "Yes. By then, you'll be the mother of the heir of the Fu family. Everyone in Hong Kong will bow to you and show you respect."
Wen Baozhu had never had such grand ambitions, nor had she thought that her unborn child would be given such high hopes before it was even formed.
Her heart sank, and she felt a heavy, stuffy feeling.
She suddenly asked, "Why does it have to be Fu Nian's child? As long as it's a child of the Fu family, isn't that enough?"
Since they're going to pass it on to the next generation anyway, why go through all the trouble of finding a fiancée for Fu Nian and having a child in his name?
Soon, Li Wenshu gave the answer.
"This child must and can only be Fu Nian's." Li Wenshu said expressionlessly. "Because, originally, only Fu Nian's name was on the will."
Wen Baozhu's heart almost jumped out of her throat.
Mentioning this, Li Wenshu almost gritted her teeth. "This family originally had no place for him. But A Nian was too kind and voluntarily gave up some of his shares, saying that he wanted to share them with his elder brother."
Her voice involuntarily rose. "Look at how A Nian treated him. But what about him? Greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. What he wants is everything!"
Such a family secret should never have been revealed. But Li Wenshu told her without hesitation.
That could only mean one thing: it was true.
Wen Baozhu bit her lip slightly.
She didn't doubt that Li Wenshu was painting a pie for her. After all, considering everything that had happened before, it was not impossible for her to train this child as an heir.
But she didn't expect that Li Wenshu wanted a child so badly in order to legitimately marginalize Fu Lian.
They say that even a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs. But to make a son snatch his father's food is really unheard of.
She suddenly wanted to ask: Does Fu Lian know all this?
He's so smart. He couldn't have failed to guess.
"Of course he knows. Is there anything he, Fu Lian, doesn't know?"
Li Wenshu frowned impatiently. "He's my son. With his shrewdness, he couldn't have failed to guess my plan."
Although it was a compliment, there was no hint of praise in her tone. "Although the will hasn't been made public, he must have guessed it."
Over the years, their parents' partiality and preference must have been on Fu Nian. Even if Fu Lian was numb, he couldn't have failed to notice.
Wen Baozhu said nothing.
Although she was just an ordinary person and had never experienced the power struggle among family members in a wealthy family, just thinking that her own child would pose a threat to him made her sigh.
She felt sorry for Fu Lian for a moment.
"So, you should think carefully about which side you're going to stand on."
Li Wenshu said coldly. "I didn't ask you clearly before, but you'd better make a decision as soon as possible now."
"Do you want to sit firmly on the throne of the Fu family's mistress, or follow a man who puts interests first and be exploited and drained repeatedly? A smart person will make the right choice."
Wen Baozhu had a premonition that Li Wenshu had made an appointment with her alone in the cemetery today and must have something to say.
But when such a choice was really thrown in front of her, she couldn't help but feel a shudder.
For her, neither choice would be a good outcome.
God, she just wanted to survive in the cracks, just to catch a breath and live on. Why was it so difficult?
Facing Li Wenshu's sharp eyes, she just said softly, "... I just want to live well."
She had already said that she had no ambition.
Seeing that she was still wavering, Li Wenshu sneered. "It seems I misjudged you. You're not smart. You're even stupid."
"I've told you so much. Haven't you heard the key point?" Li Wenshu squinted. "Do I have to tell you the cruel truth word by word?"
"Fine, then I'll grant your wish."
"Wen Baozhu, think carefully. You're only in your early twenties, in good health, with a rosy complexion, and all your physical examinations are perfect. Why couldn't you conceive a child?"
Wen Baozhu's lips stiffened. "It's because Fu Sheng and I weren't particularly compatible at first..."
"What compatibility? It's because he didn't want to have a child at all, silly girl!"
Li Wenshu sighed and wished she could poke her head with her finger. "Didn't you notice that you drank Chinese medicine every day before, but your stomach didn't show any reaction? But as soon as you stopped drinking the Chinese medicine, you got pregnant immediately?"
Wen Baozhu's head buzzed.
Her mind was in a mess, and all the things that had happened between her and Fu Lian before she got pregnant flashed through her mind.
Every time she mentioned having a child, he always said not to be in a hurry and to wait for fate. He also checked the Chinese medicine every day and asked her if she had taken it on time.
She suddenly remembered that even on the day she found out she was pregnant, there was no joy on Fu Lian's face. Instead, it was covered with a gloomy look.
It seemed that he really didn't look forward to this child.
The more she thought about it, the more afraid she was to think. Wen Baozhu's lips began to tremble.
Li Wenshu sneered. "Since he already knows that the child in your belly will threaten his plan to fight for the family fortune, do you think he'll allow this child to be born and then inherit the Fu family?"
"You've tried every means to get pregnant and have a child so that you can leave Hong Kong smoothly. But someone has never intended to fulfill your wish, Wen Baozhu."
Li Wenshu smiled faintly. "It's not strange to be used by others, nor is it strange to be treated as a tool. But what I find strange is how someone can be so whole - hearted and still be completely unaware of being used, and even feel pity and compassion."
Li Wenshu smiled slightly. "You're worried about his safety, but someone can't even fulfill your only wish."
"Open your eyes and take a good look, saint."