Fu Lian denied it so quickly that even Wen Baozhu didn't react.
The calm look on her face finally wavered, and disappointment welled up in her eyes. "Ah, why?"
"Your current physical condition is not suitable for traveling," Fu Lian said calmly, giving the most objective and reasonable answer. "If you have an abortion and uterine curettage, not only will you lose the baby, but your physical condition will deteriorate further."
The man was very composed, as if without any extra personal emotions. He refused her in a matter - of - fact tone. "If you recover well, I'll choose a time to accompany you back later."
It was the same old excuse again.
Wen Baozhu couldn't remember how many times she had proposed to go back to Haicheng, nor how many times Fu Lian had fobbed her off with the reason of "accompanying you back in a while".
Every promise was always followed by disappointment.
Wen Baozhu wanted to try to persuade him. "But Mr. Fu just promised me that I could..."
"No," came the second refusal, with a hint of harshness in his words. "Choose something else."
Wen Baozhu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"So Mr. Fu's Aladdin's lamp is fake," she said calmly. "Mr. Fu asked me to make a wish, but there are limitations to the wish, and even the fulfillment has pre - conditions."
Fu Lian frowned, but his face remained expressionless.
It was meaningless to confront him head - on. Wen Baozhu finally compromised and asked another question. "Has Assistant Yan come back? Did he see my grandma?"
"Not yet," Fu Lian replied smoothly without any hesitation. "He has other work arrangements in Fucheng. It was postponed temporarily for a few days, and he won't be back for a while."
"Oh," Wen Baozhu said, feeling disappointed.
It was okay that she couldn't see her grandma, but she couldn't even get a single piece of news from others. Although she didn't show it on the surface, she felt faintly uneasy inside.
Her intuition told her that Fu Lian was deliberately hiding some truth.
She knew better than anyone that she would never be able to get the answer to the secrets Fu Lian wanted to hide from her.
The more eager she appeared, the more likely Fu Lian would notice something amiss.
Maybe realizing that his words were too cold, Fu Lian changed his tone to comfort her. "When he comes back, I'll ask him to report to you in person."
Wen Baozhu lowered her face. The uneasiness in her eyes was hidden under her eyelashes, showing her usual submissiveness. She nodded obediently. "It doesn't matter. There's no hurry."
Fu Lian stared at her for a while, as if trying to tell whether she had really given up the idea of going back to Fucheng to see her grandma.
Wen Baozhu also looked up at him.
There was a deep look in the man's eyes. After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "I'm going out. I'll come to see you tonight."
Wen Baozhu responded softly and watched the man open the door of the ward and leave.
After walking a short distance from the ward, Fu Lian took out his phone and called Yan.
Yan: "Mr. Fu?"
Fu Lian: "Don't show up in front of Wen Baozhu recently. If she contacts you actively, don't answer."
Yan understood immediately. "I understand."
At present, Wen Baozhu was still in the dark about what had happened in Fucheng, and this was a crucial stage for her to recover. How could she be hit by other things?
Yan: "Mr. Fu, there's another thing I need to report to you."
Fu Lian motioned for him to continue.
Yan: "This morning, Mrs. Li dismissed Uncle Lin."
Uncle Lin was the full - time driver of the Fu family. He had been working diligently for more than a decade. As long as the Fu family needed him, he would go through thick and thin, day and night.
Li Wenshu's sudden action against him must mean that she knew something or Uncle Lin had shown some flaws.
"And..." Yan hesitated a bit. "Mrs. Li asked me to tell you that you should find some time to go back to the old mansion recently."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Yan wasn't sure what his boss was thinking.
Fu Lian's expression was very calm. He didn't seem annoyed that his informant had been removed but rather calm.
He had expected this day to come, so he wasn't surprised.
The battle between him and his mother had already begun.
The hospital corridor was quiet. The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant after the floor had been mopped repeatedly.
Fu Lian said slowly, "Transfer Uncle Lin to the company as a full - time driver."
After all, Uncle Lin had served the Fu family for more than a decade. He should be given some kindness. Killing the donkey after it had done its work was not his style.
Knowing that his boss would show such kindness, Yan felt relieved. Then he asked, "What about the madam?"
Fu Lian pressed his temple with his fingers. "I'll go there later."
...
After Fu Lian left, Wen Baozhu took out her phone from under the pillow.
Apart from not being able to leave the hospital, Fu Lian didn't restrict her other freedoms, including contacting the outside world.
She swiped the screen. Her eyes skipped over the names in the address book and finally stopped slowly on Meng Peiyu.
She hesitated for a long time and finally made the call.
Meng Peiyu was also very surprised to suddenly receive Wen Baozhu's call.
Even though Fu Lian had blocked all the news about the rich man's yacht accident, if one wanted to find out, they could always get the information.
Moreover, someone fell into the sea, and then the news that Fang Yuan had been jilted by Fu Lian spread. It was hard not to associate the two things.
So Meng Peiyu first asked about her physical condition.
Wen Baozhu pursed her lips. "Everything is normal."
"That's good," Meng Peiyu said. She was used to being straightforward and wasn't good at gentle concern. She felt a bit awkward. "You called me... for something?"
"I'd like to ask Miss Meng for a favor," Wen Baozhu took a deep breath and said. "Could you help me book a flight ticket to Fucheng?"
She euphemistically described her current situation and said that she missed her family very much and wanted to go back and have a look.
Booking a flight ticket wasn't difficult, but Meng Peiyu was surprised that Wen Baozhu would ask her for help.
But after thinking about it, she could guess why Wen Baozhu had called her.
Wen Baozhu was in a huge golden cage. Everyone around her was either from Fu Lian's side or from the Fu family. Where could she find a reliable helper or friend?
Thinking of this, Meng Peiyu couldn't help but feel a bit more pity for her.
"Sure," she readily agreed. "Send me your permit or passport number, and I'll have someone book you a flight for tonight."
Wen Baozhu almost forgot that she was in Hong Kong and needed a permit or passport to go back to the mainland. Her mind must have been addled by the seawater.
But her documents were not with her.
Meng Peiyu let out an "ah" and looked a bit embarrassed. "Without the documents, you can't leave Hong Kong."
Wen Baozhu was well aware of this.
After hanging up the phone, Wen Baozhu got dressed and opened the door to go out.
As soon as she opened the door, two black - clad figures immediately appeared in front of her upon hearing the sound.
They stood with their hands behind their backs and legs apart.
"Miss Wen, do you need any help?"
They were the bodyguards arranged by Fu Lian at the ward door to protect and monitor her.