In the hotel's banquet hall, the atmosphere was lively with a mix of fragrances and elegant silhouettes.
Today was the grand day for Song Wantang to marry her boyfriend of five years, Shen Mozhou.
The Beijing Circle's elite had gathered, and everyone envied her for finding a good match.
At the wedding, the emcee asked in a spirited tone, "Beautiful Miss Song Wantang, are you willing to marry the handsome groom, Mr. Shen Mozhou, as your husband?"
Song Wantang shyly lowered her head, just about to agree when suddenly a childish voice of a little dumpling appeared out of nowhere.
"My silly mommy, don't agree. Shen Mozhou is a scumbag. He's marrying you for the company shares in your hands, and he's not my dad. My real dad is someone else."
"The child in your stepsister's belly belongs to that scumbag Shen Mozhou. Those two have been secretly together behind your back for a long time."
These two sentences directly stunned Song Wantang.
She froze on the stage, her fingers gripping the bouquet tightening slightly.
Was... the child speaking?
Song Wantang instinctively looked around.
The banquet hall was filled with guests, but there was no sign of a child.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at Shen Mozhou in front of her.
Shen Mozhou wore a proper smile, as if he hadn't heard those two sentences at all.
But she had clearly heard them loud and clear—
Could it be that she was hallucinating?
"Mommy, I'm in your belly. I've been waiting in line for so many years to get my turn to be reborn. Oh my dear mother, please pull yourself together."
Song Wantang was taken aback. Had she just heard the thoughts of the child in her womb?!
But how could a fetus have such a clear and logical inner monologue?
And also have the ability to foresee the future?
The entire audience was waiting for Song Wantang's answer, but she seemed frozen on the spot.
She found it all too absurd.
If the child in her belly wasn't Shen Mozhou's, then whose was it?
She had never cheated.
The next second, as if sensing something, the childish voice sounded again.
"Mommy, you've been deceived! That scumbag has already cheated on you. He's using you now. After you get married, he'll use all kinds of means to torment you until you wish you were dead."
"Quickly call out to my dad for help. Yes, it's that man under the stage who's the most handsome, with the most power and status."
Song Wantang's heart raced.
Her gaze uncontrollably swept across the audience.
That dignified man sat in the most prominent spot at the main guest table. He was Lu Shaodong.
The Beijing Circle big shot whom no one dared to provoke, ascetic and cold, yet ruthless in his methods.
He wore a tailored black suit, his wristwatch reflecting a cold glint under the lights.
His features were deep, with high brow bones and slightly pursed thin lips, exuding an aura that kept people at a distance.
Even though he was sitting there, he seemed out of place in this wedding.
Song Wantang glanced over and accidentally met his icy gaze. Her heart skipped a beat.
She knew him, just like everyone knew him—from the covers of financial magazines, business forum news, and all those legends about his ability to turn the world upside down.
But she had never had any connection with him.
How could she call out to him for help?
"Good little baby, do you know who he is? He's the top-notch president of Lu Corporation. I know you dislike Shen Mozhou and want to find a rich and powerful dad, but you can't just claim any father!"
"Besides, Lu Zhaodong is known as the Beijing Circle big shot. He has no women around him. How could you possibly be his child?"
The little dumpling's voice sounded again, tinged with urgency. "Mommy, believe me. He really is my dad. Only my dad can save you! He's right there. Quickly call out to him for help."
"But..."
"Don't you remember what happened three months ago when you woke up in the hotel?"
Song Wantang was startled. She remembered.
"That scumbag and your stepsister teamed up to trick you into going to the hotel. They originally wanted to find someone to ruin your innocence and gain leverage over you, but you went into the wrong room..."
"The person lying next to you at that time was my dad, Lu Shaodong."
"What? It was him? I always thought it was Shen Mozhou."
Song Wantang tightened her grip on the bouquet, her palms sweating slightly.
The scene from three months ago flooded back into her mind like a tidal wave—
That night, Shen Mozhou said he had an important client to meet and told her to wait at the Qifeng Club.
She went, drank a glass of wine, and then her consciousness began to blur.
She remembered leaning against the wall as she walked out of the private room. The lights in the corridor were blinding. She pushed open a door—
And then...
She tried hard to recall the details of that night, but could only capture some vague fragments—
The intertwining breaths in the darkness.
A burning palm pressed against her waist.
And the low, restrained gasps in her ear.
Was that Lu Shaodong?
The one known as the Beijing Circle big shot, who never had women around him—Lu Shaodong?
When she woke up the next day, she was lying in a strange room. There was no one beside her, and her whole body felt as if it had been run over.
She thought Shen Mozhou had left first on business, so she quickly dressed and left as well.
She had always believed the person she had been intimate with was Shen Mozhou, because he was the one who arranged it.
So...
"Mommy, you remember now?" The little dumpling's voice was cheerful. "That night was quite something! My dad normally doesn't get close to women, but he was drugged. Just then, you hugged him and kissed him, so the two of you were like dry wood meeting a flame..."
The little dumpling giggled. "I can't say what happened after that. If I do, mommy will be too shy to death!"
Song Wantang's face suddenly turned red.
She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Was she that bold when she was drunk?
On stage, Shen Mozhou's affectionate expression was starting to waver. He urged softly, "Wantang, everyone is waiting."
Below the stage, the guests began to whisper among themselves.
The emcee awkwardly held the microphone and repeated the question.
"Miss Song Wantang, are you willing to marry Mr. Shen Mozhou?"
Seeing that Song Wantang was still in a daze, Shen Mozhou comforted her gently, "Wantang, what's wrong? Are you nervous? Don't worry, once you become my wife, I'll spoil you to the skies. I'll do my best to make you happy."
"Mommy, don't believe his sweet talk. He's marrying you for the company shares your grandfather left you. Once you're of no use, he'll kick you to the curb."
Song Wantang gasped.
She lifted her head and looked at Shen Mozhou.
This man, she had loved for five years.
In those five years, she thought she knew him, trusted him, and was even willing to put on a wedding dress for him.
But it turned out it had all been a lie from beginning to end.
Song Wantang said loudly and firmly, "I don't!"
Those four words rang out clearly.
The entire venue erupted in shock.
The gentle smile on Shen Mozhou's face froze, as if he had been slapped hard.
He stared at Song Wantang with wide eyes, unable to believe it. "Wantang, what did you say?"
"I said, I don't." Song Wantang looked at him, enunciating each word. "Shen Mozhou, this wedding is canceled."
"Are you crazy?" Shen Mozhou's expression instantly darkened. He instinctively reached out to grab her wrist. "Wantang, don't make a scene. There are so many guests watching—"
"Don't touch me."
Song Wantang stepped back, guarding her lower abdomen.
That movement made Shen Mozhou's eyes even more sinister.
"Wantang, whatever it is, let's talk about it after the wedding..."
"Mommy, don't be soft-hearted. Kick this scumbag to the curb right now, then go after my handsome and wealthy dad. Otherwise, you'll regret it."
"This scumbag is after your property. Later, he'll torture you to death. My dear mommy, I don't want to die. I still want to see this beautiful world."
"I won't marry him!" Song Wantang declared loudly.
The child in her belly wouldn't lie to her. He said Shen Mozhou was a scumbag, so she definitely couldn't marry him!
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