In the dining room, Song Wantang had no idea what was happening outside.
She was seated by the Old Madam next to the main seat, with exquisite dishes laid out before her.
Braised pork elbow, steamed sea bass, bird's nest soup, and a pot of tenderly stewed chicken soup.
"Come on, eat more." The Old Madam personally served her food. "You're eating for two now, you need to nourish yourself. Look at you, so skinny—you need to fatten up a bit."
Song Wantang looked at the food in her bowl, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Grandma, it's too much, I can't finish it all..."
The Old Madam shot her a glare. "You think raising a child is that easy? Let me tell you, when I was pregnant with Shaodong's father, I could eat a whole chicken by myself..."
Lu Shaodong sat across from them, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"Mommy, Great-Grandma is so good to you!" Little Dumpling's voice was full of happiness. "With Great-Grandma here, we can strut around the Lu family from now on!"
Song Wantang couldn't help but curve the corner of her mouth.
This kid, why is he always thinking about strutting around?
"Oh, right." The Old Madam suddenly remembered something and put down her chopsticks to look at Lu Shaodong. "Shaodong, when are you planning to hold the wedding?"
Lu Shaodong's movements paused.
Song Wantang was also stunned.
Wedding?
"Grandma, we've already gotten the certificate," Lu Shaodong said.
"Getting the certificate is one thing, the wedding is another." The Old Madam said matter-of-factly. "How can the Lu family take a daughter-in-law without a proper announcement? Besides, Wantang is carrying a child. The sooner the wedding, the better—you can't wait until her belly is big, can you?"
Song Wantang was taken aback.
She and Lu Shaodong were only in a marriage of convenience; a wedding was something like that...
"Mommy!" Little Dumpling got excited again. "Wedding! Wedding dress! I want to see Mommy in a wedding dress! It'll be super pretty!"
Song Wantang silently thought to herself: Can you not be so excited?
"No!" Little Dumpling said with righteous indignation. "This is my parents' wedding! This only happens once in my life! Of course I'm excited!"
Song Wantang: "..."
This kid, why is he so dramatic?
Lu Shaodong glanced at Song Wantang, as if seeking her opinion.
Song Wantang pursed her lips and spoke, "Grandma, we're not holding a wedding for now, after all..."
She had just broken off her engagement with Shen Mozhou; who knew what rumors would spread by then?
Old Madam Lu immediately understood. She nodded sympathetically, "Good child, I'm sorry you've been wronged. Then we'll wait until you're both ready."
Song Wantang breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, Grandma."
Just as she finished speaking, her mobile phone suddenly rang.
Song Wantang looked down and saw three characters on the caller ID—
Shen Mozhou.
Song Wantang's brow furrowed slightly.
Song Wantang looked at the name jumping on the screen, her fingertips pausing.
Shen Mozhou.
She had thought this person would at least wait a few days before coming to her, but she didn't expect him to be so impatient.
"Mommy, don't answer!" Little Dumpling's voice immediately rang out, full of alertness. "That scumbag definitely has bad intentions! He must be coming to pester you for the shares!"
Song Wantang didn't rush to answer. She just looked at that name, her gaze darkening.
The Old Madam noticed her unusual expression. "Wantang, what's wrong? Who is it?"
"Nobody important." Song Wantang smiled and was about to hang up—
Suddenly, Lu Shaodong's hand reached over, his slender fingers taking the phone from her palm.
He glanced at the caller ID, his brow moving slightly.
Then, without hesitation, he pressed the answer button and switched on the speaker.
"Wantang!"
Shen Mozhou's urgent voice came from the receiver. "You finally answered! Where are you? Where did you go last night? I was so worried about you. Did Lu Shaodong do anything to you?"
Song Wantang's brow furrowed slightly.
This tone sounded like he was really worried about her.
If she didn't know the truth.
"Wantang, listen to me," Shen Mozhou's voice softened a few degrees. "I don't blame you for what happened yesterday. I know it was a momentary impulse. Come back, and let's talk it out properly. The wedding can be rearranged—whatever you want, it's fine..."
"Shen Mozhou, there's nothing to talk about between us." Song Wantang cut him off, her voice calm.
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"Wantang, don't be willful."
"Willful?" Song Wantang let out a light laugh. "Shen Mozhou, you still think I'm being willful?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"Then what do you mean?" Song Wantang interrupted him. "Are you trying to tell me you didn't drug me? Or that you didn't arrange for someone to ruin my innocence? Or that the child in Song Yurou's belly isn't yours?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
A long silence.
The Old Madam sat nearby, her complexion already darkening.
Although she didn't know all the details, the words "drugging" and "ruining innocence" were enough for her to understand what had happened.
Lu Shaodong leaned back in his chair, his expression still indifferent, but the fingers holding his teacup tightened slightly.
"Wantang." Shen Mozhou's voice sounded again, this time without any tenderness, instead carrying a hint of menace. "Are you sure you want to talk to me like this?"
He had already spoken nicely and tried to negotiate, yet she was pushing her luck?
"I'm sure."
"Fine." Shen Mozhou took a deep breath. "Then let me ask you—did you get the certificate with Lu Shaodong today?"
Because someone had seen it.
Song Wantang didn't speak.
"Hah." Shen Mozhou sneered. "Song Wantang, you're something else. Yesterday at the wedding, you told me you wouldn't go through with it, and today you can't wait to jump into someone else's bed. You really are cheap!"
"Shen Mozhou." Lu Shaodong suddenly spoke, his voice low but carrying an undeniable pressure.
There was an obvious pause on the other end of the line.
"President... President Lu?"
"Yeah, you just said she jumped into whose bed?" Lu Shaodong's voice was gloomy.
The sound of a slight gulp came from the other end of the line.
"President Lu, I didn't mean it that way."
"Then what did you mean?"
Shen Mozhou's voice was clearly panicked. "President Lu, there's some misunderstanding between Wantang and me. I just wanted to clear it up with her."
"Misunderstanding?" A faint smile curled at the corner of Lu Shaodong's mouth. "Then tell me, what misunderstanding?"
The other end of the line fell completely silent.
Only Shen Mozhou's heavy breathing could be heard.
"Shen Mozhou, you'd better stop pestering Wantang from now on. She is my wife now."
"President Lu—"
"Can't do it?" Lu Shaodong's tone was flat. "Then feel free to try, and see if the Shen family can withstand the consequences."
The call ended directly.
Clean and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
Song Wantang watched Lu Shaodong put the phone back on the table, an indescribable feeling surging up in her heart.
This man, with those words just now, had defended her at every turn.
He showed no sign of impatience, as if he were truly her husband.
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