Lu Shaodong put down his wine glass.
His movements were slow, but they gave off a sense of oppression.
Then he spoke, his voice as if laced with ice shards: "Whoever said that, let them say it to my face."
Zhou Jin was stunned.
Lu Shaodong continued, "Gossiping behind my back, what kind of person does that?"
He stood up, looking down at everyone present, his gaze as calm as a deep pool.
"My wife, Lu Shaodong's wife — anyone who touches a single hair on her head is crossing me."
Having said that, his tone returned to its usual indifference: "I'll head off now. You all carry on."
"Hey, Brother Dong, it's still early, why are you leaving?" Zhou Jin subconsciously called out to him.
Lu Shaodong didn't even turn his head: "Someone's waiting at home."
The door closed.
The private room was quiet for a long while.
Zhou Jin looked at the door, then at the others, and finally picked up his glass, downed it in one gulp, and sighed:
"Well, Lu Shaodong has really fallen for someone."
"Yeah, Brother Dong has fallen into the river of love?"
"Am I dreaming? Slap me. Brother Dong, the guy least likely to get married, actually got married?"
Zhou Jin pursed his lips, looking thoughtful.
He suddenly became a bit curious about Song Wantang.
What methods did this woman use to make Brother Dong defend her like this?
This is big news!
.....
When Lu Shaodong got home, it was already almost ten at night.
In the living room, only one floor lamp was left on, the light soft and warm.
He changed his shoes and walked in, seeing Song Wantang curled up on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket, holding a book in her hand, asleep with her head tilted.
On the coffee table was a glass of milk that had already gone cold.
Zhang Ma came out of the kitchen and said quietly, "Sir, you're back? Madam waited for you a long time. I advised her several times but she wouldn't listen. She got too sleepy and fell asleep."
Lu Shaodong nodded, signaling Zhang Ma to go rest.
He walked over to the sofa.
Song Wantang was sleeping soundly, breathing evenly. Perhaps she was having a good dream, the corners of her lips slightly raised.
Lu Shaodong's gaze instantly softened. He bent down and gently picked Song Wantang up.
Song Wantang hummed drowsily, instinctively shrinking closer into his arms.
Lu Shaodong's movements paused.
The person in his arms was very light, which made him inexplicably frown.
He carried her to the bedroom and gently laid her on the bed.
As soon as Song Wantang touched the bed, she turned over, murmured something indistinct, and fell back asleep.
Lu Shaodong stood by the bed watching her for a while, then reached out to pull the blanket over her.
His gaze fell on her flat lower abdomen, stopping for two seconds.
Then he walked out with light steps.
.....
The next morning, when Song Wantang woke up, she found herself lying in bed, with no recollection of how she got upstairs the night before.
Then she looked down at herself.
Her clothes were the same as last night, she was covered with a blanket, and the pillow was neatly arranged.
She remembered waiting for Lu Shaodong to come home on the sofa.
After all, he was her husband in name.
She was reading Song Corporation's documents while waiting, and it seemed she fell asleep.
After becoming pregnant, she was very short on sleep.
She had no memory of when she fell asleep.
So did Lu Shaodong carry her up?
This thought popped up, and her ears inexplicably felt warm.
"Mommy!" Little Dumpling's voice rang out at just the right moment, as excited as if discovering a new continent. "Daddy carried you up! I could feel it! Daddy is so gentle! He was so careful when he held you! Oh my! I feel like Daddy really loves Mommy!"
Song Wantang: "...Baby, that's your illusion."
Little Dumpling retorted confidently, "It's not an illusion, Mommy. Your ears are red!"
Song Wantang subconsciously touched her ears.
They were indeed a bit hot.
She took a deep breath, preparing to get up, deciding not to think about it.
Contract marriage.
Each takes what they need.
Can't overthink it.
She repeated this silently while washing up.
When she came down to the dining room, she saw Lu Shaodong was still at home.
In front of him was a cup of black coffee.
Song Wantang pursed her lips, then greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Lu."
Lu Shaodong looked up, nodded lightly, "Mm, sit down and have breakfast."
Song Wantang sat down, took a glass of milk and an egg.
Suddenly Lu Shaodong spoke, "Don't wait for me from now on. Go to bed earlier."
Song Wantang was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."
She thought to herself, did he think she was causing him trouble?
Little Dumpling immediately acted as a mediator, "Mommy, Daddy is just feeling sorry for you. He doesn't want you to work too hard."
Song Wantang: "...You know everything?"
"Of course," Little Dumpling replied smugly.
"Oh, right. For this weekend's charity gala, I'll arrange for someone to do your styling. Don't worry," Lu Shaodong said.
"Okay." Song Wantang nodded.
That was even better. This was the first time she was attending a banquet as Mrs. Lu, and she was also worried about embarrassing Lu Shaodong.
"Mm, if you go anywhere, have the driver take you," Lu Shaodong instructed.
After that, he finished his coffee and went out.
Song Wantang finished breakfast and planned to continue reading the documents.
Suddenly, an urgent phone ring sounded.
Caller — Song Changfeng.
Song Wantang furrowed her brow. Such a sticky plaster.
She hesitated for a moment, then still answered the phone, but didn't speak, remaining silent.
Song Changfeng's voice rang out with dissatisfaction and scolding, "Cat got your tongue? Why aren't you speaking?"
"Do you have something to say?" Song Wantang said coldly, not even wanting to call him "Dad."
After all, the things Song Changfeng had done to her over the years were enough to make her heart grow cold.
Upon hearing this, Song Changfeng felt very uncomfortable in his heart. Wasn't he her dad?
What kind of attitude was this?
Being so cold and distant to her own father?
"What? No mouth? Don't know how to address people?" Song Changfeng said angrily.
"If you have something to say, say it, or I'll hang up." Song Wantang didn't want to hear another word from him.
Calling definitely meant no good.
"You... your mother still has a lot of things stored in the attic. If you want them, come back and get them. If not, I'll throw them all away." Song Changfeng suppressed his anger, his voice somewhat stiff as he spoke.
Hearing this, Song Wantang slightly furrowed her brow.
Mom's things?
Right, they had taken her mother's jewelry box before, which contained some jewelry and some of her mother's personal belongings.
At this time, Song Changfeng suddenly called, asking her to come back and get them. The matter was probably not simple.
Previously, when she had asked Song Changfeng many times, he had brushed her off and dismissed her with a few words.
Those things had been taken by Zhou Huiru and her daughter. They weren't afraid of feeling disgusted, were they?
Now they were actively asking her to come get them — it was obviously a trap.
But even so, Song Wantang still agreed, "Okay, I'll go back at noon."
"Mommy, they are deliberately tricking you into going back. Don't fall for it," Little Dumpling yelled anxiously.
Song Wantang gently stroked her belly, "It's okay, I'll be careful."
Song Changfeng, hearing that Song Wantang would go back, breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, come back as soon as possible."
✦✦✦