"Miss Song, are you awake?" It was Zhang Ma's voice.
Song Wantang answered and got up to open the door.
Zhang Ma stood at the door with a warm smile: "Miss Song, the master asked me to ask you, what would you like for breakfast? The kitchen has everything, just say the word."
Song Wantang was flattered: "No need to go to any trouble, something simple will do."
"That won't do." Zhang Ma said with a laugh, "You're not alone now, you need to nourish yourself well. The master specifically instructed that the meals should be prepared according to a pregnant woman's diet."
Song Wantang was slightly taken aback.
Did Lu Shaodong give those instructions?
"Mommy, see, Dad is actually very thoughtful!" Little Dumpling got excited again, "He's just reserved—he doesn't say much, but in his heart he really cares about you!"
Song Wantang lowered her eyes, her mood somewhat complicated.
She followed Zhang Ma downstairs and found that Lu Shaodong was already sitting in the dining room.
He was wearing a dark gray loungewear, which made him look less sharp than the men in suits and leather shoes from last night, and more relaxed.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and glanced over.
"Awake?"
Song Wantang nodded: "Good morning."
"Sit down."
Song Wantang sat down across from him, and Zhang Ma soon brought out breakfast.
Exquisite congee, a few side dishes, and a cup of warm milk.
"I didn't know Miss Song's tastes, so I prepared a bit of everything." Zhang Ma said with a smile, "Please try them. If you don't like them, I'll make something else."
"Thank you, I like them all."
Song Wantang picked up the spoon and looked down to drink the congee.
The atmosphere was strangely harmonious.
"Mom, take a good look at Dad!" Little Dumpling fanned the flames again, "He looks so handsome today! Look at his profile, his eyelashes, his fingers..."
Song Wantang silently interrupted him in her heart: Can you just eat your meal properly?
"I don't need to eat!" Little Dumpling said righteously, "I have to help Mom scout the enemy's situation!"
Song Wantang: "..."
Enemy situation?
"Right! Dad is such a high-quality man; there must be plenty of fox spirits coveting him! Mom needs to strike first!"
Song Wantang almost choked on her congee.
"Eat slowly." Came Lu Shaodong's voice from across the table.
Little Dumpling's voice rang out again, "Mommy, Dad is looking at you! He must think you're pretty!"
Song Wantang decided to ignore this child.
As breakfast was almost finished, Lu Shaodong put down his tablet and looked at her.
"About last night, what are your plans?"
Song Wantang was taken aback: "What plans?"
Lu Shaodong's tone was calm, "How do you plan to face the Song Family and the Shen Family today?"
Song Wantang was silent for a moment.
To be honest, she hadn't thought it through yet.
That farce at the wedding had probably already spread throughout Jing City by now.
The Shen Family wouldn't let it go easily, and as for the Song Family... that stepmother of hers was surely already thinking of ways to trample her into the mud.
Song Wantang held the milk cup, her fingertips tightening slightly.
Yes, after today, she would have to face those wolves and tigers.
"Mommy, don't be afraid! With Dad here, he won't let anyone bully you!" Little Dumpling's voice came at just the right time, full of blind confidence.
Song Wantang lowered her eyes.
Lu Shaodong's gaze paused on her lowered eyelashes.
"I have a proposal." He suddenly spoke.
Song Wantang looked up, slightly startled.
"Let's have a marriage of convenience."
Song Wantang was stunned.
"What?"
Lu Shaodong leaned back slightly, resting against the chair back.
His posture carried a hint of laziness, but his eyes were sharp.
"You're carrying my child, and I won't shirk my responsibility. But you also know the situation in the Lu Family. For a woman to suddenly appear by my side, pregnant, there needs to be a reasonable explanation."
Song Wantang listened without speaking.
"My family elders have been pressuring me to get married lately." Lu Shaodong's tone was flat, as if discussing a business deal. "If I say I'm already married and have a child, they should be quite satisfied."
Old Madam Lu had already put the word out to get Lu Shaodong married: as long as it was female.
Lu Shaodong hadn't dared to go back to the Old Residence lately.
Song Wantang understood.
Mutual benefit.
He needed a nominal wife to deal with his family, and she needed his protection to deal with the Shen Family and the Song Family.
Especially that patent authorization she had given to Shen Mozhou, which had two months left.
That was a project she had worked on with her advisor during her graduate studies, and the patent was eventually registered under her name.
Shen Mozhou was still her boyfriend at the time, and he said he wanted to use that patent to negotiate a government project. Without a second thought, she signed the authorization agreement.
Now that they had fallen out, she naturally wanted to take back that authorization.
And sixty percent of Shen Mozhou's company's business depended on that government project.
Song Wantang looked up at Lu Shaodong, "And I need a backer, so that Shen Mozhou won't dare to play tricks on me regarding the patent."
Lu Shaodong's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"You hold a patent?"
Song Wantang said lightly, "Mm, the core technology of Shen Mozhou's company is based on my patent. If I don't renew the contract, his company won't last six months."
Lu Shaodong looked at her, his gaze taking on a hint of scrutiny.
This woman, whom he had thought was at the end of her rope at the wedding, actually held Shen Mozhou's lifeline in her hands?
"Mommy!" Little Dumpling's voice got excited again, "You never told me you were so awesome! I'm going to show off to others from now on!"
Song Wantang silently thought to herself: I'm just a technician.
Lu Shaodong withdrew his gaze, his tone still calm: "Since that's the case, you need a status even more."
"Status?"
"The identity of Mrs. Lu will be enough to keep Shen Mozhou from daring to touch your patent." He said.
Song Wantang was silent for a few seconds.
He was right.
With the Shen Family's position in Jing City, going up against the Lu Family meant they would only be crushed.
"Mommy! Agree quickly!" Little Dumpling was so excited his voice cracked, "A marriage of convenience is still a marriage! A waterside pavilion gets the moonlight first! From now on, you'll be the rightful Mrs. Lu!"
Song Wantang silently thought: Can't you be a little more reserved?
"No!" Little Dumpling said righteously, "I've finally found Dad, so of course I have to help Mom snag him!"
Song Wantang took a deep breath and looked at Lu Shaodong.
"Mr. Lu, do you mean we have a fake marriage?"
"Yes."
"What's the term?"
"After the child is born, if you want to end it, you can at any time." Lu Shaodong said, "I'll give you a sum of money, enough for you and the child to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."
Song Wantang was silent for a few seconds.
This condition sounded very tempting.
She would have a backer, the child would have a legitimate status, and Lu Shaodong would solve his marriage pressure problem.
Each takes what they need, no debts between them.
Song Wantang curved her lips: "Alright, I agree."
Lu Shaodong nodded and stood up: "I'll have the lawyer prepare the agreement. We'll go get the marriage certificate today."
"Today?"
"Problem?"
Song Wantang shook her head.
Indeed, the sooner the better.
She needed the identity of Mrs. Lu to shut those people up.
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