"Good! Good! Good!" Old Madam Lu said three good words in a row. She stepped forward, grabbed Song Wantang's hand, "You're really pretty! This brat didn't lie to me after all."
Song Wantang was a little embarrassed by the praise.
She couldn't help but look at Lu Shaodong, and found his expression calm, as if he had expected it.
Old Madam pulled her hand and walked inside, chattering as she went: "Wantang a, let me tell you, if this brat dares to bully you, just tell me, I'll take care of him!"
Old Madam pulled Song Wantang's hand and walked inside, chattering as she went: "Wantang a, let me tell you, if this brat dares to bully you, just tell me, I'll take care of him!"
Song Wantang was a bit overwhelmed by this sudden enthusiasm, and could only nod repeatedly.
The Lu family's old residence was bigger than she had imagined. Passing through the hanging flower gate, a delicate courtyard came into view, with rockeries, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces.
Old Madam led her into the main hall, sat her down beside herself, and then ordered the servants to bring tea and snacks.
"Come, come, have some tea first." Old Madam looked at her with a smile, "What did you say your name was? Wantang? That's a nice name."
Just as Song Wantang was about to answer, Lu Shaodong had already sat down beside her and said blandly, "Grandma, she's pregnant."
The air instantly froze.
Old Madam's eyes widened, and finally her gaze landed on Song Wantang's still flat lower abdomen.
"You... what did you say?"
"Pregnant." Lu Shaodong repeated, "Over two months."
Plop—
Old Madam was so startled that the teacup in her hand tipped over onto the tea table.
She suddenly stood up, staring at Song Wantang's belly, her voice trembling: "Preg... pregnant?"
Song Wantang was startled by her reaction and instinctively nodded.
"Oh my!" Old Madam slapped her thigh, the wrinkles on her face blooming with delight, "Good heavens! I have a great-grandchild!"
She grabbed Song Wantang's hand, so excited that her eyes turned red: "Good child! You really are the great benefactor of our Lu family!"
Song Wantang: "..."
Was this reaction... a bit too much?
"Mommy, see, I told you!" Little Dumpling's voice was triumphant, "Great-grandma loves little kids!"
Old Madam had completely fallen into a frenzy of joy, pacing back and forth in the hall: "I need to have the nursery prepared, right, and also hire the best postpartum nanny, a nutritionist too, and..."
"Grandma." Lu Shaodong interrupted her, "It's still early."
"Early what!" Old Madam glared at him, "What do you know? Everything needs to be prepared in advance! And from today onward, you need to take good care of Wantang. If anything happens to my great-grandchild, I won't let you off!"
Lu Shaodong nodded calmly.
Old Madam pulled Song Wantang with a face full of loving kindness: "Wantang a, do you have any other family? I'll have someone go to your home to propose marriage properly later. This marriage can't be done carelessly..."
"Grandma." Lu Shaodong interrupted her again, "We've already registered for marriage."
Old Madam was stunned: "Registered? When?"
"Just now."
Old Madam was silent for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing: "Good, good, good! Good that you registered! You brat, you finally did something reliable!"
She looked at Song Wantang, liking her more and more: "This girl has good looks and a fortunate appearance. She looks like she can bear sons! Unlike those flirty types that are annoying to look at!"
Song Wantang smiled awkwardly.
"By the way, does your family know about your pregnancy?" Old Madam asked.
Song Wantang's smile froze slightly.
Family?
Her family—right now they were probably busy trying to trample her into the mud.
Old Madam, sharp as a tack, saw through it at a glance. Her smile faded a bit, "It's fine. Since you've married into the Lu family, from now on the Lu family is your home. If anyone dares to bully you, they'll have to deal with me, this old lady!"
A warmth surged up in Song Wantang's heart.
Although this was just a contract marriage, Old Madam's kindness was genuine.
"Thank you, Grandma."
As soon as she finished speaking, a slightly sharp voice came from the doorway.
"Oh, we have a guest at home?"
Song Wantang looked toward the sound and saw a middle-aged woman walking in gracefully, wearing a qipao and a pearl necklace around her neck.
Behind her followed a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes.
The woman's gaze fell on Song Wantang, looking her up and down, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
"So this is the girl Shaodong brought back?" She walked with a smile to Old Madam, "Mom, I heard Shaodong got married. You're joking, right?"
Xia Lin had many eyes and ears in the Lu family. The moment Song Wantang stepped into the Lu residence, she had received the news.
The warmth on Old Madam's face faded a few degrees: "Second daughter-in-law, you've come just in time. This is Wantang, Shaodong's wife."
Xia Lin's gaze swept over Song Wantang again, finally landing on her flat belly, her smile taking on a hint of something unreadable.
"I heard... she's pregnant?" She lowered her voice, but it was loud enough for everyone present to hear, "When did they meet? So fast? Young people these days, really..."
"Second Aunt." Lu Shaodong spoke blandly, his tone neither warm nor cold, "If you have something to say, say it directly."
Xia Lin was choked by his bluntness, her smile stiffening.
Second Uncle Lu Yuan stepped forward to smooth things over: "Shaodong, your second aunt just cares about you, no other meaning. But since we've come this far, there are some things I, as your uncle, need to ask clearly."
He looked at Song Wantang, his gaze scrutinizing: "Miss Song, right? We've all heard about last night's wedding. The incident between you and that Shen family boy caused quite a stir in the city. How come you suddenly married into our Lu family today?"
Song Wantang's heart sank.
Indeed, what was bound to come had come.
"Second son!" Old Madam's expression darkened, "What do you mean by that?"
"Mom, I have no other meaning. But our Lu family, after all, is a prominent family. Shaodong's marriage is a big deal, it can't be muddled through."
"This girl was still marrying someone else yesterday, and today she's pregnant and married to Shaodong. Isn't this... a bit too fast?"
He didn't say it outright, but the implication was clear.
The child—its origins were questionable.
Song Wantang's fingers tightened slightly.
Truly, one wave after another!
Little Dumpling's voice rang out, with some indignation: "Mommy! This bad guy is talking about me! His origins are questionable! His whole family's origins are questionable. I am Daddy's child, I am definitely his biological child!"
Song Wantang gently comforted him in her heart: Don't worry, Mommy knows.
Lu Shaodong picked up his teacup, his expression unchanged, his tone still calm: "Second Uncle's sources are quite fast."
Lu Yuan coughed lightly: "Shaodong, it's not that your uncle is meddling, but this matter concerns the Lu family's reputation and bloodline. Think about it, this girl was still in a wedding with Shen Mozhou yesterday, and today she..."
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