"About yesterday's matter, I know." Lu Shaodong interrupted him. "I was there."
Lu Yuan was taken aback.
Xia Lin's eyes darted, and she took over the conversation: "Shaodong, since you were there, you should be even clearer. That wedding turned into such a mess, and this girl immediately followed you. Who knows if she's..."
"Is what?" Lu Shaodong raised his eyes, exuding an icy aura all over his body.
The Old Madam slammed the table: "Enough! Second Brother's wife, stop being sarcastic here! Wantang is my grandson's wife, and the child in her belly is the Lu family's seed. Who has any objection?"
"Mom, we don't have objections." Second Uncle Lu smiled apologetically. "But we need to clarify this matter, right? Maybe... do a paternity test? After the child is born, test it, and everyone will be at ease."
Paternity test!?
Song Wantang's heart felt as if something had squeezed it hard.
Although she knew that the child in her belly was indeed Lu Shaodong's, being questioned to her face like this still made a sense of humiliation surge up.
Little Dumpling's voice carried anxiety and anger: "Mommy, how can they be like this... I am clearly Daddy's child... Hmph! These two bad people..."
Song Wantang pursed her lips, straightened her back, and said calmly, "Of course there's no problem."
"Second Uncle, since you doubt, let's make a bet. If the child is not mine, I, Lu Shaodong, will leave with nothing. I won't take a single cent of the Lu family's assets."
As soon as Lu Shaodong said that, the entire living room fell silent.
A faint smile curved at the corner of his lips: "But if the child is mine, Second Uncle, how do you intend to explain yourself?"
Lu Yuan's complexion changed.
He didn't expect Lu Shaodong to be so tough.
Leaving with nothing, not a single cent—what a huge stake that was?
He actually dared...
Xia Lin also panicked, laughing dryly to smooth things over: "Shaodong, what are you doing? We were just speaking casually; how could we actually test?"
Lu Shaodong's voice remained faint, "Aunt casually says something and wants to label my wife as coming from an unknown origin. As her husband, I can't let her suffer in vain."
Song Wantang lifted her head and looked at the tall man beside her.
His profile was cold and hard, his expression indifferent, but the words he had just said to defend her made her heart feel an indescribable emotion.
This man, even though he was only in a contract marriage with her, protected her flawlessly in such a situation.
Although she knew that he was probably protecting not her as a person, but the Lu family's face and his own dignity.
But that sense of security was real.
Little Dumpling's voice sounded, this time filled with admiration: "Mommy, Daddy is so cool! He is protecting us!"
Old Madam Lu watched this scene, the anger on her face gradually replaced by relief.
She looked at the second brother and his wife, and spoke coldly, "Hear that? Shaodong has laid down his words. If you still feel uneasy, test after the birth. After testing, if it really is Shaodong's seed, you two get the hell out of the old residence. From now on, you don't need to come back for holidays."
Lu Yuan's complexion turned completely white.
Xia Lin also panicked. "Mom, that's not what we meant... We were just overanxious, afraid that Shaodong had been deceived..."
"Enough." The Old Madam waved her hand impatiently. "Stop making a spectacle here. If there's nothing else, get lost. Don't get in my sight."
Xia Lin still felt very puzzled in her heart.
Lu Shaodong hasn't had a woman by his side in all these years. How could he suddenly have a wife who is over two months pregnant?
Originally, they had set up a "honeytrap" for Lu Shaodong, but he was very vigilant and didn't take the bait at all.
So now he brings a woman back, and she's pregnant.
How is that possible?
Unless—
Unless this child is simply not his.
After the child is born, as long as the test results come out, this woman's lie will collapse on its own.
By then, where will Lu Shaodong, the head of the Lu family, put his face?
No matter how biased the Old Madam is, she cannot tolerate a wild seed of unknown origin mixing into the Lu family bloodline.
Thinking of this, Xia Lin could barely suppress the corners of her mouth.
But upon hearing Old Madam Lu's words, Xia Lin's smile completely couldn't hold.
Lu Yuan lowered his head, with fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.
"Second son, I gave birth to you and raised you for decades. I never expected you to be so short-sighted. Shaodong is the head of the Lu family. Does he need you to question his marriage? Does he need you to doubt the bloodline of his child?"
Sweat drops rolled down Lu Yuan's forehead: "Mom, I..."
"Shut up." The Old Madam said coldly. "Don't mention this matter again in the future, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Xia Lin was anxious: "Mom! We also meant well..."
The Old Madam looked at her, her gaze sharp. "Do you think I don't know what you're up to? All those little schemes you've been pulling behind the scenes over the years, I've been turning a blind eye, too lazy to argue with you. But don't overreach yourself."
Xia Lin's face flushed bright red.
Lu Shaodong didn't speak; facts speak louder than words.
Old Madam Lu didn't look at them anymore; she took Song Wantang's hand and walked towards the dining room.
"Wantang, I had the kitchen stew some bird's nest soup for you, and also made many dishes. You should eat more."
"Thank you, Grandmother." Song Wantang was very touched.
Xia Lin watched their departing figures, her hands unconsciously clenching.
Isn't the Old Madam too biased?
She even protects a slut that others despise like this?
Xia Lin's chest felt blocked by a stone, unable to go up or down.
She had married into the Lu family for more than twenty years, diligently serving her mother-in-law, bearing and raising children, yet the Old Madam had always been lukewarm towards her.
But now, a woman of unknown origin, as soon as she entered the door, is being cherished by the Old Madam like the apple of her eye.
Why?
"Let's go." Lu Yuan tugged at her sleeve, lowering his voice. "Not enough embarrassment yet?"
Xia Lin shook off his hand and gave him a fierce glare.
Useless piece of crap.
Publicly slapped in the face by a junior, and he doesn't even dare to fart.
"Second Uncle, take care. By the way, Second Uncle's project in the southern city seems to have run into some trouble." Lu Shaodong spoke.
Lu Yuan's complexion changed.
"I heard from someone that the qualification approval procedures for that project have some irregularities." Lu Shaodong's tone remained faint. "If it gets investigated, I'm afraid it won't be as simple as just the project falling through."
Lu Yuan's lips began to tremble: "Shaodong, what do you mean by this?"
"Nothing much, just reminding Second Uncle to think about the consequences before acting."
Lu Yuan's complexion turned completely white.
Of course he knew what Lu Shaodong meant.
He had indeed tampered with that project and gone through connections he shouldn't have.
If it were discovered, at best a fine, at worst—he would face a lawsuit.
"Shaodong, Second Uncle understands." Lu Yuan hastily pulled Xia Lin and left.
Xia Lin was furious to the point of explosion.
Really a useless coward, can't even do anything without leaving a handle.
How did she set her eyes on him back then?
Hmph!
It seems she has to take action herself.
She can't let Song Wantang be complacent; otherwise, what about her own son in the future?
Song Wantang is just newly pregnant now. Pregnancy takes ten months. Who knows what might happen?
Whether this bastard child can even be born is still unknown.
Just wait!
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