Jin Yu raised her head to look at him and quickly shook it. “…No, it was a sudden brake. The seatbelt wasn’t fastened properly just now.”
Meng Jinyan raised an eyebrow, unconcerned. “Did you not fasten it on purpose?”
Jin Yu: “…”
The driver hurriedly apologized, “Young Master, a child suddenly appeared in front of us just now. I’m sorry for startling you.”
To Jin Yu’s surprise, Meng Jinyan didn’t seem particularly displeased. He simply asked in a calm tone, “Is everyone alright?”
“Yes, yes. Her grandmother has already taken her away.”
The minor incident quickly passed. This time, Jin Yu didn’t sit opposite Meng Jinyan but instead took the seat beside him. Afraid of any more mishaps, she checked her seatbelt several times after fastening it.
She was terrified of another “throwing herself into his arms” incident.
Meng Jinyan noticed all her little actions. Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest, he suddenly remembered something.
She wanted to thank him, and he did have something she could offer as a token of gratitude. “From now on, we’ll sleep in the bed together.”
His words were so abrupt that Jin Yu instinctively wanted to say “Huh?” But remembering the strength of his pinch on her cheek at the hospital, she swallowed the word back. “Why?”
Meng Jinyan didn’t look at her and simply closed his eyes to rest.
“The sofa is uncomfortable.”
Jin Yu: “…”
In the two seconds of her silence, he added, “Consider this your thank-you gift to me.”
This time, Jin Yu was completely speechless.
The words she hadn’t even spoken were nipped in the bud by him just like that.
The soreness in her back and waist from this morning still lingered. She had already planned to tell him tonight that they needed to sleep separately, but she never expected him to make the request first.
And he even used “thank-you gift” as the reason.
This left her with no face to refuse.
After all, if it weren’t for his help earlier, who knows what might have happened to Xiao Qi today.
Thinking of this, she could only swallow her bitterness in silence.
For now, the only thing she could do was discuss his sleeping posture with him.
The two of them registered their marriage directly at the manor. In just over ten minutes, they were officially married, their names now side by side on a red certificate.
After signing, Meng Jinyan received a phone call. Whatever the person on the other end said, his expression turned grim.
As he was leaving, he tossed a card to her. “Betrothal gift.”
Jin Yu: “…”
While putting on his coat, Meng Jinyan added, “It’s my supplementary card. No spending limit. For you to use.”
Even as he reached the door, Jin Yu was still staring blankly at the black-and-gold supplementary card in her hand. She realized that Meng Jinyan seemed to have many sides to him, but hadn’t he been quite disdainful of her?
How did he still remember Zhang Ru’s words?
Just as she was puzzling over this, the man who had reached the door turned back and added expressionlessly, “Remember, the betrothal gift is for you. Don’t foolishly spend it on your scheming uncle’s family.”
Jin Yu nodded slowly. “Okay.”
In the afternoon, Old Mrs. Meng took her to see the bridal chamber. When the door opened, everything was uniformly red. In short, it could be summed up in two words: festive.
But that night, Meng Jinyan didn’t return.
According to Old Madam, important company information had been leaked, and he was now working overnight to catch the mole and reorganize things.
On the first night after their marriage, she spent it alone in the new room.
Because of his absence, she actually slept very peacefully. At the very least, she didn’t have to worry about someone wrapping their arms and legs around her.
But this was merely the calm before the storm.
Meanwhile, at the Lin family home.
Upon learning who Jin Yu had managed to attach herself to, Zhang Ru was consumed with jealousy. “Why? Why does that wretched girl have such good fortune? The Meng family—that’s a true wealthy dynasty! Every family in the capital looks up to them. That worthless girl has nothing—how could the Meng family possibly take a liking to her?”
Sitting beside her, Lin Qianqian curled her lips in disdain. “What else could it be? Of course, it’s because she’s so skilled at using her seductive tricks. Mom, didn’t you already say it? She’s now carrying the eldest young master Meng’s child.”
Hearing this, Lin Rui, who had remained silent until now, slammed the table and stood up. “What? She’s really pregnant with Meng Jinyan’s child?”
Being family, they all knew exactly what Lin Rui was thinking. Zhang Ru shot him a sharp glare. “You’d even take a fancy to that slut? Lin Rui, I think you’re truly desperate.”
Lin Qianqian chimed in, “Exactly, Brother. I really don’t understand what goes through you men’s minds, all liking these innocent-looking flowers. Don’t you know that such flowers are nothing but whores?”
After that, the two siblings went on and on about the topic.
Zhang Ru, annoyed by the noise, suddenly shouted, “Both of you, quiet down! Now that that slut has found a backer, it’ll be much harder for us to control her in the future. Oh, forget controlling her—just look at what she did to me today, the state she left me in.”
The siblings had witnessed her miserable condition that day.
Thinking that they might end up in a similar situation in the future, both siblings wore unpleasant expressions.
After a moment of silence among the three, Lin Qianqian suggested, “Mom, since Jin Yu is relying on the child in her womb to climb up, if she were to miscarry, the Meng family would surely discard her like trash.”
Lin Rui nodded. “Exactly, Mom. We just need to get rid of the child in her belly. Once the Meng family kicks her out, we can send her off to accompany Boss Huang.”
Zhang Ru took their words to heart.
Given the current situation, this indeed seemed like the best plan. In any case, Jin Yu should not dream of rising from a branch to become a phoenix. Even if she managed to fly up, they would drag her back down.
A lowly person should live a lowly life!
“Right now, she’s extremely wary of me. Trying to lure her out won’t be an easy task.”
Lin Qianqian clung to her arm, offering a strategy:
“Mom, if you can’t do it, there’s still Dad. That dead girl Jin Yu cares deeply about the whereabouts of her biological father, doesn’t she? Have Dad use that as an excuse to invite her out. Once she shows up, we won’t have to worry about getting rid of the child in her belly.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ru burst into maniacal laughter.
“Truly my daughter, born of Zhang Ru! Your mind works fast. We’ll do as you say—invite her out tomorrow.”
Early the next morning.
While Jin Yu was halfway through washing up, she received a call from her uncle, Lin Hai. The man’s voice on the other end was gentle.
“Xiao Yu, have you eaten yet?”
Jin Yu set down her towel, her tone indifferent. “What is it?”
The only reason she was still answering Lin Hai’s calls now was because, back when Jin Qi had a high fever as a child, he had braved heavy rain to take him to the hospital. Otherwise, she might not have picked up this call.
Knowing she didn’t welcome his presence, Lin Hai didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point. “I heard from your aunt that you got married and registered yesterday. Since you’re married now, your mother’s dowry should be handed over to you for safekeeping. I know your mother made you promise before she died to find your biological father. Among these dowry items, there might be some useful information. Let me know when you can come pick them up.”
Jin Yu barely hesitated before replying, “I have time today.”
“Alright, let’s meet at the café then.”
As she was leaving after breakfast, the butler considerately asked, “Young Madam, where are you headed? Should I arrange for a driver?”
Jin Yu thanked him gently, “I’m going to meet my uncle to pick up something. I’ve already called a car. Thank you, Uncle Meng, but it’s not necessary.”
Meanwhile, at the café.
Zhang Ru, holding her waist, instructed, “Later, all of you need to act convincingly. If anything goes wrong…”
After giving her instructions, she entered a private room. “A Rui, is everything arranged at the hospital?”
Lin Rui smiled smugly, “Mom, you can trust me to handle things.”
About twenty minutes later, Jin Yu arrived at the café.
When she got there, Lin Hai was cleaning his glasses. Sitting across from him, she noticed his reddened eyes.
Jin Yu greeted him indifferently, “Uncle.”
Seeing her, Lin Hai hurriedly put on his glasses and offered a gentle smile. “Xiao Yu, you’re here. What would you like to drink?”
“No need. I’m just here to collect my mother’s dowry.”
Hearing this, Lin Hai deliberately choked up. “Xiao Yu, I know everything. It’s my fault for not taking good care of you and Xiao Qi. I’ve let your mother down.”
Whether these words were sincere or not, Jin Yu saw right through them, but she didn’t expose him.
She waited until his act was becoming awkward before speaking up.
“Give me my mother’s dowry. After that, I’ll be completely done with your family. My mother doesn’t need your apology, and I don’t need you to cover Grandma’s medical expenses or her future living costs.”
To Lin Hai, her words felt like a slap in the face. His expression visibly darkened as she spoke.
But for the sake of today’s plan, he had to hold back. “Xiao Yu, what nonsense are you talking about?”
As he spoke, he poured her a glass of water. “If you don’t want coffee, have some water then.”
His repeated insistence on her drinking finally made Jin Yu sense something was off.
Staying alert, she noticed the café was eerily quiet. Aside from four staff members at the counter, there were no other customers. She then glanced around Lin Hai and realized there were no documents or boxes in sight.
If he was really here to give her her mother’s dowry, why would he have nothing with him?
This was a trap.
Realizing this, she quickly stood up. “Since you’re not here to give me my mother’s dowry, we have nothing more to discuss.”
But before she could take more than a few steps, Lin Hai grabbed her viciously, his eyes wide with rage. “You’re just like your mother—utterly despicable!”
His furious shout caused the door of the private room to swing open.
Instantly, three smug faces came into view.