After taking off her nightgown, Shen Yunli changed into a proper outfit and went downstairs.
Old Master Fu was traditional. He disliked modern villas and Western-style mansions, choosing instead to live in the ancestral residence passed down through generations.
The Fu family descendants were filial. They had renovated the old house, and the entire extended family lived together, accompanying the old master and enjoying family life.
Of course, the old master wasn’t rigid. The younger generation all had their own private spaces, and he allowed them to move out if they wished. There was no need for everyone to gather for meals every day.
That would be too exhausting and might even breed resentment. He only required that the family gather once a week; otherwise, everyone was free to arrange their own time.
Today happened to be the weekly family banquet.
Shen Yunli was skilled at pleasing others. Today, she wore a smoky blue qipao with a strong classical charm. Her black hair was pinned up with a simple hairpin, perfectly matching the aesthetic preferences of the old master and Madam Fu—Fu Linchuan’s mother.
She first went to the main house, where the old master was drinking tea. Seeing her outfit, he praised her a few times and felt even more satisfied with this future granddaughter-in-law.
“Linchuan is truly fortunate.”
Shen Yunli smiled shyly and began pushing the old master’s wheelchair toward the main hall. “Grandpa, I’ll accompany you to the main hall.”
The old master was advanced in age, and the residence was large, so he usually relied on a wheelchair. Naturally, Shen Yunli was eager to take on such a task.
Along the way, she chatted about topics he enjoyed, telling amusing anecdotes tailored to his interests, making him laugh heartily.
By the time they reached the main hall, most people had already arrived. Seeing the old master, they all stepped forward to greet him.
Fu Linchuan was still irritated about her earlier attempt to seduce him and felt displeased. But with the old master present, he had to put on a show.
He forced a smile and stepped forward to help the old master into his seat.
However, he carefully avoided any physical contact with Shen Yunli, acting as if he were some chaste gentleman—as though even a touch from her would taint him.
Sitting beside him, Yunli: “…”
In her mind, she muttered to Huahua, “Idiot.”
The polite little Huahua thoughtfully censored the insult.
The Fu family was large and prosperous. With everyone gathered, the atmosphere was lively. Drawing on the original host’s memories, Yunli matched each person to their identity.
At that moment, a bodyguard pushed a man in a wheelchair into the hall.
The man had black gauze covering his eyes. He had a high nose bridge, thin lips gently pressed together, and large hands resting casually on his thighs.
Yunli whispered to Huahua, “Huahua, this is Fu Qiwen? Linchuan’s uncle?”
According to Shen Yunli’s memories, there was nothing wrong with Fu Qiwen’s legs. He used a wheelchair simply because his blindness made it more convenient.
His blindness wasn’t congenital. It was said to have been caused by an accident half a year ago. He had been undergoing treatment ever since, but unfortunately, there had been no improvement.
Huahua nodded, confused as to why her host was interested in the story’s main antagonist. “What is it? Will he affect our mission?”
Yunli curled her lips. “Don’t you think he’s… kind of hot?”
With such a restrained, ascetic face—if it were tinged with desire, those controlled features breaking into something blurred and indulgent… just imagining it made Yunli feel excited.
“Hot?”
Huahua was even more confused. The villain was… hot? She hadn’t even tasted him—how would she know?
Unable to make sense of it, Huahua gave up thinking about it.
It tried to redirect Yunli’s attention. “Did you see? The bodyguard pushing the villain’s wheelchair—that’s your future lover! You two will be getting together very soon!”
Yunli: …
“Lover”—what an awful term. But then again, she wasn’t exactly a good person in this story, so it fit.
She casually sized up the bodyguard who was supposed to become her “partner.”
His skin was dark, his features ordinary—someone who would be forgotten immediately in a crowd.
The only striking thing about him was his overly exaggerated muscles.
Yunli had no doubt that if he pinned her against a wall, it wouldn’t be a “wall slam”—it would be a hole smashed into the wall.
A single slap from him wouldn’t be a joke.
Yunli didn’t pay him much attention. Instead, she asked Huahua for detailed information about Fu Qiwen.
Huahua didn’t understand. “Shouldn’t you be asking for the bodyguard’s information? According to the plot, you’ll be involved with him.”
“Since the mission is for me to get pregnant,” Yunli said with a smile, “there’s no rule saying it has to be the bodyguard.”
“I actually think this Uncle Fu is a pretty good option.”
Huahua: “Huh?!?!!”
Its worldview as a flower collapsed.
As the saying goes, “To die beneath a peony is to die a romantic death.” If she had to die according to the original plot, then dying under a man like Fu Qiwen—a lofty, untouchable figure—wouldn’t be such a loss.
Besides, if she chose a different path, would she necessarily still die?
That… wasn’t certain.
Huahua felt a little uneasy, but it chose to trust its host. It gathered the villain’s information and transmitted it to her.
While lowering her head to sip soup, Yunli reviewed Fu Qiwen’s detailed profile in her mind.
When she saw a certain piece of data, she gave a satisfied, light cough.
Fu Qiwen truly lived up to the title of “big villain.”
The atmosphere at the Fu family table was pleasant, with everyone chatting casually. Shen Yunli served the old master a bowl of soup and said with a smile:
“Grandpa, I remember your routine check-up is in three days. Would you like me to accompany you?”
The old master took a sip of the soup and nodded approvingly. “Of course. That’s very thoughtful of you, child.”
Fu Linchuan, who had just picked up some shredded pork in garlic sauce, glanced at Shen Yunli with disdain.
This woman was truly scheming. To please his family, she would use any means necessary.
Even insisting on accompanying his grandfather to a check-up—what was the point? There were already bodyguards and doctors.
She was just putting on a show.
Not only that—she had just tried to sleep with him earlier to ruin his “purity.” Shameless.
As he was thinking this, Shen Yunli suddenly met his gaze, her eyes curving into a smile.
For some reason, Fu Linchuan suddenly felt a bad premonition.
“Linchuan, why don’t you come with me to accompany Grandpa for the check-up? While you’re at it, you could get examined too.”
Fu Linchuan froze. “I’m perfectly healthy. What do I need a check-up for?”
“Well… just a routine one.”
As if mindful of the others present—or perhaps not expecting him to question her—Shen Yunli seemed unsure how to respond. Her smile carried a hint of awkwardness.
“You’ve been working overtime a lot lately and staying up late. I’m worried about you… so I thought it would be better to get a check-up. That way, both of us can feel at ease.”
Fu Linchuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. What did she mean by that?!
Why did she pause at such strange moments, making it sound suggestive?!
Thinking back to what had just happened in the room, his expression darkened.
Was she implying that he wasn’t capable?
Fu Linchuan was furious, but with the whole family present, he had to save face.
Unable to vent his anger, he gritted his teeth. “I don’t need a check-up. There’s nothing wrong with me!”
At first, Shen Yunli’s words didn’t seem inappropriate. From everyone else’s perspective, she was just a concerned fiancée worried about her partner’s health from overworking.
But Fu Linchuan’s intense reaction made people start to wonder.
The check-up hadn’t even happened yet—why was he so agitated?
Could it be… that there really was something wrong?
And for a man, what kind of issue would provoke such a strong reaction?