Gu Mian’s body had long melted into a puddle under his deadly allure.
She bit her lower lip tightly, the faint pain helping her maintain clarity.
She couldn’t sink deeper into his embrace, couldn’t continue losing herself in this marriage of physical intimacy without love.
Absolutely not!
The sudden ringing of a phone interrupted the intimate atmosphere.
Li Tingshen had no intention of stopping, but the persistent ringing eventually dampened his mood.
The man picked up his phone and glanced at it, then quickly released Gu Mian.
Gu Mian also saw the name on the screen: Luoxue.
In the past, when they were being intimate and someone called, Li Tingshen would usually decline immediately and set his phone to silent.
Only when Yin Luoxue called would he answer right away.
Gu Mian heard him answer the phone, his voice gentle: “I’m at home… She didn’t target you, don’t overthink it… Understood, I’ll come over later…”
Gu Mian sat up and straightened her clothes, her hands trembling as she fastened the buttons.
Li Tingshen hung up and turned to see her state, his lips curling slightly. “In such a hurry to get dressed? Afraid I’ll eat you?”
Gu Mian remained silent.
Li Tingshen reached out and helped fasten her buttons. “If you don’t want me to undo them again, come downstairs with me for dinner.”
Remembering how close they had come to crossing the line, Gu Mian didn’t refuse, knowing resistance would be futile.
……
In the dining room, the maid Aunt Yang had prepared an exquisite table of dishes.
“Madam, you’ve lost so much weight. You should eat more.”
Li Tingshen looked up at the girl eating delicately across from him.
Hearing Aunt Yang’s remark, he realized she did seem much thinner.
Already quite slender, after her time in prison, her face had become even more angular.
Aside from the weight loss, she wasn’t much different from before—still as beautiful as ever.
But Li Tingshen couldn’t quite put his finger on it; something about her felt different.
Aunt Yang used serving chopsticks to place a piece of braised pork in Gu Mian’s bowl.
The moment Gu Mian caught the scent, her stomach churned violently, and she couldn’t suppress a sound: “Urgh…”
“Madam, what’s wrong!” Aunt Yang hurriedly poured her a glass of water. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s nothing.” Gu Mian finally recovered and stood up. “I’m full.”
Li Tingshen watched her retreating figure and suddenly lost his appetite.
He set down his chopsticks and stood to leave.
“Sir, you haven’t eaten yet.”
“I’m going out.” Li Tingshen put on his coat and instructed, “The food in prison was bland. She’s not used to greasy food yet. Make her some congee.”
Aunt Yang nodded. “Yes.”
……
As soon as Gu Mian reached the upstairs, she heard the car engine starting below.
Gu Mian’s lips twisted into a wry smile. He had just promised Yin Luoxue over the phone that he would visit her, and now he was leaving without even finishing his meal. True love, indeed.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Gu Mian watched the car drive away from the villa and closed her eyes wearily.
Suddenly, a thought struck her. Her eyes flew open, and she placed her right hand on her left wrist to check her pulse!
Strong and steady—it was the pulse of pregnancy!
Gu Mian was stunned. She didn’t need to think hard to know it must have happened a month ago when she returned.
Li Tingshen never liked using condoms, finding them restrictive, so she had always taken pills afterward.
That day, she had originally planned to buy medicine after visiting her grandma at the hospital, but her grandma suddenly passed away. Overwhelmed with grief, she completely forgot about it.
Gu Mian’s mind was in chaos, unable to think clearly.
Once she finally calmed down, she immediately went out.
She rarely checked the pulse of pregnant women, so to avoid misjudgment, she decided to buy a pregnancy test.
The two clear lines confirmed her diagnosis.
Who would have thought that missing the medication just once would lead to this!
Gu Mian raised her hand and gently touched her lower abdomen.
Just when she had finally made up her mind to divorce Li Tingshen, she found out she was pregnant.
Heaven really has a sense of humor!
Gu Mian tossed and turned restlessly, unable to fall asleep until late into the night. When she woke up, it was already dawn, and Li Tingshen had not returned all night.
She went downstairs for breakfast, and Aunt Yang suddenly rushed into the dining room, looking both excited and hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Mian couldn’t help but ask. “Did you win the lottery?”
“Madam, it’s you who won the prize! How long are you going to keep it from me?” Aunt Yang pulled out a pregnancy test. “I found this in the trash. You’re pregnant—this is such wonderful news!”
Gu Mian: “…”
Seeing that she showed no joy at becoming a mother for the first time, Aunt Yang quickly asked, “Madam, aren’t you happy?”
Gu Mian took a sip of porridge. “Aunt Yang, I’ve already asked for a divorce.”
Aunt Yang was shocked!
“Madam, you want to divorce the master? How can that be!”
“Why not?” Gu Mian said calmly. “Aunt Yang, don’t you think he and Yin Luoxue seem more like a real couple?… Well, they were originally a pair. I barged in suddenly, took over the identity of Mrs. Li, and prevented them from being together openly.”
And she even foolishly hoped that Li Tingshen would fall in love with her.
How laughable and pitiful.
Aunt Yang couldn’t help but shed tears of sympathy. “Madam, even if you don’t say it, I know how much you suffered in prison this past year. But now it’s all over. You and the master should live well together. I believe one day he will see how good you are.”
“And now that you have a child, everything is different. A child should grow up in a normal environment. For the child’s sake, you can’t get a divorce.”
Gu Mian froze. Her parents had passed away when she was very young, and she was raised by her grandparents.
Although her grandparents gave her all their love, she felt incredibly envious whenever she saw other children with both parents.
She knew very well that a child should grow up happily in a complete family.
“Madam, a man’s mindset changes after having a child,” Aunt Yang continued to persuade her. “Many men settle down and focus on their families after becoming fathers. No matter what, for the child’s sake, you should give the master another chance. Don’t you agree?”
Gu Mian nodded gently.
Aunt Yang was right. For the child’s sake, she should try one more time.
As long as Li Tingshen could keep his distance from Yin Luoxue, she was willing to let go of the past, work on building their home, and live a good life.
After breakfast, Gu Mian took a taxi to Li’s Group.
Her marriage to Li Tingshen had not been publicly announced, and very few people in the company knew she was Mrs. Li.
Gu Mian called Li Tingshen’s assistant, who came down to escort her upstairs.
When she knocked and entered the CEO’s office, Li Tingshen was on a phone call.
He wasn’t particularly surprised to see Gu Mian walk in—after all, she had always been like this in the past, her anger dissipating after a night.
The assistant brought Gu Mian a cup of hot water before leaving.
After hanging up the phone, Li Tingshen looked at Gu Mian sitting across from him. “Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?”
“I’ve had enough sleep.” Gu Mian pointed to the thermal container beside her. “Aunt Yang asked me to bring you some chicken soup.”
“Alright, I’ll have it later.”
Gu Mian gazed at him. “Ting Shen, where did you go last night?”
Li Tingshen didn’t hide it. “Luoxue suddenly felt unwell and was hospitalized last night. I stayed with her at the hospital.”
Gu Mian’s fingers trembled slightly. After a long pause, she finally asked, “Ting Shen, if we had a child, could you spend more time at home?”
Li Tingshen frowned slightly. “Do you want a child now?”
“Don’t you want one?” Gu Mian countered instead of answering.
Li Tingshen picked up a cigarette and lit it. After taking a drag, he said in a deep voice, “Gu Mian, now is not the right time to have a child.”
Gu Mian was taken aback. “Why not?”
“Luoxue hasn’t been well lately. If you get pregnant, you won’t be able to donate blood to her.”
Chapter 4: She Is Pregnant
Gu Mian’s body had long melted into a puddle under his deadly allure.
She bit her lower lip tightly, the faint pain helping her maintain clarity.
She couldn’t sink deeper into his embrace, couldn’t continue losing herself in this marriage of physical intimacy without love.
Absolutely not!
The sudden ringing of a phone interrupted the intimate atmosphere.
Li Tingshen had no intention of stopping, but the persistent ringing eventually dampened his mood.
The man picked up his phone and glanced at it, then quickly released Gu Mian.
Gu Mian also saw the name on the screen: Luoxue.
In the past, when they were being intimate and someone called, Li Tingshen would usually decline immediately and set his phone to silent.
Only when Yin Luoxue called would he answer right away.
Gu Mian heard him answer the phone, his voice gentle: “I’m at home… She didn’t target you, don’t overthink it… Understood, I’ll come over later…”
Gu Mian sat up and straightened her clothes, her hands trembling as she fastened the buttons.
Li Tingshen hung up and turned to see her state, his lips curling slightly. “In such a hurry to get dressed? Afraid I’ll eat you?”
Gu Mian remained silent.
Li Tingshen reached out and helped fasten her buttons. “If you don’t want me to undo them again, come downstairs with me for dinner.”
Remembering how close they had come to crossing the line, Gu Mian didn’t refuse, knowing resistance would be futile.
……
In the dining room, the maid Aunt Yang had prepared an exquisite table of dishes.
“Madam, you’ve lost so much weight. You should eat more.”
Li Tingshen looked up at the girl eating delicately across from him.
Hearing Aunt Yang’s remark, he realized she did seem much thinner.
Already quite slender, after her time in prison, her face had become even more angular.
Aside from the weight loss, she wasn’t much different from before—still as beautiful as ever.
But Li Tingshen couldn’t quite put his finger on it; something about her felt different.
Aunt Yang used serving chopsticks to place a piece of braised pork in Gu Mian’s bowl.
The moment Gu Mian caught the scent, her stomach churned violently, and she couldn’t suppress a sound: “Urgh…”
“Madam, what’s wrong!” Aunt Yang hurriedly poured her a glass of water. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s nothing.” Gu Mian finally recovered and stood up. “I’m full.”
Li Tingshen watched her retreating figure and suddenly lost his appetite.
He set down his chopsticks and stood to leave.
“Sir, you haven’t eaten yet.”
“I’m going out.” Li Tingshen put on his coat and instructed, “The food in prison was bland. She’s not used to greasy food yet. Make her some congee.”
Aunt Yang nodded. “Yes.”
……
As soon as Gu Mian reached the upstairs, she heard the car engine starting below.
Gu Mian’s lips twisted into a wry smile. He had just promised Yin Luoxue over the phone that he would visit her, and now he was leaving without even finishing his meal. True love, indeed.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Gu Mian watched the car drive away from the villa and closed her eyes wearily.
Suddenly, a thought struck her. Her eyes flew open, and she placed her right hand on her left wrist to check her pulse!
Strong and steady—it was the pulse of pregnancy!
Gu Mian was stunned. She didn’t need to think hard to know it must have happened a month ago when she returned.
Li Tingshen never liked using condoms, finding them restrictive, so she had always taken pills afterward.
That day, she had originally planned to buy medicine after visiting her grandma at the hospital, but her grandma suddenly passed away. Overwhelmed with grief, she completely forgot about it.
Gu Mian’s mind was in chaos, unable to think clearly.
Once she finally calmed down, she immediately went out.
She rarely checked the pulse of pregnant women, so to avoid misjudgment, she decided to buy a pregnancy test.
The two clear lines confirmed her diagnosis.
Who would have thought that missing the medication just once would lead to this!
Gu Mian raised her hand and gently touched her lower abdomen.
Just when she had finally made up her mind to divorce Li Tingshen, she found out she was pregnant.
Heaven really has a sense of humor!
Gu Mian tossed and turned restlessly, unable to fall asleep until late into the night. When she woke up, it was already dawn, and Li Tingshen had not returned all night.
She went downstairs for breakfast, and Aunt Yang suddenly rushed into the dining room, looking both excited and hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Mian couldn’t help but ask. “Did you win the lottery?”
“Madam, it’s you who won the prize! How long are you going to keep it from me?” Aunt Yang pulled out a pregnancy test. “I found this in the trash. You’re pregnant—this is such wonderful news!”
Gu Mian: “…”
Seeing that she showed no joy at becoming a mother for the first time, Aunt Yang quickly asked, “Madam, aren’t you happy?”
Gu Mian took a sip of porridge. “Aunt Yang, I’ve already asked for a divorce.”
Aunt Yang was shocked!
“Madam, you want to divorce the master? How can that be!”
“Why not?” Gu Mian said calmly. “Aunt Yang, don’t you think he and Yin Luoxue seem more like a real couple?… Well, they were originally a pair. I barged in suddenly, took over the identity of Mrs. Li, and prevented them from being together openly.”
And she even foolishly hoped that Li Tingshen would fall in love with her.
How laughable and pitiful.
Aunt Yang couldn’t help but shed tears of sympathy. “Madam, even if you don’t say it, I know how much you suffered in prison this past year. But now it’s all over. You and the master should live well together. I believe one day he will see how good you are.”
“And now that you have a child, everything is different. A child should grow up in a normal environment. For the child’s sake, you can’t get a divorce.”
Gu Mian froze. Her parents had passed away when she was very young, and she was raised by her grandparents.
Although her grandparents gave her all their love, she felt incredibly envious whenever she saw other children with both parents.
She knew very well that a child should grow up happily in a complete family.
“Madam, a man’s mindset changes after having a child,” Aunt Yang continued to persuade her. “Many men settle down and focus on their families after becoming fathers. No matter what, for the child’s sake, you should give the master another chance. Don’t you agree?”
Gu Mian nodded gently.
Aunt Yang was right. For the child’s sake, she should try one more time.
As long as Li Tingshen could keep his distance from Yin Luoxue, she was willing to let go of the past, work on building their home, and live a good life.
After breakfast, Gu Mian took a taxi to Li’s Group.
Her marriage to Li Tingshen had not been publicly announced, and very few people in the company knew she was Mrs. Li.
Gu Mian called Li Tingshen’s assistant, who came down to escort her upstairs.
When she knocked and entered the CEO’s office, Li Tingshen was on a phone call.
He wasn’t particularly surprised to see Gu Mian walk in—after all, she had always been like this in the past, her anger dissipating after a night.
The assistant brought Gu Mian a cup of hot water before leaving.
After hanging up the phone, Li Tingshen looked at Gu Mian sitting across from him. “Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?”
“I’ve had enough sleep.” Gu Mian pointed to the thermal container beside her. “Aunt Yang asked me to bring you some chicken soup.”
“Alright, I’ll have it later.”
Gu Mian gazed at him. “Ting Shen, where did you go last night?”
Li Tingshen didn’t hide it. “Luoxue suddenly felt unwell and was hospitalized last night. I stayed with her at the hospital.”
Gu Mian’s fingers trembled slightly. After a long pause, she finally asked, “Ting Shen, if we had a child, could you spend more time at home?”
Li Tingshen frowned slightly. “Do you want a child now?”
“Don’t you want one?” Gu Mian countered instead of answering.
Li Tingshen picked up a cigarette and lit it. After taking a drag, he said in a deep voice, “Gu Mian, now is not the right time to have a child.”
Gu Mian was taken aback. “Why not?”
“Luoxue hasn’t been well lately. If you get pregnant, you won’t be able to donate blood to her.”