Chapter 44: The Love of a Lifetime

Without the doctor to stop her bleeding, blood flowed endlessly from Lian Meng.
“If you’re thinking of calling for help, you’d better forget about it,” Qu Wuyan’s eyes were laced with poison, a victor’s smile curling at her lips. “This is the delivery room. The only rooms nearby are also delivery rooms. It’s perfectly normal for women to scream while giving birth. Even if you shout yourself hoarse, no one will come.”
Lian Meng’s face was pale as death, her tone calm as if resigned to fate. “Qu Wuyan, don’t celebrate too soon. You can’t always win.”
Who could have imagined it—her, the dazzling actress adored by all, her life envied by countless people—that it would end in such a way.
She was truly unwilling…
Life drained away with her blood; Lian Meng’s face was as white as paper, her once clear and bright eyes now empty and helpless, her hand clutching the bedsheet trembling uncontrollably.
Fear of death pressed upon her chest. With great effort, Lian Meng tilted her head slightly to look at her daughter, swaddled tightly in the crib. Before she could see clearly, Qu Wuyan picked up the child, awkwardly, as if she were handling a cat or dog.
“Mengmeng, just let go peacefully. I promise you, I’ll take good care of your child and your husband,” Qu Wuyan’s seductive voice carried both contempt and triumph.
Lian Meng lay on the blood-soaked bed, glaring angrily at Qu Wuyan. If looks could kill, Qu Wuyan would have died a thousand times at her hands.
But the truth was, Lian Meng was about to be killed, and in a way that was nearly undetectable.
“You… you…” She tried her hardest to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper, like a dying breath. “I’ll make sure… none of you… meet a good end…”
Seeing her like this, Qu Wuyan burst out laughing, doubling over. “Haha, Mengmeng, what a joker you are. You’re dying, how could you possibly take revenge on us?”
Lian Meng pulled at her lips in a cold sneer. “Even if I die… I’ll curse you… haunt you… just wait and see.”
After her fierce words, Lian Meng wondered inwardly—was retribution real?
She was so unwilling for her life to end at just twenty-eight, so unwilling that her newborn daughter would fall into their hands, so unwilling that she had no strength to fight back.
Her vision blurred, her bloodless lips parted, but she could no longer speak…

As Lian Meng drifted into memories, Lu Ming’s voice pulled her back to reality.
“Aunt Lian, please rest assured, I’ll always be good to Youyou, cherish her dearly.” Lu Ming knelt beside Lian Youyou, his back straight, his tone carrying unprecedented seriousness. “I hope you’ll bless us, so that Youyou and her grandparents may live in peace and happiness.”
Lian Changsheng and Shi Xuezhen, the couple, were a little stunned and bent down to get closer to Lu Ming, hoping to hear more clearly. “Professor Lu, what was it you just said?”
Lu Ming stood and bowed deeply to Lian Changsheng and Shi Xuezhen. “Grandma, Grandpa, please forgive me for telling you this only now. Actually, Youyou and I are already seeing each other.”
Lian Changsheng and Shi Xuezhen exchanged wide-eyed glances, their minds blank for a moment.
“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand!” Lian Youyou sprang up, her little fist lightly thumping Lu Ming’s arm. “Why did you tell my grandparents so early!”
They had only been together for such a short time—she wasn’t even sure if she wanted to marry Lu Ming. Yet he had already told her parents!

What if they broke up in the future? Wouldn’t that just leave her parents happy for nothing?
Besides, her daughter’s body was only twenty-two years old. Getting married at twenty-two was far too early; she should wait at least until she was thirty!
Lian Changsheng spoke in disbelief: “Professor Lu, you’ve already helped our family enough. But our granddaughter—we know she’s not worthy of you. With your education and background, you should find a postgraduate or doctoral student, a girl who works in a public institution after graduation.”
To parents, public institutions were always the best jobs…
“Grandma, Grandpa, I’ve long been certain—Youyou is my one true love,” Lu Ming gently took Lian Youyou’s hand. His palm was soft and warm, wrapping around her icy hand and melting the chill in her heart. “I want to spend all my remaining years loving her and caring for her.”
How long ago was “long ago”…?
Of course, Lu Ming loved her daughter… Lian Youyou couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
She thought she had finally found a man who loved her as if she were his life, but it turned out he didn’t really love her…

“Professor Lu, have you really thought it through? Our Youyou has had a hard life, it hasn’t been easy. Don’t let it be just a passing fancy—don’t deceive her.”
Shi Xuezhen had always been more than satisfied with Lu Ming. Hearing that Lu Ming liked her granddaughter, she was overjoyed.
She herself favored intellectuals and people who worked in public institutions. Intellectuals were generally refined and reasonable, and public institutions offered stable jobs and state benefits.
She had once wanted her daughter Lian Meng to marry someone like Lu Ming—honest, educated, well-employed. For example, Lu Zhijun would have been a good match. But her daughter hadn’t chosen him, instead falling for the sweet-talking scoundrel Fan Chi.
Though she was very satisfied with Lu Ming, she still acted calm on the surface; otherwise, Professor Lu might think they were too eager to marry off Youyou.
“Lu Ming! I have a few things to tell you!” Before Lu Ming could answer Shi Xuezhen’s question, Lian Youyou spoke up urgently, “Don’t regret it when you find out later during our relationship!”
Lian Youyou counted off on her fingers, “First, I’m not as timid as I used to be. My temper’s not good now. If you like meek, submissive women, I can’t be that person!”
“Of course.”
“Second, I won’t be the kind of housewife who circles around her husband and children. I have my own work, and I want to pursue my career!”
“No problem!”
“Third, I won’t accept any cheating—emotional or physical! If we fall out of love, let’s break up cleanly, no secrets, it’s exhausting!”
“OK.” Maybe it was because in her previous life, Fan Chi had hurt her so badly…
“Fourth… hmm… fourth…” She hadn’t thought of it yet.
Shi Xuezhen snapped impatiently, “So many conditions! If nothing suits you, just don’t date or marry. Professor Lu doesn’t need you that badly!”
“Grandma, how can you take his side!” Lian Youyou complained, but a smile crept onto her lips.

Mom hasn’t changed at all…
Mom was always so understanding, never blindly protective.
When she first married Fan Chi, her parents had objected during their courtship, but after the wedding, her parents still taught her to be a good wife and daughter-in-law.
Whenever she argued with Fan Chi and came home for support, her mother would always blame her first, saying her bad temper had made Fan Chi angry. She’d urge her to go home, forbidding her to stay overnight, saying couples shouldn’t hold grudges overnight.
Her parents only learned Fan Chi’s true nature after he beat her while she was pregnant.
Lu Ming and Lian Youyou knelt together before Lian Meng’s grave, offered incense, and kowtowed three times.
The black-and-white photo on the tombstone showed Lian Meng in a formal gown, holding a trophy, her smile radiant.
Hopefully, her career in the afterlife would be just as bright and prosperous as it was before.
...
After lunch, Lian Youyou hurried back to the film set.
Even though Lu Ming drove as fast as possible, she was still twenty minutes late.
As she got out of the car and said goodbye to Lu Ming, she heard the clinking of jewelry and footsteps behind her.
“So you’re not so impressive after all, just hooked up with a rich guy.” Dressed in ancient costume and makeup, Fan Xiaoyun walked over in a long down coat. “Lian Youyou, you really are something. I used to think you were so insignificant. Turns out you're just like your mother—good at seducing men.”
Lian Youyou laughed instead of getting angry. “How would you know what my mother was like? She was alive before you were even born. Unless you’re the illegitimate child your mother had with some man, and Fan Senior was just the scapegoat? Did you lie about your age too? What’s your real age—thirty?”
Fan Xiaoyun was speechless, stomping her feet in rage. “Just wait and see!”
Accompanied by her assistant, Lian Youyou went to get her makeup done. Xiao Shu ran over and said, “Sister Yun, Lian Youyou really isn’t easy to deal with! Maybe Aunt Yan should handle her…”
“Why call my mom? So she can get beaten up by Lian Youyou again?” Fan Xiaoyun shouted. “Get lost! I can take care of her myself!”
“Youyou, in this scene, Dezhao and Ping’er’s romance gets discovered by you. In anger, you plot to meet Ping’er alone, pull out a knife, and try to kill her. Then Dezhao rushes in to prevent tragedy, but your dagger still tears Ping’er’s sleeve. Got it?”
“Mm, got it.”
The director summoned Fu Yuanye and the martial arts instructor. “Alright, you two practice the fight choreography now!”