Chapter 88: She Can't Get Pregnant Anyway

Lian Youyou didn’t bother to argue with him. She completed the procedures at lightning speed and returned the card to Fan Chi. “Thank you, Dad. We’ll consider this a loan from you. I’ll have my uncle write you an IOU, and we’ll pay you back in the future.”

Having lost a full twenty million in an instant, Fan Chi was in such pain that he could no longer force a smile. “There’s no need to talk about repayment among family. It’s only right.”

Lian Youyou’s smile grew deeper. “I didn’t expect Dad to be so generous. On behalf of my uncle’s family, thank you, Dad.”

She really wasn’t even going to bother with an IOU!

Did that mean his money was as good as gone? Wasn’t this just too humiliating...

Lian Youyou packed her things and stood up. “Director, you and my father can continue your conversation. I’ll take my leave for today!”

The director nodded. “Alright, see you at the set another day.”

...

In the Lu family’s grand mansion, Tian Aiyu sat on the sofa in Lu Ming’s room, arms crossed, a hint of anger on her face.

Lu Ming glanced at his watch. “Mom, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now.”

He stood up to leave, but Tian Aiyu’s voice was cold. “Come back!”

She shot him a sidelong glance. “I heard from your father that you want to withdraw some of your investment from the Lu Group’s new cruise business, and you’re planning to have your father acquire Yunyan?”

“Yes, and Dad agreed.”

Lu Ming avoided his mother’s gaze, instead returning to pick up his corgi, Handsome, gently running his fingers through the dog’s fur.

“Your cousin kicked you out of your own game company, and you still have the mood to play with a dog!” Tian Aiyu said, exasperated. “Tell me, why do you want your father to acquire Yunyan?”

She distinctly remembered her son had always been a clean freak. They never kept even a hamster at home when he was young. Yet now, he was raising a dog himself.

Lu Ming’s answer was succinct. “Because the chairman of Yunyan deserves it.”

“Deserves it? What does whether he deserves it or not have to do with you?” Tian Aiyu said. “We’re businessmen, son. We only care about our own interests. Why bother if the chairman deserves it or not?”

Lu Ming’s hand paused on the dog’s fur, his gaze slowly shifting from the dog to his mother.

“Mom, the real reason you object is that you’re afraid Qu Wuyan will get desperate and expose that matter, isn’t it?”

Tian Aiyu’s eyes flickered evasively. She knew her son must have found something out, yet she remained stubborn. “What do you mean, Qu Wuyan getting desperate? I have nothing to do with her! She’s the culprit who ruined my good friend Lian Meng’s marriage. Why would I associate with someone like that?”

Lu Ming spoke slowly. “Mom, can you honestly say that Aunt Lian’s difficult labor had nothing to do with you?”

“I... I...” Tian Aiyu hesitated for a long time before finally asking in a small voice, “When did you find out?”

She’d hidden this from everyone; only she and Qu Wuyan knew. How had her son found out?

“I’ve known for a long time.” Lu Ming looked at his mother with some helplessness. “I won’t say anything. I know you were manipulated by Qu Wuyan back then; you weren’t truly so heartless.”

Nervous, Tian Aiyu clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She looked at Lu Ming with hope. “Mingming, since you know, can you promise me? Don’t go after Yunyan, Qu Wuyan, or her family. I know you’re doing all this for your girlfriend, but have you thought about it? If one day Qu Wuyan reveals the truth, could Lian Youyou still be with you, or even marry you?”

Lu Ming, who had been staring at his mother, suddenly found his breath caught in his throat.

He lowered his head, looking at his chest. Hearing his mother mention Lian Youyou’s name, he felt as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, so tight it hurt.

The pain was so sharp it stole his breath.

This was exactly what his mother feared, and what he had always worried about.

There were many ways he could take revenge on Fan Chi for her. He could use the Lu Group to bankrupt Yunyan overnight, or leverage his connections to ruin Fan Chi’s reputation in the entertainment industry, ensuring his family would never recover.

But he was afraid that if he really did any of that, Qu Wuyan would expose what he and his mother had done.

He was afraid that, if that day ever came, he would lose her once more.

Seeing her son so distraught, Tian Aiyu’s heart ached for him. She walked over, gently embraced him, and patted his back. Slowly, she said, “Mingming, I know you’re caught in an impossible position because of the mistake I made in a moment’s impulse. But if you want a happy ending with Youyou, you must guard this secret with your life.”

Her unspoken meaning was clear: to keep the secret, he must not move against Fan Chi or Yunyan.

But can a secret truly be kept forever?

...

That night, utterly exhausted, Fan Chi drove to the underground parking lot of a luxury apartment building.

After parking, he draped his jacket over his arm and took the elevator to the thirteenth floor.

When he rang the doorbell, Quan Qing’er opened the door, wearing a red, fitted dress that reached her knees.

Aside from the dress, her lipstick these past few days had been a pale shade, making her skin look almost radiant. Her features were already exquisite, but with makeup, she was as flawless as a retouched photograph—her eyes sparkled with confidence, and her figure was enviable.

Looking at Quan Qing’er, Fan Chi’s mood improved slightly. “You look beautiful tonight.”

Quan Qing’er smiled and hung up his jacket for him. “Go wash your hands and eat. I’ve already prepared dinner.”

“You’ve learned to cook?” Fan Chi sounded incredulous. “I remember you used to dislike cooking.”

“I just didn’t like it—not that I couldn’t,” Quan Qing’er nudged him toward the dining room. “Now that I spend more time at home, I’ve been improving my culinary skills.”

The aroma from the table was enticing, and Fan Chi was momentarily moved, though his brow soon furrowed.

Was it a coincidence? Every dish on the table was his favorite.

He wasn’t picky; usually, he ate whatever the housekeeper made, so not even his mother or his current wife, Qu Wuyan, knew what he truly liked.

The only one who knew was Lian Meng.

With this doubt in mind, Fan Chi washed his hands, changed into casual clothes, and returned to the dining room, taking his seat.

“Are you happy with the new apartment I bought you?” Fan Chi asked. “And about the credit card in your name I used to cash out funds... Sorry about that. I’ve paid it off, so you won’t get any more calls about repayments.”

“I’m very happy. As long as I have a place to live, as long as I have you, I’m satisfied,” Quan Qing’er said as she added food to his plate. “Come on, eat before it gets cold.”

No matter what kind of home, as long as we’re together, it’s a whole family. That’s enough for me...

Those were the words Xiao Meng once said to him.

Quan Qing’er’s words were so similar to Lian Meng’s.

Looking at Quan Qing’er’s dazzling smile, and recalling Lian Youyou’s departing figure today, Fan Chi vaguely remembered something else Lian Meng had told him:

Spilled water can never be gathered again; the cracks in love can never be mended...

No matter how much he regretted or blamed himself, what was lost was lost. Lian Meng was gone, truly gone.

He had so easily lost the one person in the world who loved him most.

Gazing at the familiar dishes on the table, Fan Chi’s deep, murky eyes flickered.

“What’s wrong, darling? Why aren’t you eating?” Quan Qing’er asked.

The waves in Fan Chi’s eyes faded. “Qing’er, from now on, I’ll make you the leading lady of Yunyan. I’ll help you reach the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. I’ll give you the very best of everything.”

He didn’t care whether Quan Qing’er was deliberately imitating Lian Meng or if she truly resembled her. He would treat her as Lian Meng’s replica and make up for the regrets he had with Lian Meng through her.

Fan Chi put down his chopsticks, walked over to Quan Qing’er’s seat, and suddenly scooped her into his arms.

“Honey... what are you doing?” Seeing Fan Chi carrying her toward the bedroom, Quan Qing’er exclaimed in panic, “Not now!”

Fan Chi tossed her onto the bed, looming over her. “Why not?”

“There’s none left at home.”

“It’s fine, you won’t get pregnant anyway,” Fan Chi whispered hoarsely in her ear, nibbling her delicate earlobe. “Qing’er, I love you.”

You won’t get pregnant... how ironic.

...

“President Lu, the feedback on the new class we’re developing is terrible in the test server.”

“Bad feedback? Then fix it!” Lu Feng snapped.

“President Lu, the new class’s skills aren’t even balanced yet. We can’t launch the new season like this. The current season has already been delayed for more than a month. Do we really have to keep—”

“Nonsense! If the new class isn’t ready, how can we start a new season? Of course we’ll keep postponing! Just give the players some extra compensation.”

“President Lu, about the new season—there are also some issues with the faction changes—”

“Why so many problems?” Lu Feng shouted irritably. “Other games don’t have this many issues. Why does ‘Legend of the Martial World’ have so many?”

An assistant spoke up for the planners and developers: “President Lu, it’s not that ‘Legend of the Martial World’ has more problems. It’s actually our most popular online game, which is why we put more effort into it.”

Lu Feng shot the assistant a glare. “You think I don’t know that? I’m not familiar with game development; you planners handle it among yourselves. Why come to me?”

One planner ventured cautiously, “President Lu, it’s fine that you’re not familiar. Maybe we could invite President Lu Ming back...”

“Enough!” Lu Feng roared. “If anyone mentions Lu Ming again, you can get out!”

Always with the talk of President Lu Ming...

From top to bottom, leaders and employees alike, everyone wanted Lu Ming to return.

What was so special about Lu Ming?

Could the company really not function without him?