Chapter 14: I Knew He Was Ruthless, But I Didn’t Expect Him to Be This Ruthless

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Tang Yuan poured tea for Yao Mei, then filled a cup for Shen Ruan and another for Shen Zhou.

Yao Mei took a sip. She had never liked Tang Yuan, always believing that a woman like her was unworthy of her son. So when she saw Tang Yuan sit down, her brows drew together again.

“Go help in the kitchen. Why are you just sitting there? The servants at Moonwater Bay say you haven’t cooked these past two days. You know Xiaozhou has always liked your cooking. If you don’t make anything, what will happen when his stomach acts up?”

Whenever Yao Mei made things difficult for her in the past, Tang Yuan would look to Shen Zhou.

But today, she did not. She simply rose and went straight to the kitchen.

A flicker of surprise crossed Shen Zhou’s eyes. He stared at the tea before him and only spoke after a long while.

“Mom, why do you always make things difficult for her?”

Yao Mei was startled. In the past, whenever she had troubled Tang Yuan, her son had never interfered.

He was busy. Most of the time, barely moments after sitting down, he would take out his laptop and deal with paperwork. Whatever time remained, he spent outside fooling around with other women.

Yao Mei knew her son too well. She knew he did not like Tang Yuan.

She sighed. “What exactly are you thinking? If you don’t want a divorce, have her bear you a child, then send her away. Tang Shangxu may be formidable now, but he still isn’t powerful enough to affect us.”

He was merely a newly risen tycoon. The Shen family’s foundations were right there; they had nothing to fear.

Shen Zhou looked toward the kitchen, catching only half of Tang Yuan’s figure.

She had an excellent figure, and no matter the occasion, she always held her back perfectly straight. At a glance, one could tell she had received years of etiquette training and had been raised as a proper young lady.

Her face was beautiful too. If he could not marry the woman he loved, then marrying Tang Yuan would not be such a bad choice.

She was obedient and docile, and teasing her from time to time could even be entertaining.

“Are you eager for a grandchild?”

Yao Mei cast him an annoyed look. “If you don’t want Tang Yuan to get pregnant, another woman will do. As long as the child is yours.”

Shen Zhou’s brows knit together. He had never considered having another woman bear his child.

The only woman who could give him a child was her.

Years ago, he had reached an agreement with the Tang family: Tang Yuan was not to become pregnant. At the very least, she was unworthy of bearing a child of the Shen family.

“If you truly want a grandchild, then wait a few more years. The time isn’t right yet.”

Yao Mei felt relieved. He was probably waiting for that woman to return.

Who would have thought the Tang family could produce such a devoted man? How strange.

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“Fine. As long as you understand. This is the only hope I have left. I know who you’re waiting for, but back then, she abandoned you and ran away when you were in that car accident. Why keep thinking about a woman like that?”

Shen Zhou’s expression darkened in an instant.

Shen Ruan quickly leaned toward Yao Mei. “Mom, honestly, it’s been two years already. Why bring that up? Who knows how that woman is doing now? Hopefully she died overseas. If you ask me, she and Tang Yuan are exactly alike. Neither of them can survive without a man.”

Shen Zhou’s idealized first love had run away with a poor man.

And she had done it while Shen Zhou was recovering from a car accident.

“Enough.”

Shen Zhou raised a hand and rubbed his brow before standing and heading upstairs.

“Don’t mention her again.”

Shen Ruan pouted. Judging from her brother’s expression, he was clearly still thinking about that woman.

What a pity. She apparently did not care whether a man was rich or poor. Otherwise, why would she have chosen some impoverished nobody?

* * *

At dinnertime, Tang Yuan carried dishes in with the servants while the rest of the Shen family sat properly around the dining table.

Shen Zhou’s father did not come home that evening. Ever since Tang Yuan had married into the Shen family, he had rarely returned.

She sat beside Shen Zhou. Because of her stomachache, the sight of the food in her bowl made her retch involuntarily.

Shen Ruan covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes wide.

“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant, Tang Yuan?”

Tang Yuan’s face was slightly pale as she tightened her grip on her chopsticks.

“My stomach is just a little upset.”

She could feel Yao Mei’s expression change the moment Shen Ruan said those words. Shen Zhou, too, wore a faintly mocking smile.

Back when Tang Yuan still had hopes for him, she had often asked when he intended to have a child.

He had always brushed her off, telling her to wait a little longer. She had believed she truly might one day get what she wanted. Now that she had finally seen him clearly, how could she not understand that Shen Zhou had never intended to let her become pregnant?

“My stomach really is just upset.”

Yao Mei slowly set down her chopsticks and glanced at Shen Zhou. Seeing that he said nothing, she refrained from adding anything further.

The atmosphere grew subtle and strained. After dinner, just as they were preparing to leave, Yao Mei reminded her,

“I heard you’re planning to go out and work now?”

“Yes.”

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“Don’t go out. Stay home and take good care of Xiaozhou.”

Tang Yuan pressed her lips together, her eyes clear and composed.

“There are plenty of servants in the house. They can take good care of him.”

It was the first time she had ever talked back to Yao Mei.

Yao Mei’s face darkened, and she gave a cold laugh.

“Tang Yuan, you know I’ve never been satisfied with you. Your only value is taking good care of Xiaozhou.”

Tang Yuan drew a deep breath.

“Mom, is there anything else?”

The moment those words fell, Shen Ruan rolled her eyes.

“What do you mean by that, Tang Yuan? Is that how you speak to my mother? Do you know that your monthly allowance has to be approved by her? If she refuses, you won’t have a penny next month. You’ve loved my brother for so many years, and being able to marry him is your good fortune. Yet you still don’t know how to cherish it. I’m telling you, sooner or later, someone will come and take your place.”

Tang Yuan had endured two years of indifference. She had tolerated it before because she loved Shen Zhou, but tonight, she no longer wanted to endure anything.

“If someone really does appear, that would be wonderful.”

Disbelief spread across Yao Mei and Shen Ruan’s faces. Yao Mei slammed her hand against the table.

“You really have become impossible!”

Shen Zhou set down the teacup in his hand, his gaze settling on Tang Yuan’s face.

For the past two years, he had been very satisfied with her obedience. But now, she was no longer obedient.

He rose and spoke in an indifferent tone.

“Let’s go home first. Mom, don’t be angry. I found the jadeite bracelet you’ve been wanting. I’ll have Jiang Nian bring it over tomorrow.”

Yao Mei snorted and let the matter drop.

Tang Yuan followed behind him and left through the front door. Just as she was about to get into the car, she heard him ask,

“Are you really pregnant?”

As he spoke, he lowered his head and tried to light a cigarette.

Then, remembering something, he slowly put the lighter away.

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

Tang Yuan found it absurd.

“If I really am pregnant, what are you planning to do?”

A rare trace of irritation appeared in his eyes. The gentle tenderness he used when teasing people, the careless charm and wild abandon, had all vanished.

He did not need to say it. Tang Yuan already knew the answer.

It felt as though a sharp sword had pierced her heart. She had known he was ruthless, but she had never imagined he could be this cruel.

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