Chapter 25: Just a Child

Tang Yuan also sent a message to Fu Yansheng, asking what time he would join the production team tomorrow.

He replied quickly.

[Ten in the morning. Are you coming?]

She felt a bit more at ease. In the stifling environment of the Shen household, chatting with Fu Yansheng felt like a relief.

[I am. Is your boxing studio ready?]

He sent a photo shortly after.

It was a room of about a hundred square meters, with a heavy bag standing in the center and several others hanging from the ceiling. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with a black boxing glove on one hand. Even from a distance, one could catch a glimpse of the slightly bulging veins on his arms.

The corners of Tang Yuan’s lips curled up. If Fu Yansheng could land the lead role in Shen Tingshui’s film, a smooth path would lie ahead of him.

Shen Zhou’s voice came from beside her.

"Who are you chatting with?"

Her grip on the phone tightened instantly, and she set it down nonchalantly. "Chen Meng, my partner at the studio. She was in a car accident the day before yesterday, so I’m checking on her."

He reached out a fingertip and poked her cheek. "Why are you smiling so tenderly?"

Had she been smiling tenderly? It was clearly a smile full of ambition.

"I smile tenderly at my husband, too."

Heh, as if either of them took the other seriously.

As they stared at each other, they heard the matriarch ask, "Since your relationship is so good, have you considered having children? Xiao Zhou, you’re already twenty-eight; it’s time to think about it."

The smile on Shen Zhou’s face faltered. He took Tang Yuan’s hand and held it in his lap. "Yuanyuan’s health isn't great. Let’s talk about it in a couple of years."

It was clearly he who didn’t want a child, yet he used her as a shield. He was going to make the old lady think she was incapable of bearing offspring.

Sure enough, the matriarch’s expression turned cold. She said to the housekeeper nearby, "Arrange a full physical for Yuanyuan. See if there’s something wrong with her."

"Yes, ma'am."

Tang Yuan was so angry her body stiffened for a moment. She looked at Shen Zhou.

Shen Zhou remained as calm and breezy as ever. "Grandmother, there’s no need for an examination. She’s just physically weak, and pregnancy might drain her vitality. Let her recover for two years."

"She was married to bear children, wasn't she? It's been two years, and there isn't even a shadow of a child. If we keep waiting, the women outside will have given birth before she shows any signs."

Tang Yuan lowered her lashes, thinking that she might as well let the women outside have them, as Song Qianqian would be more than happy to.

But the moment she looked up, she gazed at Shen Zhou with feigned concern. "Husband, I’m perfectly fine. Why don’t we start trying for a baby when we go back tonight? Actually, I want a child, too."

Shen Zhou’s expression darkened.

The matriarch breathed a sigh of relief, finding Tang Yuan sensible. "Take some medicinal wine back with you tonight. I guarantee you’ll be pregnant within half a month."

Shen Zhou went silent and slowly let go of Tang Yuan’s hand.

Tang Yuan knew he was thoroughly disgusted.

After dinner, when it was time to leave, the matriarch really did have two jars of medicinal wine brought out, filled with various tonics.

Tang Yuan’s lashes fluttered as she looked up with a smile. "Grandmother, two jars might not be enough. Please, get a few more. Shen Zhou, he..."

She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

The matriarch’s expression shifted, and she hurriedly ordered five more jars to be brought out.

The transparent jars were filled with potent concoctions—remedies meant to replenish the body by consuming similar substances. Even an old eunuch would likely end up in a brothel after drinking this.

Shen Tingshui, watching from the side, suppressed a laugh. Tang Yuan was really something else.

Shen Zhou stood by the car with a dark expression, neither accepting nor refusing.

Tang Yuan quickly spoke to the men carrying the wine. "Put them in the trunk, please. Thank you."

After she finished, she looked at Shen Tingshui.

Shen Tingshui made a gesture like holding a phone to his ear, signaling that they would be in touch.

Tang Yuan nodded and got into the car with Shen Zhou.

However, the car didn't head toward Shuiyue Bay, but instead drove to a KTV.

The KTV was called Muse, the favorite haunt of the young socialites in their circle—a literal sinkhole for money. It was a members-only club that ordinary people could never enter.

Shen Zhou unbuttoned the top collar of his shirt, clearly still irritated by those five jars of wine.

Tang Yuan’s lips curved slightly. "Why bring me here?"

He actually felt like bringing her out tonight? How generous.

Shen Zhou pulled her toward him and dragged her into his arms. "Do I not dote on you enough, making you think I’m truly incapable?"

Tang Yuan’s expression changed, but she quickly adjusted her composure.

"Husband, I really do want a child, but you keep refusing. I had no other choice."

His pretense of gentleness vanished. He pinched her chin with one hand.

"Tang Yuan, I told you, you cannot get pregnant."

She lowered her lashes and said nothing.

Shen Zhou’s tone softened slightly. "It’s just a child. I can make it up to you in other ways."

"Can you? Then I want the agent named Tessa."

Shen Zhou frowned; the name sounded somewhat familiar.

"I want to sign her to my studio. You know it’s inconvenient for me to show my face, so she can act on my behalf in the future. I’ve looked into her; she’s quite capable. I want her to represent me in securing resources from Fenghua Entertainment."

For Shen Zhou, this was a very, very small request.

At the very least, it was trivial compared to her pestering him for a child.

He looked toward the front seat. "Jiang Nian."

Jiang Nian replied respectfully, "I will notify the senior management at Fenghua Entertainment immediately."

Shen Zhou nodded and patted her cheek. "Don't mess around with things like this again. Grandmother is old; she’s prone to taking things seriously."

She lowered her eyes, looking submissive. "I understand. Tonight was my fault."

Jiang Nian had originally wanted to remind the President that this "Tessa" had offended Miss Song, but since the President’s wife had requested it and the President had personally agreed, he, as an outsider, dared not ask further.

Tang Yuan had secured an opportunity to appear in public under her own stage name.

This was only the first step. By the time Shen Zhou realized what was happening, it would already be too late.