Chapter 8: Absolute Celibacy and Sterility

Fu Jiayue also chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, has Brother changed his heart so quickly?"

Mrs. Fu, seeing them dredging up what should have been avoided, glared fiercely at the two.

Fu Tianxin's crisp voice rang out, "Just because Jiang Wan Ning can't be found, does that mean my brother has to give up marriage and childbearing? He can marry whomever he wants, what business is it of yours?"

Chen Ru's face stiffened.

Fu Jiayue also secretly ground her teeth.

Fu Junyu played peacemaker, "Alright, after waiting so long, everyone must be hungry, right? Let's go, let's go eat."

Fu Boyuan chimed in obligingly, "I am hungry indeed, let's go have our meal."

As she got up, Chen Ru pressed against Fu Boyuan with a pound without making a sound.

Fu Boyuan pulled away sharply, retracting his arm, and scolded in a lowered voice, "What are you playing at?"

Wen Ran felt she had a rough idea.

She dared not make assumptions about her elders, but Fu Tianxin proved herself to be Fu Chenlie's true sister; the siblings spoke in a similar tone.

In the dining room, a long square table was set, with fresh flowers arranged in the middle.

After everyone took their seats, the servants began to serve the dishes.

The same ingredients were placed in front of each person, served individually, and once almost finished, the second course would be brought out.

Wen Ran felt as though this grandeur was akin to eating at her and Fu Chenlie's wedding banquet.

Fu Chenlie was seated beside her.

This was also their first meal together. His movements were elegant, every gesture exuding the noble demeanor unique to someone from a wealthy family.

For a moment, Wen Ran grew curious—

What kind of woman was Jiang Wan Ning, capable of lingering in the unpredictable Fu Chenlie's heart?

She must have been quite exceptional, right?

"By the way, Ranran, Ah Lie went home to pick you up but couldn't find anyone. Why weren't you at home this morning?" Granny Fu suddenly asked.

Wen Ran subconsciously glanced at Fu Chenlie.

He, too, happened to meet her gaze in silent agreement, only his look was a warning, a threat.

She turned to Granny Fu, cleverly telling a lie, "I went to my best friend's house, and we were job hunting together."

"You didn't go there last night, did you?"

"No... no, I went after waking up today."

Granny Fu continued to probe, "You went right after waking up; does that mean you skipped breakfast?"

Wen Ran was just about to continue lying that she had eaten when Granny Fu spoke again, "Now that I think about it, there wasn't a single servant in your marital home. How about I find a few shrewd and capable ones from the old manor to look after you both?"

"There's no need," came a cool voice from Fu Chenlie.

"Why isn't there a need? Surely, just because you don't like strangers in your home due to your obsession with cleanliness, you can't let Ranran suffer too?"

He didn't like strangers in his home?

But wasn't she also a stranger in his eyes, and yet she'd been allowed in?

As Wen Ran pondered this, she listened to Fu Chenlie smoothly respond without changing his expression, "Ranran said she doesn't like having others at home, disturbing our private world."

She nearly popped her eyeballs out in disbelief.

She had agreed not to speak ill of him in front of Grandma, but that didn't mean she was okay with being blamed for things randomly!

What kind of mistake was this?

"And what about your meals?" Granny Fu questioned again.

The man answered instantly, "Ranran said she would take care of the cooking."

Granny Fu looked at Wen Ran with disbelief, "Ranran, did you really say that?"

"I..."

Just as she began to speak, Fu Chenlie's eyes—gentle yet hiding a knife—looked at her with an enticing persuasion, "Just tell the truth to Grandma."

Wen Ran, "…"

I trust you not at all.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself, ready to meet Granny Fu's gaze...