Lu Tian'an's two words "Mom... don't go..." were like a hammer blow, shattering the resilience and anger that An Luo Wei was trying to build up.
The slap just now used up all her strength. Now, facing the trembling plea of an autistic child who hadn't spoken for 5 years, and his desperate eyes, her heart felt like it was being squeezed by someone.
She was a motherless child. More than anyone, she understood what it was like to long for a "mother".
She could hate Lu Bei Shen, she could despise his tyranny of using money to crush people to death.
She could run away from the burden of her gambling father.
But she couldn't turn her back on a child who was reaching out to her for help.
An Luo Wei closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, the fire of anger had died down, leaving only a chilling calmness.
She looked straight at Lu Beichen. "You win."
She didn't look at the contract. She just picked up the pen that Assistant Zhang was tremblingly handing over.
"I sign."
She flipped to the last page. She didn't bother to read a single word of the terms. Right next to the flying dragon and phoenix signature "Lu Beichen", she wrote down three words: "An Luowei".
The strokes were strong, as if she had poured out all her resentment.
The moment she finished writing the last word, Lu Beichen, who had kept a cold expression all this time, took a deep breath that no one noticed.
Lu Beichen's inner thoughts:
Weiwei, even if you don't remember anything, you still can't abandon our 'child'. You still choose her...
"Good." He nodded calmly, as if this was just a normal business deal. "Assistant Zhang."
"Yes, I am!"
"Handle An Guoqiang's 500 million debt." Lu Beichen ordered, "Find him a quiet 'place' in the suburbs. Assign someone to keep an eye on him. He is not allowed to cause any more trouble for Madam Lu."
"You...!" An Luowei panicked. "You want to keep my father under house arrest?"
"I call it 'protection'." Lu Beichen calmly buttoned up his vest. "Now, go home."
"Go home? Which home? I still have to go back to my rented room..."
"Your moldy 15 square meter rented room?" He frowned. "That place is not worthy of Madam Lu. I will have someone clean up your things later."
He did not give her a chance to resist, grabbed her wrist (the wrist was not injured) and pulled her away.
This time, Lu Tian'en did not cling to her shirt anymore. The little boy took the initiative to stretch both arms towards An Luowei.
A clear act of asking to be carried.
An Luowei was stunned. Her heart ached again. She sighed, removed Lu Beichen's hand, and bent down to pick the little boy up. Lu Tian'en immediately hugged her neck tightly, buried his small face in her shoulder, and took a deep breath.
In that moment, An Luowei had a strange illusion. The scent on this child's body... was painfully familiar.
Lu Beichen looked at that scene, his sharp eyes suddenly softened a bit. He reached out, instinctively wanting to touch her hair, but halfway through, he froze and lowered his hand.
"Let's go." He turned and walked ahead.
The Lu family's villa was located in Longding District, the most expensive area in S City. The car passed through three security gates, entering a large compound so large that An Luowei thought it was a national park.
The main villa was not a ostentatious European castle, but a modern, minimalist architecture, but used all the most expensive materials. It was exactly like its owner: Luxurious, cold, and oppressive.
A long line of maids and a middle-aged housekeeper (Mrs. Li) were already waiting.
"President Lu, Young Master Tian'en." Mrs. Li bowed respectfully, but her eyes could not hide her surprise when she saw him enter... with a young woman holding the young master.
Lu Beichen did not bother to explain. He pulled An Luowei into the large living room.
"President Lu, I..." An Luowei was about to say something.
Oh... oh...
A very untimely sound rang out.
The air froze.
An Luowei's face turned red. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole to hide in. From rushing to work early in the morning, bumping into him, then saving someone, then going to the hospital, being forced to sign a contract... She had not even had a grain of rice in her stomach.
Lu Beichen stopped and turned to look at her.
He stared at her growling stomach.
Then he turned to Mrs. Li and ordered, "Serve dinner. Add another portion." He paused for a second, then added, "Double it."
Mrs. Li was surprised: "...Double it?"
"She eats a lot." Lu Beichen said, his voice calm.
An Luowei felt humiliated for the nth time that day. "I don't...!"
Lu Beichen's words weren't speculation. They were memories. In her previous life, when she was still Wei Xianzi, she was a famous "foodie" in the peach garden.
"Sit down." He pointed to the long ebony dining table. "Eat."
Dinner was served quickly. Twenty dishes. From shark fin soup, stewed abalone, to dishes An Luowei didn't even know the names of.
She was really hungry. Her hunger overcame her embarrassment. She picked up her chopsticks, disregarding her image, and began to "clean up" the food with a rare enthusiasm, as if this was her last meal.
Lu Beichen didn't eat. He sat opposite, propped his chin up, and just looked at her.
That gaze appeared again. Not cold, not mocking. But it was a deep nostalgia.
Lu Beichen's inner thoughts: 'That's right, Wei Wei. Eat a little more. You were so skinny in your previous life... This time, I must 'grow' you a little fatter.'
Being stared at like this, An Luowei finally slowed down her eating. She raised her head, annoyed: "What are you looking at? Have you never seen anyone eat rice before?"
"I've never seen anyone eat as much as you." He replied calmly.
"You...!"
Lu Tian'en, who had been sitting beside An Luowei, suddenly picked up a small seafood dumpling, tried to tiptoe, and brought it to her mouth.
An Luowei was stunned. "Give... give it to mom?"
The boy nodded. His eyes lit up.
An Luowei's heart softened. She opened her mouth to receive it.
Lu Beichen looked at this scene, the corners of his lips almost curled up. 'It seems that Xiao Tao remembers your preferences better than I do.'
After eating, An Luo Wei wiped her mouth. "Alright, Mr. Lu. We've eaten. Let's talk clearly now. A contract is a contract, but I..." She took a breath, "I will not fulfill my husband's duties."
Lu Bei Shen stood up, adjusting his tie. He looked down at her from above, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"Do you think I need to force a woman? Or do you think... you have that much charm?"
An Luo Wei was speechless. Her confidence was shattered.
"You sleep in the room next to Tian An's room." He said, "Your only duty is to take care of her. Don't let me see you appear in front of me when it's not necessary."
After speaking, he turned around and strode upstairs, leaving An Luo Wei standing stunned in the middle of the large living room.
He... he just insulted her? He spent 500 million, a marriage contract, just to hire a high-class nanny for his son?
An Lac Vi clenched her fists. 'Luc Bac Than! You just wait!'
Mrs. Ly approached: "Young Madam, please come this way."
"...Don't call me Young Madam."
"But Mr. Luc told me..."
"Just call me Miss An."
An Lac Vi carried Luc Thien An (the boy who refused to get down) and followed Mrs. Ly. The first night of the "selling body" marriage began like that.