Liu Renzhi couldn't listen anymore.
He had just started, "Nanny Wu..."
Before he could say another word, Nanny Wu was clutching her chest and gasping for air again.
Zhou Chenyu quickly called for a doctor. After examining her, the doctor advised Liu Renzhi:
"The elderly lady has high blood pressure. Please don't upset her anymore.
"You children need to be more considerate."
After the doctor left, Liu Renzhi calmed down.
He told Nanny Wu:
"Focus on recovering. Don't worry about my personal affairs. I know what I'm doing."
With that, he turned to leave. Zhou Chenyu grabbed his arm:
"You're leaving just like that? You're really not worried about my mom?
"She has high blood pressure."
Liu Renzhi didn't stop walking:
"She's your mother. If anyone should be worried, it's you."
Liu Renzhi walked away without hesitation.
Zhou Chenyu stamped her foot in frustration:
"Mom, how can he be like this?
"Now he won't even listen to you? He doesn't even care about your health anymore?
"Before, you could have the slightest headache or fever and he'd be beside himself with worry.
"He's really changed."
Once Liu Renzhi's figure disappeared, Nanny Wu immediately sat up.
She was no longer weak, and her breathing was steady:
"Hmph, this Lin Wanyi is no pushover.
"Back then, when Su Jing introduced those fine ladies from good families to Renzhi, didn't I mess them all up?
"Under my upbringing, Renzhi has always rejected marriage, always disliked women.
"He wouldn't even try to get to know them.
"I thought if he couldn't find the right person, he'd end up with you in the end.
"Who would have expected a Lin Wanyi to pop up?
"And a divorced woman with a child, no less.
"I just don't get it. Does he crave love?
"Does he crave maternal love? Is that why he's found a woman with a child?"
She couldn't figure it out, and neither could Zhou Chenyu.
But Zhou Chenyu wasn't satisfied:
"Mom, when you hit her, why didn't you slap her a few more times? You should have scratched her face up.
"Once she loses that face, I'd like to see if Renzhi still wants her.
"I just can't stand it. You don't know, she even slapped me just now.
"Look at my face."
She pointed at her cheek, and Nanny Wu's heart ached for her.
She gritted her teeth and said:
"Just wait. Mom will get revenge for you.
"Thirty-five years as mother and son with Renzhi—can that really be worth less than their few months of romance?"
Liu Renzhi hurried downstairs but couldn't find Lin Wanyi anywhere.
He called her, but she didn't answer.
Remembering the finger marks on her face, he quickly got in the car and headed for the villa.
The entire drive, he worried—worried that Lin Wanyi was angry, worried that she had left and would never come back because of Nanny Wu and Zhou Chenyu's insults.
But when he opened the door, he saw Lin Wanyi tidying up the room.
She had folded the sheets and duvet covers neatly and put his pajamas into the washing machine.
She had scrubbed the bathroom clean and was now staring blankly at the soaking wet, torn cheongsam.
Liu Renzhi felt a surge of warmth and happiness.
This was what home felt like to him.
Just like the home he had in the Liu household.
He worked hard outside; his wife arranged the house.
The moment he opened the door, he could see his wife.
That was the simple happiness he wanted.
He came up behind her and hugged her:
"What are you daydreaming about?
"Upset because of what Nanny Wu said?
"Let me explain..."
"No..."
Lin Wanyi said honestly:
"I'm just upset about this cheongsam. It cost over a hundred thousand, and you just tore it..."
She didn't finish, remembering last night's intensity, and her face turned red.
Of course, Liu Renzhi remembered too.
He moved in front of Lin Wanyi, rubbing the torn cheongsam between his fingers:
"Don't be upset. I'll buy you a new one."
"Is it about the money?"
"Then what is it about?"
Liu Renzhi pressed closer. Lin Wanyi finally pushed him away and stood up:
"Liu Renzhi, tell me the truth. How many women have you been with before me?"
"Huh?"
Liu Renzhi hadn't expected that question. He looked bewildered:
"I haven't been with anyone. You know that. I've never had a girlfriend before.
"My mom and Yueyue can both vouch for me."
"No girlfriend?"
Lin Wanyi put down the cheongsam:
"No girlfriend doesn't mean no women.
"Your performance last night was nothing like a first-timer..."
She felt too embarrassed to continue and fell silent.
But Liu Renzhi laughed:
"Really, there's no other woman. You're my first.
"I swear it to you."
Lin Wanyi felt foolish. She was divorced herself. Why was she asking such childish questions?
But Liu Renzhi nibbled on her earlobe:
"You found out last night. I'm a normal man with normal desires.
"So before, I used..."
He silently raised his hand.
Lin Wanyi felt even more awkward. She pushed him away:
"I've cleaned everything up. I need to go home.
"I didn't go back last night. My mom will scold me."
Liu Renzhi hated to see her go, but he knew he couldn't keep her tied to him.
She was free.
He thought he should move the wedding forward as quickly as possible.
Then he could legitimately keep Lin Wanyi by his side.
He helped her carry her bag:
"I apologize for what Nanny Wu did.
"I've made it clear to her that you're my girlfriend, and soon you'll be my wife.
"She probably won't bother you anymore.
"If..."
He paused:
"If she does come after you again, let me know immediately."
Lin Wanyi sat in the passenger seat:
"You can't control her. And Zhou Chenyu? You have even less control over her."
Liu Renzhi touched her face:
"Did it hurt a lot?"
Lin Wanyi turned to look at him:
"I hit Zhou Chenyu back. The son pays for the mother's debts.
"Do you blame me? Zhou Chenyu said I'm the first person who's ever hit her in her whole life."
Liu Renzhi smiled and planted a fierce kiss on her forehead:
"That's right. If someone bullies you, fight back.
"Don't just stand there and take it.
"No matter who it is, remember, I'll always have your back."
Earlier that day, when Nanny Wu hit her, Lin Wanyi didn't cry.
In the hospital, when Zhou Chenyu berated her, she didn't cry.
But those words from Liu Renzhi made her eyes sting and well up with tears.
For the past eight years, every time she had conflicts with Liu Xiulan or Wang Meijuan, Wang Hao would always say:
"Just endure it. They're my mom and my sister. Why do you have to argue with them?
"It's nothing serious. Why take it so seriously?
"Patience brings peace. Harmony makes a family prosperous."
Lin Wanyi had heard those words so often they were etched into her memory.
Today, Liu Renzhi told her that no matter who it was, if she was bullied, she should fight back.
Her tears fell.
They caught Liu Renzhi completely off guard.
It broke his heart.
He quickly pulled the car over and reached out to wipe away her tears:
"Did I say something wrong?
"Why are you crying so sadly all of a sudden?"
