Chapter 56: Should I retrieve the documents the Madam left in the office?

Zhao Ke did not expect to be ignored by Wen Ying.

He stared in astonishment at Wen Ying's retreating back.

What was wrong with Wen Ying? She clearly saw him, yet she didn't even intend to say hello?

"Special Assistant Zhao?" someone beside him called out.

Zhao Ke snapped out of his trance. "It's nothing. I'll explain the details to President Lu when I get back."

Before leaving, Zhao Ke cast another frowning glance in Wen Ying's direction.

What kind of game was Wen Ying playing anyway?

Back at the top floor of Lansheng.

Lu Jinchuan was just stepping out of a meeting, walking and reviewing a report handed to him by a secretary. Zhao Ke told the secretaries to return to the secretariat and followed Lu Jinchuan into the office.

"President Lu, Jinhe has conceded one percentage point, and their attitude is quite sincere. Please take a look."

Lu Jinchuan flipped through the pages and signed his name. "Mhm, thank you for your hard work."

Without lifting his head, he asked, "How is the contact with Academician He Jiang going?"

Su Nian had always wanted to meet Academician He Jiang, and he was pulling strings and striving to make it happen on her end.

Zhao Ke hesitated for a moment. "It's a bit difficult. Academician He has an eccentric temperament, does not accept private banquets, and rarely attends public events or various invitations. We need to find another breakthrough point."

"As long as this matter is accomplished, it doesn't matter what method or cost is used." Lu Jinchuan closed his fountain pen and stated casually.

Zhao Ke understood the importance Lu Jinchuan attached to Su Nian; he would even reach out to a figure like Academician He Jiang just to satisfy Su Nian.

All of this was so that Miss Su could gain a firm foothold in this field and achieve success and renown!

Only...

"I happened to run into Manager Wen at Jinhe earlier." Zhao Ke thought of Wen Ying ignoring him and felt a hint of disdain. She was just putting on a facade.

Sooner or later, she would have to come back and beg him for an opportunity to approach President Lu.

Lu Jinchuan lifted his eyelashes. "Is that so."

Zhao Ke said, "Manager Wen is following President He now, looking quite full of herself."

She was even starting to act like nobody else existed!

Only then did Lu Jinchuan leisurely look at Zhao Ke, his tone still cold yet carrying immense pressure. "She has already joined Feixi; calling her Manager Wen is no longer appropriate. In the future, she might even be a business partner, so adjust your attitude."

Zhao Ke was stunned, completely unable to guess Lu Jinchuan's thoughts, and hurriedly lowered his head. "I understand, President Lu."

Lu Jinchuan checked his wristwatch and stood up to leave.

Zhao Ke's gaze inadvertently caught the cabinet diagonally opposite, and he asked, "Should we clear out the items and documents that Madam sent you previously?"

The things Wen Ying had previously asked him to deliver to Lu Jinchuan were still sitting in the cabinet completely unsealed.

Since she was no longer at Lansheng anyway, wouldn't leaving her things there just take up space?

Lu Jinchuan didn't even turn his head, his tone indifferent. "Never mind that."

_

In the afternoon, Wen Ying unexpectedly received a phone call from Lu Jinchuan.

Ever since she moved out, he had almost never contacted her. The only time he did, she had been woken up by his call in the dead of night.

For the most part, Lu Jinchuan simply forgot that he even had a wife.

Wen Ying answered. "Something the matter?"

The man's voice was deep. "Grandma wants to see you. Come back to her place."

Wen Ying thought for a moment. "Got it."

This time, Lu Jinchuan didn't rush to hang up. He said leisurely, "Don't mention my affairs to Grandma."

He was referring to his matters with Su Nian, the series of infidelities.

Wen Ying silently curled her lips.

Before she could speak, Lu Jinchuan hung up, just as indifferent to her attitude and reaction as he had always been.

"..."

Because he believed that she would always put him first and never refuse any of his requests.

He didn't care how she would reply.

He assumed she wouldn't, and wouldn't dare to.

Wen Ying took a deep breath. Indeed, she wouldn't say anything; Grandma's blood pressure and heart condition weren't great, and she didn't want the elderly woman to suffer any shocks.

After work, Wen Ying returned to the Lu family residence.

Only then did she learn that the old matriarch had specially had French blue lobsters flown in by air from France. Wen Ying loved seafood, and the matriarch had always kept it in mind.

"Grandma figured that you've been looking a bit thin lately, so I had the kitchen prepare more nourishing tonics to build up your health." The old matriarch still cared deeply for Wen Ying.

Wen Ying helped the old matriarch to sit down. "I'll take good care of myself, you don't need to worry."

The matriarch stroked Wen Ying's slender wrists with heartache. "You call this taking care of yourself? Look at how much weight you've lost recently!"

"Besides, bearing children drains a woman's vitality and blood. If your body is weak and you happen to get pregnant, you'll suffer. It's much better to nourish yourself in advance." The old matriarch was thinking quite far ahead.

Wen Ying didn't know how to respond.

Grandma was still wholeheartedly hoping that she would carry on the Lu family line, but that was no longer possible...

They were going to get a divorce.

Even if they didn't divorce, her body wouldn't allow it.

Seeing Wen Ying fall silent, the matriarch hesitated for a moment, lowering her voice. "My dear, you and Jinchuan have been married for three years now, and you haven't conceived yet. How about having Jinchuan accompany you for a check-up another day?"

Fearing that Wen Ying would overthink it, she added, "Both of you should get checked. It's good to treat any issues early, right?"

With the old lady's traditional mindset, she was evidently harboring suspicions about this matter.

Wen Ying was startled, roughly understanding Grandma's concerns.

No matter how much Grandma cherished her, she ultimately valued the inheritance of the Lu family bloodline.

She pressed her lips together, preparing to give the old matriarch a preemptive warning about the divorce.

A servant spoke up. "President Lu is back."

Lu Jinchuan strode in, his deep eyes pausing on Wen Ying for two seconds.

His suit jacket was draped casually over his arm, and upon seeing Wen Ying, he walked straight over to her. "Grandma, traffic on the road was bad, so I'm back late."

Wen Ying noticed his arm brush against hers.

Without a trace, she shifted an inch to the side.

Lu Jinchuan noticed this minor detail, but he didn't mind.

When they sat down at the dining table, the old matriarch handed the shelled lobster meat to Wen Ying. "Eat more. Strive to make an effort this year, getting pregnant by the end of the year would be wonderful."

Wen Ying opened her mouth to speak, but stopped.

Lu Jinchuan, meanwhile, picked up a piece of shrimp and placed it on the matriarch's plate. "Have a taste of this, it's quite crisp, refreshing, and sweet."

The old matriarch glared at him.

She knew Lu Jinchuan was changing the subject.

"Don't try to change the subject with me! How old are you, and you still haven't prepared to be a father?"

Lu Jinchuan curved his lips. "We'll talk about it later."

Wen Ying lowered her head to eat.

She thought Lu Jinchuan was quite skilled at muddying the waters.

Unable to win the argument, the old matriarch arranged for Wen Ying to go upstairs to rest after dinner. Wen Ying hadn't originally planned to stay the night; she glanced at Lu Jinchuan.

She wanted him to find an excuse to refuse.

She truly couldn't figure out what Lu Jinchuan's ultimate plan was.

Lu Jinchuan didn't notice Wen Ying's gaze, sitting by the kitchen island and looking at his laptop.

Wen Ying decided not to care anymore. Anyway, Lu Jinchuan would leave when the time came; he wouldn't stay the night.

The master bedroom belonged to her and Lu Jinchuan. Last time she visited, Lu Siran had arranged for her to stay in the guest room, but this time Grandma had personally escorted her to the master bedroom, so Wen Ying couldn't show any abnormalities.

She took a shower, but Lu Jinchuan still hadn't come upstairs.

She guessed that he must have taken advantage of Grandma retiring for the night to go keep Su Nian company.

The medication reminder alarm on her phone went off.

Wen Ying picked up her pill bottle and went downstairs.

Passing the corner of the stairs, she saw Lou Xu chatting with Lu Jinchuan.

Lou Xu was deeply perplexed by the old matriarch's affection and high regard for Wen Ying, especially regarding the pressure to have children; she had never been satisfied with it.

"What are your thoughts?" Lou Xu asked.

Lu Jinchuan was still looking at the data on his laptop without raising his head. "What are you referring to?"

Lou Xu frowned. "Do you really intend to have a child with Wen Ying? Once a child is born, you can't just stuff them back in, and cutting ties with her when the time comes won't be easy. Mother knows you don't love her that much."

How could Lu Jinchuan possibly love a woman who had schemed against him?

He hated her more than enough!

Lu Jinchuan took a sip of liquor, neither taking up the thread nor refuting it. "Are you going against Grandma's wishes?"

Lou Xu said, "I'm thinking of you. Actually, Wen Ying looks fine, and she's composed, but her background is poor and her educational background is mediocre. However, when nurturing the next generation, one doesn't just look at a face."

"It's about genetics."

"Superior genetics are of paramount importance. For instance, a high-IQ elite like Su Nian is truly beneficial to the next generation."