Volume One, Chapter 45 (Climax): The Truth—Ye Wu Cannot Conceive

In the last few days of the year, Zhou Jinghuai and Ye Wu were staying at the old family residence.

With Ye Wu’s cooking, the Zhou household ran smoothly, both inside and out, with every social obligation handled properly. The upper circles of the entire capital city all knew that Zhou Jinghuai had a capable wife.

Madam Zhou was displeased deep down.

As for Zhou Yanli, he was light-hearted and quite pleased, specially having his secretary deliver a New Year’s red envelope containing a 5 million yuan check.

Ye Wu was quite surprised by such generosity.

Zhou Yanli’s secretary smiled and said, “Mr. Zhou asked me to make sure you accept it. He says it’s a token of goodwill from an elder.”

Ye Wu guessed Zhou Yanli’s intention.

It seemed Zhou Yanli was quite annoyed with the Bai family and, after weighing things, chose to support Ye Wu instead.

Ye Wu kept the check but secretly prepared a separate red envelope with 100,000 yuan for Zhou Yanli’s secretary. The man was taken aback but silently accepted it after a moment.

As he left, the secretary dropped a comment: “The master said my eyebrows and eyes resemble Mrs. Chen somewhat.”

Ye Wu was momentarily stunned.

Just as she was lost in thought, Zhou Jinghuai entered the sitting room and casually asked, “What are you thinking about? I just saw Dad’s secretary leave from here. What was she doing?”

Ye Wu smiled faintly. “She came to deliver a check. Dad gave me five million.”

Zhou Jinghuai felt a flutter in his heart.

She called him “Dad.” Had she changed her mind?

Just as Zhou Jinghuai was distracted, a servant’s voice came from outside: “Second Young Master, Second Young Madam, the New Year’s Eve dinner is ready. The old master has sent word for you to come down and eat.”

Zhou Jinghuai turned his head. “Got it.”

After the servant left, he looked at Ye Wu tenderly. “I prepared a red envelope for you too. I’ll give it to you before bed.”

He had been sleeping in the guest room these past few days, but tonight, on New Year’s Eve, he was definitely coming back to sleep.

Ye Wu ignored him. She went to the dressing room to change into a beige dress and paired it with a set of Australian white jade jewelry, then prepared to go downstairs for the dinner. Unexpectedly, Zhou Jinghuai hadn’t left yet. Seeing her come out, he looked at her deeply. “You look nice, but it doesn’t feel very festive.”

Ye Wu replied coolly, “I’m not dressing for you.”

Zhou Jinghuai: ...

They went downstairs together, a handsome man and beautiful woman perfectly matched. Old Master Zhou was pleased to see them and beckoned Ye Wu to sit beside him—a clear sign of favoritism.

The dining room was lively, everyone vying for favor at the table, though in truth, they were all angling for the ten percent shares the old master held.

The old master knew it all but chose to see through it silently, handing out generous red envelopes to everyone.

No word was mentioned of the share distribution.

Everyone guessed that the ten percent would go to Zhou Jinghuai’s eldest son.

So Zhou Jinghuai was desperately hoping for a son.

Throughout the meal, Zhou Jinghuai was very considerate toward Ye Wu, like a perfect husband. Zhou Jingyao at the table bit into a piece of braised pork, chewing fiercely. “Has Jinghuai really turned over a new leaf?”

Zhou Jinghuai, while serving Ye Wu some dishes, said kindly, “Unlike the cousin who works hard, still thinking about marriage alliances at his age. He truly is willing to sacrifice for the family.”

Zhou Jingyao sneered.

Old Master Zhou was displeased and scolded, “It’s rare for the family to have a reunion dinner. Each of you say two words less. If you really can’t control your mouths, the cane in my study is itching.”

The dining room instantly fell silent.

The old master was even more upset, his face red and voice harsh: “Do you think I can’t eat because of you?”

Zhou Jinghuai’s mother whispered softly, “Dad, the way you act when you hit people is really no different from eating them.”

Old Master Zhou: ...

...

Late at night, after the festivities died down.

Ye Wu, dressed in a light, thin robe, leaned against the terrace railing, gazing at the distant trees. Their bare trunks seemed to press down on the night, making it even darker and heavier.

Zhou Jinghuai entered the bedroom and saw Ye Wu lost in thought. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her slender shoulder. His voice was low and slightly hoarse: “What are you thinking about?”

Ye Wu struggled. “Let go of me. We’re not that close.”

Zhou Jinghuai didn’t let go. “Thinking about Gu Jiuci?”

“Ridiculous!”

Ye Wu forcefully pulled away, intending to go into the bedroom and grab a blanket to sleep in the guest room, but her wrist was caught by Zhou Jinghuai. The man’s voice was filled with helplessness, “All the guest rooms are locked.”

In other words, they had to sleep together tonight.

Ye Wu guessed this was the old master’s intention. She said nothing, only gave Zhou Jinghuai a cold look.

Zhou Jinghuai was burning with passion.

He took a red envelope from his coat pocket and solemnly placed it in Ye Wu’s palm. “Awu, Happy New Year.”

Ye Wu didn’t want it.

Zhou Jinghuai opened the envelope, revealing a jade pendant shaped like a small lock, entirely green and exquisitely beautiful.

He personally fastened it on Ye Wu. “I specially had a wise master bless it for safety. They say it’s very effective.”

Ye Wu tried to remove it, but Zhou Jinghuai held her hand firmly, his eyes deep and intense. “I prayed before Buddha. I want you to be safe and happy, year after year without worries.”

Ye Wu turned her face away, refusing to look into Zhou Jinghuai’s earnest eyes.

That night, they were forced to sleep together.

One by one, the lights in the bedroom went out until it was completely dark.

Darkness sharpened the senses, especially Zhou Jinghuai’s. After abstaining for so long, the woman he wanted lay beside him. He could not help but have some thoughts.

Knowing Ye Wu was also awake, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Through the thin nightgown, their bodies pressed close. Zhou Jinghuai’s thoughts ran wild. He whispered into Ye Wu’s ear, “I want to do it. Do you want to?”

Ye Wu said nothing.

The man asked again, “Do you want to? Hmm? I really want to.”

Ye Wu turned her back to him, her tone indifferent. “I said I don’t mind if you pay someone else! Zhou Jinghuai, if you have needs, go find others. We are getting divorced.”

Zhou Jinghuai, probably having endured for too long, forcefully held his wife down and passionately kissed her, trying to awaken her desire...

Ye Wu lay there like a dead fish.

She knew Zhou Jinghuai well—he didn’t like women to be indifferent.

After a while, Zhou Jinghuai lost interest. He held Ye Wu tightly in his arms, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he breathed heavily. “Weren’t things good before? Awu, we’ve had happy times too.”

Ye Wu remained silent.

Zhou Jinghuai grew disappointed. He gasped intensely against her neck for a moment, then got up and went to the bathroom to take a cold shower.

He was reluctant to force Ye Wu now, afraid she might hate him even more.

Throughout the night, Zhou Jinghuai suffered quietly, sometimes wishing he would just be done with it.

Dawn was breaking.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, a commotion came from downstairs. A servant hurried upstairs to report, “Bad news! That Miss Bai came to cause trouble at the house.”

Zhou Jinghuai sat up immediately. “Bai Qianqian?”

The servant answered cautiously, “Yes, Miss Bai. It seems she brought something extraordinary and insists on seeing the old master. The courtyard is in chaos right now.”

Zhou Jinghuai quickly got dressed.

He didn’t want Ye Wu to know, but when he turned, he met her clear, bright eyes.

By the time Zhou Jinghuai and Ye Wu went downstairs, the entire Zhou family was already up, and Old Master Zhou was impeccably dressed.

It was New Year’s Day, six in the morning.

Bai Qianqian had come prepared. She brought something valuable and demanded to see Old Master Zhou, Zhou Jinghuai’s parents, and, of course, the couple Zhou Jinghuai and Ye Wu.

A servant brought a chair for Old Master Zhou.

Settling himself, he took a sip of tea and sneered, “It’s New Year, and here you are, a grown woman, barging into a man’s house. What kind of behavior is this? Do your parents still want to keep face? Now that everyone’s here, let’s see what you’ve got. I want to see if you have the power to tear our Zhou family apart.”

The bitter cold did not deter Bai Qianqian, dressed in plain clothes.

She turned her head and stared straight at Ye Wu, sneering, “What I want to announce is that Ye Wu cannot have children. She simply cannot. She’s infertile! Here’s the proof. She hasn’t been able to have children for four years. She’s been deceiving everyone.”

Ye Wu’s face went pale.

Her wounds were exposed in public, the pain from that night still vivid as if it were yesterday.

Though she no longer loved Zhou Jinghuai, what woman would want her privacy revealed, her dignity trampled?

Seeing Ye Wu silent, Bai Qianqian grew even more smug, as if mad, chanting, “Ye Wu can’t bear children, so she can’t be Zhou Jinghuai’s wife. But I can... I can give Zhou Jinghuai children.”

Everyone thought Ye Wu was finished—that her infertility meant she would be discarded.

Zhou Jinghuai would no longer want her.

Old Master Zhou would despise her even more.

Zhou Jinghuai’s eyes darkened, about to step forward.

But Old Master Zhou stopped him, rising from his chair and slowly pacing to Bai Qianqian. His voice was grim: “You want to bear children for Jinghuai?”

Bai Qianqian still chanting, “Yes, I can bear many children for Zhou Jinghuai.”

A slap struck Bai Qianqian’s face fiercely.

Old Master Zhou sneered, his expression stormy. “What kind of creature are you? How dare you even think you’re worthy?”