During dinner, Xing Zheng finally appeared. Lin Mei was in the kitchen helping Wen Shu carry the cooked dishes to the table. The moment she turned, she came face to face with Xing Zheng. Their eyes met, his deep, dark gaze seeming to hold a certain magic that could draw one in if not careful. She quickly pulled away, placed the plate on the table, and avoided his gaze.
"You're back? I made your favorites tonight, come and try them!" Wen Shu spoke to Xing Zheng with great affection.
Xing Zheng reciprocated her warmth, smiling at her, "No need to taste, I already know they'll be delicious."
Wen Shu laughed at the compliment. Watching them, Lin Mei felt that Xing Zheng and Wen Shu's interactions were more like those of a mother and son. No wonder people often said that the bond of upbringing was stronger than that of birth.
In front of Xie Qin Jia, Xing Zheng always bristled with thorns, attempting to seek a sense of existence through mutual harm. But he didn't need to do so with Wen Shu, because Wen Shu had always kept him in her heart. Her words that afternoon were a clear indication. Wen Shu knew Xing Zheng's childhood affairs like the back of her hand, showing that she treated Xing Zheng as her own son.
During dinner, Lin Mei spoke very little. Wen Shu constantly reminded Xing Zheng to take good care of Lin Mei. Xing Zheng complied, even serving her food and smiling at her, as if he weren't the same person who had humiliated her in front of reporters earlier.
Lin Mei knew very well that he was likely putting on a show for Wen Shu. She didn't want Wen Shu to know about their conflicts, so Lin Mei played along, finishing the dinner.
After dinner, Wen Shu left. They were the only two left in the spacious villa. After Wen Shu departed, Xing Zheng suddenly stepped forward and pulled her into his embrace, placing his hand on her stomach, then lowering his head to look.
That flat expanse was nurturing a new life. His movements softened, and his expression mellowed considerably.
His gentleness was like poison; once one got close, it was impossible to break free. Lin Mei told herself to stay clear-headed, not to succumb. "Why did you postpone my surgery?"
"You're pregnant, why didn't you tell me?" The man maintained his usual style, answering a question with another question, forceful and self-centered.
Lin Mei laughed. "Tell you? To humiliate myself?"
He had already shamed her in front of so many people, pushing her into the eye of the storm of public opinion, letting the罵 and attacks consume her. How could he think that after he had hurt her so carelessly, she would still go to him without hesitation?
Was it because she had always undervalued herself that he would ask such a question?
Lin Mei's chest filled with a surge of grievance. She forcefully broke free from him. "What, you think I'd use the child to threaten you? You can rest assured, I have no interest in giving birth to this child."
Her words successfully made the man's face darken. A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes. "Say that again."
"It's the same no matter how many times I say it!" Lin Mei was not intimidated by him. "No matter how spineless I, Lin Mei, may be, I won't stoop so low as to try and tie a man down with a child. I expect you to keep your word and not disturb my life. From now on, we are strangers."
As soon as she said this, the man's demeanor changed completely. He gripped her wrist and pulled her closer, his breath dangerously close. "Did I say you could abort the child?"
"Why can't I? It's in my belly, I can do as I please." Lin Mei's tone was rarely this forceful. "It's not just hospitals that can perform abortions."
"Is that so? You can try," he looked down at her, his lips forming a threat. "If you want your parents to know."
At this, Lin Mei visibly panicked. She certainly didn't want her parents to know about her pregnancy. "What exactly do you want?"
How could she forget that he had always been a man who used threats? It was her who had a short memory after recovering from her wounds. The moment he treated her slightly better, she forgot his past threats. Now, he was simply resorting to his old tricks.
He glanced at her belly and commanded without room for argument, "Give birth to the child."
"I won't!" Lin Mei refused without hesitation. How could she give birth? "If you want a child, go to Miss Jiang. I'm sure she'd be happy to."
They were about to get married. If Jiang Chu Bi could sleep with another man for him, what was giving birth to a child?
The man had likely anticipated her response. He remained composed. "Giving birth is hard on the body, and I don't plan for her to have one for now. This one in your belly, I will take after birth."
Lin Mei froze, forgetting even to struggle. She looked at the face before her that once captivated her, but now felt utterly alien. His outrageous words continued. "It's my seed, and I won't neglect it. After it's born, it will be my child with Jiang Chu Bi. By then, even if you beg me, I won't look for you again."
"After the child is born, I will give you two hundred million as compensation. If you don't give birth, tomorrow morning, photos of your ultrasound and hormone reports will be sent to your parents' phones."
He was condescending, as if conducting a business transaction, using her parents to threaten her into giving birth to this child. Family, children, in his eyes, were all just bargaining chips!
Lin Mei's fury was ignited. Trembling all over, she raised her arm to strike him. He caught her wrist. "What, still want to hit me? Hmm?"
"You bastard! Despicable and shameless!" Lin Mei struggled, but he held her tighter, so she resorted to verbal attacks.
However, such harmless words could not hurt him. He even retorted, "Is this the first day you've known me?"
"Yes, I should have seen through your true colors long ago!" Lin Mei looked up, her eyes red, tears welling up. "Someone as cold-blooded and numb as you doesn't know what family affection is, nor do you deserve to be loved. No wonder Aunt Xie doesn't want to look at you. You're not worthy, you're not even comparable to Brother Ming Zhe!"
Before she finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through her wrist as the man abruptly tightened his grip, as if he intended to crush her arm.
She knew how much he cared about Xie Qin Jia, and this was the only way she could hurt him. He threatened her, and she wouldn't let him off the hook either. "What, hit a nerve? Someone like you doesn't deserve to be loved, nor do you deserve to have children!"
Similarly, he didn't deserve her love.
After she finished this lengthy tirade, as she gasped for breath, his large hand suddenly choked her neck. He squeezed with immense force, and her cervical spine made a crisp sound, as if it were about to snap.
Her breath was cut off, her vision darkened, and her legs felt unsteady. Yet, he showed no mercy, continuing to choke her and pinning her against the wall.
The impact against her back brought tears to her eyes, which fell onto his hand. Xing Zheng saw the tears. "You have no choice. The child must be born. Don't force me to lay a hand on you."
She stubbornly held her head high. "Even if you choke me to death, I will not give birth to your mentally ill child."