That night, Zhan Mohan did not return to his room. Wei Yumeng quietly checked and found him still discussing work matters with Fang Xun. Judging by his appearance, he likely wouldn't be returning to his room that night.
It was for the best. She didn't want to face him. The sight of Zhan Mohan's face would inevitably remind her of the child in her belly.
The torment of the mind and spirit always surpassed any other.
It was nearly one in the morning, yet she had no hint of sleep. She tossed and turned in bed, her mood growing increasingly agitated.
Suddenly, there was a noise outside the window. Just as she was about to get up to investigate, a dark figure swooped in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat, thinking it was a thief, and she instinctively prepared to call out for help.
But a pair of warm palms covered her mouth, and a familiar voice reached her ears.
"We haven't seen each other for a few days, and you've already forgotten me so quickly?"
Wei Yumeng's eyes widened. It was that mysterious man. He had actually come in through the window. Could this person fly and burrow through the earth, unafraid of plummeting to his death?
Before she could speak, the man leaned in and blew a puff of hot air by her ear.
"You don't look very happy, and your complexion isn't good. Could it be that you miss me too much, that your longing has made you ill?"
Wei Yumeng rolled her eyes speechlessly. How narcissistic could this person be? She wished she never had to see him again in her life, how could she possibly miss him?
To her, this man was a terrifying presence, like a phantom, disrupting her already terrible life.
She coldly pushed him away, her eyes no longer as bright as before. She looked like a wilted eggplant.
"I don't want to talk to anyone today."
The man's fingertips lifted her chin. "You're throwing a tantrum now? What about the agreement we made, the clothes I bought, why aren't you wearing them? Be careful, it might affect the experience later."
Wei Yumeng let out a mocking laugh. At this point, she didn't seem afraid of him getting angry. Her heart was like ashes, and she wanted to be left alone.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't fulfill it. Today, my paralyzed husband took me to the hospital to have the baby aborted. The doctor strictly advised me to rest for forty days. If you're really restless, you can find someone else outside."
"He made you abort the child?"
"Yes. You all bully me. Now that you see me looking like I'm half-dead, are you satisfied?"
Wei Yumeng's taut emotions were gradually dissolving.
"You little porcupine, I haven't provoked you. Why are you taking your anger out on me? I told you long ago, if you wanted to leave, you could have told me. You insisted on staying with the Zhan family."
The man wasn't angry. It was just that he had never seen her so vulnerable before, and he was a little unaccustomed to it. Especially her eyes, which were clearly fragile yet trying to appear strong. He surprisingly felt a twinge of pity.
Wei Yumeng didn't appreciate his sentiment at all and glared at him fiercely.
"Do you think you're any better than Zhan Mohan? You're like a bomb by my side, capable of blowing me to smithereens at any moment. Ever since I married into the Zhan family, I haven't had a single good night's sleep. By day, I have to figure out how to deal with Zhan Mohan, and by night, I have to endure your threats!"
If it weren't for thinking of Gu Shuyi, she would have truly wished to die.
"Do you want to leave this place? Just ask me, and I'll take you away. Once we're out, you'll not only know who I am, but I'll also cherish you dearly."
His voice was deep and magnetic, laced with temptation, stirring up inappropriate thoughts.
The mysterious man's fingertips traced Wei Yumeng's chin, wanting to kiss her, but she dodged him.
"I'm not in the mood today."
"You don't have the right to refuse." He forcefully pinched her jaw and kissed her lips.
Wei Yumeng's eyes widened, and she struggled desperately. The man, however, held her waist and pulled her closer. Their bodies fit perfectly together. Wei Yumeng was going crazy.
Why were both he and Zhan Mohan the same? Always so forceful, never giving her a chance to refuse.
Her heart felt increasingly wronged, and tears welled up uncontrollably. The man felt a salty taste on his lips and realized she was crying.
There was no point in continuing the kiss, so he let go of her.
"What is there to cry about?"
"What do you know!"
Wei Yumeng wiped her tears and yelled at him.
Seeing her sobbing, the man lost his mood.
"Forget it, forget it. I'll come find you another day. Don't cry. Crying after an abortion will give you sty eyes later."
With that, he opened the window and leaped out.
Wei Yumeng waited until she was sure he had left before wiping her tears and going into the bathroom to wash her face. She felt somewhat relieved. She hadn't expected that sometimes being gentle was more effective than being forceful.
But her tears weren't entirely fake. She was already feeling miserable. Just when Zhan Mohan was supposed to not be sleeping in her room tonight, this mysterious man appeared, adding to her distress.
She could sleep well tonight, but her sleep wasn't peaceful. The matter with the mysterious man hadn't been resolved. She wondered if she could escape him once she left the Zhan family. She probably could. He had no reason to know where she went, nor did he know her plans.
Before dawn the next day, she was already awake, her head throbbing and her vision blurry.
She seemed to have had a nightmare, dreaming that the child was questioning her, asking why she didn't want him, why she let Zhan Mohan abort him.
Her heart ached as if being unraveled thread by thread. She clutched her chest, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Please come in."
Li Sao opened the door and saw that Wei Yumeng was already awake.
"Madam, the Mistress wants you to come down for a meal. The Young Master instructed yesterday that from today onwards, all your meals and daily care will be provided by the Mistress."
"There's no need to trouble the Mistress."
How could Wei Yumeng want Wen Yulan to take care of her? If Zhan Mohan was the perpetrator, then she was also an accomplice. If Wen Yulan hadn't forcibly given her medication, Zhan Mohan wouldn't have had even a moment's notice.
Previously, she had wanted to avoid direct conflict with the Zhan family and get through this period safely. Now, it seemed impossible.
Li Sao clearly wasn't going to give her a chance to refuse. "Madam, please don't make it difficult for me, a mere servant. The Mistress cooked personally this morning. It wouldn't be good for Madam to refuse the Mistress's face, right?"
Cooked personally? Wei Yumeng's heart skipped a beat. Perhaps due to past events, she had become wary. Wen Yulan would personally cook breakfast for her? Could it be a fox paying a new year's visit to a chicken, with ill intentions?
Seeing Wei Yumeng not react for a long time, Li Sao urged, "Madam, don't keep the Mistress waiting too long."
Judging by her tone, she had no choice but to go. Wei Yumeng indeed found it difficult to refuse and could only agree with a heavy heart.
"I'll go now."
After all, there were so many people watching in the Zhan family. Could Wen Yulan poison her? Now that she no longer had a child in her womb, she was no threat to Wen Yulan.
When she went downstairs, Wei Yumeng could smell the aroma of delicious food. It was indeed quite fragrant. As she approached, she saw that Wen Yulan was quite good at cooking. Not only were there many varieties, but the spread was also quite rich.
If she hadn't already guessed their intentions, she might have actually believed that Wen Yulan was treating her well.
Even though she had reservations about Wen Yulan in her heart, she still greeted her to avoid being picked on.
"Aunt."
Wen Yulan still had that displeased look towards Wei Yumeng, not even glancing at her before sitting down.
"Since the bastard in your womb is gone, it can be considered a meritorious deed. Don't call me Aunt anymore. Call me Mother like Ah Han does."
Wei Yumeng maintained a slight smile on her face, but her heart strongly resisted calling Wen Yulan mother. In her heart, only Gu Shuyi was her mother.
Besides, what mother in the world would harm her daughter-in-law's unborn child and forcibly administer medication? Such petty tactics, and they dared to use them in a wealthy family.
"I know you don't like me, and I won't force you. It's better to call you Aunt."
Wen Yulan immediately became displeased, slamming the table. Her sharp and acrimonious face was fully revealed.
"Wei Yumeng, I think you're refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Asking you to call me Mother is giving Ah Han face. Do you think I'm giving you face?"
Wei Yumeng lowered her gaze, appearing humble and obedient, but her words carried no trace of politeness.
"Then Aunt doesn't need to give me face for Mr. Zhan's sake."
She didn't need it either!
Wen Yulan was almost furious. "You've gone too far! You've truly gone too far! It seems Ah Han has spoiled you so much that you don't even know how to respect elders. Li Sao, bring the family rules. I want to see just how hard her bones are today!"