"Words are enough?"
Wei Yumeng's heart pounded like a drum. She slightly raised her eyes, noticing his gaze was direct and audacious, staring at her without any intention of looking away.
"Then what do you want?"
She genuinely couldn't think of anything she possessed that Zhan Mohan could possibly want from her.
It couldn't be that he wanted to... in the car...
The thought sent Wei Yumeng instinctively clutching her chest, blurting out, "Zhan Mohan, I've just been through a scare. You can't ask me for something unreasonable like that again."
Seeing her look of terror, Zhan Mohan quickly deduced her thoughts from her reaction.
His expression tightened. "Wei Yumeng, do you think I'm the kind of person who only cares about physical intimacy?"
Wei Yumeng blinked, like an innocent antelope.
"Then... what did you mean by what you just said?"
Zhan Mohan curled his lips mockingly. "Why aren't you calling me Mr. Zhan anymore?"
Weren't you being polite just now? Now you're angry and calling me by my name.
Wei Yumeng saw the sharpness in his eyes gradually fade. Combined with his words, she finally realized. He felt slighted because she called Fang Xun by his full name but addressed him as Mr. Zhan. It was purely the pride of a man.
She, being clever, didn't point it out. "Mm, I just didn't react in time."
The man's somber expression finally showed signs of change. Fang Xun, through the rearview mirror, saw this scene clearly. He could hardly believe that the Zhan always loyal to him had such a side.
The car arrived at the Zhan residence. Fang Xun opened the door and carefully helped Wei Yumeng out. She glanced inside; the living room lights were still on, indicating someone was home.
"What do I do? I don't know if it's your mother or grandfather inside."
Those two had sharp eyes. If they saw her in this state, having changed her clothes, she feared there would be a barrage of questions.
Zhan Mohan pondered for a moment, then walked over and lifted Wei Yumeng into his arms.
Wei Yumeng suddenly lost her footing and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, looking at him in alarm.
"What are you doing?"
"When we get inside, shut your mouth and keep your eyes closed."
He carried Wei Yumeng inside. Wei Yumeng didn't want to face Wen Yulan or Grandpa Zhan. She obediently closed her eyes. As they neared the main door, she heard Zhan Mohan whisper.
"Bury your head in my arms."
Wei Yumeng felt a little awkward but complied. She rested her head against Zhan Mohan's chest. The scent of tobacco filled her nostrils, which she found quite pleasant.
This was probably the first time they had been so intimately close in such a harmonious way.
As expected, Wen Yulan and Grandpa Zhan were still awake, likely discussing Zhan Yichen.
Wen Yulan's expression soured when she saw Zhan Mohan carrying Wei Yumeng back.
"Ahan, why are you carrying her back? Even though it's late, you should consider the feelings of those around you. If it gets out that my daughter-in-law is spoiled, needing her husband to carry her in, what will people say?"
Grandpa Zhan was even more traditional. Wei Yumeng's marriage was already a reluctant one, intended to ward off bad luck. Now that Ahan's leg had recovered, he thought, since they were married, as long as Wei Yumeng behaved, he would let it be.
But now, she wouldn't even get out of the car and had to be carried in by his grandson? It was utterly improper.
"Ahan, she's being childish, but you have to join in the nonsense? Put her down quickly!"
"Grandpa, she accompanied me to a business event today. She drank a lot of wine for me and is experiencing stomach pain. She also twisted her ankle leaving the club."
Wen Yulan didn't believe it. She knew Zhan Mohan was protective of this girl.
She stood up, walked to Zhan Mohan's side, and craned her neck to look at Wei Yumeng. Her cheeks were flushed red, her eyes tightly shut. She was pretending quite convincingly.
"You were at a business event? Then why isn't there even a trace of alcohol smell on you?"
Wei Yumeng's heart sank. Wen Yulan truly lived up to her reputation as the matriarch of the Zhan family; she was incredibly meticulous, missing nothing, especially when it concerned her. She wished she could use a magnifying glass to scrutinize everything.
Zhan Mohan's expression remained unchanged. He didn't even frown at Wen Yulan's interrogation.
"She was at the club, and someone spilled wine on her clothes. I took her to a hotel to shower, and had Fang Xun buy a change of clothes."
This answer was flawless, leaving no room for suspicion.
Although Wen Yulan was unhappy and knew Zhan Mohan was lying, she couldn't come up with any other argument to counter him. She wondered what it was about Wei Yumeng that had captivated him so much that he was so protective.
Grandpa Zhan didn't want to dwell on the matter. He waved his hand.
"Since she drank too much, go to your room and rest. However, Ahan, I must remind you, your grandfather is waiting to hold his great-grandchild. You should start thinking about trying for a baby. I'll have your mother supervise you constantly."
Wei Yumeng's face grew hotter as she heard Grandpa Zhan's words.
Zhan Mohan nodded slightly. "Then Grandpa, we'll head back to our room."
Once upstairs, Wei Yumeng also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Wen Yulan hadn't pressed further.
Back in the room, Zhan Mohan placed Wei Yumeng on the bed and noticed her entire face was flushed red. He took off his jacket.
"What are you so nervous about?"
"If we slip up, your mother will definitely investigate further."
Just thinking about Wen Yulan's almost predatory eyes made her shiver.
"She wouldn't dare. She doesn't have the time. I've already explained. If she continues to question, she's deliberately looking for trouble. Besides, Grandpa didn't say anything."
Wen Yulan only dared to put on airs when Grandpa wasn't around. If Grandpa were present, she wouldn't have a say.
Wei Yumeng had been in the Zhan family for a while and wasn't very clear about their internal dynamics. Hearing Zhan Mohan bring it up now, she became somewhat interested.
"Why? Is your mother very afraid of Grandpa?"
Zhan Mohan sat on the edge of the bed, only wearing a white shirt, which made his posture even more imposing, his profile sharp and defined. He slightly lowered his eyelids, and from this angle, she could see his long, dense eyelashes.
He sat up straighter and turned his head. "You want to know?"
"If it's not inconvenient, you can tell me. If not, it's fine."
Zhan Mohan paused for a few seconds, his gaze dimming slightly, his voice low and hoarse.
"Wen Yulan entered the Zhan family after my mother passed away. Grandpa didn't agree at first, but he was busy with company matters and couldn't focus on the household. Furthermore, Wen Yulan was pregnant. Grandpa, being traditional, didn't want a descendant of the Zhan family to be born out of wedlock, so he was forced to accept Wen Yulan."
"However, Wen Yulan is very smart. She knows Grandpa values me greatly, even more than Yichen sometimes. She's different from other stepmothers; she genuinely treats me well."
"But that's all for Grandpa's benefit. People who are two-faced are the most foolish. She knows very well that only by being sincere towards me can she maintain her current position."
After listening, Wei Yumeng realized that Zhan Mohan wasn't as fortunate as he seemed. Everyone assumed the eldest young master of the Zhan family grew up in luxury, pampered and cherished.
Little did they know that Wen Yulan had stepped on his mother's corpse to attain the position of madam of the Zhan family.
"Then, how did your mother die?"
Zhan Mohan gave a bitter smile. "Do I need to ask? Aren't you women the best at speculating? You can imagine."
"Did... did Wen Yulan kill her?"
"She didn't kill her directly, but her actions indirectly led to her death. I was supposed to have a younger brother, who was about to be born. Because Wen Yulan went to provoke my mother, causing her to be unable to cope and have a mental breakdown, she jumped to her death in retaliation against my father, taking two lives with her."
As Zhan Mohan spoke, images flashed in his mind, and his handsome face contorted in pain.
Wei Yumeng could deeply empathize with the pain of losing loved ones, especially one's mother. What impressed her even more was how Zhan Mohan could coexist under the same roof with his enemy for so many years.
If it were her, she would have likely taken Wen Yulan down with her.
But she also understood Zhan Mohan's actions. His mother must have wanted him to live well. There was no other way but to endure silently and bide his time.
No wonder Zhan Mohan had such a strong reaction when he saw Wen Yulan trying to drug her last time.
"Then, is the reason you haven't promoted Zhan Yichen also related to this?"