Chapter 12: Gu’s Mother Urges for a Child, Gu Huai Forces the Issue  

Gu Huai spoke softly to comfort her, “You don’t need her forgiveness. Don’t blame yourself—it’s not your fault.”  

Lu Zhenzhu turned her head and saw him raising his hand to wipe Jiang Sesè’s tears. The corners of her lips curled into a mocking smile.  

The two of them really were treating her like air.  

After Gu Huai had comforted Jiang Sesè, he told her to go back and rest.  

No sooner had she left than Gu’s Mother, having heard the news, hurried over to the villa in a fluster.  

“Zhenzhu, all couples argue—bickering is normal. It’s fine to get angry and lose your temper, but you shouldn’t joke about divorce. Next time, don’t just leave the country after a disagreement like this. It’s very worrying. If A-Huai makes you angry in the future, come to me. I’ll stand up for you.”  

Lu Zhenzhu withdrew her hand from Gu’s Mother’s grasp and nodded indifferently, responding perfunctorily.  

She knew better.  

If she really fought with Gu Huai, her mother-in-law wouldn’t take her side. She might even gossip about her behind her back.  

Gu’s Mother noticed the distance between her and Gu Huai—enough to fit another person—and shifted the topic.  

“A-Huai, you and Zhenzhu have been married for a while now. Have you thought about having children?”  

Gu Huai suddenly turned his gaze to Lu Zhenzhu.  

Her heart skipped a beat. Thinking of her pregnancy, she felt a pang of guilt and nervousness under his stare.  

Gu’s Mother smiled and asked, “Is the decision to have children up to Zhenzhu?”  

“It’s her call.” Gu Huai’s tone was calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly at her tense expression.  

When Gu’s Mother pressed her, Lu Zhenzhu remained silent.  

Seeing this, Gu’s Mother understood that she wasn’t ready for children yet.  

“Zhenzhu, I’m not just pushing you to have a baby. If you have children sooner, I’ll have the energy to help raise them myself. I’m thinking of you—the risks of childbirth are higher when you’re older. If you have children young, your body will recover faster in every way. What do you think?”  

Lu Zhenzhu didn’t believe a word of it.  

If she had a child, Gu’s Mother wouldn’t raise it herself—she’d hire a professional Infant Caregiver.  

Nice words, but all she really wanted was for her to have a baby.  

Rubbing her temples, she said wearily, “Mom, I didn’t rest well on the plane. I’m tired and want to go upstairs to sleep. We can talk about this later.”  

As she went upstairs, Gu’s Mother’s expression turned grave.  

“You’re a married man now. You should keep your distance from Jiang Sesè. A-Huai, a woman’s intuition is sharp. Zhenzhu isn’t just saying she wants a divorce—she’s made up her mind. You still have time to fix this. If you keep getting entangled with Jiang Sesè, your marriage will be in crisis.”  

She suggested, “Have a child as soon as possible. If she really wants a divorce later, she’ll at least think about the child and endure for their sake.”  

Gu Huai took his mother’s words to heart.  

He and Lu Zhenzhu hadn’t used protection recently, yet she hadn’t gotten pregnant.  

Had she been taking contraceptives behind his back?  

Remembering how nervous she had looked when his mother mentioned pregnancy, a sharp glint flashed in Gu Huai’s eyes.  

After Gu’s Mother left, he pushed open the bedroom door.  

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. He took off his coat, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked, then reached out to push the door open.  

Lu Zhenzhu suddenly felt a chill and turned to see the man stepping inside. She quickly grabbed a towel to wrap around herself, covering her body, and demanded angrily,  

“You didn’t knock?”  

Gu Huai closed the door behind him, displeased by her attempt to hide.  

“We’re married.”

His fingers quickly undid the buttons, tossing his shirt onto the washbasin before twisting open the Bathroom Master she had turned off. Wrapping his long arms around her, he pulled her close. “I think Mom has a point. We should have a child soon.”

Gu Huai’s restless hands moved to remove her towel, but Lu Zhenzhu pressed down tightly with both hands.

“I don’t want a child right now. Didn’t you say you’d respect my wishes?”

“Are you leaving, or am I?” She shot a cold glare at his wandering hands.

Gu Huai’s expression darkened.

Seeing this, Lu Zhenzhu knew he wouldn’t leave.  

She shifted to move past him, casting a wary glance his way. Her obvious aversion only fueled his anger as he blocked her path. “Running away? It’s not like we haven’t showered together before.”  

Gripping her wrist, he yanked her back effortlessly, lowering his head to kiss her.  

Lu Zhenzhu turned her face away, causing his lips to land on her cheek. The man’s expression darkened further as he cupped her head and kissed her again—urgent, domineering, leaving no room for refusal.  

Summoning all her strength, she shoved him away, furious.  

“Gu Huai, I’m exhausted. I don’t want to do this.”  

Touching his lip where she had bitten him, Gu Huai glanced at his fingertips, now smeared with red.  

The woman had already stormed out in a rage. With a frosty expression, he followed, pinning her onto the bed.  

“Exhausted? You ran from me like a startled rabbit. Didn’t hear you complain about being tired then.”  

He yanked off her towel, revealing her snow-white skin. Bending down, he scattered messy kisses along her shoulders and downward.  

Lu Zhenzhu seethed, her hands pinned. Gritting her teeth, she spat, “Gu Huai, are you trying to rape me?”  

The man didn’t pause, his voice indifferent. “We’re married. This is normal marital intimacy.”  

She roared, “Even between spouses, if one refuses, it’s still coercion!”  

“Let me go, or I’ll call the police.”  

Gu Huai hesitated slightly, his eyes smoldering with restrained fury before letting out a cold chuckle.  

“A Zhu, you wouldn’t.”  

Annoyed by her resistance, his grip tightened, making Lu Zhenzhu wince in pain. Seeing no sign of him stopping, fear crept into her heart.  

Gu Huai was always relentless and prolonged in these matters.  

She was pregnant—she couldn’t afford to let this happen.  

Struggling fiercely, she was effortlessly subdued. Biting her lip, her gaze landed on the glass diffuser on the nightstand. She grabbed it, hesitating as she looked at the man buried against her.  

But the next second, feeling his movements, she smashed the glass against him.  

Pain shot through the back of his head. Gu Huai froze, his eyes icy, face grim with disbelief.  

“A Zhu, do you hate me this much?”  

She said nothing, her hands trembling slightly.  

Gu Huai’s eyes burned. “You refuse? Then I’ll make sure it happens.”  

Lu Zhenzhu hurled the diffuser against the wall, gripping a shard and pressing it to her neck. “Gu Huai, if you dare touch me, I’ll kill myself right here. If you’re not afraid, go ahead and try.”  

“You’re afraid of pain.” Unfazed, Gu Huai reached out calmly. “Give me the shard. You’ll hurt yourself.”  

Yes.  

She was afraid of pain.  

Lu Zhenzhu’s nose stung.  

Even knowing how much she feared pain, she had resorted to threatening him—yet he remained composed.  

If it were Jiang Sesè, he would’ve yielded long ago.  

Her eyes reddened, but she stayed silent, pressing the shard deeper into her neck. Her fingers tightened, and blood welled up instantly.

She stared at him blankly, the determination in her eyes making Gu Huai’s gaze darken. He snatched the shard from her hand and threw it into the trash, his face clouded with gloom.

“Lu Zhenzhu.”

He called her name angrily.

“You forced me into this.” Lu Zhenzhu’s face was pale, but she showed no trace of regret.

Compared to the child, Gu Huai was insignificant.

“You begged for me before, and now I’m forcing you?” The man curled his lips, his eyes icy and mocking.