Chapter 9: The Grand Conspiracy Behind Bringing Him Home That Year  

Fu Yanci held her hand tightly. “When Grandfather first brought me home, I had never seen such a grand house before. I thought he truly cared for me, that he brought me here to live a good life. But in reality, he only wanted me to bear the barrage of attacks that my grandmother directed at him.”  

Fu Yanci paused, his eyes surging with hatred. “No—Zheng Zezhi was never my grandmother. My real grandmother was Grandfather’s mistress, kept hidden away. Behind Zheng Zezhi’s back, they had my mother. But when Zheng Zezhi found out, she gouged out my grandmother’s eyes, broke her arms and legs, and disfigured her face, leaving her in unbearable agony.”  

“Grandfather secretly hid my mother away, watching helplessly as my grandmother was tortured to death. My mother grew up in constant fear. Later, she met my father and had a brief period of happiness. But when I was eight years old, everything changed.”  

“Zheng Zezhi discovered my existence—and my mother’s. But she magnanimously declared that we were innocent and wouldn’t harm us, since my grandmother had already suffered her punishment. She insisted that a child of the Fu family couldn’t be left to wander outside, using that as an excuse to bring me back.”  

At this point, Fu Yanci stopped speaking.  

There was no need to continue—Shen Shuli understood everything that followed.  

To vent her personal vendetta, Zheng Zezhi had allowed—no, encouraged—everyone in the Fu family to bully Fu Yanci.  

Every single one.  

Fu Yanci cupped Shen Shuli’s face, gazing at her tenderly. “And then you appeared—like a beam of light, illuminating my entire world.”  

“Fu Yanci…”  

Shen Shuli lowered her head, thinking back on all their shared memories. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t believe that he would have a child with another woman.  

“Lili, you’re my only light. If you leave me, my world will be plunged into endless darkness. I can’t live without you.”  

Fu Yanci stared at her with deep affection, his eyes so intense it was as if he wanted to carve her into his heart.  

“I know you once saved my life. If it weren’t for you, I would have died in that fire. No matter what happens, I will always stay with you.”  

Shen Shuli recalled that incident—how he had risked his life to save her. How could someone like that possibly have a child with another woman?  

A flicker of guilt flashed in Fu Yanci’s eyes, and he deliberately changed the subject. “Remember our first time? You kept crying out in pain, refusing to let me in. I nearly got down on my knees begging you. But you coaxed me, saying we could try again tomorrow. Remember? It took us an entire week to finally… complete it.”  

He studied her expression carefully. Ever since Zheng Zezhi’s earlier words, Shen Shuli had been watching him closely. He wasn’t sure if she truly despised him now.  

Shen Shuli thought back to those moments—they couldn’t have been faked. During their first time, Fu Yanci had been so flustered, sweating profusely, alternating between coaxing and pleading, his movements clumsy and inexperienced.  

How could someone like that have already fathered a child with another woman?  

He had definitely been a virgin back then.  

If he had been able to act so convincingly, she could hardly believe he was the same Fu Yanci she had known since childhood.  

Could it be… that the child wasn’t his at all?  

Maybe it was just someone else’s child entrusted to his care—an adopted son?  

With this thought in mind, Shen Shuli decided she needed to investigate the child thoroughly. A simple DNA test would reveal the truth.  

There was no need for them to fight over something like this.

If she really misunderstood him by then, she would regret it deeply.

“Lili, come home with me, okay? I can’t even sleep at night without you by my side. If you don’t come back soon, I might just die.”

Fu Yanci coaxed softly, his tone gentler than ever before.

Shen Shuli nodded and finally agreed.

Fu Yanci kissed her lips passionately, as if wanting to meld her into his very bones.

Shen Shuli hurriedly pushed him away, her face flushed crimson, her cherry lips swollen. “Are we going home or not?”

“Yes, we’re going home right now.”

Fu Yanci immediately started the car. He couldn’t wait any longer—he wanted to fly home instantly. His mind was already racing with thoughts of how to pleasure her once they got there.

Memories of their past entanglements swirled in his mind. He missed her, he wanted her—he couldn’t wait another second.

Soon, they arrived home.

Fu Yanci carefully escorted her inside, but the moment they stepped through the door, he could no longer restrain himself. Pinning her against the door, he claimed her sweetness.

His tongue delved deep as he hooked an arm around her neck, his other hand undoing the buttons of her blouse.

“Lili, I’ve missed you so much. Give yourself to me, okay?”

Dazed by his kisses, Shen Shuli nearly forgot about her pregnancy and nodded instinctively.

Overjoyed, Fu Yanci lifted her into his arms, kissing her all the way to the bedroom. Clothes littered the floor as their passion carried them to the bed.

Fu Yanci gently laid her down, admiring her beautiful body. His thoughts were already wandering, his gaze roaming—his soul utterly captivated by her.

“Lili, I love you. No one in this world could love you more than I do.”

Fu Yanci poured out his heart.

Shen Shuli’s cheeks burned. “I know. I feel the same.”

For five long years, Fu Yanci had been “trying to get attention” around her, using subtle touches and all sorts of ways to seduce her.

Back then, they were both still young.

Yet he had already fallen for her.

The world thought Shen Shuli had loved him first.

After all, she was the one who confessed first at fifteen. But in truth, everything had been part of his five-year plan!

Fu Yanci pressed her down, spreading her legs. “Lili, are you ready?”

Just as Shen Shuli was about to say yes, a wave of nausea hit her. She pushed him away and rushed to the bathroom, retching over the toilet until only bile came up.

Fu Yanci followed suspiciously, narrowing his dark eyes as he patted her back and fetched her water to rinse her mouth.

“You didn’t take the pill that time, did you?”

Leaning against the wall, Shen Shuli avoided his gaze, barely recovered. “I did. I wish I were pregnant, but I’m not. I got tested at the hospital.”

“When? I didn’t know about this.”

Fu Yanci grew suspicious—that was the only time he hadn’t watched her take the pill.

“Right before you came back from abroad. Why?”

Her innocent look didn’t fool him. She was a terrible liar, and further questioning would expose her.

“Come on, I’m taking you to the hospital for another test. I don’t trust this.” Without waiting for her response, he picked her up and found her clothes. This hospital visit was non-negotiable!

Shen Shuli’s fingers trembled uncontrollably, her throat tight.

If they went to the hospital, her pregnancy would be impossible to hide.

She knew Fu Yanci might not let her keep this child, but the decision of whether to keep it could only be made by herself.

What should she do? Should she confess the truth and face Fu Yanci’s reaction, or find a way to evade this examination?