Since becoming pregnant, her appetite had grown considerably larger than usual, and in just a few days, she put on noticeable weight all around. "Where is everyone? They were just here, why have they all disappeared?" Yun Ya smiled and looked at Kang Jinse with the same gaze one would give to a fattened pig awaiting slaughter. Eat up, eat up, it’s only good when you fatten up nice and white, that way, slaughtering gives a sense of accomplishment. In the bedroom, Yun Shen had barely set foot inside when Yun Shu, behind him, backhanded him a slap across the face. A clear handprint marked Yun Shen’s cheek, numbing half of his face, but he didn’t make a sound, silently hanging his head. "Aren’t you a good son of mine, what is this? Setting a trap for your mother to fall into?" Yun Shu said with a chilling laugh. Yun Shen pursed his lips, "I thought he knew you, so..." "So without my permission, you brought him back?" Yun Shu gathered her robes and turned to walk toward the window. The night outside the window spread wide, much like the deep, dark coldness in her eyes. "You’re my son, whatever crooked schemes you’re thinking of, don’t assume I’m unaware." Yun Shen’s thin lips tightened, "So, do you have any sort of relationship with him or not?" Yun Shu abruptly turned around, her cold eyes narrowing, "What if there is a relationship, and what if there isn’t? Are you questioning me right now?" Yun Shen raised his head, staring deeply into Yun Shu’s eyes, "I just want to know, what exactly is the relationship between you and him?" Yun Shu raised her hand to touch her temple, a simple gesture that exuded a myriad of allure. "Since you’re so curious, I’ll tell you. That person, he is my childhood sweetheart, we grew up together. Before I met Ji Huaixi, I thought I liked him. But after meeting Ji Huaixi, I realized that wasn’t love at all. True love, it burns you." The way she spoke held an uncanny sense of sanctity, and inexplicably, it instilled in Yun Shen a sense of dread. "So, you abandoned him in the end?" Yun Shu’s lips curled in mockery, "Shenshen, don’t you find it ironic to hear those words coming from your own mouth?" Yun Shen’s heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat. Yun Shu stepped towards him, the oppressive weight of her presence making it nearly impossible for him to breathe. "Shenshen, you’re my son. You have no idea how much pain and suffering I went through to give birth to you, so how could you question your mother? I won’t pursue today’s incident any further, but take care not to make the same mistake again." This was akin to slapping him and then offering a sweet date. Yun Shen looked at her, this woman before him was his biological mother. Since a very young age, he had understood that his mother was different from others—beautiful, noble, dignified, like someone who stepped out of a painting, yet she would never shower him with care as an ordinary mother would. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel✶fire.net What he heard most as a child was, "Your biological father abandoned us. You must grow strong and take back everything that belongs to us." Back then, in his heart, he wondered to what extent his father was blind, to ignore and even cruelly abandon such a beautiful and graceful mother. Later on, he came to understand. He remembered the first time he met Lanyi, he was deeply captivated by her beauty and grace. For the first time, he felt his heart race—perhaps it was love at first sight. If he had anticipated the end, he would have stayed far away, holding this woman in high regard but at a great distance. As expected, they fell in love. A woman as fiery and bright as her. Her love gave him a sense of purpose for his existence. Countless nights, their bodies entwined, their souls in harmony, they floated and sank together in the ocean of desire. "Brother Shen, I’m pregnant." At that moment, he wept for joy, overwhelmed with the excitement of soon becoming a father. They got married, and the wedding was grander than any other. A true beauty and heiress and a poor scholar from a fallen family—there were those who scoffed, those who watched the drama unfold, and those who bestowed blessings, but no one knew they truly loved each other. That night, he drank a lot. He was just too happy, believing he had finally escaped Yun Shu, that from now on, he would live a happier life. Before entering the bridal chamber, he received a phone call. "Shenshen, it’s your wedding day, and I regret I couldn’t come to congratulate you in person. It’s quite a pity." He stood in front of the bridal room, longing to see her, so he said a few words hastily, ready to end the call. "Shenshen, have you always wanted to know who your biological father is? I’ll tell you now."