Chapter 35: Her Soft Heart 35

Fu Jinu nodded as if it were obvious, "Of course, my brother likes children, and he also loves you as well."

Yi Ruan was pleased, "Is that so? That's wonderful." She then turned the conversation, "But you won't have his child."

Fu Jinu was startled, glancing at her with a guilty look, "I don't like my brother."

Yi Ruan shook her head with a contemptuous smile, stepped in front of her, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.

She leaned down gently, exhaling a warm breath into her ear, "I know you like Qiwei, but he doesn't like second‑hand goods—like the heroine in a sleazy romance film, spoiled, little slave."

The hostility between women may be invisible to men, but here it is unmistakable.

Fu Jinu felt her heart skip a beat; such a subtle matter, even Fu Qiwei didn't know—how did she find out?!

But she quickly composed herself, looking at her with a ridiculous expression, "I never expected sister‑in‑law's taste to be so unique."

Yi Ruan protected the child in her womb, lowering her head gently, "No, I just won't allow anyone to harm my family."

【Woman, it's too early for you to say that now; after all, you haven't begun the fourth step yet.】

Yi Ruan: Good fellow, must you make Fu Qiwei's wife and children be torn apart?

Fu Jinu looked at Yi Ruan, her gaze becoming laden with meaning.

Fu Qiwei stood at the doorway; as she strode out, Fu Qiwei flung her against the wall.

"Don't touch Yi Ruan."

The two were close; Fu Jinu could smell a faint fragrance on him, a blend of delicate floral scent and ambergris, soothing and calming.

Unfortunately, it was Yi Ruan's scent.

Fu Qiwei pinched Fu Jinu's shoulder, the pressure making her wince as she looked at him, "Brother, could you stop being so rough with me every time?"

A pair of fox‑like eyes glistened with tears as he coldly said, "From now on, don't enter Half Moon."

She turned her pitiful look into a smile, looking at Yi Ruan inside the room, "Alright, alright, I will never come to Half Moon to see sister‑in‑law again."

Fu Qiwei wiped his hand, returned to the room, and shut the door.

She stared at the closed door, rubbing her shoulder.

"Brother, you're so cold to me, I really want to force you to take spring medicine." She muttered softly, but Yu Ma in the shadows heard it.

It hadn't been long since returning to the Fu family old residence, and the lady was already being eyed by so many people.

After closing the door, Fu Qiwei's strikingly handsome face took on a hint of wickedness, "Yi Ruan…"

He embraced her from behind, one large hand on her chest, the other on her belly, "How about we go back after the New Year?"

Yi Ruan was startled, "Weren't we supposed to stay until I finish my confinement?"

Why does he suddenly say we'll leave after the New Year?

He didn't want her to worry, so he spun a lie, "The mountains around the Fu family old residence are full of beasts; I hope our child can be like you, gentle, without so much beastly nature."

She stared at him blankly, her peach‑blossom eyes bewildered, "Ah, but, but…"

She thought the scenery of the Fu family old residence was quite nice.

Fu Qiwei pinched her nose, "Exactly because the scenery is good, we raise fierce beasts to spoil it."

…

…

They had lived in the Fu family old residence for almost a week.

"Yu Ma, I want to go to grandpa's place."

Fu Qiwei had been summoned by Lord Fu these past two days; he said he would return before the New Year to keep her company.

With two or three days left until the New Year, Fu Qiwei still hadn't sent any news, not even a single message.

Yu Ma paused in her movements; the master, before leaving, instructed, "When you go to Qing Geng Courtyard, don't stay up for the month."

"Madam, your health is poor; you shouldn't go, lest you get hurt." Yu Ma's words were of little use, but Yi Ruan, caring about her child, truly believed them.

Yi Ruan nodded, thinking of going out for a walk herself.

"Then I'll go out by myself." Yu Ma hadn't finished her task; she glanced at the guard in the courtyard, helped Yi Ruan down the stairs, and said as they walked, "Actually, the more people there are, the less you should go out, to avoid getting hurt."

She held a string of prayer beads; each smooth bead clacked crisply as they struck each other.

"I know, but staying here all the time is stifling." She descended the last step, gazing at the bright wind and sunshine outside, and said, "I'll go for a walk myself; Yu Ma, you just rest."

A Nuo saw Yi Ruan approaching and stepped forward.

"Young lady, where would you like to stroll?" A Nuo deliberately kept a meter's distance, able to protect her without restricting her movement.

Her soft shoes pressed on the bluestone path, feeling very comfortable.

"Just wander around."

On the path, plum blossoms bloomed on both sides; the sword edge is honed, and the plum fragrance arises from bitter cold.

Clusters of red plum, tender and dripping with beauty.

A man came toward them; Yi Ruan stepped aside, but his shoulder collided with hers unexpectedly, and A Nuo quickly steadied her.

The ring in her hand fell.

She endured the shoulder pain, bent down to pick it up, only to have someone beat her to it.

"What are you doing!" the woman lifted her chin, slightly squinting her beautiful eyes, her thin lips coldly questioning the man.

"I found it, so it's mine!" the man retorted, unwilling to back down.

Yi Ruan tugged, "Let go!"

"I won't, you let go!" He hadn't seen such a beautiful ring in years; the diamond on it was a rare sight.

A Nuo watched the young lady and the third young master from the side, unsure whom to help.

"Third Young Master, this is our lady." A Nuo whispered.

The two stood up, and Fu Kai finally faced her.

She was tall and slender, with narrow shoulders and a slim waist, wearing a mint‑green turtleneck sweater and a lemon‑yellow knit split skirt; her long beautiful legs were flawless, her thin lips lightly pursed, her gentle face, yet her peach‑blossom eyes were exceedingly cold.

She is truly beautiful, a beauty that surpasses the world, but he has seen women more beautiful than her; yet theirs is pure natural, while others have had surgery—compared to the one before him, tsk tsk, they still fall short of her.

She lacks the worldly aura of the entertainment industry.

Those peach-blossom eyes make it hard to look away, sending furtive glances; though her expression is icy cold, he sees a hint of lunar softness in her—white… white moonlight?

But Ano said, she is the young mistress?

She is the elder brother's wife, and also a pregnant wife.

"Good day, elder sister-in-law." Fu Kai respectfully handed over the diamond ring; the woman took it from his palm and then turned and left.

Her finger inadvertently hooked his palm, and Fu Kai stared blankly for a moment.

His palm felt itchy, his heart pounded like a startled deer, and a suspicious flush appeared on his face.

"She is the elder sister-in-law, she is the elder sister-in-law." Fu Kai murmured to himself twice.

That day she made his heart flutter; his reason told him he couldn't, for she was Fu Qiwei's woman. Later, taking advantage of his inattentive reason, she settled in his heart for a lifetime.

Please vote, please collect.