Chapter 138: She Could Also Choose Another, Freer Life

Wen Lvzhong is too busy; if he really were to take Ping'an over, I fear he would still spend most of his time with a nanny.

He just had surgery, and I want to be careful and meticulous in feeding and accompanying him.

A nanny might not necessarily be attentive.

I owe Qin Xingwan a great deal, so it is only right that I protect this child for her.

"Wen Lvzhong, if there is someone you like, you can go after them."

"I think Xingwan would want to see you happy."

Cheng Wan urged Wen Lvzhong.

Wen Lvzhong remained silent, his voice sounding somewhat hollow.

"I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Wan carefully lightened her movements and lay down beside Wen Ping'an.

Wen Ping'an smacked his lips, his voice soft and sweet.

"Mommy."

Cheng Wan gently patted his small body, and Wen Ping'an quickly quieted down and fell back asleep.

Early the next morning.

Cheng Wan woke up to find Wen Ping'an's bright, sparkling eyes fixed on her.

He had been awake for a while but was lying there obediently, waiting for Mommy.

"Ping'an, good morning." Cheng Wan kissed his soft, tender cheek.

The mother and son went to wash up together.

Upon going downstairs, she discovered that Chu Li was there too.

She did not know when he had arrived, but he was currently eating breakfast.

Cheng Wan frowned, clearly displeased.

Wen Ping'an, however, happily called out, "Uncle Chu."

Chu Li ruffled his hair, "Ping'an, good morning."

All the unpleasant words Cheng Wan had intended to say were stuck in her throat.

It would not do to argue in front of the child.

The servant brought over breakfast, each with a bowl of nutritional porridge.

Cheng Wan's and Wen Ping'an's were different, but both had a faint medicinal scent.

Chu Li said indifferently, "It is a prescription from Elder Yu."

Cheng Wan pursed her lips, her fingers gripping the spoon tightly.

In the end, she said nothing.

Wen Ping'an had been getting injections and taking medicine since he was small, so he did not resist the nutritional porridge and ate it obediently.

Seeing this, Cheng Wan truly felt that he was a child sent to repay a debt.

He was just so obedient.

Chu Li, sitting opposite, took in all of Cheng Wan's expressions.

It had been a long time since he had seen such a gentle look on her face.

A faint bitterness welled up in his heart.

Her gentleness belonged entirely to Wen Ping'an.

Not to his child.

He lowered his eyes, masking the loneliness in his gaze.

After finishing his breakfast, Wen Ping'an went to the living room to play.

Only Cheng Wan and Chu Li remained at the dining table, and an oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.

Once Cheng Wan finished eating, Chu Li spoke up, "Ping'an has to go for a follow-up checkup today."

Cheng Wan put down her spoon, "I will take him in a moment."

Chu Li lifted his chin to point at the porridge in front of her, "Finish eating before you go."

"Chu Li."

Cheng Wan was already full.

Chu Li had no expression, but his words were sharp, "Don't just because you have one child, forget about the one in your belly."

Cheng Wan did not want to argue with him, so she picked up the spoon again and finished the porridge.

By the time she stood up, Chu Li had already picked up Wen Ping'an.

Wen Ping'an nestled obediently in Chu Li's arms and waved at Cheng Wan, "Mommy, come quickly."

A smile bloomed on Cheng Wan's lips, and she walked over quickly.

The servants watching from behind all sighed, saying they really looked like a family of three.

At the Yiyuan, Chu Li insisted on taking Wen Ping'an for the checkup and told Cheng Wan to wait outside.

She was unwilling, wanting to handle it herself.

Chu Li said with a cold gaze, "Wait."

Cheng Wan tugged at his clothes and would not let go, "Chu Li, he is not your child."

There was no need for him to be like this.

She did not want to owe him any favors.

Chu Li sneered, "For the sake of the child in your belly, can you just settle down?"

Cheng Wan pursed her lips, "I..."

"It's time for the check-up; do you want to waste time here?"

With Chu Li's light, airy words, Cheng Wan let go.

She did not see the self-deprecating smile at the corners of his lips.

After waiting for over half an hour, the door to the examination room opened.

But it was the nurse and Wen Ping'an who came out; Chu Li was nowhere to be seen.

She thanked the nurse, took Wen Ping'an by the hand, and asked him in a low voice, "Where is Uncle Chu?"

"Uncle Chu left after taking a phone call."

"He told me and Mom to go home first."

Cheng Wan's expression cooled slightly; the call that could make Chu Li drop everything to leave must surely have been from Qin Yunshu.

She led Wen Ping'an away, "Let's go back."

Just then, Wen Lvzhong called; he remembered that Wen Ping'an had a follow-up today and was preparing to pick him up.

Cheng Wan said that the follow-up was finished, and that they were currently at the Yiyuan.

Wen Lvzhong said, "Wait for me at the entrance of the Yiyuan; I'll be there soon."

Cheng Wan then took Wen Ping'an to sit in the Yiyuan lobby to wait.

Just as they sat down, they were surrounded by two men in black, "Miss Cheng, our Madam would like to see you."

Cheng Wan and Wen Ping'an were taken to a nearby coffee shop.

Madam Wen, elegant and luxurious, sat by the window, a hint of sorrow between her brows.

Wen Ping'an called out to her sweetly, "Grandma."

Madam Wen gave a vague response.

Cheng Wan asked the waiter for a glass of plain water before looking at Madam Wen: "Do you have business with me?"

Madam Wen pushed a card over, "Miss Cheng, this is the compensation I am giving Ping'an."

Cheng Wan looked at the card and said nothing.

Madam Wen continued, "I know Miss Cheng wants to change Ping'an's surname, and I support that too. This card also contains a portion as a thank-you fee for Miss Cheng."

Cheng Wan understood; Madam Wen had come representing the Wen Family—they did not want Ping'an, and they didn't even want him to have the surname Wen.

Her face turned cold.

"Madam Wen, no matter what surname Ping'an has, he still has half the blood of the Wen Family in him."

The way the Wen Family did things was truly heartless.

Madam Wen's eyes turned red.

"I know, but I cannot let this child ruin the rest of his life. He is still young, and the reputation of the Wen Family needs him to uphold it."

With Wen Ping'an in tow, his heart would always be on the child.

Moreover, if Wen Lvzhong were to enter a political career, this matter would be used by those with ulterior motives to attack him.

This was also the reason why the Wen Family had ignored Wen Ping'an for three years.

When Madam Wen saw the face of Cheng Wan before her, she was reminded of another face.

Back then, she resented Qin Xingwan for ruining her son, but now, looking back, she felt a sense of sorrow.

Ping'an was so well-behaved; she liked this grandson.

But she had no choice.

Just as Cheng Wan was about to speak, the sound of wind chimes colliding rang out at the entrance of the coffee shop.

Wen Lvzhong walked in and picked up Wen Ping'an.

Wen Ping'an threw himself into his father's arms and kissed him, "Dad, Ping'an missed you so much."

Wen Lvzhong ruffled Wen Ping'an's hair and looked at Madam Wen with cold eyes, "Mom, I've said it before: don't interfere in my affairs."

Madam Wen could no longer sit still, and tears slid down.

"Lvzhong, she has been dead for three years; you have already done everything you could for her."

Wen Lvzhong tightened his expression and led Cheng Wan and Wen Ping'an away directly.

Once in the car.

Cheng Wan took the initiative to say, "The doctor said Ping'an is recovering well."

Wen Lvzhong thanked Cheng Wan.

"I've troubled you."

Cheng Wan's eyes were full of tenderness, "It's what I should do."

After thinking for a long time, she still said, "Wen Lvzhong, she is just worried about you."

After all, Wen Lvzhong was still young, yet he had no one by his side to care for his warmth and cold.

Perhaps Madam Wen was more worried about this than his future.

"Cheng Wan, actually, you could also leave everything behind."

She could also choose a different kind of life.

Without Wen Ping'an, and without Chu Li.

A life of freedom.