Chapter 203 - I’m Actually the Son of Jiang Changdai And Yan Huaiyuan
Chapter 203: I’m Actually the Son of Jiang Changdai And Yan Huaiyuan
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yan Beicheng fastened the buttons of his jacket with his long fingers as he walked.
“I apologize, but the interview will have to end now.” Lin Chu said nonchalantly as she walked down the stairs.
The six bodyguards bulldozed their way through the gaggle of reporters with Lin Chu in the middle.
The reporters were not yet satisfied and someone shouted, “You promised us one question each, but you’ve only answered three!”
Lin Chu did not stop walking. She knew her current condition, so she subtly yet carefully shielded her tummy. “Sorry, but I’ve dallied for too long. My husband’s here to fetch me.”
The crowd hurriedly turned their heads when they heard her say this. True enough, Yan Beicheng was here.
Yan Beicheng raised his brow at the crowd surrounding Lin Chu and quickly pulled her to his side. “Did they touch you?”
Lin Chu shook her head and smiled to quell his worries. “I saw many reporters outside the door when I was getting ready to go out, so I decided to answer whatever questions they had in one go so that they wouldn’t bother me in the future. Sorry for making you wait so long.”
“I’m just worried that you were hungry.” Yan Beicheng said whilst completely ignoring the clicks and flashes of cameras around them. “The old lady sent Aunt Chen to the office with your lunch with a soup that she had made just for you. She was worried about all the oil restaurants use in their dishes and said that homemade meals are healthier because they’re not as oily and salty. The soup was still hot when it arrived, so I brought it here so that you can eat it while it’s still warm.”
His expression instantly became icy when he turned to look at the reporters. “If you have any more questions in the future, please look for me in front of the Yan Hui building instead of disturbing my wife.”
Then, he escorted Lin Chu to the car.
As they waited for the elevator in Yan Hui, the doors of the staff elevator opened and a pregnant lady walked out. She looked to be about six to seven months pregnant, with her tummy looking as if she had stuffed a balloon under her clothes. This caused her to lean backward, which in turn made her tummy protrude even more.
She looked toward them after sensing Yan Beicheng’s gaze on her, then greeted them nervously, “Good day, Mr. and Mrs. President.”
She was one of Yan Hui’s employees.
Yan Beicheng nodded, his intense gaze landing on the woman’s protruded tummy before turning gentle.
The woman was terrified of his gaze. She shielded her tummy and said with quivering lips, “Mr. President?”
“Is it easy to work in the office while pregnant?” Yan Beicheng asked with a warm voice. His distant demeanor was not intentional, it just came naturally to him. He did not show his gentle side except for when he was with Lin Chu or his grandparents.
His mild expression looked stern to the female employee, scaring her to the point where she thought to herself, ‘Does the President think my pregnancy is hindering my work performance?’
She knew that a lot of companies preferred not to employ single female employees who were at a marriageable age, because they would apply for marriage leave when they inevitably got married. This was the same for female employees who were married but childless because they would have children soon after joining the company and thus needed to apply for maternity leave.
It was not written in black and white, but it was an implicit preference that everyone was aware of.
She knew that Yan Hui did not enforce this rule, but she was so unnerved by Yan Beicheng’s question that she began to overthink.
She said hurriedly, “Everything’s going well. Rest assured, Mr. President, my pregnancy does not get in the way of work at all.”
Yan Beicheng, “…”
Lin Chu pulled him back. She understood why Yan Beicheng was asking this but also knew that the employee had misunderstood his intention.
It was mainly because of his attitude. She was used to it and understood him, so naturally, she could read him like a book. Nevertheless, he could really make people who did not know him well anxious.
“Don’t you worry.” Yan Beicheng had more patience toward pregnant women, partially because of Lin Chu’s pregnancy. “I’m not assuming that your pregnancy is affecting your work. After all, the company doesn’t need a pregnant woman like you to function properly anyway.”
The female employee became even more frightened.
Lin Chu, “…”
What was the point even trying to explain if all it did was worsen the situation?
Lin Chu tugged at his arm and said to the female employee, “Don’t worry, really. He doesn’t mean anything by that. He’s only suggesting that you raise any problems you encounter to the company so that they can resolve them for you as soon as possible. He’s not berating you for neglecting your work, he’s only worried that you won’t mention any issues you are facing.”
The female employee carefully diverted her gaze back toward Yan Beicheng. She observed Yan Beicheng’s expression from the corner of her eye and saw that he was not objecting. He did not look amiable at all, but he did not seem particularly antagonistic either. He appeared to be completely as per usual.
The female employee believed Lin Chu’s words but still said, “Everything’s well. My manager and colleagues all take care of me well.”
Yan Beicheng nodded without giving a verbal reply.
Then, the doors to the elevator opened and they walked in.
Only once they were alone did Yan Beicheng say, “I did not consider the problems faced by our pregnant employees before. It’s only after you got pregnant that I started to discover the many measures that pregnant women will have to take to function properly, and also imagine the inconveniences that they face at work. I’ll tell Zuo Qiu to survey the pregnant employees in the company so that we can build a maternity room for them so that they can attend to whatever needs they want but are not comfortable doing in the office or the restrooms.”
Lin Chu nodded with a grin. She did not forget to compliment him, “You’re the best and most considerate boss that I’ve ever seen!”
The tips of his ears reddened. Upon seeing the adoration in her twinkling eyes, he felt himself grow taller.
He raised his head and puffed out his chest, then unconsciously straightened his tie. He looked at his reflection in the elevator’s glass doors and felt like he was more dashing than before.
—
Yan Beicheng made Lin Chu take a nap after lunch. She would need to exercise when she was three months pregnant, but it was not required of her now.
Yan Beicheng’s goal in the following three months was clear and intentional: to fatten her up.
Lin Chu was forcibly pressed onto the sofa. She attempted to sit up but was immediately pushed back down by Yan Beicheng.
“…” Lin Chu stared at him. “The food I just ate isn’t going to sit well if I lie down, and my stomach’s going to balloon in no time.”
“You don’t need to watch your figure like you did in the past. It’s no problem if your tummy starts to bloat because it’s going to swell after three months anyway.” Yan Beicheng caressed her tummy. “It’s even better if you put on some weight so that your tummy will become big sooner.”
Lin Chu, “…”
This would just mean she was getting fat. Was it really the same as getting bloated due to pregnancy?
—
Lin Chu finally succeeded in begging for some work from Lu Lixin in the afternoon. Lu Lixin did not know why Wei Zilin had reminded him not to give her too much work, but he followed his orders stalwartly.
He had not wanted to assign her any work when she first came to ask for some, but she was immensely determined, as if she would go directly to Wei Zilin if he did not comply.
He had no choice but to assign her a task that was not due anytime soon and ask her to take it slow.
Because of this, Lin Chu had the inkling that Lu Lixin knew something.
The phone rang as she was working. She picked it up and said, “Hello, this is Lin Yi.”
“Lin Chu, it’s me, Lu Zhenghang.” A voice that Lin Chu detested sounded out from the phone.
Lin Chu did not even want to bother replying to him. She was getting ready to hang up when Lu Zhenghang continued just in the nick of time, “Don’t hang up, I’m downstairs. Come down, I want to talk to you about something.”
Lin Chu frowned in distaste. She was going to hang up anyway, but then she heard Lu Zhenghang threaten, “I’ll give you five minutes. If you don’t come down, I’ll cause a fiasco, and everyone will know about this matter. You won’t look good, and Yan Beicheng will lose face too. Don’t blame me if any other unsavory rumor surface. You’ve been a hot topic for the past two days while the rumors about me have just begun to die down. We’re both really popular at the moment.”
Lin Chu pursed her lips before slamming the receiver down.
Lu Zhenghang was not fazed by her actions. He sat in the car and looked up at the windows with a sinister smile on his face.
A few minutes later, Lin Chu walked out of the building as he had expected.
Lu Zhenghang lowered the car window and watched her walk toward him with a smile on his face. He got out of the car and pointed at the passenger seat. “Let’s chat.”
Lin Chu shot him a glance. She would only ever get in his car if she had gone crazy.
She snapped impatiently, “You want to chat? Fine, but I get to choose the venue. I’m not going to get in your car.”
“Why? Do you not trust me?” Lu Zhenghang smirked flirtatiously, his sinister lips infused with venom.
“Yes.” Lin Chu replied honestly. “You can agree to my conditions or make a fool of yourself in my office. I’m going to lose face, but you won’t get off easy either. It’s a lose-lose situation.”
Lu Zhenghang shoved his hands into his pockets as if he was indifferent about the matter. “Sure.”
Then, he closed the car door and locked it.
Lin Chu did not go too far. She soon chose the cafe next to the office building.
Lu Zhenghang sneered at this and followed her in.
Lin Chu chose an unassuming booth tucked in the corner of the room. She had her back to the door, and the booth hid her from anyone outside.
Lu Zhenghang sat opposite her. He noticed the “No Smoking” symbol that was printed on the signs on the table, so he stopped just as he was taking his cigarette out.
Lin Chu looked at him coldly, her disgust evident on her face.
A waiter put two glasses of mineral water garnished with lemon slices and a drinks menu down. Lu Zhenghang signaled for Lin Chu to order, but Lin Chu coldly said, “No need for that. Just water is fine. Spit out what you want to say.”
Lu Zhenghang laughed as if he was completely unfazed by Lin Chu’s frigid distaste for him. Then, he aloofly ordered a coffee.
“Aren’t you afraid of the possibility of someone eavesdropping on our conversation, since we’re in a place where there’s no semblance of privacy at all?” Lu Zhenghang asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Cut the meeting short, then.” Lin Chu snapped impatiently.
“Lin Chu, what did I do for you to detest me this much? I don’t want to be narcissistic, but I’m quite good looking. At the very least, I’m not that bad compared to Yan Beicheng. I come from a respectable family and have considerable wealth; Anyone would consider this adequate.” Lu Zhenghang stared at Lin Chu with a smoldering gaze. “Although you’re married to Yan Beicheng, you should have felt gleeful when you’re pursued by someone like me.”
“You’re really narcissistic.” Lin chu said in disgust. “You like me? I don’t care. Even if it is genuine, I don’t feel validated by your affection, just disgust. If you’ve forced me to come out just to tell me this, then I’m leaving.”
Lin Chu had a hunch that this was not the only issue that Lu Zhenghang wanted to discuss. Nevertheless, she was taking his words with a heaping spoonful of salt.
“Why don’t you like me?” Lu Zhenghang did not show any semblance of disappointment or dejection after he was rejected. He leaned back against the chair before raising his coffee cup and taking a sip.
Lin Chu looked at him as if she found him hilarious. “I have a husband, and I’m close to Beicheng. Why would I like you? Who do you think you are to call me just to tell me something like this when we’ve met only a few times in the past? Aren’t you disgusted with yourself? Or do you think that all men from the Lu family are irresistible? Do you think that everyone’s like Jiang Changdai? You think that this will hit Beicheng hard, don’t you? Do you think that he’s stupid? Lu Zhenghang, I don’t know what’s the cause of your irrational hatred for Beicheng, but you’ve harassed me multiple times just because of it. You’re planning to use me to hurt Beicheng, aren’t you? Do you think that I’m so stupid that I’ll fall for it?”
Lu Zhenghang sneered. His long fingers held the handle of the cup delicately while he stirred the contents of the cup with the spoon, even though there was no need for him to do so.
“You probably hate everyone in the Lu family because of Yan Beicheng’s past.” Lu Zhenghang looked downward to stare at the cup. He almost looked as if he was talking to talk to himself.
After this, he raised his gaze to look at Lin Chu. “What if I wasn’t from the Lu family? You like those with the surname Yan so much. So, what if I was a Yan too?”
Lin Chu despised every word that was coming from his mouth with all her heart. She furrowed her brow and cursed, “What are you bullsh*ting about?”
“What bullsh*t?” Lu Zhenghang scorned as his lips curled up into the smirk that Lin Chu hated so much.
Lu Zhenghang’s smile made her feel as if she was being targeted by a venomous snake.
“Don’t you think that I look like Yan Beicheng?” Lu Zhenghang looked at her and teased.
Lin Chu frowned at him, becoming increasingly unsettled as she observed him. Her insides tossed and turned like a raging ocean, but her expression remained stoic as she did her best to hide her emotions.
Lu Zhenghang smiled confidently as if he had seen through her facade. “You know that Jiang Changdai had simultaneous relations with Yan Huaiyuan and Lu Zhenting. The truth is, Jiang Changdai is my mother.”
Lin Chu’s eyes widened, and her lips trembled involuntarily.
That was why she had felt like something was amiss when she had first seen Lu Zhenghang in Red Roof.
She had thought that Lu Zhenghang looked familiar, but she could not pinpoint who exactly he resembled. Now that Lu Zhenghang had said this, she could see how he resembled Jiang Changdai.
That meant that Jiang Changdai had not merely had an affair with Lu Zhenting behind Yan Huaiyuan’s back. She had also borne him a son.
She considered Lu Zhenghang’s age. When they had first found out about Jiang Changdai’s affair, she had already given birth to his son.
Lin Chu felt the disgust bubble up from inside her and got the urge to throw up. This was not because of her pregnancy, but her disgust toward Jiang Changdai.
Yan Beicheng’s father was such an outstanding and kind man. What right did Jiang Changdai have to spit on his dignity like that?
Lin Chu clenched her fists. She had the urge to scratch at Lu Zhenghang’s face until it scarred so that no one could see his resemblance to Yan Beicheng and thus whip up a scandal.
“Don’t you feel that I look like Yan Beicheng?” Lu Zhenghang asked with a smile as his fingers drummed against the table.
Lin Chu’s expression did not betray her emotions. “If your mother is Jiang Changdai, then it’s only natural that you look similar to him.”
“Haha.” Lu Zhenghang suddenly leaned toward her over the table. “Lin Chu, don’t lie to yourself, you know what I mean. I don’t know how Jiang Changdai got Lu Zhenting to believe that I was his son, but what if I told you that I’m a Yan, too? I’m actually the son of Jiang Changdai and Yan Huaiyuan.”
He leaned back against his chair again. “You’re always been an advocate of Yan Huaiyuan’s virtues. Now that you know my identity, shouldn’t you change your attitude toward me? You don’t like those from the Lu family. So, what about a Yan?”
Lu Zhenghang leaned forward again. He got up from his seat as his fingers reached over to lift Lin Chu’s chin. “Lin Chu, it’s still not too late to get rid of Yan Beicheng. Who even knows if Yan Beicheng is really a Yan? You know Jiang Changdai’s obsession with Lu Zhenting. She might have left his kid with the Yan family so that he can live a good life. She always hated the Jiang family for forcing her to marry into the Yan family, which is why she wanted the Yan family to take care of a Lu descendant while the Yan heir grew up with the Lu family.”