The CEO's Fiery Quest to Win Back Her Heart

"Would Tingshen be unaware if she were pregnant? Would I not know? Do we need an outsider like you to remind us?" The face of Old Madam Li grew even colder. "Mian has been released from prison after a year, thin as a rail. I've been worried about her health, which is why I had Mr. Lu Lang come and give Mian a medical check-up."

"Mr. Lu Lang said that Mian is suffering from a deficiency in both qi and blood, and her digestive system is in very poor condition. She needs to recuperate properly and refrain from eating spicy and greasy food. This fish is too oily, which is why it made her feel nauseous. Is there a problem with that?"

Yin Luoxue immediately said, "I don't believe it. Gu Mian must be pregnant. Grandma, this matter concerns the reputation of the Li Family, you must check thoroughly."

"Do we need your belief in matters of the Li Family?" Old Madam Li scoffed, "Are you questioning me, or are you questioning Mr. Lu Lang?"

Just as Yin Luoxue was about to speak, she heard Li Hongxuan say, "Luoxue, my mother wouldn't say such things carelessly. Moreover, Mr. Lu Lang is the junior brother of the 'Divine Doctor' Lu Ming, an extraordinary physician, who wouldn't miss a pregnancy in his diagnosis."

Yin Luoxue was inwardly grinding her teeth, her heart filled with hatred towards Gu Mian!

"I just said that I don't have the habit of sending people away halfway through their meal, but you're overstepping your bounds, having the audacity to humiliate Mian in public," Old Madam Li said, barely concealing her anger. "Someone see Miss Yin out."

Yin Luoxue's eyes widened, "Grandma, are you asking me to leave?"

"Was I not clear enough?" Old Madam Li retorted.

The maid promptly stepped forward. "Miss Yin, this way, please."

Feeling deeply humiliated, Yin Luoxue looked to Li Tingshen for help out of reflex, only to find him with downcast eyes as if in deep thought, making no move to help her.

Not daring to directly confront Old Madam Li, Yin Luoxue could only angrily maneuver her wheelchair away.

Old Madam Li's expression finally softened a bit, "Why hasn't this fish been cleared away yet? Instruct the kitchen to prepare some light dishes good for nourishing the stomach for the young madam."

Gu Mian composed herself. "Thank you, Grandma."

The meal was eaten with Gu Mian's mind elsewhere.

Mr. Lu Lang had indeed come to give Old Madam Li a routine physical examination just now, and Old Madam Li had suggested he check Gu Mian's pulse, but she had declined.

From what had just happened, it seemed that Yin Luoxue knew about her pregnancy, but what Gu Mian hadn't expected was that before she had figured out how to deal with it, Old Madam Li stepped forward to protect her.

And lied for her!

Gu Mian's mind was in turmoil, especially when, after dinner, Old Madam Li announced, "Tingshen and Mian should stay home tonight; don't go back. Your room has long been cleaned and prepared."

Gu Mian, wanting to clarify things, nodded, "Okay, Grandma."

She had intended to join Old Madam Li for a stroll in the garden, but a servant suddenly approached, "Young Madam, the Second Young Master says he's not full from dinner and is asking you to hurry and make the cake."

Gu Mian didn't really want to bake, but she liked to finish what she started, and considering it would be the last time, she didn't refuse and went straight to the kitchen to prepare the cake, then had the servant deliver it to Li Xingze.

After removing her apron, Gu Mian was about to find Old Madam Li when her wrist was suddenly seized.

She turned to see Li Tingshen's expressionless face.

"Come upstairs with me; I have something to tell you."

The rooms of the younger members of the Li Family were all on the third floor. The two took the elevator up, and Li Tingshen closed the door behind them, turning to Gu Mian, "Are you pregnant?"

Gu Mian was taken aback but quickly said, "Didn't Grandma just say I'm not pregnant, just having some stomach discomfort?"

Li Tingshen's brow furrowed slightly. "The time over a month ago, did you take medicine?"

Gu Mian suppressed the sourness in her heart and nodded, "I did, when have I not?"

Li Tingshen breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."

Gu Mian's heart was pierced with pain, "Are you that afraid of me being pregnant?"

"I've said before, Luoxue's health is not good, and you are not suitable for pregnancy now."

Gu Mian could no longer control herself, and her voice unconsciously rose a few notches, "So whether I can have children or not depends on Yin Luoxue? Don't you find that ridiculous?"

"Gu Mian, don't make a scene," Li Tingshen's deep voice carried a hint of warning, "Just now at the dinner table, I didn't stop grandma from favoring you, I didn't even speak up for Luoxue but went along with grandma to protect you. What more do you want?"

"So just because you didn't take Yin Luoxue's side, I should be grateful to you?" Gu Mian's shoulders trembled uncontrollably, "Was that protecting me, Gu Mian? You yourself said that if even your dog were beaten today, you would stand up for it, so you weren't protecting me, you were protecting your own face."

Li Tingshen's eyes grew colder as he said, "Are you taking advantage of grandma's fondness for you to be so presumptuous?"

Gu Mian turned and walked away.

"Stop!" Li Tingshen took two steps to catch up and grabbed her wrist, "Where are you going?"

"To see grandma."

Li Tingshen scoffed, "To grandma to tattle?"

Gu Mian glared at him, "No, I'm going to tell grandma clearly that I want a divorce from you. If she nods, you can't possibly refuse to sign the papers, right?"

"You're getting bolder, trying to put pressure on grandma to get what you want?"

Gu Mian held back her tears, "I didn't think that way, I just want to leave you as soon as possible and be freed from this ridiculous and pathetic marriage!"

A fierce look flashed in the man's dark, profound eyes, "Freed? Do you feel marrying me has wronged you?"

"Yes, the Li Family is a cage to me!"

The anger in Li Tingshen's chest flared even more, and he suddenly tightened his grip on her wrist, "Gu Mian, do not forget, it was you who wanted to enter this cage in the first place. When we got married, I was unconscious, and no one forced you!"

Gu Mian felt as if her wrist was about to be crushed and struggled forcefully, "Let go of me, it hurts..."

"This hurts? Have you not experienced what real pain is like?"

Li Tingshen dragged her to the edge of the bed, and before Gu Mian could react, she was pushed down onto the soft bed by the man, who then loomed over her, trapping her beneath him.

Gu Mian felt a dangerous aura spreading and involuntarily trembled, "What are you trying to do?"

"What do you think?" Li Tingshen tugged at the tie around his neck, "Since you think our marriage is a cage and you want to be freed, then I'll tell you, as long as we are not divorced, you need to fulfill your duties as Madam Li every day!"

Li Tingshen quickly removed her clothes.

He was not rough but teased her at her most vulnerable spots, igniting a fire.

Gu Mian quivered like a sieve, biting her lower lip tightly, trying hard to keep her sanity and not lose herself in his seduction.

"Don't, I don't want to..."

The man smirked, his fingertip touching her lip, "You say you don't want to, but your body is very honest. Look at your reaction, how strong it is..."

Gu Mian felt both ashamed and annoyed, her mind was clear, but she couldn't control her body's reaction.

After three years of marriage, this man knew her body inside out, knew exactly how to get her quickly aroused.

Gu Mian couldn't resist and could only plead, "Tingshen, please, you can't..."

He was never satiated, and sometimes, he became so intense it was almost uncontrollable, which would certainly hurt the child!

"Why can't I?" Li Tingshen's kisses lingered on her neck, making Gu Mian shudder, "What position do you want to use? Should we start with the traditional one, hmm?"