Chapter 382 Sneaking out
Yun Zheng was nibbling the bird's nest porridge that Fu Linghe had fed her when suddenly a sharp ring from her cell phone broke the silence.
Fu Linghe frowned slightly and took out his cell phone from the inside pocket of his suit. The words "Secretary Qi" were displayed on the screen.
He hung up the phone without even a moment's hesitation.
But Yun Zheng gently pushed his wrist, "Answer it, it might be urgent."
Secretary Zhang's anxious voice came through as soon as the call was connected. "Mr. Fu, there's been a problem with the overseas acquisition. The other party has temporarily changed the terms. The legal department said some of the clauses are too risky..."
Fu Linghe's expression instantly turned cold, and his fingers unconsciously tightened. "Send the revised terms to my email, and notify the heads of each department to hold a meeting at ten o'clock."
He paused, his voice deepening. "The company doesn't keep them around just for show. This kind of problem should have been anticipated."
Yun Zheng noticed that his jawline was tense, a sign of suppressed anger.
She quietly reached out and covered the back of his hand, feeling the veins there bulging slightly.
After hanging up the phone, Fu Linghe took a deep breath and turned to Yun Zheng, his expression adjusted. "It's nothing serious, don't worry."
Yun Zheng knew him too well and could tell the seriousness of the matter from the slightly tense corners of his mouth.
He prepared for that merger and acquisition for more than half a year and invested countless efforts.
"You go to the company," she said softly, "Mom and grandma are at home with me."
Fu Linghe immediately shook his head, "I'm not going today. I'll stay home with you."
He said it with absolute certainty, as if this was the most unquestionable decision in the world.
"But……"
"No buts." Fu Linghe interrupted her and picked up the bowl of porridge again. "Come on, have a few more sips."
Yun Zheng didn't say anything, but looked at him seriously. "Fu Linghe, I know how important that merger and acquisition is to you."
Fu Linghe's hand stopped in mid-air, his eyes flickering: "Nothing is more important than you."
"I know." Yun Zheng gently held his wrist, "But I'm really fine. Look, there are so many people at home taking care of me, there's no point in you staying here."
Fu Linghe frowned again, "Do you think I'm useless?"
"That's not what I meant!" Yun Zheng was at a loss for words. This man's thinking was so linear sometimes. "I meant, instead of sitting here worrying about it, why don't you go take care of the company's business and come back to spend the evening with me."
Fu Linghe put down the bowl silently and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, which was his habitual action when thinking.
Yun Zheng knew he was struggling, so she continued to persuade him, "Besides, the doctor said I need more rest now. I can't sleep well with you here."
This sentence seemed to touch Fu Linghe. He looked up at Yun Zheng and asked, "Will you eat well when I'm not around?"
"Yes." Yun Zheng nodded seriously.
"Call immediately if you feel unwell?"
"must."
Fu Linghe was still worried: "I'll ask Dr. Li to come and see you."
"Okay." Yun Zheng responded obediently, and suddenly an idea struck her. "By the way, remember to bring me some lotus cakes when you come back tonight. Is that the one you always buy for me?"
Fu Linghe's eyes softened instantly, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly: "Okay."
"Buy more. You like it, too, don't you?" Yun Zheng said with a smile. "Last time you ate half a box by yourself."
Fu Linghe's ears turned slightly red, and he finally gave in. "Then I'll come back early."
He stood up, but stopped hesitantly. "Are you really okay?"
Yun Zheng deliberately put on a stern face, "Mr. Fu, if you don't leave now, I'll be angry. Pregnant women can have very bad tempers."
This sentence really worked. Fu Linghe leaned over and kissed her forehead: "I'll be back as soon as possible."
He looked at her reluctantly a few more times before turning and leaving.
Yun Zheng watched his tall figure disappear at the door, feeling both sweet and bitter in her heart.
She knew how important the merger and acquisition was to the Fu Group. In order to accompany her, Fu Linghe had already turned down several important meetings.
"Zheng Zheng is so thoughtful." Shen Lanshu appeared at the restaurant entrance at some point, holding a plate of fresh fruit. "Ling He has been stubborn since he was young. Once he makes up his mind, no one can change it. You are the only one who can persuade him."
Yun Zheng smiled sheepishly, "Mom, I just don't want to delay his work."
Shen Lanshu sat down beside her and handed her a slice of peeled apple. "Try this, it's just the right amount of sweet and sour."
She looked at Yun Zheng lovingly, "When I was pregnant with Ling He, his father was like this too, running back and forth between the company and home, and he lost a lot of weight."
Yun Zheng carefully took a bite of the apple and surprisingly didn't feel sick. "Was Dad also nervous at that time?"
"More than nervous," Shen Lanshu smiled and shook her head. "He even had to hold me down the stairs, afraid I'd fall. One time, I was craving sour apricots in the middle of the night, and he drove all over Beijing and finally found some candied fruit at a 24-hour convenience store."
Yun Zheng imagined her serious father-in-law searching the city for sour apricots in the middle of the night, and couldn't help laughing.
Shen Lanshu also laughed, and the laughter of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law echoed in the sunny restaurant.
Just then, the old lady came in with a cane and asked, "What are you so happy about?"
Her silver hair was combed meticulously, and the dark red cheongsam she wore made her look very good.
Shen Lanshu quickly stood up and helped her mother-in-law sit down. "Mom, Ling He went to the company. It was Zheng Zheng who persuaded him to go."
The old lady looked at Yun Zheng approvingly. "You're right. A man should balance his career and family."
She pulled out a small sachet from her sleeve. "This is for you. It contains a calming spice. Put it next to your pillow and you'll sleep better."
Yun Zheng took it and smelled a faint medicinal fragrance, which was not pungent but rather calming. "Thank you, grandma."
The old lady patted her hands lovingly and said, "We're all family, why be so polite?"
She turned to Shen Lanshu and said, "Lanshu, go get the jar of aged tangerine peel from my room and soak it in water for Zhengzheng to drink. It's the best way to stop vomiting."
Shen Lanshu responded and left.
The old lady then said to Yun Zheng, "The first three months of pregnancy are the hardest. If you want anything to eat or drink, just tell me. We in the Fu family don't have anything else but love for our daughters-in-law."
Yun Zheng's eyes were hot. She looked down at the jade bracelet given to her by the old lady on her wrist, and her heart was filled with emotion.
She suddenly felt that although morning sickness was uncomfortable, it was all worth it because she had such a loving family.
After drinking the tangerine peel water, Yun Zheng felt much better in her stomach.
Shen Lanshu suggested she go for a walk in the garden: "Sunbathing is good for the fetus and can also increase appetite."
The garden of the Fu family's old house is well maintained, and many flowers are blooming in early spring.
Yun Zheng strolled in the garden accompanied by Shen Lanshu, breathing in the fresh air, and indeed felt much better.
"Zheng Zheng, look," Shen Lanshu suddenly pointed to an old plum tree, "that was planted by Ling He when he was a child."
Yun Zheng walked closer in surprise and found the three crooked words "Fu Linghe" carved on the tree trunk, with a date next to it.
"How old was he then?" Yun Zheng was a little curious.
"Just turned six." Shen Lanshu's eyes flashed with nostalgia. "His father gave him a plum tree sapling, saying it was to teach him responsibility. The first thing he did every morning was to come see his tree, watering and fertilizing it, even more seriously than doing his homework."
Yun Zheng gently stroked the tree trunk, imagining little Fu Linghe busy here, and a soft feeling welled up in her heart.
After coming back from the walk, Yun Zheng felt a little tired, so she went back to her room to rest.
The bedroom had been made tidy and cozy by the servants. There was a fresh bouquet of flowers on the bedside table, and the curtains were half drawn, creating a light suitable for a nap.
As soon as she lay down, her phone rang. It was a message from Fu Linghe: "Have you had lunch?"
Yun Zheng smiled and replied, "Yes, I have. I have finished the porridge and side dishes that Mom prepared. How about you?"
The other party replied almost immediately: "The meeting is over, I'll eat right away. Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I just came back from a walk in the garden with my mother, and now I'm getting ready for some sleep."
"Okay, tell me when you wake up."
Yun Zheng could imagine Fu Linghe staring at his phone waiting for a reply, and her heart felt warm.
Just as she was about to put her phone down, another message came in: "Besides the lotus cake, what else do you want to eat? I'll bring it back for you."
She couldn't help laughing and replied, "I can't think of anything else for now, so forget it. Come back soon after you're done, and I won't bother you anymore."
Putting down the phone, Yun Zheng pulled Fu Linghe's pillow and held it in her arms. His unique cool woody scent still lingered on it.
In this reassuring atmosphere, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Yun Zheng was awakened by a gentle knock on the door.
Shen Lanshu's voice came from outside the door, "Zheng Zheng, are you awake? Doctor Li is here and said he wants to see you."
Yun Zheng rubbed her eyes and responded, "I'm awake. Mom, come in."
Shen Lanshu pushed the door open and walked in, followed by the white-haired Doctor Li.
The old man, carrying an antique medicine box, smiled kindly, "Young Madam looks well."
After taking her pulse, Doctor Li nodded. "The pulse is stable, but there's some deficiency of Qi and blood. I'll prescribe a few medicinal recipes, along with a pregnancy-soothing tea, which should help alleviate the morning sickness."
He wrote down the prescription and gave it to Shen Lanshu, and then reminded her, "Young Madam, you should get more rest and stay in a good mood. The first three months are the most critical."
"Mom, I want to go for a walk by myself." Yun Zheng just didn't want to stay at home and wanted to go out.
Shen Lanshu was a little worried, "Can you do it alone? Mom will go with you."
"It's okay, I'll ask the driver to take me there and I'll be back soon." Yun Zheng insisted.
Finally, Shen Lanshu compromised, but insisted on sending two servants to follow, "even to help you carry your things."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Yun Zheng took the Fu family's car to the old street.
This century-old street retains its quaint architectural style, and the small shop famous for its lotus pastries is hidden deep in the alley.
The shop is not big, but it is elegantly decorated and there is a long queue at the door.
Yun Zheng asked the servant to wait in the car while she stood in the queue holding an umbrella.
The winter sun is warm and feels very comfortable on the body.
While waiting in line, she received a message from Fu Linghe: "Are you awake? How are you feeling?"
Yun Zheng deliberately kept the question in suspense: "Guess where I am?"
The other party immediately replied: "Rest at home?"
"No, guess again."
This time I waited a while before receiving a reply: "You're not going to buy lotus cakes, are you?"
Yun Zheng could imagine his frown, so she smiled and typed, "Mr. Fu is really smart. But don't worry, I'm fine, not feeling bad at all."
As soon as the message was sent, the phone rang.
Fu Linghe's deep voice came: "Why did you run out by yourself? What should I do if I feel uncomfortable?"
"I'm really fine," Yun Zheng explained softly, "It's so boring at home, I just wanted to go out for a walk."
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