There was nothing between her and Lu Shiyan—no affection, no love. That night had been a mistake, a moment of carelessness where she’d fallen for her mother’s scheme. Now she was pregnant. He’d brought her here to live with him for the baby’s sake, to ensure its safety. He'd offered to drive her to and from school—that, too, was for the baby. Everything was for the baby. And for its sake, he was already treating her exceptionally well. He’d given her a room in his own home, even hired a nutritionist. Just a moment ago, his mother had mentioned how difficult it was for their family to have children. Lin Zhiyuan had said the same thing this morning. So, when Lu Shiyan claimed that night he was infertile, he hadn’t been lying. Which meant the twins in her womb… they were critically important to his family. They might be the only children he would ever have. And she, by extension, was valuable only because of them. Her place in this luxurious home, the special treatment she received—it was all because she was carrying his heirs. Lu Shiyan had said he would take responsibility. That had to mean he would be a good father to them. But if that was true, it meant she had to go through with it. She had to have these babies. She lowered her head, silent. Watching her feigned strength, Lu Mu sighed inwardly. "Are you afraid of me? Shengsheng, you can relax. I want you to know that if it ever came to a choice… you would always come before the children." Lu Mu’s words were meant to reassure her, to tell her she wasn't just an incubator—that her well-being was the priority. It was the first time in Ye Shengsheng’s entire life that she had felt such warmth, and tears welled up uncontrollably. She wanted to say she hadn't decided whether to keep them, but the words wouldn't come. They were her own flesh and blood, after all. After a long moment, she managed a quiet, "Okay." She realized the matriarch wasn't what she’d expected. She was easy to talk to—far easier than Lu Shiyan. As for Lu Shiyan, she didn’t dare even glance in his direction. She could feel his displeasure radiating from him, a silent, brooding presence with a permanent frown etched onto his face. Seeing her finally relax, Lu Mu’s heart lifted. "Come, Shengsheng, I'm taking you out to get a few things." Ye Shengsheng quickly shook her head. "Mrs. Lu, please, you don't have to. I have everything I need right here." The things Lu Shiyan had prepared were comprehensive, all of the highest quality. She lacked for nothing. Living here, she had no complaints. In fact, she was afraid of getting used to this life. What would she do when it was over? But Lu Mu waved her concerns away. "I'm taking you to buy clothes." With that, she stood and took Ye Shengsheng’s arm, ready to lead her out. Ye Shengsheng protested again. "Mrs. Lu, you don't need to spend the money. What I have is fine." Lu Mu’s gaze fell on the faded, worn-out clothes she was wearing, and a pang of sympathy struck her. *Fine? How could she call this fine?* She remembered Shiyan telling her that all the clothes the girl had brought with her looked like this, worn for who knows how long. And she still said it was fine? The two of them were at a gentle impasse. Lu Shiyan rose slowly and walked over. His eyes locked on Ye Shengsheng. "Shengsheng, let's go for a walk." With that, he took her hand and led her outside. Seeing her son, who was usually as expressive as stone, actually take a girl’s hand, Lu Mu beamed and followed right behind them. In the car, Lu Mu sensed her nervousness and kept up a steady stream of chatter, trying to help her relax. When they arrived at the shopping mall, the sheer scale of the building was enough to rob Ye Shengsheng of the courage to even step inside. She’d heard classmates talk about high-end malls like this, where the cheapest items started at several hundred dollars, and some things cost tens of thousands. Ye Shengsheng’s feet felt rooted to the spot. A wave of anxiety washed over her. She didn't belong in a place like this. Lu Mu noticed her hesitation and turned back, seeing the raw unease and resistance in her posture. "What's wrong, Shengsheng?" she asked gently. "It's alright. It’s just a mall. Anyone can come in. Don't overthink it." She knew the girl's insecurity stemmed from her upbringing and her past experiences. But self-doubt was something that could be overcome. Slowly, things would get better. Ye Shengsheng told herself it was just a store. It was fine. One day, when she was earning her own money, she could come to places like this too. After a moment of internal debate, she forced a smile for Lu Mu. "I'm okay, Mrs. Lu." "That's the spirit." Lu Mu smiled brightly and led her inside. An hour passed, and they hadn’t picked out a single item. Lu Mu understood what was happening. The girl couldn't bring herself to buy anything. Lu Shiyan had noticed it too. He got up, walked over to Ye Shengsheng, and met her eyes, deliberately softening his voice. "Shengsheng, not finding anything you like? Let me pick something for you?" Ye Shengsheng froze. She glanced at the clothes again. A single dress here cost thousands of dollars. It was obscene. She didn't need any of this; she had clothes to wear. Even if they couldn't compare. The next second, a low voice murmured beside her. "Shengsheng, I'll choose for you." "Huh?" Her head snapped up to meet Lu Shiyan's gaze. He was watching her intently, and she suspected that if she didn't choose soon, he might just buy the entire store's inventory. Panicked at the thought, Ye Shengsheng relented. "I'll pick something myself." "Good. See what you like. Pick them out, and they'll be delivered to the house." Lu Shiyan, sensing he might have frightened her, kept his tone as gentle as he could manage. Things went more smoothly after that. When Ye Shengsheng saw something she liked, she would say so, and Lu Mu finally let out a breath of relief. The manager did too. After they had selected several outfits, Ye Shengsheng said to Lu Mu, "Mrs. Lu, that's enough. I can't possibly wear all of this." She snuck a glance at the man on the sofa, who seemed to feel her gaze and looked over at the same moment. Lu Mu decided not to push. There would be plenty of time. "Alright, that's all for today then." Ye Shengsheng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they were going to check out. But to her surprise, the manager was leading them to another department... And so, for the next two hours, Lu Mu and Lu Shiyan guided her on a shopping spree that covered her from head to toe. Ye Shengsheng exhaled, certain that now, finally, it was over and they were going home. But then they were heading upstairs again. A jolt of alarm went through her. *What else could they possibly need to buy?* "Mrs. Lu, aren't we going home?" Lu Mu smiled. "Not yet. We'll just pick up a few more things, then we'll head home just in time for dinner." When they stopped in front of a counter of electronics, Ye Shengsheng was on the verge of tears. "Mrs. Lu, my phone still works." "Get one with video calling," Lu Mu said gently. "That way, I can see you whenever I miss you." Just as she was trying to figure out how to refuse such a kind offer, a man’s deep voice cut in. "We'll take two of these." Her head whipped toward Lu Shiyan. He’d chosen one in white and one in black. It was a beautiful model; his taste was impeccable. *Two of them?*