Soon, they arrived at the villa.
The moment Gu Anran stepped inside, she slumped onto the couch, her body relaxing instantly.
"Feeling tired?" Lu Zhenyu asked, loosening his tie as he looked at her.
"A little… and I'm sleepy too," she replied softly.
"Then let Aunt Qin help you upstairs," he said. "I have something to handle at the company."
Gu Anran paused, then looked at him.
"When will you be back?"
There was a faint trace of reluctance in her voice—so subtle that even she didn't notice it.
Lu Zhenyu's lips curved slightly. "Can't bear to leave me?"
Her face warmed.
"I'll be back before dinner," he added gently.
"I won't let my wife starve."
Before she could respond, he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
Then he turned and left.
Gu Anran remained frozen for a moment, her heart fluttering wildly.
When she had married Lu Zhenyu, she hadn't expected anything from this relationship. She had prepared herself for the worst… but he had surprised her again and again.
Somewhere along the way, without realizing it, she had begun to fall for him.
No one—neither in her past life nor this one—had ever cared for her or indulged her the way he did.
With a soft smile lingering on her lips, she went upstairs.
When she woke up, night had already fallen.
She walked downstairs, subconsciously searching for Lu Zhenyu's figure in the living room—but he wasn't there.
Instead, she saw Aunt Qin.
"Is my husband back?" she asked.
"No, Madam. The Young Master hasn't returned yet," Aunt Qin replied.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Gu Anran's face.
"Why don't you have some snacks first while you wait?" Aunt Qin suggested kindly.
Gu Anran hesitated, then nodded. "Then… bring me a piece of cake."
"Right away."
Aunt Qin quickly went to the kitchen and returned with the cake.
Gu Anran ate slowly, savoring each bite.
After finishing, she glanced at the clock.
9:50 p.m.
A trace of unease crept into her heart.
She picked up her phone and called Lu Zhenyu.
The call rang… once, twice… three times.
Then it connected.
"Darling, why aren't you home yet?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern.
But the voice that answered wasn't his.
"Ah Zhen is taking a bath right now," a sweet female voice said from the other end. "You can tell me what you want to say, and I'll pass it on to him."
For a moment, everything went silent.
It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
Without saying a word, Gu Anran hung up.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
So… while she had been waiting for him at home like a fool… he was outside with another woman.
Her expression turned cold.
"Aunt Qin," she said quietly, "please serve me dinner."
"The Young Master must be busy," Aunt Qin said, misunderstanding. "It's better if you eat first."
Busy…
Gu Anran lowered her eyes.
Yes… busy with another woman.
"Madam, I'll go prepare your meal," Aunt Qin said, noticing something was off. She quickly went to the kitchen.
Soon, the dishes were served.
Gu Anran ate in silence.
Strangely, her nausea didn't come this time—as if even the child in her womb understood her emotions.
After a few more bites, she lost her appetite.
She stood up and walked upstairs.
When she reached their bedroom, she stopped.
The thought of Lu Zhenyu being entangled with another woman made her chest tighten painfully.
She turned away.
Instead, she walked into the guest room.
Lying on the unfamiliar bed, she curled into herself.
When she married Lu Zhenyu, she had been prepared for the worst.
But he had slowly lowered her defenses… made her believe in something more.
And now—
He had shattered it.
The image of him holding another woman filled her mind, suffocating her.
Only when something warm touched her lips did she realize—
She was crying.
Her body trembled as she sobbed quietly, burying her face into the pillow until exhaustion finally pulled her into sleep.
At 10:45 p.m., Lu Zhenyu returned.
"Where's my wife?" he asked as soon as he entered.
"The Young Madam has already gone upstairs," Aunt Qin replied. "She waited for you for a long time… She only ate after waiting, then went to sleep."
Lu Zhenyu paused slightly.
"Something came up," he said calmly, though a trace of guilt flickered in his eyes.
He turned and headed upstairs.
"Young Master," Aunt Qin called out suddenly.
He stopped.
"The Young Madam… didn't look quite right before she went upstairs."
Lu Zhenyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I understand."
His steps quickened.
He pushed open the bedroom door—
Empty.
The bathroom—also empty.
A faint unease rose in his chest.
Then his gaze shifted to the guest room.
The door was slightly ajar.
He pushed it open.
Inside, Gu Anran lay curled up on the bed, fast asleep.
A crease formed between his brows.
Why was she sleeping here?
He walked over and gently picked her up, carrying her back to their bedroom.
After a quick shower, he lay down beside her.
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, then pulled her into his arms from behind, one hand resting protectively on her abdomen.
But—
Gu Anran wasn't fully asleep.
Her eyes slowly opened in the darkness.
A tear slipped silently down her cheek.
She couldn't understand it.
How could he be with another woman… and still come back to hold her like this—as if nothing had happened?
As if he hadn't hurt her at all.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the sheets.
Then, slowly… she closed her eyes again.
And drifted into a restless sleep.
The next morning, when Gu Anran woke up, it was already 9:30 a.m.
She stared blankly at the ceiling for a few seconds before letting out a soft sigh and heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
After washing up, she slowly went downstairs for breakfast.
The moment she entered the dining room, she froze slightly.
Lu Zhenyu was still there.
He sat at the dining table in a neatly pressed suit, casually flipping through a newspaper.
Normally, by this hour, he would have already left for the company.
Hearing her footsteps, he looked up immediately.
Gu Anran's expression remained indifferent as she walked over and deliberately chose the seat farthest from him.
Lu Zhenyu frowned slightly at her actions.
Without hesitation, he folded the newspaper, stood up, and moved to the seat beside her instead.
Aunt Qin quickly served breakfast, but sensing the tense atmosphere, she wisely left the dining room immediately afterward.