The Mother-In-Law's Embrace - Chapter 5

Lin Wancheng’s scathing rebuke, naturally, had no effect whatsoever. All she received was a flippant “Sorry, didn’t notice,” accompanied by a nonchalant grin. 

The tone was airy and insincere. It wasn’t even directed at Nana; the speaker hadn’t bothered to acknowledge her situation at all.

How absurd… 

These people were beyond saving!

If she had initially been awestruck by the grandeur of the aristocratic evening, now she could only sense the stench of corruption that lurked beneath the veneer of wealth and power.  Gold gilded iron, as they say. 

Why did these scoundrels hold the unimaginable riches that ordinary people toiled their entire lives for?

It was so unfair.

Lin Wancheng stopped trying to argue. She knew that in their eyes, her words were nothing more than the bark of a dog. 

Her clothes clung to her damp skin uncomfortably. The evening breeze sent shivers down her spine despite its warmth. Thankfully, a maid appeared, directing her to a rest room for changing and freshening up.

It was called a “rest room,” but it was practically the size of Lin Wancheng’s entire house, complete with a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. 

The maid kindly offered her a cup of hot tea to warm her from within and informed her that the soaked dress would be dried while she waited in a clean robe provided for guests.  Drying time would take half an hour.

Lin Wancheng sipped the fragrant tea, its warmth spreading through her body, loosening her tight nerves. 

A small smile touched her lips as she thanked the maid.

“It’s my pleasure,” the maid replied with a practiced smile and respectful tone. “I suggest you have a warm bath. Please leave your wet dress by the basket near the door. I will have it dried. It will take about half an hour, please wait here in the room.” 

Lin Wancheng nodded. She craved solitude; no interruptions would be preferable. 

Following the maid’s advice, she stripped off her sodden clothes in the bathroom and tossed them into the designated basket. Then, turning on the shower, she let the warm water cascade over her body. The water flowed along her curves, finally bringing warmth back to her chilled frame.

But for some reason…

Lin Wancheng felt a strange heat building within her. Initially, it was just pleasant warmth, but now, an intense fire seemed to be burning inside her, spreading from her lower abdomen throughout her entire body. Even lowering the water temperature couldn’t dispel the growing heat.

How peculiar… 

Was this room poorly ventilated?

Gazing at the light steam rising from the shower as if in a soft haze, Lin Wancheng quickly finished bathing and changed into the provided robe. She moved to the living room where fresh air flowed through the open window, providing some relief. Yet the heat persisted, making her breaths feel hot and heavy. 

Could she be getting a fever?

Instinctively, Lin Wancheng touched her forehead, but her hand was also warm; she couldn’t tell if she had a fever or not. However, her head felt strangely foggy and clouded, like the symptoms of a coming illness.

No way… 

It was just a fall into water. Besides, it was early summer; she wasn’t that fragile.

Lin Wancheng checked the time on her phone. She’d only showered for ten minutes, meaning she had to wait another twenty before the dress would be dry. She couldn’t walk around in this robe! 

When the maid returned, she would ask about any fever medication.

Lin Wancheng slumped onto the sofa, her thoughts hazy and sluggish. 

Five minutes later, a gentle rapping on the door broke the silence. 

Lin Wancheng’s eyes lit up. She quickly rose to open it.

But standing there wasn’t the maid she expected, but a middle-aged woman in formal attire.  

She surveyed Lin Wancheng, clad in the bathrobe and flushed with heat, before speaking softly, “Are you Miss Lin Wancheng?” 

Lin Wancheng nodded numbly, her mind desperately trying to recall who this woman was. But no image surfaced. She had never seen her before. 

“Is something the matter?” Lin Wancheng felt as if each word required a monumental effort; she tried her best to maintain composure. 

“Someone wishes to see you,” the woman replied, still with a gentle tone, but an unyielding firmness beneath it. “Please come with me.”  

Lin Wancheng’s heart skipped a beat. The woman’s words sent shivers down her spine.  

“Li… Li Wanxing?” Lin Wancheng was stunned. This name echoed through A City like thunder; she knew it well, for she worked under the Li Corporation umbrella. 

Li Wanxing, the real power behind the Li Family, the current head of the household – and also…

The mother of Li Han Ye…

A figure so influential seeking her out? 

Lin Wancheng’s thoughts raced back to Li Han Ye’s unusual behavior earlier and Gu Jingchen’s dismissive attitude. Her face paled, a sense of dread gripping her heart.

Was there a misunderstanding regarding her relationship with Li Han Ye? Was she here to intimidate her into backing away from the young master?  

Scenes from TV dramas flashed through her mind—public humiliation, forced departure, a hefty check thrown in her face as a dismissal…

Wait, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. 

At least it would mean escaping Li Han Ye’s relentless pursuit!

Lin Wancheng looked at the woman patiently awaiting her response, trying to force herself calm down despite the intense heat coursing through her veins. “Yes… okay. But could I wait a moment?” she asked, gesturing towards the robe.  “I’m still waiting for my dress to dry.”

The woman gently shook her head, indicating that Li Wanxing’s request was immediate. “Madam Li’s time is valuable. Please come with me.”

Lin Wancheng hesitated but didn’t refuse. She retreated back into the room, gathered her essential belongings, and followed the woman upstairs to the third floor.

The short journey from the second floor to the third felt agonizingly long. Lin Wancheng fought against the overwhelming heat that seemed to amplify every beat of her heart.  

Finally, they reached a door at the end of the corridor. The middle-aged woman gently pushed it open.

Lin Wancheng stepped inside and found herself in a luxuriously appointed rest room unlike any she had ever seen. It seemed designed specifically for influential guests, taking up most of the entire floor. 

She was immediately drawn to the woman lounging on the plush sofa—a vision of elegance and power. Despite her relaxed posture, an aura of authority radiated from her, making Lin Wancheng feel small and insignificant.

As she got closer, she saw that the woman’s features were exquisitely sculpted, almost strikingly beautiful. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, bearing no signs of age, her high nose bridge and graceful lines radiating a captivating allure. 

Lin Wancheng had never seen Li Wanxing, the mysterious matriarch of the powerful Li Family, in public; now, she realized the woman was younger than she had imagined.

She walked towards a second sofa across a coffee table, facing the woman directly. The intense gaze of those deep-set eyes made Lin Wancheng feel as if her soul were being scrutinized, adding to the pressure that already weighed heavily on her chest. It felt like breathing became an effort.

Lin Wancheng felt the heat intensifying within her— so much so, she instinctively pulled her legs closer together. 

She avoided eye contact and waited for the woman to speak.