She remembered what the older women at her previous part-time job had said: men could never stay attracted to the same woman forever; they always grew tired of them over time.
As for having children, since she had signed the agreement, if he wanted her to bear him a child, she would.
The most important thing now was her brother's safety.
...
Ye Wan accepted reality calmly, and also accepted the terms of the agreement she had signed with Gu Yunting. She got out of bed to check on her brother.
The surgery had been performed only yesterday. Ye Cheng was still in the intensive care unit. Jin Lan had recounted the perilous circumstances to her, explaining that Ye Cheng had not been in any condition for surgery. It was Gu Yunting who had procured the most advanced equipment and the world's top doctors for the operation.
It had been a race against time, but ultimately, Ye Cheng's life had been snatched from the clutches of death.
Jin Lan said, "You truly owe Gu Yunting. Putting aside the bone marrow donation for your brother, if he hadn't poured an insane amount of money into your brother's surgery, your brother's life wouldn't have been saved."
Ye Wan looked at the man speaking with a complex mix of emotions. "He wants me to have a child for him."
"You should. You owe him... What? What did you say? He wants you to have a child?" Jin Lan looked at her in astonishment. How old was she?
Ye Wan nodded.
Jin Lan pondered for a moment, likely guessing Gu Yunting's intention. Ye Wan had been so resolute in leaving this time, even willing to tarnish her own reputation. Gu Yunting had been unable to stop her, so this was his way of binding her with a child?
Jin Lan felt Gu Yunting had truly lost his mind!
"You two are legally married now, so having a child is normal," Jin Lan said, his own face flushing.
Ye Wan hadn't even attended her own wedding; she had been married off. And now she was to be made to bear a child... wasn't this a bit too tragic?
"Since I promised him, I will fulfill it."
"Mmm, actually, you've known each other for over ten years. You understand each other better. It's good to be a couple and start a family." Jin Lan smiled awkwardly, certain his expression looked forced.
"Right now, my only hope is that my brother recovers," Ye Wan said, turning to look at the young Ye Cheng.
Being a couple? How could that be possible? Gu Yunting's new girlfriend looked like a perfect match for him. Perhaps... he just needed a child.
If they weren't married, any child would be illegitimate. Gu Yunting probably didn't want his child to be born out of wedlock, hence giving the child a legal status.
As for why she had to be the one to bear the child, she felt it no longer mattered. She couldn't influence his thoughts anyway, could she?
That afternoon, bodyguards came to pick up Ye Wan and bring her back to the Gu residence. Ye Wan obediently followed them.
Granny Sun was overjoyed to see her return. She ran over and held Ye Wan's hand, talking to her.
"Ye Cheng will really be alright this time, won't he?" Granny Sun asked.
"He will. He definitely will," Ye Wan said, nodding forcefully.
"During the time you were gone, the young master slept in your room every day. Ye Wan, please don't leave again. When you're not here, the young master barely speaks," Granny Sun said, her heart aching at the young master's unusually lonely demeanor during that period.
"He doesn't usually talk much anyway," Ye Wan replied, thinking it was likely Granny Sun's imagination.
"That's impossible. It's completely different when you're here. You're back now. Don't let your hands get cold again. Your hands always used to get frostbite when you were young. If you don't take care of them, you'll develop a chronic condition and suffer when you're old," Granny Sun said affectionately, holding her hand.
"I know. I'll take good care of them," Ye Wan said with a gentle smile, then asked, "Gu Yunting, he..."
"The young master is on a business trip," Granny Sun said with a smile.
Hearing that Gu Yunting was on a business trip, Ye Wan secretly let out a sigh of relief. She truly didn't know how she would face him right now.