A clever girl. She was liking Zhao Nuanyue more and more.

Mrs. Li smiled smugly. "You’re right. I certainly wouldn’t have given you a second glance, especially not knowing you. But you have such a ’good’ grandmother, and a ’good’ stepfather. When they were denouncing all your supposed misdeeds, I realized you were a girl with a mind of her own and a strong sense of independence. My son is what he is, I won’t deny it. If he were to marry a woman of average intelligence, our future grandchildren would be mediocre, perhaps even fools. That’s why I need an exceptional girl to marry my son and bear him healthy, intelligent children. That is the only way for our Li family to carry on."

Though Zhao Nuanyue appeared calm as she listened to Mrs. Li, a tempest raged within her!

’I don’t just have to marry that fool, I have to bear his children. Is there anything more hopeless, more disgusting than this?!’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Zhao Nuanyue stood there with her head lowered, not saying a word. She didn’t dare look up. If she did, Mrs. Li would surely see the loathing, anger, and despair in her eyes.

"What’s wrong? Are you scared?" Mrs. Li asked. "A girl your age should be terrified to hear such things, shouldn’t she?"

Zhao Nuanyue composed herself, then slowly raised her head. "What’s the use in being scared? Will you let me go if I am?"

"Heh... I won’t," Mrs. Li chuckled. "Of course I won’t. In fact, I will do everything in my power to make you submit, to make you willingly spend your life with my son. I can give you anything you could ever want—except, of course, a husband of your own choosing."

"Everything? You can give me anything I want?" Zhao Nuanyue countered. If it truly came to that, she might grit her teeth and agree to anything for her brother’s sake.

’I still have someone to live for, so I don’t want to die. I don’t dare to die.’

"Of course. Provided what you want isn’t beyond my means. I won’t agree to any unreasonable demands," Mrs. Li said. Within the confines of this base, her power was immense, but it didn’t extend beyond it. "I know you brought your brother with you when you were sent to the countryside. It’s clear he is very important to you. Don’t you want your brother to have a good life?"

It had to be said, Mrs. Li had found Zhao Nuanyue’s weak spot. At this, Zhao Nuanyue looked up at Mrs. Li. "My brother isn’t a normal person, either. If you promise to bring him here to me, so I can look after him, then I can willingly take care of your son."

Hearing this, Mrs. Li’s eyes lit up. She was secretly delighted. As long as Zhao Nuanyue wanted something, had something to ask for, her psychological defenses could be breached.

At this moment, Zhao Nuan Yang was Zhao Nuanyue’s bottom line.

"Of course. I’ve met your brother. He’s a very well-behaved boy," Mrs. Li said. "Bringing him here just means one more mouth to feed. For a family like ours, that’s nothing."

Mrs. Li also knew that as long as she had Zhao Nuan Yang, she wouldn’t have to worry about Zhao Nuanyue harming her son.

"Thank you!" Zhao Nuanyue said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Even though you’ve forced and coerced me into this, I still have to thank you for agreeing to my condition." ’To think I’m thanking my enemy just to buy some time,’ she thought. ’But is there any point in stalling?’

Who would come to save her?

Who *could* come to save her?

Zhao Nuanyue was utterly lost in despair. The conviction in her heart slowly weakened. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on!

"Heh..." Mrs. Li was even more pleased. She liked clever women like this. Pointless struggles only led to greater harm. Besides, she wanted Zhao Nuanyue and her son to consummate their marriage and get the certificate as soon as possible. "Good. Since you’ve agreed, I’ll start transferring your registration tomorrow. The day after, you and my son will get your marriage certificate. Then I’ll host a banquet for a few friends to announce that my son is a married man."

’Transfer my registration tomorrow?’

’Get a marriage certificate and have a banquet the day after?’

’Then... what about tonight?’

"Do as you please. I’m just the fish on the chopping block, and you’re the knife. What I say doesn’t matter," Zhao Nuanyue replied. "I just hope we can wait until after we’re married. I don’t want to be forced to... share a room with your son tonight!"

"Oh?" Mrs. Li looked at Zhao Nuanyue, puzzled. "And how did you know I was going to have you share a room with my son tonight?"

"Because you’re afraid delays will cause complications," Zhao Nuanyue answered. "But my brother is in your hands now. I can’t run, and I have nowhere to go. I’ll be part of the Li family sooner or later, so why fuss over one day?"

"You make a very good point. But no, I won’t grant your request," Mrs. Li laughed. "You said it yourself: delays cause complications. I won’t let this drag on. I can only rest easy when it’s resolved. Once the deed is done, I can finally be at ease."

Hearing Mrs. Li’s words, Zhao Nuanyue’s heart plunged into a flustered, panicked state. ’My god, am I really fated to be with that fool tonight?’

"He isn’t a normal person. How could he possibly know about... that? If I refuse, do you really think your son will know what to do?" Zhao Nuanyue challenged. "Do you want an unwilling, resistant woman, or do you want an obedient daughter-in-law?"

"Everyone wants an obedient daughter-in-law. But this can’t be delayed," Mrs. Li laughed. "I won’t hide this from you, but I will give you a warning. If you aren’t obedient, people will tie you up. And there will be others there to... instruct my son on what to do. That would be even more humiliating for you, wouldn’t it? Don’t doubt my resolve. I will make this a night you will never forget."

At these words, a chill shot through Zhao Nuanyue. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. ’My god, can such a venomous, evil woman really exist in this world?’

In her previous life, Zhao Nuanyue had known a few things about Li Jianfeng’s family. That fool had married a total of four times. It wasn’t because he got divorced so many times—it was because he had beaten every single one of his wives to death.

That fool wasn’t just a fool; he was a fool with violent tendencies. At the slightest provocation, he would fly into a rage, threatening to beat or kill his wife.

’With such a venomous woman watching from the sidelines, what woman could possibly endure such torment? The psychological devastation, the physical torture... Even if he didn’t beat them to death, they would hang themselves to escape!’

"...Heh heh... Scared now, are you? If you do this willingly, you can keep a sliver of your dignity, a shred of decency. But if you’re disobedient, if you resist, then you’ll be no better than an animal, with no dignity or self-respect to speak of!" Mrs. Li looked down her nose at Zhao Nuanyue, assailing her with the harshest, most venomous words imaginable.