He lured her deep into his trap, using both overt and covert methods to seduce her.

Fu Lu chuckled and leaned in to kiss Song Zhi on the cheek: "You listen to me on this matter, but you listen to me on everything else."

Song Zhi glared at him somewhat embarrassedly: "Dad and the others are here, mind your image."

“They’re not old-fashioned.” She said, looking at her father. “Right, old man?”

The old man snorted coldly and ignored him.

Fu Lu touched his nose somewhat awkwardly.

During dinner, Song Zhi saw the old man, for the first time ever, pour a glass of wine for her father.

Mr. Song was flattered and sat up straight, his wheelchair creaking slightly.

"Mr. Fu, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man interrupted him: "Father-in-law, I'm so sorry we haven't had a chance to get together and discuss the children's affairs. Let me toast you."

He then raised his glass towards Song's father.

Song Zhi dared not delay and quickly raised her glass to clink glasses with the old man.

"Okay, okay..."

He had previously thought that the Fu family's refusal to arrange a meeting meant they looked down on his daughter, and he was somewhat worried about Song Zhi's situation in the Fu family.

Now it seems that I have thought too much.

As he was leaving, the old man suddenly turned around and stuffed a bulging red envelope into Song Zhi's hand.

"Here, take it." He said sternly, then quickly added, "You're pregnant now, so if there's anything you want to eat, just tell Fu Lu and he'll buy it for you."

Looking at the heavy red envelope in her hand, Song Zhi was somewhat flattered: "Dad, no need."

“You are the daughter-in-law of the Fu family, a meritorious person, you deserve it.”

Upon hearing the old man's words, Song Zhi suddenly felt the red envelope in her hand become quite heavy.

She thanked him softly and didn't refuse any further.

After the old man left, Song Zhi carefully opened the red envelope.

She originally thought there was only some cash inside, but unexpectedly, in addition to a stack of brand-new banknotes, there was also an exquisite jade bracelet.

Song Zhi looked at Fu Lu with some surprise, seemingly taken aback by the gift.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ninth Brother, this..."

Fu Lu glanced at the bracelet in her hand, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He said softly, "This is from the old man, so please accept it."

Song Zhi shook her head and quickly said, "Isn't this too expensive? I can't accept such an expensive gift."

Fu Lu smiled and explained, "Didn't he say that you are a meritorious official, and this is what you deserve?"

Song Zhi still felt something was amiss. She pouted and insisted, "I don't want it, it's too expensive."

Although she didn't know much about jade, the one in her hand looked very valuable.

Fu Lu put his arm around her shoulder and said gently, "This is a family heirloom, specially given to the daughters-in-law of the Fu family. The old man is giving it to you, which means he has accepted you. Are you sure you don't want it?"

Upon hearing Fu Lu's words, Song Zhi looked at him with some surprise: "You agree?"

Fu Lu nodded and said affirmatively, "That's right, the old man approves of you."

Song Zhi thought for a moment and recalled the old man's behavior today; it was indeed clear that he was very happy.

She remarked with emotion, "I can tell that Dad is very happy today."

Fu Lu smiled and said, "His grandson is coming to him in his old age. He's definitely happy. He's been looking forward to this day for a long time."

Song Zhi smiled and said, "Looks like I'm benefiting from the baby's fame."

Fu Lu laughed and said, "I also benefited from the baby's good fortune."

Song Zhi looked at Fu Lu with some confusion, not understanding why he said that.

Fu Lu smiled and said softly, "This old man never comes here, but I never expected him to come today."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhi showed a hint of surprise and asked, "He has never been to your place before?"

Fu Lu shook his head and answered affirmatively, "No, so we're all benefiting from the baby's good fortune today."

As he spoke, he reached out and carefully placed his hand on Song Zhi's belly, then gently said to her stomach, "Baby, look, Mommy and Daddy are getting special treatment from Grandpa because of you. It seems Grandpa really likes you."

Looking at Fu Lu's expression, Song Zhi couldn't help but find it a little funny. She said helplessly, "Baby is still just a little bean sprout. How could he understand what you're saying?"

Fu Lu disagreed, insisting, "Talk to the baby more, and he will naturally understand in the future."

Song Zhi asked curiously, "How did you know?"

Fu Lu smiled smugly and explained, "I did a lot of research. I read online that when a woman is pregnant, the father should often talk to the baby in her belly so that the baby will be especially close to the father after birth."

After hearing this, Song Zhi smiled and teased, "Then you'd better keep up the good work!"

……

At night, Song Zhi lay quietly on the soft bed, her eyes fixed on the jade bracelet in her hand, a gift from the old man.

The bracelet is entirely emerald green, like a clear spring, and under the moonlight, it appears even more translucent and lustrous.

Fu Lu, wrapped in a clean white bath towel, slowly walked out of the bathroom.

His hair was still slightly damp, and water droplets slid down his strong muscles and dripped onto the floor with a soft sound.

Fu Lu's gaze was drawn to the bracelet in Song Zhi's hand. He walked over curiously, leaned closer to Song Zhi, and asked softly, "What are you looking at? You seem so engrossed."

Song Zhi examined the bracelet intently, murmuring to herself, "This bracelet is so clear."

Fu Lu smiled and nodded in agreement: "Of course, after all, this is a family heirloom, it must be excellent."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhi slowly withdrew her hand and sighed softly.

Fu Lu reached out to stop Song Zhi and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Why are you sighing all of a sudden?"

Song Zhi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "Do you think if we have a daughter, Grandpa will take the bracelet back?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Lu was taken aback at first, then laughed. He gently stroked Song Zhi's hair and comforted her, "A daughter is so wonderful. I love daughters so much. Even if the old man really takes the bracelet back, it doesn't matter. I'll buy a whole truckload for our precious daughter so she can wear a different one every day. How about that?"

Song Zhi looked at Fu Lu with some surprise, clearly taken aback by his fondness for his daughter.

"You prefer daughters?"

Fu Lu smiled and nodded in agreement: "Of course, it would be best to be like you."

Song Zhi winked mischievously and said with a smile, "Ninth Brother, I didn't expect you to favor girls over boys? You wouldn't like a son?"

Fu Lu gently embraced Song Zhi and whispered, "If you're a daughter, I'll spoil you both. If you're a son, then we'll both spoil you."

Upon hearing Fu Lu's words, Song Zhi felt as if her heart was being warmed by the sunshine.

She leaned gently against Fu Lu's chest and said softly, "Actually, I would prefer a son."

After hearing this, Fu Lu slowly released Song Zhi, looked at her seriously, and said, "Song Xiaozhi, how can you have such a preference for boys over girls? This kind of thinking is not good."

Song Zhi hurriedly explained, "I didn't."

Fu Lu pressed further, "Then why do you hope for a son?"

Song Zhi answered earnestly, "If it's a son, everyone will be very happy."

Fu Lu, however, disagreed and said, "I'm just not happy."

Seeing this, Song Zhi couldn't help but laugh and teased, "Who was it that said this kind of thinking is wrong? You're just saying that magistrates are allowed to set fires while common people are forbidden to light lamps."