16: The Yandere Warlord's Substitute Bride 16

Wen Yan stood at the edge of the crowd, her nails digging deep into her palms, blood dripping onto the ground between her fingers, yet she seemed oblivious.

She stared intently at the beautiful couple in the distance; Wen Ci was now receiving treatment she had never experienced in her previous life. The man who had once locked her in a dark room, not even allowing her near a window, was now indulging Wen Ci, letting her shine brightly under everyone's gaze.

"It's impossible, it shouldn't be like this," she murmured, her lips trembling, her carefully applied makeup smudged by tears. "He should have locked Wen Ci in a dark house, never letting her see the sun, never giving her freedom!"

But General Fu not only gave Wen Ci freedom but also gave her everything good in the world.

In the last life, all of that should have been hers.

Wen Yan looked down at her own barely put-together outfit and suddenly found it an eyesore. Standing next to Wen Ci's radiant attire, she looked like a clown.

This was already enough to make her break down.

But what broke her down even more was Duan Lin's reaction.

The man who had promised to help her was now gaping in a daze, not even noticing his wine glass tilting, the liquid soaking his expensive suit.

His eyes gleamed with repulsive greed and admiration, a fervent gaze Wen Yan had never seen before.

"Ninth Master Duan?" she tugged at his sleeve.

Duan Lin came back to his senses as if waking from a dream, but his first reaction was to shake off her hand. "Don't bother me!" he reprimanded in a low voice, his eyes still glued to Wen Ci in the distance. "Is that... your sister? She's so beautiful, how have I never heard of her?"

These words completely shattered Wen Yan's sanity.

Her face turned pale, and she could barely stand steady.

The defenses she had painstakingly built up to comfort herself collapsed completely at that moment.

*

On the high platform of the Lantern Festival, General Fu stood with Wen Ci's waist encircled by his arm. His gaze, under his gold-rimmed glasses, swept lightly across the crowd, and all the powerful figures immediately fell silent.

"Everyone," he tapped the crystal glass lightly with his fingertip, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet it made even the furthest merchants straighten their backs. "This is my wife, Wen Ci."

These simple words caused an uproar throughout the entire venue.

When had General Fu ever formally introduced a female relative to outsiders? Let alone with such a solemn tone.

Even if she was his wife, given General Fu's rumored aversion to women, it was utterly impossible for him to make such a gesture.

But now he was truly introducing his wife with such solemnity.

This was enough to show his regard for Wen Ci.

The first to react was the President of the Chamber of Commerce, an old fox in his sixties who actually scurried forward, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Madam! This old man has long heard of Madam's virtuous reputation, and seeing you today, you are truly remarkable."

In truth, he had never heard of anyone named Wen Ci, but his words were spoken with utmost sincerity.

Once the President of the Chamber of Commerce started, everyone else also rushed forward to curry favor and chat.

Wen Ci didn't need to say or do anything proactively; countless people naturally came to flatter and appease her.

She was relaxed and at ease.

Her expression remained indifferent, unperturbed, which in the eyes of the crowd made her seem even more unfathomable, as if everything was under her control.

Their respect for her grew even more.

If it were an ordinary person, upon seeing these people approach, even if they weren't terrified, they would certainly feel nervous and uneasy.

But none of this was reflected in Wen Ci.

General Fu continuously held Wen Ci by her waist, staying by her side, afraid that she might feel uncomfortable.

Even when someone invited him aside to discuss matters privately, he remained completely unmoved.

He only cared about his wife's experience.

There were quite a few people with covetous eyes at this Lantern Festival, and he didn't trust leaving his wife with the guards; he had to protect her himself.

He was afraid that if he left, those covetous socialites and ladies would approach his wife to talk, and if they said anything unpleasant that he didn't know about, his wife would have to bear it all, and he would truly hate himself.

So he stayed close to Wen Ci, his cold, sharp gaze sweeping over everyone who approached, constantly alert for anyone who might be unfavorable to his wife.

Wen Ci saw all his thoughts and subtle actions, and her heart couldn't help but soften.

Her husband was truly making her like him more and more.

Those who wanted to strike up a conversation had to deliberate their words carefully, as General Fu's gaze was simply too sharp. They were afraid that if they said the wrong thing, they would be shot, and while it wouldn't be that exaggerated, General Fu now looked like a fierce wolf glaring at them.

He was the kind of person who would pounce and bite someone to death if they showed the slightest disrespect to Wen Ci.

Many people came and went, making it very lively. Soon, Duan Lin also arrived.

He first paid his respects to General Fu, then looked at Wen Ci.

"Wen... Madam." Duan Lin's gaze was uncontrollably fixed on Wen Ci's face, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I've long admired you. Although I haven't met you, I do know your sister, Wen Yan..."

General Fu suddenly pulled Wen Ci into his arms, shielding her from Duan Lin's intense and piercing gaze, and said coldly, "My wife doesn't like to hear such idle talk."

Duan Lin was stunned for a moment, then heard Wen Ci's voice, laced with an unclear smile, say, "General, this Ninth Master Duan seems to be provoking me. He deliberately brought up my sister, Wen Yan, in front of me. I'm so sad."

No one else who had come earlier dared to mention Wen Yan. Although everyone remembered that General Fu's new wife was supposedly Wen Yan, no one dared to bring it up, fearing there might be some hidden circumstances. Moreover, the fact that most of them didn't know who Wen Ci was suggested that Wen Ci might not have had a very good life in the Wen family before.

So they were even more hesitant to bring up that topic, all smiling and chatting about other things.

Yet Duan Lin immediately brought up Wen Yan.

Duan Lin's face instantly turned pale. He had been so focused on trying to get closer to Wen Ci that he forgot to consider other factors. From Wen Yan's previous attitude, it was clear that the two sisters didn't have a good relationship. How could he have been so foolish as to jump into a death trap right away?

Cold sweat seeped from Duan Lin's back, especially when he noticed General Fu's expression suddenly turn icy cold because of Wen Ci's words, his gaze even containing a hint of murderous intent.

"But never mind, I'm in a very good mood now," Wen Ci glanced at the candied hawthorn nearby and pouted at General Fu. "General, I want to eat that ~"

General Fu's menacing gaze, which had been fixed on Duan Lin, immediately softened as he looked at Wen Ci, becoming gentle and doting. He wiped his hands, then took the candied hawthorn and personally fed it to his wife, one by one, his voice low, deep, and gentle.

"Is it delicious?"

"It's most delicious when General feeds it to me," Wen Ci smiled, looking charming and innocent.

This bright and captivating appearance, however, made Duan Lin's skin crawl. He still remembered the biting coldness in that woman's ambiguous smile just now, yet now she was feigning such a bright and innocent demeanor.

It was truly terrifying.

He belatedly realized with a shock that this seemingly delicate and soft woman could so easily stir General Fu's emotions. Just now, in her playful conversation, she had almost cost him his life.

He dared not linger any longer, quickly apologized, and turned to leave.

Wen Ci merely glanced at Duan Lin's retreating back, and the arm around her waist suddenly tightened to the point of suffocation.

"Was he very handsome?" General Fu's voice, close to her ear, was chillingly gentle.

He could agree to any of Wen Ci's requests, but he would never allow her gaze to fall on any man other than him.

Because it would make him insanely jealous, to the point of losing his mind.

His insane inner self would never change; he would only willingly retract all his claws for her, showing only his obedient side.

But once he sensed even a hint of her attention shifting to another man, he would go mad.

Wen Ci looked at his almost madly jealous expression with a hint of amusement, her eyes sparkling as she pursed her lips and chuckled softly,

"What's wrong, my dear husband?"

She reached out a fingertip and lightly traced the bulging veins on General Fu's hand. "Husband's hand is so cold."

General Fu's breathing grew heavy, unable to bear her knowing provocation. He leaned in and gently nipped her tender earlobe, grinding his teeth. "Was he handsome, or am I handsome?"

Wen Ci giggled, trembling. She snuggled into his arms and tilted her head, deliberately brushing her red lips against his sensual Adam's apple. "Of course, my husband is handsome."

"Especially when I see your stiff, jealous face, it's truly endearing."

General Fu's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his gaze, catching a hint of mischief in her eyes, and his heart stirred. Then he chuckled softly and simply bent down.

Wen Ci gasped, and the next second she was lifted into the air.

Everyone else couldn't help but look over, their faces filled with surprise.

Amidst the gasps from the crowd, General Fu strode down the corridor, then kicked open the door to the lounge.

With a bang, the room door closed, and the sound of it locking was exceptionally clear.

"Husband ~" As Wen Ci's back touched the velvet sofa, her lips and tongue were fiercely sealed.

The kiss carried a hint of blood. General Fu deliberately broke her lower lip with his canine tooth, then greedily licked away the blood beads.

"Hiss ~"

He bit her.

General Fu roughly pulled off his gold-rimmed glasses and tossed them aside. A few strands of his usually meticulously combed hair fell loose, making the surging desire in his eyes even more terrifying.

"Since Madam likes to see me jealous," General Fu's smile was wicked, "then I also want to see Madam *."

He emphasized those two words heavily.

Wen Ci curved her lips into a smile, licking the blood bead from her lip. It was both painful and exhilarating. Far from being afraid, she hooked her foot around him, pulling him closer. "Is that so? We'll have to see... if Husband has the skill."

She reached into his clothes, her hand finding his sensual, alluring abs.

General Fu chuckled softly, his burning palm already sliding up her thigh, beneath the slit of her cheongsam. His rough fingertips pressed heavily against her most delicate skin. "Madam will know if she tries. Today, I'm going to punish you."

The man's scorching kisses imprinted one by one.

He couldn't help but bite Wen Ci's fair shoulder with his canine teeth. "If you look at another man again, I'll kill them all."

Wen Ci arched her fair neck, the gasps escaping her red lips suddenly transforming into a seductive, smiling whisper. "Husband is so fierce ~ But, I like you like this, crazy, it's truly exciting."

General Fu's pupils contracted, then he laughed softly.

Although he had long known his wife was extraordinary, he instinctively expected to see fear or disgust, but instead, he plunged into a spring of excitement.

This made his entire body's blood boil.