30: The Yandere Warlord's Substitute Bride 30

General Fu's consciousness, having fallen into a coma, plummeted endlessly through the darkness.

He dreamt of a dagger plunged into his chest, and the woman opposite him was hysterical.

She ceaselessly cursed him, accused him, and rebuked him.

The sky poured down torrential rain.

He was desperate, in pain, sinking into the deepest darkness.

He knew it; a person like him was destined not to be loved, no matter what he did, it was impossible.

He was fated to be alone forever.

No one would stand by him, no one would love him.

The moment he closed his eyes, a 'bang!' echoed, a gunshot tearing through the rain, a bullet to the head.

He opened his eyes, and the woman in front of him collapsed.

Footsteps came from behind, he turned, his pupils contracting.

She walked towards him, silhouetted against the light.

"Don't be afraid." That person gently embraced his waist and leaned into his arms, the dagger in his chest vanishing, and her soft voice whispered in his ear,

"You still have me, husband."

In his last glance, he saw her face clearly.

It was Wen Ci.

His heart trembled violently.

When General Fu on the hospital bed slowly opened his eyes, the morning light was filtering through the gauze curtains, casting faint golden specks on Wen Ci's tired sleeping face.

She was lielying by the bed, her dark long hair scattered messily on the pillow, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating she had been watching over him for a long time.

His heart suddenly softened, remembering her figure, stepping through blood in his nightmare, remembering her resolute eyes when she pulled the trigger for him.

His wife was the only light in his life.

As his fingertips gently brushed her cheek, Wen Ci jolted awake, meeting his gentle gaze.

"Husband!" Her eyes instantly reddened, and her fingers trembled as she reached to touch his face, "Does it still hurt? Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable? I'll call the doctor right away..."

General Fu grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his embrace, completely disregarding the sharp pain in his chest.

He buried his head in her neck, inhaling her familiar delicate fragrance, his voice hoarse beyond belief, "Wife, I love you."

He truly loved her so, so much.

He wanted to stay with her forever, never to be separated.

Wen Ci trembled all over, her heart feeling as if an invisible hand had squeezed it tight. She opened her mouth, the words "I love you too" almost escaping, but then she suddenly remembered what he had said before he fell into a coma.

A slight bitterness welled up in her heart.

"Didn't you tell me to 'find a better man to marry'?"

General Fu's body stiffened, then he hugged her even tighter, his eyes red, "I was wrong..."

He rubbed his face against her neck, feeling wronged, "Wife knows, I just... I was just afraid you'd suffer."

Wen Ci's heart softened at his appearance, but she still deliberately kept a cold face, "So you're not afraid now?"

"I am afraid." He looked up, his eyes filled with raw attachment and possessiveness, "That's why I want to live a long, long life."

He reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers, locking them together, "This way I can keep you by my side forever."

Wen Ci couldn't help but burst into tears of laughter, "Silly."

Seeing her smile, General Fu's heart softened, but he also really wanted to hear his wife say she loved him herself.

He wanted it very, very much.

After a long period of hesitation and nervousness, he finally spoke, "Wife, do you love me?" His eyes were a little anxious, like a child afraid of not getting candy.

"I love you."

Wen Ci no longer hesitated, cupping his face with both hands, looking deep into his eyes, "I love you very, very much."

General Fu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally lowered his head to kiss her lips. The kiss was gentle yet restrained, filled with possessiveness.

"Bang!"

The door suddenly burst open, and all the adjutants stood frozen at the entrance.

Wen Ci's heart skipped a beat, and she was about to spring away, but General Fu held her firmly in his embrace. He didn't even lift his head, merely throwing out a cold command, "Get out."

The personal guards scrambled out, and as they closed the door, they overheard their stern, Yama-like commander suddenly change his demeanor, coaxing with an unprecedentedly gentle voice, "Wife, one more kiss."

Everyone broke out in goosebumps.

They couldn't believe it, truly.

"Wife, please don't leave me, okay? Never leave me."

General Fu had Wen Ci lie down, then he leaned his head against her warm, soft chest, looking up at her, with a somewhat wronged, pitiful expression.

Wen Ci's heart softened, and she sincerely told him, "Okay, I will never leave you."

General Fu finally felt at ease. Wen Ci wrapped her arms around him, feeling the slight rise and fall of the man's body, and her heart was filled with peace and tranquility.

So much happiness.

General Fu had never experienced such warmth before meeting Wen Ci.

He truly craved it so much.

He was now completely and utterly inseparable from her.

After more than half a month, General Fu's body finally recovered.

During this half-month, he led his men in a lightning-fast, bloody purge of all opposing forces in Hai City.

That night, gunshots echoed in the dark alleys, blood stained the bluestones along the Huangpu River, and all secretly colluding chambers of commerce and gangs were uprooted.

General Fu personally presided, his military boots treading through the blood-soaked ground, coldly ordering, "Leave no one alive."

In just half a month, the sky of Hai City had completely changed.

The old-guard forces who had once feigned obedience to General Fu were all eradicated, replaced by a group of young, elite confidants. Docks, banks, trading houses—all critical positions were filled with his trusted associates.

And Wen Ci's status also rose accordingly.

Those wives and young ladies who had already envied her now, upon seeing her, bowed their heads in greeting, respectfully calling out, "Madam."

Even foreign consuls, upon meeting her, would politely address her as, "Madam Fu."

Hai City's development was getting better and better.

The docks were expanded, merchant ships came and went in a continuous stream, new banking regulations were introduced, the market was prosperous and stable, and even the theaters and tea houses were much livelier than before.

Every day, Wen Ci either inspected the docks with General Fu or received distinguished guests at the mansion. She was already exceptionally intelligent, and now she managed the Fu family's industries meticulously, with all large and small enterprises under her control.

It also gave her something to do.

After all, her current life was truly leisurely and pleasant.

Not only did she have money, power, and beauty, but she also had a husband who cherished and loved her.

She had also made a good group of like-minded wives and young ladies, whom she met with daily to play, making for a lively and happy time.

General Fu often watched Wen Ci chatting and laughing with the President of the Chamber of Commerce and others, his eyes full of pride.

His wife deserved to stand at the highest position, revered by thousands.

However, a hint of jealousy was still inevitable in his heart.

Therefore, in the evening, he became especially proactive.