Chapter 56: The "Baby-Pressure" Storm (Part Two)

That familiar vibration acted like a switch, instantly shattering the tense stalemate between them, which had been charged with gunpowder smoke and tears!

Zhao Chen’s kiss on Yu Ling’s lips came to an abrupt halt! He suddenly raised his head, his sharp gaze shooting toward the sofa like a hawk! When he caught sight of the caller ID flashing on the screen—"Mother"—the complex emotions surging deep within his eyes were instantly replaced by a cold vigilance and an imperceptible trace of irritation!

Yu Ling also came to her senses slightly from this sudden interruption, looking at the phone on the sofa through her tear-blurred eyes. The two words "Mother" on the screen made her heart tighten! Zhao Chen’s mother? That mysterious "mother-in-law" who had never actually appeared and had only ever urged them to have children through phone calls playing the role of a "housekeeper"?

Zhao Chen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all the turmoil in his eyes, and his face quickly switched to a gentle expression tinged with rigid deference. He released the hands that imprisoned Yu Ling, and even quite naturally straightened her collar, which had been rumpled by him. His movements carried a comforting intent, and his voice regained its steady composure: "Lingling, don't overthink it, wait for me a moment." After saying this in a low voice, he strode toward the sofa, picked up the phone, and swiped to answer.

He did not turn on the speakerphone, simply pressing the device to his ear, his voice carrying a formulaic warmth and detachment: "Mother."

Instantly, the voice of a middle-aged woman came from the other end of the line, her tone managed with absolute precision, carrying the inherent elegance, unquestionable authority, and a touch of appropriate rigidity characteristic of a high-class matriarch. The voice leaked faintly through the earpiece, drifting clearly into Yu Ling’s ears:

"Chen’er, are you busy? I hope I'm not disturbing you and Lingling's rest?" The tone sounded seemingly concerned, yet actually carried a condescending scrutiny.

"No, Mother," Zhao Chen replied flawlessly.

"Good." The "Mother" on the other end paused, her voice turning abruptly cold with an imperative tone, "How have you considered the matter I mentioned to you last time? You and Yu Ling have been married for almost a year; it is time to have a child. The Zhao family needs an heir, and this is your responsibility! Your grandfather has also been asking about it constantly! It cannot be delayed any longer!"

Urging them to have children! Pressuring them to reproduce again! Moreover, the tone was so direct, so cold, and laden with unquestionable pressure!

Yu Ling’s heart sank instantly! A massive wave of pressure and a sense of objectification and humiliation instantly gripped her! Subconsciously, she looked at Zhao Chen, her eyes filled with helplessness and resistance.

With his back to her, Zhao Chen tightened his grip on the phone almost imperceptibly, his knuckles turning white. He remained silent for two seconds. His voice remained steady and warm, yet carried an undeniable firmness as it clearly traveled through the receiver to the other party, and straight into Yu Ling’s ears:

"Mother, regarding the matter of children, Lingling and I have our own plans. Now is not the right time. Lingling's career is currently on the rise, and her health also needs conditioning. I understand the responsibility of being the heir to the Zhao family, but please respect our decision on this matter."

His refusal was clear and powerful, without a shred of hesitation!

The person on the other end seemed unprepared for him to talk back so directly, falling silent for a few seconds before letting out a cold snort laden with obvious displeasure: "Plans? What plan could possibly be more important than carrying on the Zhao family line? Career? What kind of career does she even have?! Chen’er, aren't you spoiling her too much? Once a woman is married, assisting her husband and educating the children is her primary duty! You—"

"Mother!" Zhao Chen’s voice suddenly rose, cutting off the harsh reprimand from the other side. His tone still maintained surface deference, but carried a cold sharpness, "Lingling is my wife. She has her own career pursuits and personal values, and I respect and support all of her choices. Supporting a husband and raising children is not her 'duty,' but rather our shared choice. As for when we will have children, that is a private matter between Lingling and me. Please do not disturb Lingling about this matter again. If Grandfather asks, I will explain it to him personally." His words were decisive and ironclad, radiating an unassailable aura of fierce protectiveness!

The other end of the line fell completely silent. Across the earpiece, one could almost feel the other party's choked-up anger and sheer disbelief. After several seconds, an anger-suppressed voice finally came through: "…Fine! Fine! You've grown wings now! I can't control you anymore! Do as you please!" The phone was hung up heavily!

Tu—tu—the busy tone sounded.

Zhao Chen held the phone, standing in place for a few seconds before the icy aura enveloping him slowly receded.

He turned around, the rigid deference on his face instantly fading, replaced once more by the tenderness he showed her, though a lingering trace of unextinguished irritation and fatigue remained deep within his eyes.

He strode back to Yu Ling, ignoring the lingering tear stains and complex look on her face, and naturally gathered her back into his arms, his movement carrying an irresistible strength and a tight hold akin to lingering fear.

"Don't be afraid, Lingling." His low voice sounded right above her head, carrying a comforting magnetism, "I said before, no one can pressure you, and no one can hurt you. Not even the so-called family." He bit down lightly on the word "so-called," yet it was laced with cold mockery.

Held tightly in his embrace with her face pressed against his warm chest, Yu Ling listened to his steady, powerful heartbeat. The suffocating pressure of the cold demands to bear children and the harsh "theory of duty" from the phone call just moments ago were miraculously dispelled by his unhesitating, forceful protection.

An unprecedented warmth and a sense of security, born of being steadfastly protected, instantly flooded her entire being! The cold anger and sharp doubts brought by the photograph seemed temporarily diluted and suppressed in the face of this powerful shelter.

She could even clearly feel the heart beating beneath his chest—a heart that beat for her and stood up fiercely against the "family" for her! This real and powerful guardianship carried more force than any explanation or promise could ever possess.

Her rigid body softened bit by bit in his arms, her tense nerves slowly unwinding.

She no longer pushed him away, but simply closed her eyes, burying her face deeper into the warm crook of his neck, greedily absorbing this reassuring warmth and strength. Gu Qianqian’s bright smile and affectionate inscription on the photo suddenly seemed distant and blurred at this moment. She chose to indulge in this accessible, powerful shelter, even if the foundations of this protection were still built upon shifting sands.

Sensing her physical relaxation and reliance, the taut line of Zhao Chen's jaw finally softened slightly. He lowered his head, his warm lips brushing against her slightly chilled forehead with a sense of hard-won value and unquestionable possessiveness. Then, moving slowly downward, he kissed her trembling eyelashes, kissed her tear-stained cheeks, and finally pressed heavily upon her slightly parted lips with an eagerness bordering on plunder and intense emotion!

This kiss no longer carried the comforting quality of moments before, but was instead filled with the tyranny of asserting sovereignty and a frenzy akin to surviving a disaster! His arms tightened fiercely, as though he wanted to knead her into his very bones and blood! The tip of his tongue forcefully pried open her teeth, conquering every inch with an undeniable strength and a panic-tinged need!

Caught off guard by this sudden, aggressive kiss, Yu Ling’s mind went completely blank! Her body's instincts wanted to resist, but she was only imprisoned more tightly in his arms. His scorching breath, his forceful plunder, the strength in his arms that felt as though it might snap her in two... all of this carried a suffocating sense of control and a strange magic that turned her limbs to jelly.

The photograph, Gu Qianqian, Stanford, the phone call urging children... all her doubts, fears, and anger were churned upside down in this surging kiss of punishment and possession, ultimately dissolving into a chaotic, intoxicating fog.

She gave up thinking, gave up struggling, and allowed herself to sink into this dizzying deep sea woven jointly from lies and powerful guardianship.