President Lu, Your Wife Wants the Baby, Not the Father

Xie Wantang, a woman who had spent over a decade loving Lu Yanshen from afar, entered a marriage of convenience three years ago. When Lu Yanshen was confined to a wheelchair following a car accident, Xie Wantang’s older sister, Xie Bailu, refused to marry him. Xie Wantang, who had been raised by loving adoptive parents and was unfamiliar with the cold Xie family, took her sister’s place. She moved into the Lu family villa, dedicating herself entirely to Lu Yanshen’s recovery. Through her meticulous care and persistence, Lu Yanshen eventually regained the ability to walk. However, despite her sacrifices, Lu Yanshen remained emotionally distant, viewing their union as a strategic alliance rather than a romantic partnership. He married her because she was obedient and sensible, never acknowledging the depth of her feelings or the decade-long devotion that preceded their wedding.

The central conflict ignites on Xie Wantang’s twenty-fifth birthday. While she waits at home with a homemade cake and cold dishes, Lu Yanshen spends the evening with Xia Meng, his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his son, Dongdong. Xia Meng, who had abandoned Lu Yanshen when he was disabled, has returned to the country. She posts a photo on social media of the three of them watching fireworks, wearing a diamond ring that signifies Lu Yanshen’s affection and commitment to her. Upon seeing this, Xie Wantang realizes that her three years of effort have been futile. She discovers she is pregnant but decides to terminate the emotional and physical ties with Lu Yanshen. She confronts him and demands a divorce, leaving him with a signed agreement where she waives all claims to assets. Lu Yanshen, intoxicated and indifferent, dismisses her request, telling her not to make a scene, and leaves for a business trip to Milan the next morning without signing the papers.

Xie Wantang’s transformation begins immediately. She stops performing the role of the submissive wife. She refuses to wash Lu Yanshen’s clothes, leaves dirty dishes in the sink, and moves out to stay with her best friend, Xu Yanqiu. During her absence, she focuses on her own career, running a successful incense business that generates significant income. Lu Yanshen, initially annoyed by her disappearance, eventually becomes unsettled by the silence. He tracks her down to Xu Yanqiu’s home and forces her to return to the Lu family villa, citing the need to maintain appearances before his grandmother. Upon returning, Xie Wantang continues her rebellion. When Lu Yanshen’s mother demands she cook wontons for Xia Meng and her son, Xie Wantang refuses, suggesting that incompetent staff be fired instead. She publicly humiliates her mother-in-law by having Xia Meng’s son rub his muddy hands on the older woman’s dress, turning the tables on the family’s long-standing mistreatment of her.

The conflict escalates when Lu Yanshen invites Xie Wantang’s biological family to the old mansion to pressure her into dropping the divorce. Xie Wantang confronts her neglectful parents and sister, exposing their greed and lack of genuine care. She accuses Lu Yanshen of emotional infidelity due to his relationship with Xia Meng. Lu Yanshen denies the accusation, claiming he was at a restaurant with friends that night, and challenges her to provide evidence. When Xie Wantang attempts to show the social media post, she finds it has been deleted. Lu Yanshen uses this lack of proof to dismiss her claims, asserting that their marriage is too valuable to the family businesses to end. He orders her to spend two days with her parents to “persuade” her to change her mind, treating her feelings as a manageable inconvenience rather than a legitimate grievance. Despite his coldness, Lu Yanshen shows moments of confusion and irritation at her newfound independence, unable to understand why his wife no longer caters to his every need or accepts his indifference without complaint.

As the story progresses, Xie Wantang remains resolute in her decision to divorce. She rejects the notion that she must preserve the marriage for the sake of family alliances or business interests. Her pregnancy, which she initially considered ending, becomes a focal point of her internal struggle, though she keeps it secret from Lu Yanshen. The narrative highlights the power dynamic shift; Xie Wantang is no longer the eager-to-please wife but a woman who has rediscovered her self-worth. Lu Yanshen, accustomed to her compliance, struggles to adapt to her resistance. His attempts to control the situation through threats and authority fail, leaving him increasingly frustrated and uncertain. The story sets the stage for a prolonged battle where Xie Wantang must navigate her family’s expectations, Lu Yanshen’s stubbornness, and the hidden truths surrounding his relationship with Xia Meng, all while protecting her own future and her unborn child.