The President's Private Baby

Wear shoes

Wanqing was new to intimacy, yet Mu Tianyang had demanded her relentlessly for three consecutive days, leaving her complexion alarmingly pale.

Her inability to visit Xu Kewei compounded her misery, casting deeper shadows beneath her eyes.

At breakfast, she sat listlessly pushing food around her plate.

She absently stabbed her fork into half-eaten salad, mind drifting through the remnants of her sandwich.

Mu Tianyang's eyes narrowed as he barked a command: "Drink your milk!"

"Oh!" Wanqing startled back to awareness, obediently draining the glass in one gulp.

"Finish your plate," he added coldly. "I detest waste."

Staring at the remaining breakfast, she wordlessly resumed eating under his penetrating gaze.

Having finished his meal long ago, Mu Tianyang remained seated - a predator assessing prey - until her last bite disappeared.

Only then did he rise casually, instructing Auntie Zhang with feigned disgust: "Get her tonics. That ghostly pallor turns my stomach."

Wanqing flinched as if struck, frozen in her chair.

"Come here!" His voice cracked through the foyer like a whip. "Put on my shoes."

Her head snapped toward the entrance in disbelief. Shoes? Hadn't warming his bed been humiliation enough? Now she played maid?

Seated on the entryway bench, Mu Tianyang couldn't see her shocked expression - nor would he care.

His second command held dangerous calm: "Now."

She surged up, footsteps pounding resentment into the tiles as she halted before him.

"Put them on." His lifted chin dared defiance.

Biting back protests, she knelt before the shoe cabinet.

"Which pair?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"What would you choose?" came the testing counter-question.

She hesitated, eyeing his navy suit trousers before selecting black oxfords. "These?"

His silence confirmed the choice.

Her injured hand complicated the task. When struggling with his unyielding foot failed, she glanced up pleadingly.

With a huff, he lifted his foot himself. She hurriedly replaced his slipper, fumbling through the laces.

The second shoe met unexpected cooperation - he slid in before she could assist.

His fingers gripped her chin, forcing her face upward for a bruising kiss. "Good girl. Your reward..."

He paused cruelly before declaring: "Return to school when your hand heals."

"Truly?!" Hope illuminated her eyes like sunrise through storm clouds.

His smirk held dark promises. "Naturally."

After his departure, Wanqing stared at her bandaged hand in the empty parlor, willing time to accelerate.

Damn Ding Caiyan! Without that woman's interference, she'd already be sitting in lectures.

Visiting Mother after class...

The clink of keys interrupted her thoughts. Auntie Zhang appeared with market baskets.

Inspiration struck. "Auntie, are you going out?"

"To the market. Any lunch requests, Miss?"

"May I join? We could choose ingredients together!"

Here's the translation with careful attention to accuracy, cultural nuances, and readability for international audiences:

"This..." Aunt Zhang hesitated. The President kept such tight restrictions on the young mistress - was she really allowed to go out freely?

A-Cheng entered: "Miss, the President instructed you're not to leave casually. Aunt Zhang, you go alone. A-Hua is outside - have him drive you."

"Understood!" Aunt Zhang fled as if granted a pardon, darting out of the room.

Wanqing shot A-Cheng an angry glare before sinking into the sofa with a newspaper.

A-Cheng approached solemnly, presenting a velvet case: "Miss, this wristwatch was purchased for you by the President."

Wanqing paused, lowering her paper. Her eyes fell on the four-leaf clover emblem above the engraved letters: Vacheron Constantin...

A world-renowned brand where timepieces cost tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands.

A-Cheng explained: "This was custom-made at Vacheron Constantin - the only one of its design worldwide. Originally intended for the President's sister's birthday... After noticing your simple watch yesterday, he had me retrieve this first thing."

"This is too generous," Wanqing demurred.

"No need for formalities. The President's orders."

President Mu Tianyang's orders. Resistance would be futile - she understood. Opening the case, she blinked against the diamond sparkle.

Focusing closer, the design revealed tasteful restraint. Numerous small diamonds created luxurious elegance - an undeniably exquisite piece.

"It's beautiful. I'm grateful," she said stiffly.

"I'll take my leave." A-Cheng turned, his phone ringing at the doorway.

Likely the President checking on the gift delivery. His interest in Miss Ding seemed... particular.

The caller ID froze his fingers - the Mu family estate. Trouble. They never contacted him directly without cause.

"Hello?"

"A-Cheng! What's my son been up to lately?" Mrs. Wu Ya's voice crackled with maternal fury.

"The President has been focused on corporate affairs—"

"Don't you lie to me! Since when does corporate work involve morning shopping sprees? Who was that woman with him?!"

A-Cheng's stomach dropped. Yesterday's outing with Wanqing must have been paparazzi-captured. The family matriarch had seen the tabloids.

Lately, the estate had intensified marriage pressure, arranging meetings with elite heiresses. President Mu's repeated rejections had strained relations. Now every public sighting with actresses or models triggered these interrogations...

"My apologies, Madam. I don't know."

"You don't know?!" The shriek made him hold the phone away. "Everyone knows you and A-Hua are his loyal hounds! If the heavens don't know his affairs, you two certainly do! Out with it!"

"Truly, I don't—"

"Fine!" Mrs. Wu's voice turned dangerous. "You—"

"What's wrong?" Mu Tianyang asked in a dangerous tone, assuming Wanqing had caused trouble.

"Yesterday's incident might have been caught by paparazzi. Madam just called to inquire."

Mu Tianyang paused before saying, "Ignore her."

"Yes."

After several seconds of silence, Ah Cheng asked when no response came, "President, how should we handle this? Should we notify the magazines and newspapers?"

"How's the photo quality?"

"Uh...I haven't seen it. The young miss is in the living room."

"Don't let her see it!" Mu Tianyang blurted out, surprising himself. After a beat, he asked, "Did you give her the watch?"

"Yes. The young miss said she likes it."

"Hmm." Mu Tianyang hung up.

Ah Cheng hurried inside to find the watch box on the coffee table while Wanqing perused newspapers.

"Young miss!" he shouted abruptly.

Wanqing startled, looking up: "What?"

"Nothing...Won't you wear the watch?"

She glanced at it. "I might damage it."

"The President surely wants you to wear it."

Wanqing paused, then nodded. "True." She set down the paper and took the watch upstairs.

Ah Cheng waited until her door closed before snatching the newspaper to check the entertainment section:

"Mu Tianyang Spotted Shopping with Mystery Woman - 1 Million Spent in 2 Hours"

The blurry accompanying photo showed Wanqing's back and Mu Tianyang's profile - paparazzi deliberately obscuring details due to caution. Had she been a celebrity, they'd have been bolder. But this ordinary girl, untouched by celebrity glitz or high society's extravagance, made them wary. If she was Mu Tianyang's true love interest, exposing her could bring dire consequences.

Meanwhile, at the Ding family villa, Ding Caiyan stared at the same news.

"Mom!" She shoved the paper at Xue Lina. "Doesn't this look like Wanqing?"

Xue Lina stiffened. "Impossible! How would she meet Mu Tianyang?"

"But this outfit matches what she wore that night!"

"Just similar clothes!"

"That's the latest Chanel design! I never forget fashion!" Caiyan argued. "If she's not with Mu Tianyang, how could she afford this?"

Xue Lina frowned bitterly. "Your father must've bought it! That old fool spoils her right after saving the company! Don't overthink - when would she meet Mu Tianyang?"

"Maybe Father introduced them!"

"She can't compare to you!" Xue Lina soothed. "If Mu Tianyang rejected you, why choose her?"

By conventional standards, Caiyan's pampered elegance and mature beauty did outshine Wanqing's simplicity. Flipping her hair, Caiyan tossed the paper aside. "Probably some starlet! That Wanqing brat actually made me nervous! I can lose to anyone but her!"

Xue Lina eyed her daughter. "Then fight for him. Mu Tianyang's prime prey - others can chase, so can you."

Caiyan smirked confidently. "Don't worry. Someday I'll—"

"Miss Mu?"

"What did you call me?" Mu Tianyang's voice snapped coldly through the receiver, the threat palpable even through static. Though surprised by her call, the formal address grated his nerves.

Wan Qing hesitated. "Mr. Mu?" What else could she possibly call him?

His fingers drummed impatiently on the mahogany desk. "Perhaps 'sugar daddy' would be more appropriate."

Her breath hitched. "I...I don't know how to address you..."

"What do you want?" The rustle of papers underscored his irritation. "Make it quick unless you want consequences."

She shuddered at the implication. "My bandages need changing at the hospital today. I'm reporting as required."

"Oh? And perhaps conveniently visit your mother too?"

"...If permitted." Her whisper barely carried. "I'll obey your orders."

"Bandages only. No maternal visits."

Silent tears splattered against her phone screen. "C-can't I even..." Her voice fractured.

"You're crying." His pen stilled mid-signature.

"No!" She scrubbed her face hastily. "I'm not—"

A weighted pause stretched between them. "Go." His concession came gruffly. "Half-hour drive from the villa. You get two hours total."

"Thank you." She swallowed. "But I need to leave around 5:30."

"Why?"

"School ends at five. Reaching the hospital by six avoids suspicion." Her nail dug crescent moons into her palm. "Mom thinks I'm either boarding or day-studying. Both require evening self-study."

He grunted noncommittally. "Anything else?"

"No."

Click! He hung up.

The hospital's antiseptic smell assaulted Wan Qing as she entered. Xu Kewei's eyes brightened upon seeing her, though worry quickly clouded her gaunt face.

"You came again?" The heart monitor beeped faster with maternal joy.

"School finished." Wan Qing arranged her smile like fresh bandages. "How's the pain today?"

"Night classes?"

"I...got permission."

"Stop skipping studies!" Xu Kewei's IV-taped hand gripped hers. "Your college entrance exams—"

"I know!" The girl ducked her head in practiced contrition.

Her mother's gaze suddenly sharpened on the silk blouse. "New clothes?"

Wan Qing's blood froze. Mu Tianyang's designer purchase—unfamiliar luxury screaming from every stitch.

Xu Kewei rubbed the fabric between thumb and forefinger, her aristocratic upbringing recognizing quality. "Expensive."

"N-not really..." Cold sweat trickled down her spine.

"Your father bought this?"

The question hung like a scalpel. Wan Qing stared at the heart monitor's jagged lines, remembering the sperm donor who'd abandoned them to poverty. Her throat sealed shut.