Chapter 5
Edward Quan ·
In an instant, the onlookers crowded around us.
“Oh my God! It really is Shen Xinglin! First time I've seen him in person. He's gorgeous!”
“Is that his wife? She's so cute! I ship it!”
“When did my dream man get married? And he's scared of his wife? My dreams are dead!”
“Why are they in a maternity shop? Is she pregnant?”
“Wait, who's the man beside her? A showdown between rivals? This is better than television!”
I wanted the floor to swallow me.
Shen Xinglin still wouldn't let go of my sleeve.
It took everything I had to force out a smile.
“Sir, please let go. I don't know you. You've mistaken me for someone else.”
He immediately wailed.
“You do know me! I haven't made a mistake! You're Liang Xin, my wife! Wifey, don't forget what's in my—”
Before the situation became irretrievable, I clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him into the emergency stairwell.
I paced furiously around the cramped space.
He huddled in a corner, trembling.
“How did you follow me here?”
“Taxi,” he answered honestly.
I poked his forehead in fury.
“Wonderful! You've learned to stalk people now? What exactly do you want, Shen Xinglin?”
He wasn't happy either, but only dared bite his lip and mutter, “You went off with that bad man first.”
“Who I go with is none of your business!”
His eyes immediately reddened.
Clutching his belly, he began to cry.
“You're my wife! I'm going through all this to have your baby, and you leave with another man! What did I do wrong? Why are you abandoning us? How are the baby and I supposed to live without you?”
His wailing made a vein throb in my forehead.
“I told you! It's Jiang Luo's baby, not mine! Jiang. Luo!”
“It's not hers.”
He shook his head furiously.
“The baby and I have a psychic connection. Yesterday, it cried and told me that woman wasn't its mother. Told me to go upstairs and find Mum.”
Me:
“…”
He had a psychic connection with that little pillow?
Then why hadn't it told him to visit a cotton field in Xinjiang?
Better chance of finding its “mother” there.
“Wifey, I miss you.”
He nuzzled against my hand.
“Take me home.”
“No.”
Thoroughly fed up, I took out my phone.
“What's Jiang Luo's number? I'll have her collect you.”
He bristled.
“No! Why don't you want me anymore? Is it because of that bad man outside?”
He pointed toward the door, devastated.
“I'm willing to have your baby. Is he?”
Me:
“?”
He wiped his tears and sprang up.
“Fine! I understand! I'll go tell him I'm carrying your flesh and blood.”
“If he wants to be with you, he'll have to step over both our bodies!”
I shook with anger.
“Shen Xinglin! Come back!”
I grabbed him and pinched his arm, furious and helpless.
“What are you talking about? Gu Yan is my brother-in-law! My brother-in-law! Understand?”
He froze.
A second later, he turned and hugged me tightly, face buried in my neck, sobbing.
“I knew it… My wife's the best. You wouldn't leave me for someone else.”
“Please don't abandon me. I really love you. I love you… love you… so much…”
I rolled my eyes and started to push him away.
Just then, my heart began pounding wildly.
As though the tiny life inside me had felt its father's presence and grown excited.
I stopped.
The arms that had meant to push him away settled gently around his waist instead.
That night, I unexpectedly hit the top of the trending searches.
Someone had filmed us at the maternity shop and posted it online.
Within a short time, it had been shared millions of times.
In the video, Shen Xinglin clung to my sleeve and tugged it pitifully.
“Wifey…”
“Wifey…”
The complete opposite of his usual cold, untouchable CEO image.
The comments came pouring in.
“Confident queen and puppy boyfriend? I'm dying! Bring the marriage registry here. I need them married immediately!”
“Girl, teach a husband-training class. I'll sign up first!”
“Who even is Liang Xin? A broke postgraduate with no family connections. How does she get to marry Shen Xinglin?”
“Stop being jealous. I found photos from billionaire Liang Cheng's youngest daughter's birthday last year. That's her!”
“Seriously? Isn't she a poor student living on scholarships and part-time work?”
“What is going on?”
After reading the comments, I could only clutch my head.
Doomed.
My secret life as a rich heiress was about to come out.
And with the internet's talent for digging, my plan to run away pregnant probably wouldn't stay hidden much longer either.
Soon, the family WeChat group exploded.
Liang Xing: @LittleXinXin Speak up! Explain yourself!
Dad: Sweetheart, if you can't hide it, stop hiding it! Your mum and I have talked. We're putting ten villas, ten cars and 8.88 million yuan in your name. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Shen family and ask for his hand! Stop running abroad. Settle for bringing Shen Xinglin home as your husband!
Mum: Exactly! Young Shen clearly adores you. We need to arrange the wedding quickly. A big belly won't look as nice in a wedding dress. Besides… I can't wait to hold my chubby little grandchild!
Dad: Ha ha, darling, neither can I! Let's plan the wedding!
Liang Xing: What should my future grandchild be called? Liang Zhu, Liang Jia, Liang Shi… Which is best?
Dad: My eldest daughter's terrible at names! I could think of better ones with my toes. How about Liang Weiguo for a girl, Liang Weidong for a boy?
Mum: ?
“Then I had another dream. There was a blood-covered baby inside your belly, crying and muttering, ‘I'm done for. Grandma's going to beat me to death!’”
“I woke with a start, fell to the floor, and really did hit my head.”
He looked up at me.
“I wasn't lying then. I didn't expect to become like that either.”
I sipped my tea.
“Then why did you keep lying afterward?”
“I didn't want to break up, but I couldn't think of a way to keep you. You seemed to like the foolish version of me, so I went along with it.”
“Jiang Luo was an accident. I hadn't known she was interested in me. But you didn't seem jealous or bothered about me at all. So I came up with that stupid idea of using her to provoke you.”
I slammed my cup onto the table.
“Keep talking!”
He lowered his head.
But hadn't quite lost his defiance.
“Then Gu Yan appeared. I was so jealous I couldn't sleep. I had seen you helping him into a hotel room at the company celebration two months ago.”
“I was drunk too. Seeing that upset me so much that I… did that with you.”
He paused.
“I'm sorry. I really didn't know he was family.”
I twirled a lock of hair and silently recalled that night.
If I remembered correctly…
Hadn't I been the one who'd pressured Shen Xinglin that night?
“In short…”
He brought his confession to a close.
“I can't lose you and the baby. I've thought a lot lately. I really was a terrible boyfriend. Please give me another chance.”
“If you still can't love me again, I'll respect whatever you choose.”
My feelings were a tangle.
Only my heartbeat grew clearer, faster.
I sighed softly.
“Very well. Since the suspect Shen Xinglin has confessed sincerely, this court grants him another chance to become a decent human being.”
“Starting now, you're on probation for one month. If I'm satisfied when it's over, your punishment will be lifted.”
“Any objections?”
“None.”
He smiled and leaned close, gently nipping my ear.
“Thank you for your mercy, Wifey.”
“Who's your wife?”
I kicked at him.
“Careful. Pregnant, remember?”
He caught my ankle.
I stared.
“What? Your head still isn't better?”
He laughed and pulled me into his arms.
“I mean you. You're pregnant. Don't get angry.”
I took his hand and placed it on my stomach.
“Here. Feel.”
His eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Smiling, I tapped his forehead.
Only then did he carefully lay his palm against my belly, as though touching the world's only treasure.
Then he lowered his ear to it, delighted.
“Our baby!”
I laughed.
“Idiot.”
He took my hand, closed his eyes, and gently nuzzled it.
“Liang Xin, I really do love you.”
I turned away and gave a haughty little huff.
But where he couldn't see, my lips were curving.
Actually…
I had a secret.
Perhaps someday I'd tell him.
I'd discovered he was pretending long before.
After all… what fool sneaks out of bed at midnight for company video conferences?
But I hadn't exposed him.
Because I didn't just want to give him a chance.
I wanted to give myself one too.
Shen Xinglin…
I love you.
That's true as well.
(This takes place before Jiang Luo's appearance, during the days I lived with the still-“pregnant” Shen Xinglin.)
1
Today, I came home from shopping, opened the door, and found our handsome Mr. Shen with half a shoulder exposed.
Looking tragic.
Winding bandages around his stomach.
My eye twitched.
“Shen Xinglin, what are you doing?”
Supporting his back, he gazed at me with pitiful reproach.
“My lady, my belly has grown so large. If my elder and younger brothers discover it, I'll be a thorn in their sides. For the safety of our child and myself, I can only…”
“Shen Xinglin!”
I poked his forehead and angrily switched off the television drama, Schemes of a Beauty.
My supervisor had a research conference in another province.
He took me along.
We came back two days later, in the evening.
They say a little separation is sweeter than a honeymoon.
After two days away from Shen Xinglin, I wouldn't say it aloud, but I missed him desperately.
I'd even bought him local specialties.
The moment I got out of the car, I ran home.
Opened the door.
Warm yellow light filled the apartment.
Delicious smells drifted through the air.
“Wifey's home?”
He happily poked his head out of the kitchen.
One hand supporting his back, a spatula in the other.
“Wash your hands. Dinner's ready.”
Warmth and contentment filled me.
I wanted to rush over and devour him too.
After dinner, we curled up on the sofa to watch the latest hit family drama, The Pregnant Wife.
He was engrossed.
Me…
I was staring at him and beginning to have wicked thoughts.
He'd just showered.
His soft black hair was fluffy.
He wore a loose bathrobe and smelled faintly of shower gel.
Fine, pale collarbones showed.
His skin looked soft and fragrant.
I'd only just eaten.
And suddenly…
I was hungry again.
So my wicked hands slipped beneath his bathrobe.
“Mm…”
Absorbed in the show, he lightly pushed my hand away.
His beautiful eyes glanced at me.
His voice was soft and lazy.
“What are you doing?”
My inner beast broke loose.
I caught his wrist and pinned it against the back of the sofa.
Leaned to his ear, breathing warm air against it.
Smiled wickedly.
“You.”
His face went scarlet.
Then he panicked.
“No!”
“Huh?”
While I was stunned, he wriggled free and huddled at the far end of the sofa.
Clutching his stomach.
As though I were some brute forcing herself on an innocent wife.
He looked up with reddened eyes.
“Six months… We can't.”
“The baby will fall out.”
Me:
“…”
Damn it!
The next day, on my way home from class, I passed a lingerie shop.
Went in and selected a few outrageously alluring sets.
At home, I showered, put them on, and deliberately paraded in front of him.
His eyes lit up.
“Wifey's so pretty today~”
He trotted over, clung to me, and stole a kiss at the back of my neck.
Inside, I smirked.
Got you.
I pretended to push him away.
Hooked a finger in his collar and pulled him close.
Softly said, “We can't~”
“Only… five months. The baby will fall out~”
He swallowed hard.
Pressed his lips together and watched me for a long time.
Then began unbuttoning his shirt, looking ready to sacrifice himself for a noble cause.
“Come on, Wifey.”
“It's six months today.”
“The baby's stable. We can.”
I laughed until my stomach hurt, pinching and squishing his cheeks.
“Shen Xinglin, you're an idiot!”
“Five months yesterday, six today?”
“Everyone else takes ten months. You're done in ten days?”
He thrust out his belly righteously.
“Depends who's pregnant! Our baby loves its mother. It's considerate!”
I laughed until tears came.
Pulled him down by his tie, pinned him to the sofa, and tipped up his chin.
“When it's born, will it call you Mum or me?”
He held his big belly and considered the question seriously.
Finally answered with perfect innocence.
“Me, of course.”
“I'm giving birth. I'm… a male mum.”
I stared at him.
Clothes rumpled.
Clear eyes.
Clutching his fake belly beneath me on the sofa.
Adorable.
Pitiful.
Everything I liked.
Breathing a little faster, I rubbed his ear.
“If I could… I'd really like to make you a proper ‘male mum’ just once.”
While he was still pretending to be foolish, I teased him to my heart's content.
Then drew the curtains…
And thoroughly “bullied” him.
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