Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 10

[OMG, is this a bedroom photo?!]

[How can anyone still deny it’s Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan? They might as well have plastered the photo right in my face!]

[Mr. Pei, the image quality isn’t great, release the original so I can see it clearly!]

[The sound of your scheming is practically smacking me in the face, commenter above.]

Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow as he looked at Huo Chilin, whose face had turned ashen. “Young Master Huo, are you satisfied with this answer?”

Huo Chilin’s knuckles whitened from how tightly he clenched his fists, the sound of his bones creaking audible.

In the photo, Shen Lai’s dazed expression was unmistakable, any adult could tell what had just happened.

A surge of inexplicable fury rose in his chest, making his veins throb violently.

Could it really have been Pei Jingyan who was with Shen Lai in that hotel room that night?

Huo Chilin practically ground out his words through gritted teeth, “Of course I’m satisfied.”

Pei Jingyan smirked. “Good. It’s best to clear things up today to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.”

He added leisurely, “Of course, if anyone still dares to spread rumors about this, Pei Corporation’s legal team will be happy to oblige.”

This was an indirect warning to the rabid anti-fans.

[Mr. Pei is fiercely protective of his wife… I love it!!!]

[Who says Pei Jingyan and Shen Lai have no feelings for each other? Doesn’t look that way to me. What couple without feelings takes bedroom photos?]

[Am I the only one who thinks the photo seems deliberate? Like it was taken specifically to be used today.]

[You just sound jealous, commenter above.]

Even after Pei Jingyan put away his phone, Shen Lai still hadn’t snapped out of her daze.

She had no idea when he had taken that photo.

Once Pei Jingyan finished introducing himself, Shen Lai finally couldn’t hold back any longer and whispered sharply, “When did you take this photo?”

Pei Jingyan arched a brow. “You don’t remember?”

It wasn’t that Shen Lai didn’t remember—she had no recollection of it at all.

If Pei Jingyan hadn’t pulled out this photo today, she wouldn’t have even known they had taken such a picture the night they slept together.

Seeing Shen Lai’s doubtful expression, Pei Jingyan shoved his hands into his pockets. “That night, you clung to me and insisted on taking a photo with my phone. I couldn’t stop you, so I let you do it.”

Shen Lai’s mind was a mess.

She had no memory of this and asked skeptically, “I was the one who took it?”

Pei Jingyan’s lips curled with faint mockery. “You think I’d be the one to suggest it?”

Shen Lai’s expression wavered.

It was obvious Pei Jingyan wouldn’t do something like this, he disliked her so much, why would he take such a photo willingly?

Had she really done it while she wasn’t in her right mind?

No matter how hard she tried, Shen Lai couldn’t recall it, so she gave up and snapped, “Then can you delete it now?”

Since the rumors about that night had already been debunked, there was no need to keep the photo.

Pei Jingyan replied nonchalantly, “No. If you ever cross me in the future, I’ll spread this photo everywhere.”

“You…!”

If it weren’t for the fact that they were on a show, Shen Lai would have bitten Pei Jingyan to death.

Even if they were married, she would never like a man like him!

Their bickering looked like playful flirting to Huo Chilin, whose expression darkened further, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Bai Hansui, standing beside him, noticed his unusual demeanor and asked with concern, “Chilin, what’s wrong?”

Only then did Huo Chilin tear his gaze away, forcing down his anger. “It’s nothing.”

Bai Hansui glanced in the direction he had just been looking and saw Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan talking. She paused slightly but quickly regained her composure.

The ice-breaking introductions at the start concluded without any major mishaps.

This actually gave Shen Lai the opportunity to clarify the rumors from that night while also issuing a warning to those who had spread them.

The guests had gotten to know each other a bit, and seeing that the timing was right, Director Miao finally announced the first official task of the day: the Trust Blind Test.

As the name suggested, the Trust Blind Test required the female guests to identify their partners’ items using only touch or smell while blindfolded, all within a five-minute time limit.

Those who failed would have to read aloud the most outrageous rumor ever reported about them.

[Woo, this game is interesting! You can tell at a glance who’s a real couple and who’s not!]

[This is child’s play for our Lin-Sui CP!]

[I guarantee Shen Lai’s pair won’t get it right, they clearly don’t know each other well. Waiting for the epic fail!]

According to the draw, Bai Hansui was the first to take on the challenge.

Blindfolded and seated, Bai Hansui waited as the staff quickly placed several items in front of her.

“Miss Bai, you may begin.”

“Alright.”

Bai Hansui reached out, her fingers brushing over the items before her. Her brows furrowed slightly as she concentrated on identifying them.

After a moment, she picked up one item and brought it to her nose. Suddenly, her expression relaxed, and she turned to the camera with a smile. “This should be it… Chilin’s usual aftershave.”

Director Miao: “Correct!”

Bai Hansui smiled faintly.

Huo Chilin curled his lips in a sweet smirk.

[Ahhhh! I knew our Lin-Sui CP would dominate!]

[She even recognizes the scent of his aftershave… did Suisui buy it for him? Accidentally stumbled onto another sweet moment!]

[Whoever dares say Suisui and Young Master Huo are fake, drag them out and execute them!]

[Our beloved concubine has lived up to expectations, this emperor is greatly pleased.]

Next up was the award-winning actress Tong Miaoling. As a couple married for seven years, she identified Dai Jingxuan’s brooch in under twenty seconds, effortlessly passing the challenge.

The third was Wu Qi. Whether due to an off day or something else, it took her a full four and a half minutes to recognize Yan Rui’s frequently used microphone, barely scraping through at the last moment.

[Uh, Wu Qi took way too long, didn’t she?]

[So what if she took long? If she’d rushed and gotten it wrong, people would’ve criticized her anyway.]

[But even if she got it right, it doesn’t prove their relationship is fine. After seven years together, of course she’d know his habits.]

[At least it proves they truly loved each other once (laughs).]

[I suspect you’re hinting at something, but I have no proof.]

[At least the first few are real couples… but the last one? Heh, that’s another story.]

Finally, it was the moment everyone had been waiting for: Shen Lai’s turn. The live chat was buzzing, ready to mock her mercilessly.

Not only did the audience doubt Shen Lai could guess correctly, even Shen Lai herself was certain she wouldn’t.

How could she possibly know which item Pei Jingyan frequently used?

They had only been in close proximity for a few days.

Though Shen Lai had anticipated the show testing their compatibility, she hadn’t expected them to start with such a high-stakes challenge, leaving her completely unprepared.

Soon, Shen Lai was blindfolded, all light blocked out. She sensed something being placed before her, and then Director Miao’s voice rang in her ears: “Time starts now.”

Shen Lai had no choice but to steel herself and step forward.

The game rules allowed only touching and smelling, so she had to blindly identify each item by feel. But after fumbling for a while, she still couldn’t figure out which one belonged to Pei Jingyan.

Seeing this, the live chat immediately seized the opportunity to mock her.

[Looks like Shen Lai has no clue which item is Pei’s, huh?]

[Clearly, there’s no real connection between them. Not like our Suisui, who found Young Master Huo’s thing right away… now that’s true love!]

[LOL, if I were Shen Lai, I’d just dig a hole and bury myself in it.]

[Seems like Shen Lai’s definitely going to lose this round.]

Just then, Shen Lai suddenly caught a familiar whiff of cool pinewood.

It was the cologne Pei Jingyan had worn when he visited her home that day.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately picked up the tie in front of her. “This one!”

Everyone on set turned to Director Miao.

Even the live audience held their breath.

Director Miao paused for a few seconds before suddenly exclaiming excitedly, “Correct!”

The chat was stunned.

[No way? Shen Lai actually guessed right?]

[Pure luck, right? She probably just picked randomly since time was running out.]

[Out of all these items, she just happened to pick Pei’s? That’s too much of a coincidence.]

[I kinda feel like there’s something real between these two…]

Shen Lai completed the task in exactly three and a half minutes, a full minute faster than Wu Qi.

As she removed her blindfold, her eyes met Pei Jingyan’s amused gaze.

Pei Jingyan lowered his magnetic voice, teasing, “I thought you were going to lose this round.”

Shen Lai cleared her throat lightly. “I only recognized it because I smelled your cologne.”

“You even recognize my cologne.” Pei Jingyan leaned slightly closer, his deep, inscrutable eyes reflecting Shen Lai’s stunning features. “Seems like Miss Shen pays quite a bit of attention to me.”

They were standing so close that the air between them seemed charged. Shen Lai swallowed subtly and took a step back. “Who’s paying attention to you? Your cologne is just too strong… it’s impossible not to remember.”

Without waiting to see Pei Jingyan’s reaction, she turned her head away, only to catch Huo Chilin glaring daggers in their direction.

When Shen Lai met his gaze, Huo Chilin scoffed disdainfully and looked away, as if afraid of being associated with her.

All the female guests passed this round, so no one had to face punishment.

Just as everyone was sighing in relief, Director Miao suddenly flashed a mischievous grin. “Don’t celebrate yet. The ladies are done… now it’s the gentlemen’s turn.”