Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 102

When Shen Lai arrived on set, she unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance.

“Wu Qi?” Shen Lai exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Wu Qi was equally taken aback. “The director asked me to make a cameo. I had no idea you’d be here too.”

Shen Lai hadn’t expected such a coincidence, both her and Wu Qi being invited to the same project.

“The director told me the same thing,” Shen Lai said. “I thought I was the only one.”

Wu Qi sighed at the mention of it. “Don’t even get me started. I actually turned it down, but the director insisted. Said I just needed to show my face, didn’t even need lines.”

It was obvious the director was capitalizing on the buzz from their last two variety shows. Normally, the other three female guests would’ve been the ones invited, but with Tong Miaoling and Bai Hansui both embroiled in scandals, the opportunity had fallen into their laps.

Still, with both of them here, at least filming wouldn’t be boring for the next few days.

Just then, Shen Lai noticed Yan Rui standing behind Wu Qi. He spotted her too and smiled faintly.

Shen Lai nodded in acknowledgment.

She sidled up to Wu Qi and nudged her shoulder. “So sweet of him to accompany you to set.”

Wu Qi rolled her eyes. “He just happened to have business here. It’s not like he came for me.”

Shen Lai could tell there was genuine affection between them, otherwise, their interactions on the show wouldn’t have been the way they were.

In contrast, the dynamic between Dai Jingxuan and Tong Miaoling had always struck her as odd.

Lowering her voice, Shen Lai asked, “So, you two made up?”

Wu Qi’s expression shifted slightly at the question. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Sort of?”

Shen Lai’s curiosity was piqued. While Yan Rui wasn’t paying attention, she leaned in closer. “So, what really happened at the hotel that time? Was he really there with another woman?”

After spending so much time together on the show, Wu Qi now considered Shen Lai a close friend. Seeing her genuine concern, she decided to come clean. “That ‘other woman’ was his sister.”

Shen Lai blinked in surprise. “He has a sister?”

Wu Qi nodded. “She’s adopted, not blood-related.”

“Oh…” Shen Lai trailed off before her eyes suddenly widened in shock. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Wait, so he and his sister-”

Wu Qi cut her off with a sigh. “Don’t even go there. He did go to the hotel that day, but nothing happened between them.”

Shen Lai exhaled in relief.

If they had actually done something, that would’ve been horrifying.

“You scared me for a second. I thought we were dealing with some twisted family drama,” Shen Lai muttered. “But if nothing happened, why did the paparazzi say they were there for a hookup?”

Wu Qi’s expression darkened. “Because his sister has feelings for him.”

Shen Lai’s jaw dropped. “Feelings?”

Wu Qi nodded grimly.

Yan Rui had always treated Yan Yiyi like a real sister, but Yan Yiyi didn’t see it that way. Over time, she had developed romantic feelings for him, especially after learning she was adopted. That knowledge had only fueled her inappropriate desires.

When Wu Qi first started dating Yan Rui, Yan Yiyi would find all sorts of excuses to cling to him. Even back then, Wu Qi had sensed something was off, but Yan Rui always insisted that Yan Yiyi was just his sister, used to sticking to him since childhood. So despite feeling uncomfortable, Wu Qi endured it.

That was until the day she received a message from Yan Yiyi and went to the hotel, only to see Yan Yiyi trying to seduce Yan Rui into bed. That was when their conflict finally erupted.

Though Yan Rui later explained that Yan Yiyi had threatened suicide to force him to meet her, Wu Qi couldn’t take it anymore and broke up with him.

It wasn’t that she blamed Yan Rui for going to see Yan Yiyi, it was his indecisiveness and inability to set boundaries that she couldn’t stand.

Who could tolerate their boyfriend constantly being entangled in ambiguous situations with his adopted sister?

Shen Lai asked curiously, “And now?”

Wu Qi shrugged. “Yan Rui has blocked her. They’ve cut all contact.”

Shen Lai could understand that. If Pei Jingyan had an adopted sister like that, she wouldn’t be able to stand it either.

Then, realizing something, Shen Lai suddenly stiffened.

Why had she just thought of Pei Jingyan again?

Just then, the director came over to call them for a script reading, abruptly ending the conversation. Wu Qi told Yan Rui to wait outside and followed Shen Lai into the room.

The script reading lasted about an hour.

Afterward, Shen Lai and Wu Qi parted ways with Yan Rui at the set. Her manager took her back to the hotel to rest. As soon as she sat down and picked up her phone, she saw several missed calls from Pei Jingyan.

She had been working earlier, so her phone had been on silent, she hadn’t heard a thing.

Pouring herself a glass of water, Shen Lai casually called him back.

The call connected after two rings, and Pei Jingyan’s lazy, magnetic voice came through. “Done with the script reading?”

Shen Lai stretched. “Yeah, just finished.”

“When does filming start?”

“Tomorrow, I think.” Shen Lai frowned. “Why?”

Pei Jingyan leaned back in his chair, his tone casual. “No reason, just asking.”

Shen Lai pressed her lips together, forcing a lighthearted tone. “You wouldn’t happen to miss me, would you?”

The line went silent. Shen Lai’s heart inexplicably tightened, and she immediately regretted asking. Just as she was about to change the subject, Pei Jingyan slowly replied, “The house is suddenly too quiet without someone chattering away. It’s a little unsettling.”

Shen Lai paused, belatedly realizing he was implying she was usually noisy.

Annoyed, she retorted, “You’re the chatterbox!”

The corner of Pei Jingyan’s lips curled slightly as he shifted his grip on the phone. “When are you coming back?”

Shen Lai huffed, deciding not to argue. “If nothing goes wrong, probably the day after tomorrow.”

Pei Jingyan gave a faint hum. “If I’m free that day, I might consider picking you up.”

“Who needs you to pick me up?”

Despite her words, the corners of Shen Lai’s mouth lifted slightly.

They chatted for a while longer, neither of them making a move to hang up.

When the conversation lulled, Shen Lai hesitated before saying, “I have to get up early tomorrow, so… I should sleep now?”

Pei Jingyan replied calmly, “Go ahead.”

Shen Lai murmured an “okay” and pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the call screen for several seconds before finally ending it.

After hanging up, she flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Then, as if struck by a thought, she abruptly sat up again.

Just now on the phone, Pei Jingyan didn’t seem to deny missing her.

At this thought, Shen Lai shook her head vigorously, as if suddenly realizing something.

No.

Why should she care whether Pei Jingyan missed her or not?

Could it be that she actually had feelings for him?

Her mind in turmoil, Shen Lai lay back on the bed, staring at Pei Jingyan’s call record in her phone contacts, completely wide awake.

Early the next morning, Shen Lai arrived on set for filming.

Though it was her first time acting, the role wasn’t complicated, and she had even taken acting classes to prepare. As a result, the morning’s progress went smoothly.

During the break, Shen Lai retreated to a corner to rest. Just as she was about to pull out her phone, a crew member suddenly bumped into her from behind.

Caught off guard, Shen Lai fumbled, and her phone fell to the ground.

“Sorry.”

The crew member muttered an apology before quickly walking away. Shen Lai picked up her phone, frowning as she watched the retreating figure. Something about them seemed oddly familiar.