Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 13

As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Lai nearly choked on her own saliva.

If not for the fact that they were still filming the show, she might not have been able to maintain her composure.

Pei Jingyan lowered his gaze to look at her, his deep, ink-black eyes seemingly soaked in darkness. “Luckily, she got pregnant… otherwise, I might never have had the chance to pursue her.”

Shen Lai found herself lost in those bottomless eyes, her heartbeat accelerating slightly.

Even if he was trying to maintain his image, did Pei Jingyan really have to say something so exaggerated?

If she didn’t know their relationship was contractual, she might have been fooled too.

[Damn, so Pei has liked Shen Lai for a long time?]

[I’ve only heard of women using a baby to trap a man… never the other way around.]

[This is outrageous!]

[Pei looks like such a player, but who knew he’d be this innocent?]

Seeing the momentum was good, Director Miao pressed on: “Then why did you only get together two months ago?”

Pei Jingyan lazily arched a brow. “Honestly, I should thank her blind ex-boyfriend for giving me the opening.”

As he spoke, his gaze subtly swept over a certain someone in the crowd.

Huo Chilin clenched his teeth, flames flickering in his eyes.

Their gazes collided in the air, invisible sparks flying between them.

[What does that mean? Shen Lai had a boyfriend before?]

[And from the sound of it, the guy wasn’t exactly a good person.]

[Damn, how did I miss this tea? Someone tell me who Shen Lai’s ex is!]

[Shen Lai’s only been in the industry for six months, and she’s been with Pei for less than three. The relationship must’ve been before she entered the entertainment industry, right?]

[Pei, stop teasing us… just spill it already!]

Huo Chilin suddenly spoke up. “From what I know, Pei and Shen Lai were sworn enemies. How did you end up together?”

Pei Jingyan tilted his head, meeting Huo Chilin’s challenging gaze.

He raised a brow. “Are you saying sworn enemies can’t be together?”

Huo Chilin sneered. “Of course not. But I remember Shen Lai has hated you since childhood, it’s unlikely she’d marry you, isn’t it?”

Then he looked at Shen Lai, as if certain she would take his side.

Watching Huo Chilin’s confident expression, Shen Lai inwardly scoffed.

They had already broken up, what gave this mediocre, self-assured man his confidence?

Her tone was icy. “As you said, that was childhood. People change, don’t they?”

Huo Chilin’s heart sank abruptly, his fists tightening in frustration.

Then Shen Lai abruptly shifted her tone. “Besides, I don’t recall being close to you, Huo Chilin. Yet you seem to know a lot about my life.”

[Right, didn’t Huo Chilin say he didn’t know Shen Lai? How does he know she hated Pei since childhood?]

[He’s from the upper-class circle too… isn’t it normal for him to know?]

[What a pretentious bitch, acting all high and mighty to seduce Huo Chilin!]

Bai Hansui quickly stepped in to mediate. “Lai Lai, don’t misunderstand, I was the one who told Huo Chilin.”

She glanced cautiously at Pei Jingyan, then at Shen Lai, feigning hesitation. “Didn’t you tell me before that you hated Pei?”

Pei Jingyan raised a brow with interest, looking at Shen Lai.

“Everyone in our circle knows Pei Jingyan and I were rivals, did I really need to tell you that?” Shen Lai replied without batting an eye. “And, Miss Bai, are we even that close?”

Bai Hansui’s face stiffened, as if she hadn’t expected Shen Lai to embarrass her in front of so many people.

She clenched the hem of her clothes, her expression turning aggrieved. “Are you still blaming me for not being able to help when your family was in trouble? It’s not that I didn’t want to help, I just didn’t have the means.”

Shen Lingzhen’s imprisonment had always been a sore point for Shen Lai, and now that the past was being dredged up, the barrage of comments immediately seized the opportunity to attack.

[Does Shen Lai have no shame? Helping you is a kindness, not helping is just normal. Stop with the moral blackmail.]

[It’s not like Bai Hansui made Shen Lai’s father break the law. Always bullying the honest ones, huh?]

[I heard Shen Lai and Bai Hansui knew each other before entering the industry. For some reason, they stopped interacting after the Shen family went bankrupt. So this is why.]

[Can the daughter of a criminal just get out of the entertainment industry?]

Huo Chilin couldn’t stand it anymore. He wrapped an arm around Bai Hansui’s shoulders and coldly rebuked, “Shen Lai, don’t push it too far. Your father broke the law, did you expect Suisui to interfere with the legal system?”

At the mention of “broke the law,” Shen Lai’s gaze turned icy. Just as she was about to speak, a hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.

Pei Jingyan’s lazy voice sounded beside her ear. “Miss Bai, aren’t you overestimating yourself?”

Bai Hansui’s pitiful expression froze on her face.

Pei Jingyan’s lips curled into a faint smile. “With me here, why would she need to turn to you?”

A flicker of panic flashed in Bai Hansui’s eyes. “I…”

Pei Jingyan’s gaze was laced with mockery. “Or are you suggesting, Miss Bai, that you’re more capable than me? That if even I couldn’t resolve something, you could?”

Bai Hansui’s face flushed red. “That’s not what I meant…”

Shen Lai stared at Pei Jingyan in surprise, taken aback that he would speak up for her.

Was it just for the cameras?

The barrage quickly caught on to the inconsistency.

Right, why would she go to Bai Hansui when Pei Jingyan was an option? His status and influence were leagues above the Bai family.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Director Miao hurriedly steered the conversation back. “The Pei-Shen team has answered correctly. Next group’s turn!”

The Huo-Bai team drew the question: Did Huo Chilin and Shen Lai date, as the rumors claimed?

Huo Chilin frowned slightly and answered frankly, “Of course not.”

In the quiet room, a derisive chuckle suddenly rang out.

As everyone turned to look, Pei Jingyan raised his hands. “Nothing, carry on.”

But the faint smirk on his lips was undeniably meaningful.

A vein throbbed at Huo Chilin’s temple. As if to clarify something, he enunciated each word, “My girlfriend has always been Suisui, and no one else.”

The CP fans reacted as if it were New Year’s fireworks, hurling a barrage of taunts at Shen Lai.

Pei Jingyan’s smirk carried undisguised scorn. “Seems your ex isn’t just tasteless, but also spineless.”

Normally, Shen Lai would have retorted, but this time, she had no defense.

Huo Chilin really was a piece of work.

Shen Lai lifted her chin guiltily. “People make mistakes in judgment. Haven’t you?”

Pei Jingyan gave her a deep look. “Sorry, but no, I haven’t.”

Shen Lai was left speechless.

Come to think of it, she’d never heard of Pei Jingyan being involved with anyone. The rumor was that he was a workaholic with no interest in relationships.

For no reason, Shen Lai recalled that night at the hotel. Was it because she’d drugged him and clung to him shamelessly that he’d ended up sleeping with her?

At that moment, Pei Jingyan suddenly remarked, “Although your taste wasn’t great before, this time it’s passable.”

Shen Lai didn’t understand at first, only realizing belatedly that Pei Jingyan was referring to her agreeing to get their marriage certificate with him.

This man was as shameless as ever.

Lost in thought, it was Yan Wu’s group’s turn. The question they drew was: “Is the rumor about catching someone cheating in a hotel true or false?”

Yan Rui paused for a moment before answering, “False.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Wu Qi, expecting some juicy gossip from her, but surprisingly, she didn’t refute it.

Director Miao couldn’t suppress his gossipy instincts. “Then what really happened?”

Yan Rui cut straight to the point. “That doesn’t seem to be within the scope of the question, does it?”

Director Miao: “………”

Who’s the director here, you or me?

Finally, it was Dai-Tong’s group’s turn.

This pair had been acting perfectly normal since their appearance, so the live audience naturally assumed they would pass smoothly.

As the scrolling comments on the screen stopped, the selected question was: “It’s said that the Best Actor and Best Actress were photographed filing for divorce at the civil affairs office. Is this true?”

Just as their CP fans were about to jump in and berate the question, Dai Jingxuan’s expression darkened. “What kind of nonsense question is this? Didn’t the production team screen these beforehand?”

He had been low-key and reserved since the show started, so his sudden outburst left not only the live audience but also the guests and staff present exchanging puzzled glances.

Realizing belatedly that he had lost his composure, Dai Jingxuan looked somewhat uncomfortable. “This question is too ridiculous. I can’t even be bothered to answer.”

[The Best Actor’s reaction is a bit over the top, isn’t it? Other guests answered their questions… why can’t they?]

[I agree. If there’s nothing to hide, just deny it outright.]

[Didn’t you hear him say it’s too ridiculous to answer? Isn’t that an indirect denial?]

[Is the word ‘no’ that hard to say? It’s faster than typing, at least.]

The barrage of comments continued to argue. Director Miao cautiously asked, “Best Actor Dai, are you refusing to answer?”

Dai Jingxuan stiffened. “I said, this question is a waste of time!”

Director Miao had no choice but to look at Tong Miaoling, but she remained silent as well.

Five minutes later, the hashtag #DaiJingxuanTongMiaolingSuspectedDivorce# trended on social media.

Not only the live audience but also many casual viewers found this segment strange.

A simple statement could have resolved the issue, but Dai Jingxuan’s reaction was too extreme.

Instead, it made the divorce rumors seem less baseless.

Since the couple refused to answer the question, as punishment, they had to help the other guests carry their luggage to the villa.

“It’s not right to make Senior Dai and Senior Tong carry all this luggage, is it?” Bai Hansui said with a troubled expression. “Maybe we should handle our own?”

Hu Chilin nodded solemnly. “I agree. Between the six of us, there are six suitcases, plus Teacher Dai and Teacher Tong’s two. It’s too much for them.”

Their comments immediately earned them praise from the live audience for being kind and considerate.

Touched by their thoughtfulness, Tong Miaoling gave Bai Hansui a grateful nod, her impression of her improving.

Bai Hansui responded with a smile.

“By the way, Lailai, you don’t have any objections, do you?” Bai Hansui suddenly turned to Shen Lai.

Caught off guard, Shen Lai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Bai Hansui bit her lip. “Because you’re used to being waited on when you travel, I was worried you might not be willing, so I thought I’d ask first.”

[Just how difficult was Shen Lai to get along with before that Bai Hansui had to ask for her opinion?]

[Exactly, even Yan Rui and Wu Qi didn’t voice any objections. Who does this newcomer think she is?]

[So what if she used to be a rich heiress? Her family went bankrupt anyway, and her dad’s in prison now.]

[It might sound harsh, but she totally deserves it!]

Shen Lai had to admit Bai Hansui’s tactics were effective, cornering her in front of so many people. If she answered that she wasn’t willing, she’d immediately offend the award-winning actors and their fans.

Her career in the entertainment industry would be over before it even began.

Just then, Pei Jingyan spoke up in a lazy drawl, “Since Miss Bai is so considerate of others, why don’t you volunteer to carry everyone’s luggage instead?”