Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 18

Shen Lai’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I threw myself into your arms?”

How was that possible!

Pei Jingyan countered, “As if I’d take the initiative to hug you?”

His expression was calm and unruffled, his demeanor so natural that it made Shen Lai begin to doubt herself.

She did have a habit of hugging things in her sleep, could she have mistaken Pei Jingyan for the LABUBU plushie in her rented apartment?

Watching Shen Lai’s expression shift from certainty to uncertainty and then to guilt, something flickered briefly in Pei Jingyan’s eyes. He drawled lazily, “But considering you accidentally helped us handle the show’s surprise inspection, I won’t hold it against you.”

Pei Jingyan acted magnanimous, but Shen Lai retorted indignantly, “It’s not like you suffered a loss, okay? Don’t make it sound like you were taken advantage of.”

Pei Jingyan suddenly leaned in closer, his low, husky voice laced with a mesmerizing charm. “Of course I suffered a loss. Do you know how many people wish they could touch me but never get the chance?”

With his face so close, his deep eyes fixed unwaveringly on her, Shen Lai couldn’t help but recall the moment last night when they had shared the biscuit stick. A wave of heat instantly spread from her face down to her neck.

She swallowed unconsciously. “Y-you think you’re some kind of rare treasure? Like everyone wants to keep you in their pocket? I just mistook you for my body pillow, that’s all! Otherwise, I wouldn’t even want to hug you!”

A smirk played at the corner of Pei Jingyan’s lips. “So, Miss Shen admits she took advantage of me last night?”

Realizing she’d walked into his trap, Shen Lai stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. “I said no such thing. Who knows? maybe you were the one trying to take advantage of me and then pinned it on me!”

With that, she pushed Pei Jingyan aside. “Move. I need to freshen up.”

Then she quickly threw off the covers, scrambled out of bed, and fled into the bathroom like a startled rabbit, locking the door behind her.

Leaning against the door, Shen Lai exhaled quietly before suddenly remembering something. She hurriedly checked her pajamas.

Aside from being slightly wrinkled, they were intact, nothing amiss.

She let out a silent sigh of relief, then laughed at herself.

Pei Jingyan would never be interested in her.

Besides, she was pregnant, surely even he wouldn’t stoop to such depravity.

Downstairs.

Huo Chilin had just stepped out of his room when two staff members passed by, chatting excitedly.

“I never expected Miss Shen and President Pei, the couple everyone least believed in, to actually be so close. They even slept in each other’s arms!”

“Yeah, just watching through the screen gave me diabetes! So sweet!”

“When will I ever get a husband like Pei Jingyan? Ugh!”

Huo Chilin’s footsteps halted abruptly. He looked up at the two staff members as they walked away.

Pulling out his phone, he opened Weibo, the first thing he saw was a trending topic with Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan’s names. Below it were screenshots fans had taken.

In the photos, Shen Lai was nestled in Pei Jingyan’s arms as they slept, their bodies pressed close together in an intimate pose that couldn’t possibly be faked for the cameras.

The comments under the post were filled with praise for the couple.

[This is the first time I’ve felt they actually look good together!]

[Same! How did I never notice before how stunning Shen Lai is? Her bare face alone outshines 99% of celebrities in the industry.]

[To those who claimed Shen Lai was obsessed with Huo Chilin, if you had a husband this handsome, would you even glance at Huo Chilin? You’d have to be blind to make that kind of mistake.]

[Whether Shen Lai likes President Pei or not, I don’t know, but it’s obvious President Pei likes Shen Lai, just look at how tightly he’s holding her. If he really disliked her, he wouldn’t be doing something like this.]

[Agreed with the above! At this point, it’s definitely true love, no doubt!]

Huo Chilin’s grip on his water glass tightened so hard it creaked.

Did Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan sleep together last night?

What kind of international joke was this?!

How could those two sworn enemies possibly share the same bed?!

A wave of inexplicable panic surged in Huo Chilin’s chest, as if something was slipping through his fingers, impossible to grasp.

Just then, Bai Hansui emerged from her room and saw Huo Chilin standing at the top of the stairs. She walked over. “Chilin, what’s wrong?”

Huo Chilin snapped out of his thoughts and put away his phone, his expression tense. “Nothing.”

Though she had only glanced at the screen, Bai Hansui’s sharp eyes caught Shen Lai’s name. A faint sense of unease settled in her heart, so after Huo Chilin left, she also opened Weibo.

The moment she saw the trending topics, Bai Hansui’s nails nearly dug into her palms.

Just moments ago, the discussions had all been about her… now, Shen Lai had stolen the spotlight.

And recalling how distracted Huo Chilin had been while staring at his phone, Bai Hansui couldn’t shake a growing sense of foreboding.

Could Huo Chilin still have feelings for Shen Lai?

When Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan arrived at the dining room, the other couples were already there, the atmosphere thick with tension.

She noticed Yan Rui and Wu Qi’s expressions were off, as if they’d just had an argument.

Just as Shen Lai was about to look away, her gaze inadvertently met Huo Chilin’s.

His face was rigid, his dark eyes fixed on her with an almost predatory intensity, his hands clenched into fists.

Shen Lai merely glanced at him before turning away, as if he were a stranger.

Huo Chilin’s heart twisted, an inexplicable bitterness rising in his chest.

“Since you’re all up so early, you must be hungry, right?” Director Miao suddenly appeared with a megaphone. “So our production team has prepared ingredients for everyone, feel free to get creative.”

Following his gesture, the group saw the dining table laden with an abundance of ingredients, from fresh meats to vegetables, everything one could need.

Having learned from last night’s ordeal, the guests were more cautious this time. Bai Hansui raised her hand. “Director Miao, is there another task involved?”

Director Miao grinned. “Bingo!”

[As expected, Director Miao never disappoints!]

[Gotta admit, Suisui is so sharp, she totally called it!]

[Our Suisui is naturally brilliant, unlike some people who rely on cheap tricks, guessing the production team’s moves and putting on makeup just to wait for the cameras.]

[Ugh, so annoying!]

Director Miao proceeded to announce the rules. “This challenge is called ‘Kitchen Battle for Two.’ You’ll share an apron, tying your adjacent hands together. Within fifteen minutes, you must prepare breakfast using your chosen ingredients to win.”

“As for the losing couples… well, you’ll just have to go hungry.”

“So whether you eat breakfast today depends entirely on your skills!”

The group moved to the dining area to pick ingredients. Faced with the overwhelming variety, Shen Lai hesitated.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Pei Jingyan beside her. Hesitantly, she asked, “Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

Pei Jingyan gave her a deep look. “How rare for Miss Shen to care about my preferences.”

Once again, the familiar sarcasm was directed her way, but Shen Lai simply ignored it. “After all, it’s breakfast for both of us. I can’t just think about myself.”

Moreover, Pei Jingyan was now half her client, and with cameras pointed at them, she had to put on a show.

Pei Jingyan’s gaze swept over the ingredients before him, and he said lightly, “Egg and vegetable noodles.”

At this, Shen Lai’s eyes brightened slightly. “You like this too?”

“Too?” Pei Jingyan glanced at her, his expression tinged with amusement. “Could it be that Miss Shen also likes this dish?”

Shen Lai nodded, pulling eggs and vegetables from the bag. “My family’s nanny used to make this dish really well. I’d have her make it for me every morning.”

Unfortunately, after the Shen family went bankrupt, the nanny was let go and returned to the countryside to take care of her grandchildren.

Noticing Shen Lai’s inexplicable dip in mood as she spoke, Pei Jingyan crossed his arms and leaned lazily against the table edge. “Miss Shen, are you hinting at something?”

Shen Lai looked up, confused. “What?”

Pei Jingyan’s eyes were playful and teasing. “Do you want me to help you bring the nanny back?”

Shen Lai belatedly caught his meaning and immediately protested, “Not at all! I was just making conversation.”

She pretended to focus on the ingredients, muttering under her breath, “Besides, you’ve already helped me so much. I’m not that greedy.”

Pei Jingyan had covered her mother’s medical expenses, and she was already deeply grateful. How could she possibly ask for more?

Meanwhile, Huo Chilin was picking ingredients with Bai Hansui. He happened to glance up and saw Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan talking on the opposite side, standing close together as if sharing a secret.

The image from that morning of the two curled up asleep together flashed through his mind, and his grip on the bread in his hand tightened unconsciously.

“Chilin, do you want a sandwich?” Bai Hansui asked curiously.

Huo Chilin snapped out of it, noticing the bread now crumpled in his hand. He replied stiffly, “Haven’t had one in a while.”

Bai Hansui smiled. “Then let’s have sandwiches today.”

“Alright.” Watching Shen Lai across the way, Huo Chilin felt a sudden impulse and deliberately said, “I’ll make it for you later. It’s my specialty!”

He raised his voice intentionally, and sure enough, Shen Lai looked over.

Huo Chilin smirked inwardly.

Just as he thought Shen Lai might act indifferent, but deep down, she still cared about him.

A confident smile curled at the corners of his lips. But the next moment, Shen Lai’s gaze dropped, and she took the instant noodles from in front of him.