Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 29

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s gaze turned to Wu Qi.

Someone in the crowd leaned in for a closer look, and sure enough, there was a distinct small black mole below Wu Qi’s right ear.

Wu Qi, who had inexplicably become the Big Bad Wolf: “?”

The most surprised of all was Shen Lai. She had thought she was about to be exposed, but the tables had turned, and Wu Qi had become the Big Bad Wolf instead.

Could it be that the production team had deliberately planted a red herring?

After all, Director Miao had never specified how many clues there were. Perhaps, like those blank slips of paper, this was just another diversion, and the real breadcrumb trail leading to the Big Bad Wolf hadn’t been uncovered yet.

Thinking it through this way, it finally made sense.

The only pity was that Wu Qi had become her scapegoat.

The guests on set still didn’t know that the real mastermind was someone else. They believed they had finally caught the Big Bad Wolf, and no matter how Wu Qi defended herself, it was useless.

What murderer would ever admit to being a murderer?

At this point, Director Miao stepped forward and said, “Are you all certain that Wu Qi is the Big Bad Wolf lurking among you? If you’re sure, we’ll announce the answer now. But if you’re wrong, the Yan-Wu team will be eliminated.”

The remaining guests exchanged glances, and for a moment, no one spoke.

Then Bai Hansui’s eyes flickered, and she suddenly turned to Shen Lai. “Lai Lai, what do you think?”

Caught off guard by the question, Shen Lai glanced up at Bai Hansui, who was smiling at her, waiting for her answer.

Shen Lai had been in the entertainment industry long enough to recognize a trap when she saw one. Bai Hansui was clearly trying to push her into being the bad guy while maintaining her own innocent image.

Shen Lai smiled faintly. “It’s hard to say, isn’t it? Maybe someone is framing Wu Qi?”

Bai Hansui’s smile froze.

She had expected Shen Lai to agree with her and confirm Wu Qi as the Big Bad Wolf. After all, with only three teams left, if it wasn’t the Yan Wu team, it had to be either hers or Shen Lai’s.

Surely Shen Lai wouldn’t be foolish enough to cast suspicion on herself.

But then Shen Lai abruptly changed the subject. “By the way, I remember you also have a mole below your ear, don’t you?”

A flash of panic crossed Bai Hansui’s eyes, and she immediately protested, “Mine is on my neck, not below my ear.”

[How shameless is Shen Lai, dragging our Sui Sui into this?]

[She’s just jealous of Bai Hansui, isn’t she? She’s never given her a nice look from the start. Disgusting!]

[Wasn’t it Bai Hansui who tried to manipulate Shen Lai first? As if no one can see through her little schemes.]

[Exactly. Shen Lai didn’t even bring it up initially, it was Bai Hansui who called her out, and only then did Shen Lai respond. Are only certain people allowed to play dirty while others can’t even defend themselves? The double standards of some fans are ridiculous.]

At this point, Huo Chilin stepped forward. “I can vouch for Hansui. Her mole isn’t below her ear.”

He then gave Shen Lai a deep look. “Some people shouldn’t go around falsely accusing others.”

Shen Lai smiled. “Aren’t we trying to find the Big Bad Wolf here? If Wu Qi is suspected because of a mole below her ear, why can’t the same apply to Bai Hansui?”

Huo Chilin had no rebuttal, his expression tightening.

Bai Hansui then stepped forward, putting on a pitiful expression. “It’s only natural for Lai Lai to suspect me. But I’ve always thought the mole on my neck was unsightly, so I specifically asked the makeup artist to cover it up before joining the show. If I really were the Big Bad Wolf, wouldn’t the production team have provided a clearer clue?”

After speaking, she pulled open her collar, revealing the skin below her right ear.

Sure enough, the small black mole was concealed by foundation, making it nearly indistinguishable under the moonlight.

[Suisui is just too clever! She almost became a suspect!]

[Now they can’t suspect Suisui anymore, right? Shen Lai’s cunning plan is about to fail!]

[Someone’s definitely going to be furious when they get back, hahahaha!!]

Bai Hansui blinked innocently. “This has nothing to do with me now, right?”

Shen Lai thought to herself that Bai Hansui was quite smart she’d actually had a makeup artist cover up her mole in advance.

It seemed Wu Qi would have to take the fall for her this time.

Since Bai Hansui’s distinguishing feature no longer made her a suspect, everyone unanimously agreed that Wu Qi was the Big Bad Wolf, except for Wu Qi herself.

“Now that everyone has made their choice, we’ll reveal the answer!”

All eyes were fixed on Director Miao, waiting with bated breath for the result.

The next second, Director Miao excitedly announced, “Wrong answer! Wu Qi is not the Big Bad Wolf. The Yan-Wu team is eliminated!”

Bai Hansui’s brows furrowed imperceptibly as she glanced at Shen Lai.

Shen Lai met her gaze with calm composure.

Realizing belatedly that she’d been tricked, Bai Hansui pressed her lips together and adopted a remorseful expression, looking apologetically at Wu Qi. “I’m sorry, Miss Wu. I didn’t mean to get you eliminated on purpose.”

Wu Qi wasn’t that petty. She smiled and said, “It’s fine. It’s just a game, don’t take it to heart.”

[Suisui is so kind, even apologizing to Wu Qi, wuwuwu.]

[Unlike some people who have zero emotional intelligence, no wonder they’re stuck in mediocrity in the entertainment industry.]

[Can someone please teleport in and tell them Shen Lai is the Big Bad Wolf? I really want to kick this bitch out of the game!]

[I love how you all can’t stand Shen Lai but can’t do anything about her (nyah nyah).]

After the Yan-Wu team was eliminated, the remaining two pairs of guests moved on to the third challenge.

The third challenge was called the Assassin’s Chamber.

Participants needed to collect three silver crosses to trigger an exorcism ritual, forcibly revealing the identity of the Big Bad Wolf.

Meanwhile, the Big Bad Wolf had to eliminate the three Little Red Riding Hoods before the collection was complete. Success was achieved by placing a red sticker with the word “Kill” on the target. Conversely, if the Big Bad Wolf’s identity was guessed, they would self-destruct, and the Little Red Riding Hood team would win, sharing the Big Bad Wolf’s grand prize.

“This round will test the foundation of your relationships,” Director Miao said with a sinister grin. “Will you trust the person beside you, or will you be assassinated by them when you least expect it?”

“The choice is yours!”

The four of them exchanged glances, the Big Bad Wolf was among them.

Huo Chilin had already been verified as a Little Red Riding Hood in the second round, so the Big Bad Wolf had to be one of the remaining three.

Once inside the chamber, the air was thick with tension. Bai Hansui suddenly spoke up, “Between Lailai and President Pei, one of them must be the Big Bad Wolf, right?”

Hearing this, Pei Jingyan glanced at Shen Lai.

Coincidentally, Shen Lai was also looking at him. She said nonchalantly, “Pei Jingyan, you’re not the Big Bad Wolf, are you?”

She expected Pei Jingyan to deny it outright, but instead, he merely smirked. “Who knows? You’d better be careful.”

Shen Lai’s throat tightened at his mischievous expression. She thought to herself, Thank goodness Pei Jingyan isn’t the Big Bad Wolf, otherwise, he’d definitely kick me out first.

Pei Jingyan seemed oblivious to Shen Lai’s gaze as he turned to Bai Hansui and spoke slowly, “But Miss Bai might also be the Big Bad Wolf, right? With that innocent and pure face, a twist at the end would be quite the surprise, wouldn’t it?”

[Why do I sense something off here?]

[Is President Pei praising Suisui because he’s into her? Hehehehe…]

[Wouldn’t that be normal? After being with a brainless bombshell like Shen Lai for so long, anyone would recognize Bai Hansui’s virtues.]

[What an unexpected ship! I’m totally shipping them hard!]

[Suisui’s pure beauty is even acknowledged by President Pei, ahhhhhhh!]

Bai Hansui blushed slightly. “President Pei, you’re too kind. Lai Lai is the real beauty, her looks made headlines when she debuted.”

As she said this, she deliberately glanced at Shen Lai, her gaze laced with hidden provocation.

No woman could remain unaffected when her husband praised another, no matter how good-natured she was.

Pei Jingyan twisted the ring on his finger and suddenly remarked, “I only said Miss Bai has a pure style, I never called her a beauty. I didn’t expect Miss Bai to be so self-assured.”

Bai Hansui’s smile froze instantly.

Shen Lai couldn’t help but snort with laughter. When Pei Jingyan and the others turned to look at her, she quickly covered her mouth, struggling to suppress her amusement. “It’s nothing, I just thought of something funny.”

Bai Hansui’s expression darkened. Then she suddenly realized that Huo Chilin, who had been beside her, hadn’t spoken a word since entering the escape room. Puzzled, she turned to look at him only to find him staring intently in Shen Lai’s direction.

Bai Hansui’s nails dug sharply into her palms.

Even now, Huo Chilin was still looking at Shen Lai!

Forced to maintain composure for the cameras, Bai Hansui forced a smile. “Chilin, what’s on your mind?”

Huo Chilin snapped out of his daze. Seeing Bai Hansui’s questioning gaze, he feigned calm. “Nothing, just wondering where the production team hid the props.”

Bai Hansui’s lips twitched. “I thought you were trying to figure out who the Big Bad Wolf is.”

Huo Chilin felt an inexplicable pang of guilt, as if his thoughts had been exposed. He cleared his throat. “That too.”

Bai Hansui leaned in closer, her delicate fragrance wafting over as she whispered, “Don’t worry, even if I am the Big Bad Wolf, I won’t eat you.”

[Ahhhhhhh! Just kill me with sweetness already!! Suisui, how are you so smooth?!]

[No wonder Young Master Huo is head over heels, I could study for a hundred years and still not master this skill.]

[Begging Suisui to write a book on how to make men obsessed with me, I’d buy it in a heartbeat!!]

Huo Chilin smiled stiffly. The flirtatious words that usually stirred his heart now left him indifferent, especially when he noticed Shen Lai hadn’t even glanced their way, as if she couldn’t care less about their interaction. A suffocating weight settled in his chest, leaving him unsettled.

Shen Lai, indeed, had no attention to spare for anything else, her mind was wholly occupied with the task ahead.

Glancing at Pei Jingyan walking beside her, she hesitated over whether to make her move.

She could eliminate him right now, he’d never see it coming.

But if something went wrong during the later assassination attempt on the Huo-Bai team and Pei Jingyan got eliminated too, there’d be no one left to inherit her role as the Big Bad Wolf.

With that in mind, Shen Lai reluctantly shelved the idea for now.

“Pei Jingyan, who do you think is the Big Bad Wolf?” Shen Lai suddenly broke the silence in the air.

Pei Jingyan glanced at Shen Lai, whose eyes were now filled with curiosity and probing. His tone remained unchanged. “What do you think?”

Shen Lai deliberately put on a profound air and spouted nonsense. “I think it’s either not you, or it’s Bai Hansui.”

The corner of Pei Jingyan’s lips curled slightly. “Very logical.”

Shen Lai’s expression turned grave. “So…”

Hearing this, Pei Jingyan shot her a sidelong glance. “So?”

Shen Lai said solemnly, “So, for safety’s sake, I plan to split up with you just in case you suddenly decide to stab me in the back.”

In truth, Shen Lai needed an excuse to go assassinate Huo Chilin and Bai Hansui first. Once the mission was accomplished, she could return to deal with Pei Jingyan.

That way, she could ensure no unexpected surprises.

Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow. “What, Miss Shen doesn’t trust me that much?”

His deep eyes fixed on Shen Lai, and the longer he stared, the more she inexplicably felt a twinge of guilt.

But she couldn’t tell the truth, so she made up an excuse. “I’m just being cautious. What if I’m the Big Bad Wolf? Then you’d be in danger, wouldn’t you?”

“Danger how?” Pei Jingyan suddenly stopped walking, then pivoted on his heel to face her. “Are you planning to eat me? Or do something else?”

Though the words themselves were perfectly normal, the way he said them inexplicably took on a different tone. Shen Lai instinctively took a step back and deliberately put on a fierce act. “If I were the Big Bad Wolf, I’d definitely eat you first.”

“Is that so?” Pei Jingyan lifted one brow, slowly closing the distance between them as his gaze locked onto her face. “But if I were the Big Bad Wolf, I never planned to eat you in the first place.”

Shen Lai’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Pei Jingyan, whose eyes were now unfathomably deep, like a bottomless dark river.

She swallowed hard and couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

Pei Jingyan clearly disliked her too. If given the chance, he’d surely be the first to kick her out of the game.

Even earlier, outside, he’d said that if he were the Big Bad Wolf, he’d eat her first.

As soon as the words left her mouth, her back suddenly hit a cold wall nowhere left to retreat. Shen Lai instinctively glanced behind her, only to hear Pei Jingyan’s inscrutable voice in front of her.

“Because you’re my wife.”

Shen Lai froze. Slowly, very slowly, she lifted her head. Pei Jingyan was backlit now, his expression unreadable, but his intense gaze remained impossible to ignore.

Her heartbeat inexplicably quickened. Steadying herself, she reminded him, “We’re fake.”

The moment the words left her lips, the air around them seemed to grow colder.

Though she couldn’t see Pei Jingyan’s expression, she could almost feel his gaze turn icy like a river in February, piercingly cold.

A few seconds later, Pei Jingyan suddenly let out a cold laugh. “You’re right.”

He closed in on her, and the overhead light, previously blocked, suddenly illuminated his shadowed face, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

“Everything I just said was a lie. We’re nothing but a fake couple, why would I ever go easy on you?”