Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 32

[??? President Pei, stop falling for it!!]

[Don’t assume President Pei has high standards because they automatically drop when he sees Shen Lai (dog head emoji)]

[Isn’t this going easy on her? Isn’t it against the game rules?]

[The couple is fine with it, and even the production team isn’t saying anything. Why are you getting worked up?]

[If it were Huo Chilin going easy on Bai Hansui, you’d all be gushing about how sweet it is, huh? Tsk.]

Looking at the playful smirk on Pei Jingyan’s lips, Shen Lai was convinced he was retaliating for their earlier argument.

But for the sake of the reward, she had no choice but to compromise.

Never let pride get in the way of money!

Shen Lai stiffly asked, “How should I beg?”

Pei Jingyan lazily replied, “Up to you. If I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll let you stick the sticker.”

Shen Lai took a quiet breath, as if steeling herself for something difficult. Slowly, she stepped closer to Pei Jingyan, then reached out with two fingers to tug at the corner of his shirt. She gave it a little shake and muttered awkwardly, “Please? Let me stick it, okay?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Shen Lai felt goosebumps rise on her skin.

She had never acted this coquettishly even at home.

Yet Pei Jingyan merely glanced at her, unmoved.

Seeing his complete lack of reaction, Shen Lai took another step closer, this time grabbing his arm instead. Softening her tone, she pleaded, “Just give in this once, okay?”

[AHHHHHHHHH! My heart is melting!]

[Even I, a woman, can’t handle this, let alone President Pei!]

[President Pei, I order you to let her stick it NOW!]

[Pei’s self-control is terrifying. How is he still unfazed? If it were me, I’d give her not just the sticker but my whole life!]

[You guys don’t get it. This is called playing the long game to win the wife (hehe).]

Pei Jingyan remained as calm and composed as ever. Left with no other choice, Shen Lai decided to pull out her ultimate weapon.

Suddenly, she rose onto her tiptoes, leaning in close to Pei Jingyan’s ear. She blew a warm breath against it and cooed in a sweet, pleading voice, “Husband…”

Pei Jingyan’s body stiffened instantly. He turned his head, meeting Shen Lai’s face mere inches away. The dim lighting cast a soft glow on her features, where innocence and allure blended seamlessly. Her long, dark lashes framed eyes that shimmered with anticipation as they blinked up at him.

They were so close it felt like one more inch would bring their lips together.

Pei Jingyan’s gaze darkened, as if dyed by the night itself, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly in the shadows.

When he still didn’t react, Shen Lai assumed her tactic had failed, and embarrassment crept in.

This was the first time she had ever called Pei Jingyan “husband,” and it had backfired.

He really was impossible to please.

Just as she was brainstorming another approach, Pei Jingyan suddenly spoke, his voice laced with a hint of roughness. “Go ahead.”

Shen Lai froze, staring at him in disbelief.

Noticing her hesitation, Pei Jingyan arched a brow. “If you don’t stick it now, I might change my mind.”

Snapping back to reality, Shen Lai quickly fished the sticker from her pocket. But before pressing it on, she eyed him skeptically. “You’re really letting me?”

Pei Jingyan replied coolly, “Why would I lie?”

Shen Lai just hadn’t expected him to give in so easily. She had fully prepared for him to make things difficult for her.

Shen Lai cautiously approached, seeing that Pei Jingyan truly had no intention of stopping her. Only then did she reach out and stick the sticker onto his forehead.

Pei Jingyan stared at Shen Lai in front of him. She was carefully pressing the sticker down, worried it might fall off and not count, so she deliberately pressed it a few extra times.

The warmth of her fingertips transmitted through the thin sticker to his skin, even allowing him to feel the softness of that patch of skin.

Once she was sure the sticker was firmly in place, Shen Lai patted her hands together in satisfaction. Just as she was about to look away, her gaze inadvertently met Pei Jingyan’s.

Pei Jingyan’s lashes were dark as raven feathers, his deep, pool-like pupils fixed on her. His face flickered between light and shadow in the dim lighting, the emotions hidden beneath impossible to discern.

For some reason, Shen Lai felt uneasy under his stare. She cleared her throat softly and took a step back to put some distance between them. “All done.”

At that moment, the overhead speaker timely announced, “Pei Jingyan is eliminated!”

“Team Little Red Riding Hood has been completely wiped out! Big Bad Wolf wins!”

Hearing the result, a happy smile spread across Shen Lai’s face. “I won!”

Seeing her delight, as if she were a child, a faint smile tugged at Pei Jingyan’s lips. “It’s just a game. Is it really worth being this happy?”

Shen Lai tilted her chin up slightly. “Of course! Director Miao said the winner gets a big reward.”

After the game ended, all the guests gathered at the forest entrance. Aside from Tong Miaoling, who had been tricked from the start and didn’t look too pleased, the other guests all wore congratulatory expressions.

Especially Bai Hansui, who showed no trace of resentment at being outplayed.

Shen Lai thought to herself, What a shame the Best Actress award wasn’t given to Bai Hansui.

Before long, Director Miao appeared with a small megaphone. “The ‘Little Red Riding Hood Adventure’ game has concluded! The winner is Big Bad Wolf, Shen Lai, who will receive the super grand prize prepared by our production team!”

Hearing this, everyone’s curiosity was piqued, all wondering what the grand prize could be.

And no one was more expectant than Shen Lai.

She was already fantasizing about piles of money raining down on her.

As Director Miao prepared to announce the prize, Shen Lai stared at him eagerly, chanting excitedly under her breath, “Money, money, money!”

“The winner will receive a specially prepared gift from the production team…” Director Miao smirked mischievously. “A luxurious dinner!”

Shen Lai: “???”

Her smile instantly collapsed, disbelief written all over her face. “A… luxurious dinner?”

“That’s right!” Director Miao said excitedly. “This dinner features a five-star menu worth 2,888 yuan!”

Shen Lai’s lips twitched.

She really wanted to ask if that 2,888-yuan dinner could be converted into cash instead.

She didn’t want food at all.

[Shen Lai’s disappointed expression is way too obvious, LOL.]

[Shen Lai: I thought it was some amazing prize, but it’s just this?]

[Shen Lai must be kicking herself. If she’d known the prize was like this, she might as well have rotted in the dirt!]

[Which winner has it worse than Shen Lai? She nearly gave birth trying to win this game, only to end up scammed in the end.]

[A luxurious dinner isn’t that bad, is it? Some of us can’t even afford to eat like that. Shen Lai, just suck it up… next time you’ll be just as unlucky!]

Director Miao continued, “Miss Shen may invite one guest present to join you for dinner, sharing a romantic moment together in the forest.”

For this kind of multiple-choice question, the obvious choice would undoubtedly be one’s partner, so none of the other guest pairs held much hope. They simply waited for Shen Lai to make her selection so they could wrap up early and get some rest.

Shen Lai instinctively glanced at Pei Jingyan, who was already looking at her. Catching her gaze, Pei Jingyan raised his brows slightly, as if waiting confidently for her to choose him.

Shen Lai averted her eyes almost immediately.

Her gaze swept over the faces of the group before she finally turned to Director Miao and announced, “The guest I choose is…”

“Wu Qi!”