Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 33

[Wait, Shen Lai, why aren’t you following the script????]

[Did anyone else catch the fleeting look of anticipation on CEO Pei’s face just now? The slap of reality came hard and fast.]

[CEO Pei: My wife didn’t choose me, wuwuwu.]

[If we’re talking about playing hard to get, Shen Lai is on another level. I’m taking notes frame by frame!]

This turn of events left not only the live audience in shock but also the on-site guests stunned.

Wu Qi, in particular, pointed at herself in surprise. “Me?”

Shen Lai nodded. “Weren’t you complaining about a stomachache this morning? Going this long without eating must be tough. Let’s have dinner together.”

Wu Qi gave an awkward smile and glanced at Pei Jingyan.

Pei Jingyan’s lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, his deep, unfathomable gaze fixed on Shen Lai, his thoughts unreadable.

Shen Lai pretended not to notice and simply smiled at Wu Qi.

Sensing the tension in the air, Director Miao cautiously asked, “Miss Shen, are you sure you want to choose Wu Qi?”

Without hesitation, Shen Lai replied, “I’m sure.”

Director Miao forced a chuckle. “In that case, please move to the side. A luxurious dinner has been prepared for you there.”

The other guests were free to return and rest.

Pei Jingyan walked unhurriedly to Shen Lai’s side. Suddenly, he stopped, leaned in close, and whispered in a voice only she could hear, “Miss Shen, is this how you repay me after I helped you?”

Shen Lai shot him a sidelong glance and scoffed. “I called you ‘husband’ earlier. It’s not like you’re at a loss.”

The corners of Pei Jingyan’s lips twitched upward at the memory of her coquettish “husband.” He said nothing more and strode away.

Watching Pei Jingyan’s retreating figure, Shen Lai exhaled quietly in relief. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have dinner with him… it was just that a private candlelit dinner between the two of them would have been too awkward.

The two women arrived at a stone table specially prepared by the production team, laden with an array of gourmet dishes.

“Wow, so much food!”

Wu Qi marveled, then looked at Shen Lai curiously. “But with such a lavish spread, why didn’t you invite CEO Pei to join you?”

Shen Lai couldn’t very well say they were sworn rivals and that sharing a candlelit dinner would be bizarre. As she hesitated over how to respond, Wu Qi added, “Could it be… you were too shy?”

Shen Lai blinked, meeting Wu Qi’s teasing gaze. “Shy?”

Wu Qi grinned. “We all saw it during the livestream. In the final challenge, CEO Pei made you beg him before giving you the sticker. Didn’t you call him ‘husband’ then?”

The sudden mention of that incident sent heat rushing to Shen Lai’s face, her ears tinged pink.

She’d had no choice but to do that!

But Shen Lai couldn’t explain the truth. Being misunderstood as shy was still better than having their fake marriage exposed.

She forced a stiff smile and brushed off the question.

However, Wu Qi’s remark reminded Shen Lai of something: Pei Jingyan hadn’t seemed the least bit surprised to learn she was the Big Bad Wolf.

Nor had he asked why she’d kept it from him.

Logically, Pei Jingyan should have at least questioned her. Yet not only had he said nothing, he’d even generously allowed her to place the sticker on him.

Had Pei Jingyan already guessed she was the Big Bad Wolf?

But Shen Lai quickly dismissed the thought. If Pei Jingyan had known from the start, she would’ve been exposed back in the second challenge.

After having dinner with Wu Qi, the two parted ways at the villa’s entrance. Shen Lai returned to the top floor, pushed open the door, and immediately locked eyes with Pei Jingyan, who had just stepped out of the bathroom.

Pei Jingyan looked freshly showered, water droplets trickling down from the hair on his forehead. His loosely tied robe exposed a broad, toned chest, the damp trail leading downward and disappearing into suggestive territory.

Shen Lai quickly averted her gaze and cleared her throat. “Uh… I brought you some food.”

Pei Jingyan glanced at the plastic bag in her hand, lazily drying his hair with a towel. “Miss Shen, do you take me for a garbage collector?”

Shen Lai immediately retorted, “This is untouched!”

Pei Jingyan smirked ambiguously and sat on the edge of the bed. “Didn’t you choose Wu Qi to have dinner with? Why bother about whether I live or die?”

Her expression stiffened slightly. “Consider it thanks for letting me use the sticker.”

After all, Pei Jingyan had helped her, otherwise, she wouldn’t have enjoyed such a delicious meal tonight.

Pei Jingyan lifted his gaze to her. “Slap me first, then offer a sweet date… you’re quite skilled at that.”

“Are you eating or not?” Shen Lai’s temper flared. She’d gone out of her way to bring him food, and here he was, being sarcastic. Annoyed, she added, “If you don’t want it, I’ll throw it away.”

Pei Jingyan set the towel aside and nodded toward the bag. “What did you bring me?”

Her expression softened slightly as she opened the bag to show him. “There’s Wensi tofu, Dongpo pork, Peking duck, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and shredded pork with garlic sauce.”

Pei Jingyan chuckled. “I don’t eat spicy food, tofu, duck skin, or fatty meat. Out of five dishes, four are things I dislike. Miss Shen, are you trying to feed me or starve me?”

Shen Lai paused. How was she supposed to know he had so many dietary restrictions? She hesitated, eyeing the food. “Should I just toss it, then?”

Before she could finish, Pei Jingyan reached out and took the bag from her. “Never mind. I’ll make do.”

His words made her feel a twinge of guilt. She should’ve asked what he liked beforehand.

Casually, she said, “I’ll remember next time.”

Pei Jingyan studied her deeply. “Why would you bother remembering what I like or dislike?”

Shen Lai froze, caught off guard by the question.

Maybe it was because Pei Jingyan seemed to know her well, while she knew nothing about him, that’s why she’d said it.

She swallowed. “It’s just to avoid slipping up on the show. Otherwise, the audience will notice.”

With that, she tossed out a quick “I’m going to shower,” grabbed her clothes, and hurried into the bathroom.

Watching her retreating figure, Pei Jingyan turned his attention to the food in front of him, the corners of his lips curling imperceptibly.

As Shen Lai undressed and prepared to shower, she accidentally spotted Pei Jingyan’s clothes in the laundry hamper.

Just as she was about to look away, she noticed a crumpled white corner peeking out from the pocket of his suit jacket.

What was that?

She pulled it out, along with a fountain pen that tumbled out with it.

Pausing, she first glanced at the floor, then back at the slip of paper in her hand.

But when she saw its contents, she froze.

Wasn’t this the clue about the Big Bad Wolf that the show’s production team had provided?

Why was it in Pei Jingyan’s pocket?

Moreover, the content here was completely different from what Pei Jingyan had just picked up. This one read: The Big Bad Wolf has a small red mole on the tip of her nose.

And Shen Lai happened to have a small red mole on the tip of her nose.

She had initially thought the note Pei Jingyan found was just a red herring planted by the production team, so she hadn’t paid it any mind.

But now it seemed that note hadn’t been placed by the production team at all… had Pei Jingyan been the one behind it?

Had he secretly swapped out the clue?