Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 42

While Pei Jingyan and Shen Lai were peacefully asleep in a relaxed atmosphere, Bai Hansui’s side was in complete chaos.

The two had returned earlier and gotten into a huge argument. Bai Hansui had questioned Huo Chilin about why he still kept their couple photos in his phone, to which Huo Chilin simply replied that he had forgotten to delete them.

But such an excuse couldn’t fool Bai Hansui.

Why was it specifically the photos of him and Shen Lai from when they had just started dating that he “forgot” to delete?

Seeing Bai Hansui pressing further, Huo Chilin grew irritated. “What are you implying? Do you think I still have feelings for her?”

Bai Hansui also flared up. “Don’t you?”

Huo Chilin frowned, only to hear Bai Hansui continue, “Before, when you saw her with President Pei, didn’t you go out of your way to cause trouble for them? Do you really think I didn’t notice?”

The emotions she had been suppressing all this time had snowballed, and now they finally found an outlet to erupt.

For the first time, Huo Chilin found Bai Hansui utterly annoying, Shen Lai had never interrogated him like this before.

His tone turned sharp. “Weren’t you already aware that we were together before? Why are you acting so dramatic now?”

“How is that the same?” Bai Hansui’s voice was laced with humiliation and anger. “I’m your girlfriend now, not her! Why do you still keep her photos in your phone?!”

Huo Chilin had never found Bai Hansui so unbearable before. Shen Lai had never bothered him with such meaningless questions.

“I already told you I forgot to delete them. How many times do I have to repeat myself?” Huo Chilin sounded impatient. “You’re too worked up right now. Calm down first, and we’ll talk when you’ve settled.”

With that, Huo Chilin stormed out, slamming the door so hard it shook the walls.

Bai Hansui watched his retreating figure, her chest heaving violently. Just then, her phone rang from her pocket.

It was her manager, calling to ask about what had happened on the show.

Bai Hansui gripped her phone silently, saying nothing.

Her manager could already guess the situation from her reaction. If Shen Lai dared to show their chat logs, it meant they had definitely been in a relationship.

As for Bai Hansui, who had been Shen Lai’s “best friend” at the time, claiming she didn’t know they were dating would be too unbelievable.

The manager said, “The internet is flooded with demands for you to leave the industry. The company’s stance is to do damage control as much as possible. Otherwise, if the show’s producers decide to cut you over fears of affecting ratings, it’ll be a disaster.”

Bai Hansui pressed her lips together. “What does the company plan to do?”

“At this point, the fact that Young Master Huo and Shen Lai were together is undeniable. Denying it will only make the audience more resentful. So, your only option is to clarify that you didn’t know about their relationship, distance yourself from the situation, and try to win the audience’s sympathy.”

Bai Hansui’s expression shifted slightly. “You’re saying I should push Chilin out as a scapegoat?”

“What else can we do?” Her manager’s tone hardened. “Young Master Huo isn’t in the entertainment industry—getting criticized won’t affect him. But you? Do you still want a career or not?”

Bai Hansui was left speechless.

The agent sighed, “This is the only way. If you admit to deliberately getting involved, your reputation will be ruined. But if you claim you were also deceived into being the ‘other woman,’ at least you can save yourself. I believe Mr. Huo will understand.”

“Besides, if Mr. Huo hadn’t kept Shen Lai’s photos in his phone, would things have escalated this far?”

The mention of Huo Chilin’s phone made Bai Hansui think of that photo of him and Shen Lai—a picture so intimate that even she had never taken one like that with Huo Chilin. Her expression darkened instantly.

If Huo Chilin really didn’t like Shen Lai anymore, why would he keep their photo together?

Clearly, he still hadn’t let go of her.

Clenching her phone tightly, Bai Hansui gritted out, “I understand. Let’s do as the company says.”

After a few more instructions from the agent, the call ended.

Bai Hansui lowered her head, staring at her pale reflection on the screen. Then, recalling Shen Lai’s words outside the restroom earlier, her fingers whitened from gripping the phone too hard.

Meanwhile, Huo Chilin was smoking in the stairwell.

He gazed at the photo of him and Shen Lai on his phone, lost in thought.

Back then, he didn’t know why, but he had deleted all of Shen Lai’s photos, except this one. He just couldn’t bring himself to part with it.

Just then, Weibo pushed a trending topic to Huo Chilin. He instinctively meant to scroll past but caught sight of two familiar names.

Almost as if compelled, he tapped on the post.

The hashtag #BumpedIntoShenLaiAndPeiJingyan# jumped out at him.

Huo Chilin’s brow twitched. He clicked into the trending topic. Five minutes ago, a user named [SharkNoWink] had posted:

“Just ran into Shen Lai and CEO Pei at a restaurant! They’re both insanely gorgeous and so down-to-earth. Got their autographs and a photo!”

Below the post was an attached picture, the setting clearly a restaurant, with Shen Lai and Pei Jingyan sitting across from each other. The warm, dim lighting cast a cozy and harmonious glow over their faces.

[Commenter1: “Are they really as close as they seem on camera?”]
[SharkNoWink: “100% real! Shen Lai ordered everything, and I overheard CEO Pei telling the manager to keep the dishes light because Shen Lai is pregnant. So thoughtful!”]
[Commenter2: “Could they just be putting on a show for you?”]
[SharkNoWink: “For the record, they had no idea they were being photographed. No way it was staged!”]
[Commenter3: “Are they really that good-looking in person?”]
[SharkNoWink: “Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone so stunning, especially Shen Lai. She’s nothing like the rumors, super sweet. Officially a fan from today!”]

The comments were flooded with praise for the couple. Seeing Shen Lai’s faint smile as she looked at Pei Jingyan in the photo, Huo Chilin’s hand suddenly felt as if it had been squeezed by lemon juice achingly sour.

He exited Weibo and checked the messages he’d sent Shen Lai earlier that night. Still no reply.

When he tried calling again, the number was blocked.

Huo Chilin’s face darkened instantly.

Shen Lai was completely unaware of this. She slept soundly through the night and, upon waking, found herself as expected, nestled in Pei Jingyan’s arms once more.

And this time, it was even more exaggerated than the previous two days. She clung to him like an octopus, limbs tangled around his body.