Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 47

The situation had completely spiraled beyond Bai Hansui’s expectations. As she watched the surrounding crowd point fingers at her, her face was overtaken by sheer panic and helplessness. “This lie detector must be broken!” she blurted out in explanation.

When no one responded, she turned to Huo Chilin, desperation in her eyes. “Chilin, tell them, when we started dating, I didn’t know anything, right?”

Her only hope now rested on Huo Chilin.

If he denied it, there might still be room to salvage the situation.

But Huo Chilin, already displeased that Bai Hansui had tried to pin the blame on him, remained silent.

His reaction only solidified the live audience’s belief that Bai Hansui had known all along, contrary to her public statement claiming she had been unknowingly made the “other woman.”

[Is Huo Chilin’s silence basically an admission?]

[No wonder they seemed off this morning. They must’ve fought over that statement. Bai Hansui knew the truth but pushed all the blame onto Huo Chilin, no wonder he’s pissed.]

[If I were Huo Chilin, I’d be mad too. Neither of them is innocent, so why should he take the fall alone?]

[Exactly. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he defend her?]

[Damn, I actually thought Bai Hansui was a victim. I feel so stupid for sympathizing with her!]

Shen Lai was surprised by Huo Chilin’s silence.

She had expected him to stand up for Bai Hansui no matter what.

Within moments, hashtags about Bai Hansui’s affair flooded the trending list, even stray dogs passing by would’ve stopped to take a look.

Director Miao, watching the skyrocketing viewer count, was practically giddy with joy.

Pei Jingyan and Shen Lai, this couple was his golden ticket!

Inviting them to the show had been the best decision ever!

Bai Hansui’s reputation took a nosedive. Comments that had once praised her were now flooded with accusations, calling her morally bankrupt and labeling her a perfect match for Huo Chilin.

Then, someone in the crowd muttered, “Bai Hansui looks like she’s crying.”

Everyone turned to look, sure enough, Bai Hansui’s eyes were red, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.

“I admit it,” she choked out, voice trembling. “I deliberately interfered in their relationship.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

[Holy shit, she actually confessed!]

[So Bai Hansui really is a snake, knowingly breaking them up while pretending to be innocent!]

[How can she even say that out loud? I’d want to dig a hole and bury myself if I were her.]

But then Bai Hansui spoke again, her voice so broken it tugged at heartstrings. “But I didn’t want to do it. Shen Lai bullied me relentlessly, I wasn’t thinking straight. That’s why I did it.”

“I shouldn’t have tried to get back at her by stealing her boyfriend. It’s all my fault.”

Her words were pitiful, tears cascading down her face and splattering onto the floor.

It was like a boulder crashing into still waters, instantly stirring up a massive wave.

[What kind of plot twist is this?! Shen Lai was the bully?!]

[Now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard rumors about this, that Shen Lai treated Bai Hansui like a servant until Bai Hansui couldn’t take it anymore and cut ties?]

[If that’s true, then it makes sense. I wouldn’t let Shen Lai off easy either.]

Bai Hansui’s fans, who had been lying low out of guilt, suddenly revived upon hearing their idol’s sob story.

[I knew our Suisui wouldn’t do something like this! It’s all because of that bitch Shen Lai!]

[The wheel of justice turns, and heaven spares no one. Shen Bitch is reaping what she sowed!]

[You can check Suisui’s Weibo from a year ago. The photos she posted back then were of her carrying bags for Shen Lai. What kind of good friend treats someone like a servant?]

Fans quickly dug up old photos of the two together. Through subtle clues, netizens noticed that most of the time, Bai Hansui was the one holding things for Shen Lai. Moreover, Bai Hansui’s posts always mentioned that the places they visited were Shen Lai’s favorites.

This only reinforced the belief in Bai Hansui’s claims.

Within half a day, the hashtag #ShenLaiBullying shot to the top of the trending list.

Shen Lai stared coldly at Bai Hansui.

So, Bai Hansui had been laying the groundwork this whole time, just to cement the narrative that Shen Lai had been bullying her all along.

Due to the bullying controversy, the show was forced to pause yet again.

Director Miao was on the verge of losing it.

One day on air, the next day suspended, was this show even going to happen at this rate?

However, Wu Qi and Dai Jingxuan inadvertently benefited from the chaos, as they managed to skip this round of the game.

After the broadcast ended, Wu Qi approached Shen Lai and suddenly said, “I believe you.”

Shen Lai paused, turning to Wu Qi with curiosity. “Why?”

At a time like this, the other guests were practically scrambling to distance themselves from her. Yet here was Wu Qi, openly declaring her trust.

Wu Qi rubbed her chin. “Maybe because I think someone who’d give up their breakfast for others can’t be a bad person.”

Then she added, “Besides, I overheard what you and Bai Hansui said outside the restroom that day.”

Wu Qi had been heading to the restroom when she stumbled upon their conversation. She hadn’t interrupted, never expecting to catch such a revealing exchange.

Shen Lai sighed. “Even if you believe me, the audience won’t.”

Wu Qi patted Shen Lai’s shoulder, then tilted her chin toward the front. “You could ask President Pei for help.”

Shen Lai followed her gaze to where Pei Jingyan was on a phone call, hesitating. “Ask Pei Jingyan?”

Wu Qi smirked mysteriously. “President Pei has power and influence. He’ll definitely find a way to help you.”

Shen Lai suddenly understood. Given Pei Jingyan’s status, it would be effortless for him to find someone to vouch that she hadn’t bullied Bai Hansui.

The only problem was, why would Pei Jingyan ever be that kind?

He was probably enjoying watching her suffer.

After Wu Qi left with a few more words of advice, Shen Lai approached Pei Jingyan just as he finished his call.

She cleared her throat. “Um…”

Pei Jingyan turned his head slightly, glancing at her sidelong.

Shen Lai awkwardly continued, “Could you… find someone to testify that I didn’t bully Bai Hansui?”

Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow. “Find someone? Why don’t you do it yourself?”

Shen Lai’s expression stiffened. “After my family went bankrupt, everyone in our circle cut ties with me. Even if I reached out, they’d ignore me.”

Pei Jingyan lazily slipped his hands into his pockets; his tone laced with amusement. “So, you want me to step in?”

Shen Lai nodded.

In the past, she would never have begged Pei Jingyan for help. But this time, she had no choice. If she didn’t clear her name, the label of “bully” would haunt her forever effectively ending her career in the entertainment industry.

Pei Jingyan’s voice was indifferent. “And my reason for helping?”

Shen Lai swallowed. “We’re married. They say husband and wife are one, shared glory, shared downfall, right?”

Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow, mercilessly exposing her, “Seems like the only one being insulted, is you? I don’t mix in the entertainment industry.”

Shen Lai was momentarily speechless.

She lifted her chin defiantly and retorted, “But everyone knows I’m your wife. If my image is bad, it won’t reflect well on the reputation of the Shen family or Shen Corporation either.”

As if worried Pei Jingyan might refuse, she quickly added, “Besides, you haven’t secured the heir position yet. If your grandfather finds out the wife you married has such a terrible reputation, he might just decide not to pass the inheritance to you.”

Pei Jingyan narrowed his eyes slightly. Suddenly, he leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against Shen Lai’s sensitive ear. “Miss Shen, are you threatening me?”

His strikingly handsome face abruptly filled her vision, making Shen Lai swallow hard. She instinctively leaned back, her gaze flickering nervously. “I’m just giving you a friendly reminder. You wouldn’t want anything to go wrong at this critical juncture, would you?”

Pei Jingyan’s eyes lingered on her face, deep and fathomless like the endless night outside. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, his voice carrying a dangerously low allure, “If I help you, how do you plan to repay your husband?”