Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 52

Bai Hansui never expected Huo Chilin to react this way. She stood frozen in place, clutching her phone.

Although they had been in a cold war for the past two days, in the past, he would always forgive her the moment she showed weakness.

Bai Hansui’s voice trembled slightly, “But I can’t come up with that much compensation money right away…”

Huo Chilin’s tone was icy. “Who told you to frame Shen Lai?”

Shen Lai hadn’t planned to say anything at all, it was Bai Hansui who insisted on slandering her on the show, forcing Shen Lai to clarify.

Now, even he was being labeled a scumbag, with his Weibo flooded with curses targeting his ancestors.

The thought made Huo Chilin’s expression darken further.

Earlier that morning, his assistant had informed him that someone had beaten them to contacting Shen Lai’s old friends and that someone turned out to be Pei Jingyan.

Not long after, the clarifying posts swept across Weibo like wildfire, clearly backed by capital.

If Pei Jingyan was acting for the sake of his artist’s career, he could have just left it to the entertainment company to handle. Why would he personally intervene?

If anyone claimed there was nothing between them, Huo Chilin wouldn’t believe it even if he were beaten to death.

Bai Hansui’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “So, you’re just going to abandon me? Chilin, we’re a couple…”

Huo Chilin replied coldly, “Did you remember we were a couple when you threw me under the bus?”

Bai Hansui’s throat tightened as if something were lodged in it, leaving her speechless.

“Don’t forget, you were the one who seduced me first. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have broken up with Shen Lai.”

Already overwhelmed by the compensation issue, Bai Hansui gritted her teeth at his words. “You still like Shen Lai, don’t you?!”

Huo Chilin frowned, as if the secret buried deep in his heart had been exposed, making him defensive. “Don’t twist this back on me.”

“Then why are you angry because of her? I’m your girlfriend!”

Huo Chilin was stumped.

Bai Hansui was right, she was his girlfriend. But why did his heart ache at the thought of Shen Lai being close to Pei Jingyan?

Could it really be, as Shen Lai had said, that he still had lingering feelings for her?

His mind was a tangled mess, and his tone grew even more impatient. “In any case, clean up your own mess. I have things to do, we’ll talk later.”

With that, Huo Chilin hung up, ignoring Bai Hansui’s repeated calls.

Due to the sudden suspension and rectification of Rumors End on the Journey, the guests had to return to their homes and wait for further updates from the production team.

Wu Qi hugged Shen Lai tightly. “I didn’t expect we’d have to part so soon. I’m really going to miss you.”

Shen Lai patted her back with a smile. “We’ve already exchanged WeChat. Whenever you’re free, we can hang out.”

“And who knows? The show might resume soon, and we’ll see each other again.”

Wu Qi grinned. “I hope so.”

She returned to Yan Rui’s side, who nodded at Pei Jingyan before the two of them left.

The Shen family’s driver was already waiting at the entrance. Just as Pei Jingyan was about to get in the car, his phone rang.

Seeing the word “Mom” flashing on the screen, his brow twitched slightly.

He looked up at Shen Lai. “Get in first. I need to take this call.”

Shen Lai thought it was about company matters. She nodded and walked toward the parking area.

Watching Shen Lai’s retreating figure as she got into the car, Pei Jingyan stepped aside and answered the call. “Mom.”

The voice of a middle-aged woman came through the phone. “If I hadn’t called you, were you planning to never bring her home?”

Pei Jingyan smirked. “So eager to meet your daughter-in-law?”

“Cut the nonsense,” the woman snapped. “In any case, you must bring her back today. Your father is home too, so it’s the perfect time for us to meet her.”

Pei Jingyan glanced in Shen Lai’s direction, she was fastening her seatbelt and replied indifferently, “Understood.”

After ending the call, he pocketed his phone and was about to return to the car when a figure suddenly blocked his path.

Pei Jingyan looked up to see Huo Chilin standing before him, his expression grave.

Pei Jingyan remained unfazed. “What can I do for you, Young Master Huo?”

Huo Chilin stared at the flawlessly composed face before him and got straight to the point. “Have you liked Shen Lai all along?”

Pei Jingyan’s brow twitched slightly.

Huo Chilin clenched his jaw, his voice tight with suppressed emotion. “Everyone says you two are sworn rivals. I don’t believe it. If you really didn’t like Shen Lai, why would you marry her and even have a child with her?”

With Pei Jingyan’s means, if he hadn’t wanted the child, there were countless ways to handle it.

Not to mention, Pei Jingyan’s recent behavior didn’t seem like someone who despised Shen Lai at all.

Pei Jingyan suddenly smiled. “So what if I did?”

Huo Chilin froze. “What did you say?”

Pei Jingyan’s lips curled into a smirk as he enunciated each word clearly. “You’re right. I’ve had my eye on her for a long time.”

Huo Chilin’s face instantly darkened, his fists trembling with barely restrained fury. “So, you really did like Shen Lai all along!”

No wonder Pei Jingyan had consistently defended Shen Lai on the show, even stepping in immediately when Bai Hansui tried to smear her reputation.

Turns out, Pei Jingyan had been targeting Shen Lai from the start.

But since when?

When exactly had Pei Jingyan set his sights on Shen Lai?

As Huo Chilin’s expression wavered, Pei Jingyan took a step forward, leaning in to whisper in his ear, “If you hadn’t dumped her for someone richer, I wouldn’t have had the chance to make my move. In a way, I should thank you for delivering her right into my hands.”

The words struck like a sharp blade, piercing Huo Chilin’s heart without warning.

Pei Jingyan added leisurely, “Strictly speaking, you could be considered the matchmaker who tied our red string.”

Huo Chilin deflated like a punctured balloon, his arms hanging limply at his sides. Regret and anguish twisted into an indescribable pain in his chest.

He was the one who had pushed Shen Lai into Pei Jingyan’s arms.

It was him!

Pei Jingyan didn’t spare a glance at Huo Chilin’s devastated expression and turned to leave.

Back in the car, Shen Lai glanced through the window at Huo Chilin in the distance and asked, puzzled, “What did you two talk about?”

Pei Jingyan fastened his seatbelt unhurriedly, his expression unreadable. “Naturally, it was about your so-called plastic bestie.”

Shen Lai frowned. “Bai Hansui?”

But she quickly pieced it together. Bai Hansui had caused the show’s suspension and likely faced hefty breach-of-contract penalties. Huo Chilin’s conversation with Pei Jingyan was probably to plead on Bai Hansui’s behalf.

As for what was said, it didn’t take a genius to guess.

However, judging by Huo Chilin’s face, which looked even more sour than if he’d been dead for days, he must have been rejected.

Shen Lai belatedly realized something was off and asked in confusion, “Wait, that doesn’t make sense. I’m the victim here, why didn’t he come talk to me directly?”

Pei Jingyan shot her a sidelong glance. “What, disappointed you didn’t get to chat with your ex?”

Shen Lai huffed, “Who’s disappointed?”

She’d be thrilled if Huo Chilin never bothered her again.

Pei Jingyan leaned lazily against the seat. “He came to me because I’m your husband. Only by talking to me could he actually resolve the issue.”

Though Pei Jingyan had referred to himself as her “husband” several times now, Shen Lai still wasn’t used to it.

Still, he had a point. If Huo Chilin had approached her directly, given all the unpleasant history between them, he wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. But with Pei Jingyan, it was different, they had no bad blood, and Huo Chilin might have hoped Pei Jingyan would consider letting Bai Hansui off the hook.

Too bad for him. On paper, Pei Jingyan was her “husband,” and even if just to keep up appearances, he wouldn’t lift a finger to help Bai Hansui.

Soft, soothing music filled the car as sunlight streamed through the windows.

As they drove, Shen Lai suddenly noticed something odd, this didn’t seem like the way back to the villa.

Curious, she turned to Pei Jingyan. “Aren’t we going home?”

Pei Jingyan, eyes closed as he rested against the seat, replied calmly, “We’re going to my parents’ place.”