Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 69

With this tense voice coming through the headphones, Pei Jingyan saw Shen Lai on the shore staring at something behind him.

He turned around and saw Huo Chilin standing there.

Perhaps not expecting Pei Jingyan to suddenly notice him, Huo Chilin, in a desperate move, tried to push him.

What he didn’t know was that Pei Jingyan had already noticed him the moment he approached.

The instant Huo Chilin reached out, Pei Jingyan subtly sidestepped. Huo Chilin’s hand, swiping through empty air, caused him to lose balance and tumble forward.

The next second, Huo Chilin splashed into the water, face-first.

[??? What just happened? How did he suddenly fall?]

[Is Young Master Huo flat-footed? He didn’t fall earlier with the blindfold on, but now he’s taken a dive like this without anything covering his eyes.]

[Did no one notice that Huo Chilin seemed to be aiming for President Pei just now? And then he mysteriously fell.]

[I saw it too. I was wondering why he didn’t hurry back with the specimen and instead went toward President Pei.]

“Chilin, are you okay?”

Bai Hansui immediately rushed down from the shore upon seeing this.

After finally pulling Huo Chilin out of the river, he coughed uncontrollably, the plant specimen in his hand nowhere to be found.

Turning his head, he saw the specimen had already been swept away by the current.

Huo Chilin gritted his teeth and glared at Pei Jingyan. “Pei! Jing! Yan!”

Bai Hansui borrowed a towel from the staff to wipe Huo Chilin dry. She looked up at Pei Jingyan and couldn’t help but say, “President Pei, why did you push Chilin?”

Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow. “Which eye of yours saw me push him?”

Bai Hansui bit her lip. “Everyone just saw that Chilin fell when he came near you.”

Pei Jingyan countered, “So, did you see me lay a hand on him?”

Bai Hansui faltered, stammering, “Well…”

Pei Jingyan scoffed. “So, Miss Bai is implying I know some kind of internal martial arts that can make someone fall without even touching them.”

The crowd burst into laughter.

Bai Hansui looked flustered and muttered, “But it’s because you suddenly moved away that Chilin fell.”

Pei Jingyan said coolly, “So when he approaches me, I’m supposed to give him a princess carry? Should I also hand him first place while I’m at it?”

[Princess carry??? That mental image is too beautiful, I can’t even.]

[Can this sister please stop with the cringe-worthy remarks? I’m dying of secondhand embarrassment.]

[I never realized before how lacking Bai Hansui’s emotional intelligence is. How can she blame someone else for her own fall?]

[Now I finally understand why President Pei and Shen Lai can’t stand them. I wouldn’t be able to either.]

[Cheating couple, please just leave the show and go home. Stop assaulting my eyes!!!]

At that moment, Huo Chilin saw Shen Lai coming down from the shore. His eyes lit up slightly, forgetting even his drenched state.

So, Shen Lai still had some feelings for him after all. Seeing him hurt, she couldn’t help but come to check on him.

Just as Huo Chilin was about to speak, Shen Lai walked right past him without even a glance, heading straight for Pei Jingyan.

Huo Chilin stiffened, the light in his eyes extinguishing like a snuffed-out candle.

Shen Lai stopped beside Pei Jingyan and gave him a once-over. “Are you okay?”

Pei Jingyan’s voice carried a teasing lilt, “Are you worried about me?”

Shen Lai cleared her throat lightly, “I’m worried about my plant specimens.”

With that, she took the glass jar from Pei Jingyan’s hands and pretended to examine it closely.

Pei didn’t expose her clumsy acting, instead taking the opportunity to hold her hand. “You can look at it once we’re ashore, or someone else might snatch first place.”

Only then did Shen Lai remember that Pei hadn’t made it back to shore yet, their mission wasn’t officially complete. Ignoring the fact that he was holding her hand, she quickly tugged him along. “You’re right, let’s hurry. We can’t let Yan Rui play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”

Watching Shen Lai pull Pei Jingyan toward the shore, Huo Chilin felt as if a heavy stone had lodged itself in his chest, making it hard to breathe. When he noticed Bai Hansui holding his hand, he instinctively pulled away.

Bai Hansui froze, her smile wavering. “Chilin, it’s fine. You don’t have to worry about getting me wet.”

Huo Chilin said nothing, storming ashore with a dark expression.

Since Huo Chilin and Dai Jingxuan were eliminated midway and Yan Rui came in last, the Pei Shen team took first place.

Director Miao handed the prize to Shen Lai, a versatile pouch filled with medicines for various ailments.

Seeing Shen Lai’s delighted expression, Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

Shen Lai looked up earnestly. “President Pei, from now on, I’ll never say you’re useless again.”

[Pei: Just you wait, I’ll charm you to death.]

[Pei went all out just to make Shen Lai happy, I’m swooning!!]

[Pei could’ve gotten these things with a snap of his fingers, but he trekked through mountains and rivers just because Shen Lai wanted them. If this isn’t love, what is?]

[I’m tired of saying it, if your man can’t do this much, he doesn’t deserve the title of ‘husband.’]

Pei Jingyan scoffed lightly. “A little late to realize that, don’t you think?”

Shen Lai had no idea Pei Jingyan could actually win first place. Only now did she realize he wasn’t entirely without merits.

At the very least, he was handsome, wealthy, came from a good family, and seemed to know everything.

Compared to him, Huo Chilin wasn’t even in the same league.

The thought made her glance up at Pei Jingyan. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face. His features were strikingly handsome, with two shirt buttons undone, revealing smooth collarbones beneath his neck. His expression was relaxed yet aloof, exuding an air of effortless, aristocratic mischief.

Shen Lai’s heart inexplicably raced.

As if sensing her gaze, Pei suddenly turned to look at her. Flustered, she averted her eyes, pretending to admire the riverside scenery while the tips of her ears turned pink beneath her hair.

After the mission, the group settled by the river for lunch. Like the day before, they divided tasks, Shen Lai and Wu Qi were responsible for gathering ingredients nearby.

“I’ll go check for edible mushrooms over there,” Wu Qi said.

Shen Lai nodded. Since she couldn’t identify mushrooms, she stayed by the river to catch small fish for soup.

Just then, footsteps approached from behind. Assuming it was Wu Qi, Shen Lai called out without turning, “Find anything?”

When there was no response, she turned in confusion, only to meet Huo Chilin’s grim expression.

Shen Lai frowned.

Why won’t this guy leave me alone?

She stood to leave, but Huo suddenly spoke. “You’ve been played by Pei Jingyan!”

Shen Lai paused.

She slowly turned her head to look at Huo Chilin, her brows tightly furrowed. “What did you say?”

Huo Chilin clenched his fists and spoke word by word, “Pei Jingyan admitted it himself. He has liked you for a long time. Even marrying you was all part of his calculated plan from the start.”