Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 81

As soon as the words were spoken, Bai Hansui’s expression darkened predictably.

Huo Chilin stiffened. He wasn’t a fool—he could clearly sense the shift in Shen Lai’s attitude.

A surge of excitement flashed through him. If not for the presence of others around, he would have already blurted out the question burning in his mind: Had Shen Lai changed her mind?

Pei Jingyan took in Huo Chilin’s reaction with narrowed eyes, his gaze shifting to Shen Lai, dark and inscrutable.

Shen Lai simply pretended not to notice Pei Jingyan’s expression. After exchanging a few polite words with the group, she retreated to her tent.

“Huo Chilin?”

“What are you thinking about?”

Bai Hansui’s voice snapped Huo Chilin out of his thoughts. He blinked, meeting her puzzled gaze, and quickly composed himself. “It’s nothing,” he replied coolly.

Back in the tent, Huo Chilin was distracted, his phone screen lighting up and dimming repeatedly without ever being unlocked.

Even Bai Hansui noticed his unusual behavior. “Chilin, what’s wrong? You haven’t said a word since we got back.”

Huo Chilin finally pocketed his phone. “It’s nothing. I’m going for a walk.”

Before Bai Hansui could ask where he was going, he had already stood up and left the tent.

Watching his retreating figure, Bai Hansui couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Huo Chilin tonight, especially after Shen Lai’s return. He hadn’t even glanced her way.

Recalling what had happened earlier on the beach, Bai Hansui bit her lip. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to follow him.

The night was deep, and the beach was silent. Shen Lai had just finished showering in the makeshift outdoor stall when a shadow suddenly fell over her.

She looked up to find Huo Chilin standing before her.

Seeing him, she didn’t seem surprised. “Something you need?”

Huo Chilin’s throat bobbed slightly. Shen Lai had just come out of the shower, her hair damp, droplets trickling down the ends. The faint scent of her body wash lingered in the air, and her skin, flushed from the heat, looked as smooth as a peeled egg.

When he didn’t respond immediately, Shen Lai frowned and looked up at him. Huo Chilin snapped out of his daze and feigned composure. “Why did you leave the hospital so soon? Are you fully recovered?”

Shen Lai gave a small hum. “I’m fine now.”

Huo Chilin offered an explanation. “I wanted to visit you, but I was worried about causing trouble if someone took photos, so I didn’t go.”

He had braced himself for Shen Lai’s usual sarcasm, but this time, she merely glanced at him and said nothing.

Huo Chilin could sense that Shen Lai wasn’t as distant as before. Though he didn’t know the reason, at the very least, it meant she didn’t despise him as much anymore.

His gaze lingered on her face, still slightly pale. He frowned. “Why didn’t you rest a few more days? You’re pregnant, and you had food poisoning. There was no need to rush back.”

Hearing the concern in his voice, Shen Lai felt a flicker of emotion. She replied nonchalantly, “If I didn’t come back, who would pay the breach-of-contract penalty for me?”

Huo Chilin’s brows furrowed. “Are you saying Pei Jingyan can’t even afford that?”

Shen Lai forced a lighthearted tone. “You’re the one who said he married me just to torment me. Why would he pay my penalty?”

Huo Chilin couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Lai seemed different tonight. A thought crossed his mind, had they argued while she was in the hospital?

“What’s wrong? Did Pei Jingyan do something to you?”

Shen Lai pressed her lips together, deliberately putting on a troubled expression.

Seeing this, Huo Chilin’s voice darkened. “Did Pei Jingyan bully you?”

When Shen Lai remained silent, Huo Chilin clenched his fists. “I told you before, he’s not sincere with you. I’m the one who truly loves you.”

Shen Lai turned her head away. “It’s none of your business.”

Huo Chilin grabbed her wrist. “At the very least, I’m your ex-boyfriend. It’s only natural for me to help you when you’re in trouble.”

Shen Lai scoffed. “Ex-boyfriend? If you hadn’t cheated on me with Bai Hansui back then, I wouldn’t have gone through all those things afterward. And now you’re pretending to care?”

Huo Chilin’s jaw tightened. He already felt guilty for abandoning Shen Lai in the past, and on top of that, he had concealed Bai Hansui’s scheme of drugging her. The weight of his remorse pressed heavily on him. He exhaled sharply. “I was wrong back then. I can make it up to you.”

Shen Lai looked at him as if she’d heard a joke. “How exactly are you going to make it up to me? Break up with Bai Hansui? Get back together with me?”

Sure enough, Huo Chilin fell silent.

Shen Lai sneered. “Huo Chilin, you’re all talk. You say you want to get back together, but you haven’t even settled things with Bai Hansui yet.”

She forcefully pulled her wrist free and turned to leave. Watching her retreating figure, Huo Chilin felt as if his heart had been violently yanked. Without thinking, he blurted out, “I can make her get rid of the baby!”

Shen Lai stopped in her tracks. At the same time, the rustling of leaves came from the woods behind her.

Without showing any reaction, Shen Lai glanced toward the woods before turning her gaze back to Huo Chilin’s face. She raised an eyebrow. “Get rid of it?”

Huo Chilin had already planned to break up with Bai Hansui. If not for her sudden pregnancy, he would have reconciled with Shen Lai by now.

He took a step forward. “As long as you break up with Pei Jingyan, I’ll treat the child in your belly as my own.”

Shen Lai’s eyes curved slightly. “Does Bai Hansui know you want her to abort the baby?”

Huo Chilin’s expression turned grave. “I’ll find the right time to talk to her properly.”

Shen Lai replied indifferently, “In that case, come talk to me after you’ve settled it.”

Watching Shen Lai walk away, Huo Chilin seemed to have made up his mind and turned to leave.

Not long after Huo Chilin was gone, a figure emerged from the woods.

Bai Hansui’s fingertips were white from how hard she had been gripping the tree bark, nearly digging into the trunk.

She never expected that following Huo Chilin here would lead her to overhear such words.

To be with Shen Lai, Huo Chilin actually wanted her to abort the baby!

Bai Hansui lowered her gaze to her flat stomach, a venomous glint flashing in her eyes.

It seemed her plan needed to be moved up.

Shen Lai returned to the tent. As she unzipped the entrance, she found it pitch black inside.

Had Pei Jingyan gone to bed already?

Just as she was wondering, a hand suddenly reached out from inside and yanked her in.

Before she could react, the world spun around her. When her vision finally steadied, she was met with Pei Jingyan’s icy expression.

Her racing heart only calmed the moment she saw him. She let out a sigh of relief and snapped, “Are you trying to scare someone to death?”

Pei Jingyan’s expression flickered between light and shadow, his voice icy. “So, the great Miss Shen’s solution is to seduce her ex-boyfriend?”