Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 91

“Pei Jingyan?”

Hearing the name, Shen Lingzhen was taken aback. “That child from the Pei family?”

Shen Lai hesitated before nodding.

Shen Lingzhen frowned in confusion. “Why would he take the initiative to help our family?”

At this point, she could no longer keep it a secret. Her father would eventually find out about her marriage to Pei Jingyan, so it was better for her to come clean now.

“Dad, actually… I married Pei Jingyan.”

Shen Lingzhen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?”

Shen Lai looked uneasy. “You were in prison all this time, so I didn’t tell you.”

Having spent years navigating the business world, Shen Lingzhen was far more perceptive than Chang Suning. Connecting the dots with Shen Lai’s earlier mention of Pei Jingyan helping gather evidence, his expression suddenly turned serious. “LaiLai, be honest with me, did you marry him to save me?”

Shen Lai couldn’t help but laugh. Her father’s words were identical to her mother’s.

“Dad, no, really.”

While it was true that she had initially married Pei Jingyan for her mother’s medical expenses, her father’s situation had never been part of their agreement. Shen Lai had never expected Pei Jingyan to step in.

Truthfully, Pei Jingyan could have easily done nothing at all.

At that thought, Shen Lai’s heart swelled with warmth, a faint sweetness bubbling up inside her.

“Then why did you suddenly marry him?” Shen Lingzhen clearly didn’t buy her explanation, his tone laced with skepticism.

Left with no choice, Shen Lai confessed her pregnancy.

Teasingly, she added, “Dad, you’re going to be a grandfather.”

Shock washed over Shen Lingzhen’s face as he instinctively glanced at Shen Lai’s abdomen. “When did this happen?”

“Over three months ago.” Shen Lai offered a plausible excuse. “That’s why I married him.”

Shen Lingzhen never imagined that during his time in prison, his precious daughter had been “claimed” by Pei Jingyan.

To dispel her father’s doubts, Shen Lai recounted everything that had happened recently. Sure enough, hearing how Pei Jingyan had publicly defended her on the show softened Shen Lingzhen’s expression.

When they arrived at the hospital, Chang Suning burst into tears the moment she saw Shen Lingzhen.

Watching the scene from the side, Shen Lai quietly rubbed her eyes.

Just then, her phone rang, Pei Jingyan was calling.

Glancing at her parents embracing, Shen Lai slipped out of the ward to give them privacy and answered the call in a quiet corner.

The moment the call connected, a deep, magnetic voice came through. “Did you pick up your dad?”

Shen Lai hummed in affirmation. “I just brought him to the hospital. He’s catching up with Mom now.”

“Is that so?” Pei Jingyan’s voice lifted slightly at the end. “Then I’ll head over now.”

Shen Lai paused. “You’re coming?”

Pei Jingyan’s tone was playful. “The in-laws have to meet their son-in-law sooner or later, don’t they?”

Hearing him joke like that, Shen Lai’s ears tinged pink. “Don’t you have work?”

Pei Jingyan teased, “What’s more important than meeting the parents?”

With that, Shen Lai had no reason to refuse. Besides, it was only a matter of time before Pei Jingyan met her parents.

She coughed lightly. “Oh… alright, come then.”

After hanging up, Shen Lai stared at the call log. For some reason, the thought of Pei Jingyan meeting her parents made her inexplicably nervous.

Was she actually worried that her parents might not like Pei Jingyan?

Before long, Pei Jingyan arrived at the hospital. Today, he was dressed in formal attire, broad shoulders and long legs accentuated by the well-tailored suit, his tie perfectly straight, and his shoes impeccably polished. It was clear he had put in considerable effort.

“Dad, Mom,” Pei Jingyan greeted calmly.

Hearing this address, Shen Lai nearly choked on her own saliva, shooting a stunned look at Pei Jingyan.

He was being way too direct!

Shen Lingzhen and Chang Suning exchanged a glance, their expressions complicated.

Pei Jingyan, however, acted as if he hadn’t noticed. Turning to Shen Lingzhen, he spoke earnestly, “I should have gone with Shen Lai to pick you up this morning, but something urgent came up at the company, so I couldn’t make it.”

Shen Lingzhen replied, “That’s a minor matter. You’re managing such a large company, it’s fine that Lai Lai came to get me.”

Pei Jingyan smiled faintly.

Shen Lingzhen’s gaze shifted between the two of them, his tone turning more serious. “I heard you and Lai Lai are already married and even have a child?”

At this, Chang Suning also looked over.

Without hesitation, Pei Jingyan answered, “Yes.”

Shen Lingzhen frowned slightly. “You should know that our family’s circumstances are no match for yours now.”

Pei Jingyan remained composed. “I love Shen Lai. Her family’s situation has nothing to do with it.”

Even though she knew Pei Jingyan was only saying this to placate her parents, Shen Lai’s heart still skipped a beat.

Shen Lingzhen narrowed his eyes slightly. “And what about your parents? Can they accept this?”

Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow. “Whether they accept it or not won’t affect my decision to be with Shen Lai.”

Before Shen Lingzhen could respond, he added, “Because I have the ability to protect her.”

At this, Shen Lingzhen fixed his gaze intently on Pei Jingyan. Though the words sounded arrogant, one had to admit that Pei Jingyan had the credentials to back them up.

Everyone knew that Pei Jingyan had started assisting his father in managing subsidiary companies during university. Within just a year, he had turned one into a publicly listed company, a feat few in the business world could match, especially considering he was barely in his twenties at the time.

Pei Jingyan continued unhurriedly, “I understand your concerns, but since I’ve married Shen Lai, I won’t let her suffer even the slightest grievance.”

As he finished speaking, he looked at Shen Lai. Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, she almost lost herself in his gaze.

Yet deep down, she knew that once Pei Jingyan secured full inheritance rights, their relationship would come to an end.

For the rest of the visit, no matter what Shen Lai’s parents said, Pei Jingyan responded flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism.

Shen Lingzhen and Chang Suning had initially been uneasy, but after this conversation, their impression of Pei Jingyan shifted.

Once they left the hospital, Shen Lai let out a sigh of relief. “That scared me. I was really worried my parents wouldn’t accept you.”

Pei Jingyan smirked at her words. “Why are you so nervous about whether your parents like me or not?”

Shen Lai, as if her thoughts had been exposed, raised her voice defensively. “Who’s nervous? I don’t care at all! I was just worried I’d have to clean up your mess!”

A glint of amusement flashed in Pei Jingyan’s eyes, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he changed the subject. “By the way, I’ve already reclaimed your family’s villa. Your parents can move back in.”

Shen Lai froze. “Our villa?”

Pei Jingyan gave a faint hum of confirmation.

Shen Lai’s throat tightened. She had no idea about this, Pei Jingyan had never mentioned it to her.

“When did you buy back my family’s villa?”

Pei Jingyan replied nonchalantly, “Just a while ago.”

Shen Lai bit her lip. “It must have cost you a lot to get that house back. I don’t have the money to repay you.”

Pei Jingyan slid his hands into his pockets. “How much you’ve got, do you think I wouldn’t know?”

For some reason, Shen Lai felt a hint of disdain in his words.

Noticing her defiant expression, Pei Jingyan suddenly leaned in close, his breath brushing against her ear as his lowered voice carried a teasing temptation. “How about this, just like last time, Miss Shen can pay off the debt with a kiss.”