Fake Pregnancy? Oops, It’s Real — and So Is the Husband - Chapter 96

Shen Lai abruptly stopped in her tracks.

Wasn’t this woman the one who had been photographed by the paparazzi with Pei Jingyan the other day?

The woman had a wild yet enchanting face, with features so captivating they could topple nations, far more striking than when Shen Lai had glimpsed her from afar that night.

Hearing footsteps at the staircase, Pei Jingyan looked up. Seeing Shen Lai standing there, he arched a brow. “Awake?”

Shen Lai snapped out of her daze and descended the steps. “Mhm.”

Pei Jingyan lounged lazily on the sofa. “No schedule today, right? Why not sleep a little longer?”

Shen Lai pursed her lips. “I’ve already slept for almost ten hours. Do you think I’m a pig?”

Her voice carried a hint of sleepy irritation, and Pei Jingyan’s lips curled into a knowing smile.

Just then, a woman’s voice interjected, “Jingyan, who is this?”

Noticing Yi Xingyu’s gaze shifting between them, Pei Jingyan wrapped an arm around Shen Lai’s waist and said casually, “This is my wife.”

Yi Xingyu’s expression stiffened for a split second before she quickly regained her composure. She extended a hand toward Shen Lai. “Hello, I’m Jingyan’s friend. My name is Yi Xingyu.”

Shen Lai glanced at Pei Jingyan before shaking Yi Xingyu’s hand. “Hello, I’m Shen Lai, Pei Jingyan’s… wife.”

At the word “wife,” a flicker of amusement flashed in Pei Jingyan’s eyes.

Yi Xingyu studied Shen Lai discreetly and smiled. “So you’re Jingyan’s wife. I’ve seen reports about you two online before.”

She was likely referring to the news about their marriage.

Shen Lai returned the smile.

“This is the friend I told you about, the one who just returned from abroad,” Pei Jingyan said calmly. “We attended the same university before.”

So that’s how it was.

No wonder they knew each other, Shen Lai thought.

Yi Xingyu chuckled lightly, as if joking. “You’ve mentioned me to your wife?”

Pei Jingyan replied nonchalantly, “Well, the internet’s been spreading nonsense about our relationship. I didn’t want my wife to misunderstand, so of course I had to explain.”

At this, Yi Xingyu’s smile faltered almost imperceptibly.

Just then, Butler Sun approached. “Mr. Pei, breakfast is ready.”

Pei Jingyan acknowledged with a hum and turned to Yi Xingyu. “Care to join us?”

Yi Xingyu gave Shen Lai a deep look before smiling faintly. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”

The dining room was filled with rich aromas, punctuated by the occasional clink of cutlery.

Then, out of nowhere, Yi Xingyu picked up a shrimp dumpling and placed it in Pei Jingyan’s bowl. “Jingyan, I remember you loved these.”

Shen Lai’s movements paused almost imperceptibly.

She looked up at Yi Xingyu, an odd feeling stirring in her chest.

What kind of person would casually serve food to someone else’s husband right in front of his wife?

Pei Jingyan, however, acted as if nothing had happened, his tone unchanged. “Since when did I like these?”

Seemingly caught off guard, Yi Xingyu hesitated. “Didn’t you enjoy them when you were abroad?”

Pei Jingyan raised a brow. “Exactly, when I was abroad. I don’t like them anymore.”

With that, he transferred the shrimp dumpling from his bowl to Shen Lai’s. “Isn’t this your favorite? Go ahead.”

When Shen Lai looked up at him in confusion, Pei Jingyan’s voice was laced with lazy amusement. “Have you forgotten how you fought me for Qinghui Zhai’s shrimp dumplings that year?”

That happened several years ago. Shen Lai heard about a place that served incredibly delicious shrimp dumplings, with only fifty portions available daily. She made a special trip there with a friend.

As luck would have it, she ran into Pei Jingyan, who had also come to buy afternoon tea.

And just their luck, there was only one basket of shrimp dumplings left. The two ended up arguing over it.

Shen Lai hadn’t expected Pei Jingyan to still remember this incident. The corner of her lips curled up in a barely noticeable smile. “That was ages ago. You really hold a grudge, don’t you?”

Pei Jingyan drew out his words lazily. “Can’t help it. Someone snatched that last basket right from under me.”

As he spoke, he gave Shen Lai a meaningful glance.

Shen Lai refused to take responsibility. “I got there first, fair and square.”

Pei Jingyan let out a low chuckle. “Right. Someone even bit my hand, the mark took weeks to fade.”

At that, Shen Lai felt a twinge of guilt. She avoided looking at him and took a bite of a shrimp dumpling, as if to cover her embarrassment. The sweetness spread in her mouth.

Pei Jingyan tapped his fingers lightly on the table. “How’s the taste?”

“Not bad,” Shen Lai said tactfully. “Though not as good as Qinghui Zhai’s.”

Pei Jingyan replied unhurriedly, “Then I’ll take you there next time.”

Come to think of it, Shen Lai hadn’t been to Qinghui Zhai in a long time. She missed the taste. “Sure, my treat,” she said generously.

Pei Jingyan teased, “You have money?”

Shen Lai huffed. “I’m a celebrity, you know? I can afford to treat you to a meal.”

Pei Jingyan smirked. “Is that so? Then I won’t hold back.”

Across the table, Yi Xingyu watched the exchange, her hands tightening unconsciously under the table.

“By the way, the hospital sent a reminder yesterday about your prenatal checkup,” Pei Jingyan said. “I’ll go with you later.”

Shen Lai couldn’t help asking, “Don’t you have work?”

Pei Jingyan replied nonchalantly, “Work isn’t as important as accompanying you to your checkup.”

Normally, Shen Lai would have refused outright. But with Yi Xingyu present today, she inexplicably didn’t want to. For once, she cooperated. “Alright.”

The moment she spoke, Yi Xingyu abruptly set down her fork, the clink against the plate ringing sharply.

Pei Jingyan and Shen Lai both looked up at her.

Yi Xingyu stood, her face expressionless. “I just remembered I have something to take care of. I won’t be joining you for breakfast.”

Pei Jingyan gave a slight nod, showing no intention of stopping her. “Then I’ll have Butler Sun see you out.”

Then he turned back to Shen Lai, tapping the table lightly. “Eat up, or we’ll be late for the hospital.”

Shen Lai frowned at his nagging. “I am eating.”

Yi Xingyu stood there as if she were invisible. Clutching her bag strap, she strode out of the villa.

Watching her leave, Shen Lai seemed thoughtful. She turned to Pei Jingyan. “Does she have feelings for you?”

Pei Jingyan continued eating leisurely. “Her feelings for me are her business. I don’t feel the same way.”

Hearing him state it so bluntly, Shen Lai’s heart felt wrapped in honey, sweet and warm.

After breakfast, Pei Jingyan accompanied Shen Lai to the hospital for her prenatal checkup, then went to visit Chang Suning.

Seeing the two arrive together, Chang Suning finally felt at ease.

She teased, “The other day when LaiLai came to the hospital alone to see me, she seemed distracted. I thought you two had a fight.”

Hearing this, Pei Jingyan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Shen Lai.

Shen Lai, slightly embarrassed, quickly replied, “Mom, I already told you we didn’t argue. You’re overthinking it.”

Chang Suning scoffed. “With the way you looked like you’d lost your soul, who could tell if you were having issues with Jingyan or not?”