After one night, Shen Xingyi had already obtained almost complete information about Xu Xiu.
Naturally, he also knew that after being diagnosed with pregnancy, she had gone abroad.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Xu Xiu, who was eating with great relish.
At this moment, she had already moved on from pan-fried dumplings to wontons.
The wonton soup was filled with chili oil, a vivid red floating across the surface.
She scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it lightly, and brought it to her lips. Soon, a bright red stain spread across them.
The spicy, savory burst of flavor made her visibly satisfied.
Her skin was already fair; now, after eating spicy food, her cheeks were tinged with a soft pink.
Shen Xingyi usually ate very lightly. Everything on this table was unfamiliar to him.
Perhaps because Xu Xiu looked so content, he even felt a faint urge to try it himself.
His gaze unconsciously fell on her lips.
Their moist red sheen kept drawing his attention.
Some memories he had deliberately buried began to surface again.
That night.
When he realized what he was thinking, he abruptly lowered his eyes and picked up the glass of water beside him, drinking slowly to calm himself.
The strange restlessness in his chest gradually subsided.
He cleared his throat and spoke on business.
“About Xu Zhirang, what are your plans?”
Over the past three years, she had been the one raising the child. If he directly took the child back, it would likely cause her dissatisfaction.
But he would definitely take the child back.
He was born at the very top of the social hierarchy—there was no reason his son should live here in such modest conditions.
However, since Xu Xiu had come to him, she must already have some expectations.
In business, Shen Xingyi had never lost a negotiation.
So in this negotiation involving his biological son, he was confident of victory.
Moreover, he had already decided: as long as her demands were not excessive, he would agree.
After hearing him, Xu Xiu wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue.
“The child is both yours and mine. I brought him to you because I hope he can be properly raised and nurtured by you.”
At her current stage, she truly did not have the ability to give him a better life.
“But…” she paused.
Shen Xingyi’s eyes shifted slightly.
Here it came.
Her conditions.
Under his gaze, Xu Xiu picked up another dumpling.
“But every week, he has to stay with me for two days. We’ll also keep in touch by phone or video, and you’re not allowed to interfere. Also, any major matters concerning the child must be discussed with me.”
After she finished speaking, she continued eating, not even looking at him.
Shen Xingyi waited a few seconds, then frowned slightly.
“That’s it?”
“For now. I’ll add more if I think of anything later.”
She spoke casually, still not looking at him.
Shen Xingyi’s gaze deepened.
If she had demanded a large sum of money, he would have felt more at ease.
Instead, her apparent lack of demands made him more suspicious.
Perhaps her intentions were far greater than they seemed.
Since they had reached this point, he decided to ask directly.
“When you left the country after discovering your pregnancy, had you already planned for today?”
Was everything from the beginning part of her plan?
Plan the encounter. Plan the pregnancy. Plan to leave. Then plan to return with the child.
Thinking of this, his eyes grew colder.
In fact, his suspicion was already very close to the original Shen Xingyi’s thinking.
Xu Xiu swallowed a wonton and hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest.
“I admit, I went abroad after finding out I was pregnant because I wanted to avoid you.”
Shen Xingyi looked up sharply, clearly surprised by her frankness.
She continued:
“I was afraid you wouldn’t accept the child, so I left. As for whether I planned for today…”
She paused again.
“I did think about coming back and asking you to take responsibility. I also thought about staying abroad and raising him myself. But I ultimately decided to return because I can’t currently give him a better life.”
She mixed her own thoughts with those of the original host and told him everything.
As for how he interpreted her, that was his business.
His opinion didn’t matter to her.
Her words made Shen Xingyi fall into thought.
Today’s negotiation had completely deviated from what he had expected.
Finally, he only said:
“If you need money…”
“I’ll earn my own money.”
It wasn’t pride or stubbornness—she genuinely believed she could make it on her own eventually.
So there was no need to owe the male lead anything.
Shen Xingyi raised a brow slightly, suddenly recalling the assistant’s report about the online situation.
He had originally intended to help resolve it as well, but she had refused outright:
“No need. I’ve already handled it. Don’t worry—it won’t affect you.”
A flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
His people had already discovered there was manipulation behind the online backlash, as if someone was deliberately targeting her.
If left unchecked, it would eventually spill into her real life.
Her confidence intrigued him.
Xu Xiu calmly wiped her hands and prepared to see him out.
She walked to the bedroom door, opened it suddenly, and saw the little boy sitting obediently at his desk. She smiled in satisfaction.
“Finished eating? Pack your little schoolbag and go with Dad.”
Last night, after a long conversation, Xu Zhirang had agreed to stay with his father for a few days.
Hearing her words, he put on his backpack, hugged his stuffed toy, and slowly walked out.
“Mom, don’t forget to draw the big tiger on the weekend.”
That was the reward for not eavesdropping.
“Alright. If anything happens, call Mom anytime.”
Reluctant to leave, the little boy lingered. If left alone, he might have dragged things out until evening, so she personally escorted them to the door.
“Bye.”
She waved, and the security door closed without hesitation.
Xu Zhirang let out a breath and turned to look at his unfamiliar father.
Shen Xingyi’s expression was also slightly strange.
He had been kicked out.
Looking down at the little boy who seemed to share his misfortune, he coughed lightly.
“Let’s go.”
Just as he was hesitating whether to take the child’s hand, the boy had already gone downstairs on his own.
He had no choice but to follow.
On the way back in the car, the assistant immediately said he had something to report.
Noticing his glance at the child, Shen Xingyi waved it off.
“Speak.”
The assistant reported truthfully.
The online situation surrounding the airplane incident had suddenly reversed within hours.
A more complete video had surfaced.
From all angles, the truth was now obvious.
The incident had flipped entirely.
It turned out that Xu Xiu and her son had been standing up for someone, and the real aggressor was Lin Youqiao.
Netizens, realizing they had been used, were furious at the original leaker.
But the account had already been deleted and disappeared.
Many then turned their anger toward Lin Youqiao.
However, her fans insisted she was the victim and had nothing to do with the incident.
Some even claimed the video might have been edited.
The internet was in an uproar.