Outside the study, all was silent. The Bai family’s old mansion was filled with ancient architecture both inside and out. Bai Yanzhou and Pei Wanyou lived in the Snow Bamboo Courtyard in the southeast corner.
“Slow down…” Pei Wanyou was sweating from the pain, her bangs sticking to her forehead. She had thought giving birth would be simple, but now she wished she were dead.
The pain spread outward from her chest. Unlike the sting of a needle or the ache of a cut, it felt like two sharp-edged boulders were lodged inside her. Every movement was agony, and she almost wished someone would just end her misery quickly.
Bai Yanzhou strode forward with long steps, his face dark. He had been in the middle of a meeting—she really knew how to cause trouble for him.
The maids stood in front of the main house. Seeing Bai Yanzhou carrying Pei Wanyou, they both lowered their heads and stepped aside.
“If today’s matter gets out, I’ll sew your mouths shut,” Bai Yanzhou said before kicking open the door to the master bedroom.
Their affair absolutely could not be exposed. With the clan already questioning his leadership, news of him sleeping with Pei Wanyou at this critical moment would ruin him completely.
The maids’ lives and livelihoods were tied to the Bai family, and they knew Bai Yanzhou’s temper well. What shouldn’t be said must never be spoken.
Pei Wanyou lay on the wooden bed, her small face growing redder with fever, her entire body aching. “I feel awful…”
Bai Yanzhou fetched medicine and poured a glass of hot water. Placing his large hand on Pei Wanyou’s forehead, he checked her temperature. “Now you know it hurts? Did you really want this child so badly?”
“I regret it…” Pei Wanyou deeply regretted clinging to Bai Yanzhou that night. What had she been thinking?
She couldn’t remember anymore. She usually never drank, but that day she’d had a little.
After feeding her the medicine, Bai Yanzhou glanced at the time. The meeting was still waiting for him. “Take off your clothes yourself,” he said, heading toward the bathroom.
Pei Wanyou lay on the bed, tears streaming uncontrollably. At first, she had been preparing for exams and thought her missed period was due to stress.
But after three months without it, she went to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor told her she was pregnant.
She spent the whole night at home mentally preparing herself. She knew the child couldn’t stay, but the doctor said the baby already had a heartbeat and asked if she was sure. If she wanted to terminate the pregnancy, a family member must accompany her.
She had never experienced anything like this before, but the thought of the baby’s heartbeat inside her—even though she knew it was wrong—made her keep it.
Bai Yanzhou rolled up his sleeves, removed his tie, and tied it over his eyes. “I can’t see now. Take it off, quickly. I have a meeting to get back to.”
Pei Wanyou lifted her clothes, and Bai Yanzhou’s large hand, holding a hot towel, rested on her body.
“Ah—it hurts—”
Bai Yanzhou frowned. “Endure it.”
“Just kill me instead…” Pei Wanyou cried bitterly. The pain was unbearable, and his movements were anything but gentle.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes covered by the dark tie, Bai Yanzhou said, “Dying is easy. I keep sharks in the backyard pond. You can jump in anytime you like.”
Pei Wanyou didn’t expect comfort from Bai Yanzhou. He was her brother, not her lover—and never could be.
Half an hour later, Bai Yanzhou left the master bedroom and returned to the study. After straightening his tie, he sat down in his chair.
[My apologies. My younger sister suddenly developed a high fever, which delayed everyone. Let’s continue.]
Pei Wanyou’s fever gradually subsided, and the pain in her chest wasn’t as intense anymore. Lying on her side in bed, she pondered what to do next…
Just as she was at a loss, her phone beside the pillow rang. She picked it up and glanced at the screen.
Lulu: [Youyou, we’re returning to school tomorrow morning. How about going to Hume’s self-select store in the afternoon?]
Pei Wanyou remained silent for a moment: [My brother said it’s really unsafe outside right now, and he won’t let me run around.]
Lulu: [Your brother said, your brother said—can’t you talk about someone else? Others are mama’s boys, but you’re a brother’s girl. I’m really done with this.]
Pei Wanyou: […]
With things put this way, she had no choice but to agree. She thought to herself, no matter how chaotic things got, it couldn’t possibly lead to murder in broad daylight, right?
It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that she finally put down her phone. There had to be a way—after all, she was determined to become Shushu’s mother. The thought of Bai Yanzhou sarcastically telling Shushu to call her “aunt” made her grind her teeth in anger.
“…”
Bai Yanzhou had to return to the company early for a meeting. Under the sunlight, his posture was upright, and each step carried an air of unruffled composure.
The butler stood outside the courtyard. Seeing Bai Yanzhou emerge, he spoke up: “Young Master, the young lady hasn’t gotten up yet. Madam asked you to take her to school first before heading to the company for the meeting.”
“Let the driver take her.” Today’s meeting was extremely important.
The opposition party’s dissatisfaction with the election had already begun affecting the Bai family, yet his father had instructed him not to act rashly.
Today, he planned to propose at the meeting that they first eliminate those probing rioters; otherwise, they would only grow bolder and more unrestrained.
At such a critical time, his mother wanted him to take Pei Wanyou to school for registration first!
The butler bowed slightly: “Madam said it’s very unsafe lately. Only if you personally escort her will she feel at ease.”
Bai Yanzhou pressed his thin lips together. His mother had already begun applying pressure: if he couldn’t bring the child’s mother home within a month, she would strip him of all his positions.
When would he ever break free from these constraints and achieve true freedom?
Pei Wanyou had chatted with her best friend late into the night and only fell asleep afterward. Now, she lay sprawled on the bed like a starfish, her nightgown bunched up around her waist, with only her stomach covered by the blanket, sleeping soundly and peacefully.
Bai Yanzhou kicked the door open and strode inside. If he could get her to school by 8:30, he would still make it in time.
“Ah!”
Pei Wanyou was in the middle of a dream when a sudden loud noise startled her into a cry. Turning her head, she saw Bai Yanzhou looking as if he wanted to devour someone.
Seeing the startled Pei Wanyou on the bed, Bai Yanzhou said sternly, “Get up. I’m taking you to school.” She didn’t even know how to dress properly while sleeping…
“Men hit menopause at forty. Isn’t yours a bit too early?” Pei Wanyou sat on the bed, her beautiful eyes half-closed, a few strands of black hair resting on her shoulders. She looked utterly listless.
Aside from elders, only Pei Wanyou dared to speak to Bai Yanzhou like this…
His temper was notoriously bad.
Bai Yanzhou looked down at the little shorty sitting on the bed: “No more nonsense. I’m giving you ten minutes.”
Pei Wanyou was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. Ten minutes was perfect—she could still sleep for eight more. With that thought, she comfortably lay back down and pulled the blanket over herself.
“…”