The issue wasn’t whether Bai Yanzhou was clueless or not—he simply didn’t care about matters of the heart. His focus was entirely on inheriting the family business.
Pei Wanyou was an accident, and the little one in his arms, Shushu, was something he had never even imagined.
“Looks like the young lady is getting a sister-in-law,” Liu Yanxing teased from the side.
Lu Shu’an wore an expression that seemed to say, “Just end it all.” He was articulate, but next time, he should consider sewing his mouth shut before speaking.
Pei Wanyou was busy playing with Shushu, making all sorts of funny faces. Hearing Liu Yanxing’s remark, she glanced up at Bai Yanzhou.
Back in their school days, Bai Yanzhou had been quite popular—handwritten love letters, text messages inviting him to meals, and occasionally receiving small gifts…
If this marriage alliance was beneficial to him, he would most likely agree.
Bai Yanzhou held Shushu in his arms, her chubby little hand tightly gripping his slender fingers. Leaning back in his chair, he said, “If you enjoy playing matchmaker so much, perhaps you should change careers.”
He wouldn’t be a good husband, nor could he pretend to be deeply affectionate.
The troublemaker by his side was already enough of a headache.
Hearing this, Liu Yanxing quickly changed the subject. “Remember Charlotte, the one who wanted a one-night stand with you?”
Pei Wanyou immediately perked up her gossipy little ears, leaning slightly forward. A one-night stand? Charlotte? She was only a year older than her, a dark-skinned beauty.
Lu Shu’an hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Did they really have to discuss this topic in front of Pei Wanyou?
If Liu Yanxing weren’t so clueless, he’d suspect he was deliberately stirring the pot like a male “green tea.”
Bai Yanzhou turned to Pei Wanyou. “Go back to your room and do your homework. School starts tomorrow.” What nonsense was he spouting in front of the little one?
“No way,” Pei Wanyou said, cupping her hand to her ear as if holding a microphone. “Tell me about this one-night stand. Tell me!”
“It was… mmm…”
Lu Shu’an forcefully covered Liu Yanxing’s mouth from behind. Couldn’t he read the room? Hadn’t he noticed the change in Bai Yanzhou’s expression? If he kept talking, his tongue would be separated from his mouth tonight.
Pei Wanyou looked disappointed. She stood up, walked over to Bai Yanzhou, and crouched down. “Shushu, do you want to sleep with me tonight?”
Bai Yanzhou had been sitting with his legs crossed. Hearing Pei Wanyou’s words, he lifted the tip of his shoe…
She kicked off her blankets in her sleep, and now she wanted to take care of a child?
Pei Wanyou stumbled backward, landing on her bottom. She glared at Bai Yanzhou with wide eyes. “You’re the worst.” With that, she used his leg to steady herself and stood up. From this angle, Shushu looked so tiny in his arms.
Bai Yanzhou’s robe was wide open, revealing the lines of his muscles. Pei Wanyou quickly averted her gaze. What was she looking at!
After Pei Wanyou left, Liu Yanxing continued the earlier topic. “Charlotte married her stepfather. He’s at least twenty-five years older than her. The old man has no shame, violating ethics and becoming a laughingstock.”
“…”
Lu Shu’an pursed his lips. This slap had landed squarely on Bai Yanzhou’s face.
Bai Yanzhou stood up, holding Shushu with one arm. He didn’t say a word, but as he turned away, his deep blue eyes turned cold.
Putting everything else aside, he wasn’t afraid of people pointing fingers at him, but what about that little troublemaker?
Could she withstand the gossip and judgment behind her back?
Liu Yanxing was still puzzled. Such explosive news, and Bai Yanzhou had just walked away…
Lu Shu’an let out a long sigh and patted Liu Yanxing on the shoulder. “You’re a lucky one with a strong fate. I’ll follow you from now on.”
Liu Yanxing, utterly confused, followed Lu Shu’an out of the Bai residence. Had he said something wrong?
Bai Yanzhou lay in bed, propping his head up with one hand while holding an unfinished document in the other. Shushu lay beside him, eyes closed, sucking on her fingers, her little legs occasionally kicking out.
He reached out a large hand to hold her firmly in his arms. It was normal for a baby not yet a month old to startle easily.
Late at night, after feeding Shushu and changing her diaper, a knock came at the door.
“Brother, I’m coming in.”
Bai Yanzhou straightened his clothes and said, “Come in,” his voice deep and weary.
Pei Wanyou, wearing pink pajamas and holding her frilly pillow, entered. “I want to sleep with Shushu. I’ll sleep on the floor and leave before dawn.”
She knew Bai Yanzhou wouldn’t trust her with Shushu, but she really wanted to sleep with her baby.
Otherwise, she’d just feel like crying.
Bai Yanzhou lay in bed, ignoring her. Sometimes he really wanted to crack open her skull and see if there was a brain inside.
Pei Wanyou went to the closet, took out the spare bedding, and spread it on the floor. It was a bit thin, but it would do—after all, it was summer, and it wasn’t cold.
She lay on the floor, holding onto the leg of the crib, covered with a thin blanket, and closed her eyes contentedly.
Bai Yanzhou turned off the light.
“Brother, could you talk to Professor Bolang for me? I didn’t finish my homework.” Pei Wanyou still didn’t understand why Astor University assigned homework to freshmen.
Bai Yanzhou remained silent.
“Aren’t you close with him? Please help me,” Pei Wanyou whispered, afraid of waking Shushu.
“No,” Bai Yanzhou replied firmly.
Pei Wanyou whined softly, “I was busy giving birth to Shushu during the break. I didn’t have time to catch up.”
“Did I ask you to have her?” Bai Yanzhou put on his eye mask. His sleep was already poor, and he had enough to worry about every day.
Pei Wanyou’s eyes reddened. She turned away, sniffling. Yes, she deserved this!
After some time, Shushu made a faint sound, probably hungry. Bai Yanzhou reached out to turn on the light. He understood his mother’s intentions all too well—if he, as the father, didn’t take responsibility for his daughter, who would?
Pei Wanyou lay curled up on the floor, tear stains still visible at the corners of her eyes, her brow furrowed even in sleep.
After feeding Shushu, Bai Yanzhou nudged Pei Wanyou with his foot. “Get on the bed.”
Pei Wanyou opened her eyes in fright, tears streaming down her face. She had been sleeping soundly when she was suddenly kicked, and after the scare she’d had during the day, her face turned pale.
“I don’t understand. Do you hate me that much? Would it be better if I died?”
Bai Yanzhou looked down at Pei Wanyou. “Being unreasonable?”
He just wanted her to sleep on the bed. When had he ever wished for her death?
Tears streamed down Pei Wanyou’s cheeks. “I really regret it, but by the time I realized, Shushu already had a heartbeat.”
Bai Yanzhou crouched down, his large hand gripping the back of Pei Wanyou’s head. “After it happened, didn’t I ask you if you took the pill?”
“You had your fun and told me to buy the pill myself. I was in pain and panicking. When I bled that night, I thought I couldn’t get pregnant.”
Bai Yanzhou frowned slightly. He had an important meeting at the time and couldn’t miss it…
“If you listen to me, just pretend you never had this child from now on. You can go on with your relationships, and I’ll definitely find the best doctors to help you recover. You can still have a complete life.” Bai Yanzhou sighed after finishing his words.
Pei Wanyou leaned her head against Bai Yanzhou’s body. “Brother, can you give my child back to me? I can stay unmarried, I swear. Just give Shushu to me, and we’ll never appear before you again in this lifetime.”
Bai Yanzhou pulled Pei Wanyou up directly and threw her onto the bed. Trying to reason with her was pointless—she was just being unreasonable.
She hadn’t even graduated yet. Where could she go with Shushu?
On second thought, at her age, she couldn’t possibly think that far ahead…
Pei Wanyou lay on the bed, crying silently. Ever since she found out she was pregnant, she had been living in constant fear, counting down the days until the C-section. She had to follow the doctor’s advice and work hard to nourish the baby in her womb.
When she was wheeled into the operating room, she was so scared she could barely breathe. Lying on the operating table, she could clearly hear the sound of her belly being cut open.
And now, Bai Yanzhou was telling her to pretend she never had this child. What mother could do that?
Bai Yanzhou grabbed a blanket and tossed it over Pei Wanyou. He felt deeply conflicted, unsure how to face this younger sister who had grown up under his care since childhood.
He walked out and stood in the courtyard, smoking a cigarette.
When he returned, Pei Wanyou was sitting by the bed, tears streaming down her face as she gazed at the sleeping Shushu…
“Go to sleep early, or you won’t be able to wake up tomorrow,” Bai Yanzhou said as he walked over. Having grown up in comfort, sleeping on the floor was a first for him.
“I’ll go back,” Pei Wanyou said reluctantly as she stood up. She always caused trouble for everyone. She wondered what purpose someone like her had in living.
Why did she have such thoughts? Strange…
As the saying goes, when you’re down on your luck, even a fart can strain your back. Pei Wanyou had intended to step over Bai Yanzhou, but instead, she stepped on his arm…
Bai Yanzhou gripped Pei Wanyou’s waist with both hands. “You should lose some weight,” he said, his voice unusually deep.
His breathing gradually changed rhythm. She carried a faint scent of jasmine, likely to mask the milky smell…
Pei Wanyou landed squarely on Bai Yanzhou’s body. Their eyes met, and she reached out to touch it. “…”
Bai Yanzhou tried to stop her, but it was too late.
“Pervert,” she said, her face flushed as she stood up. She had used one before, but she had never really touched one. Could something like that really grow on a person?
Besides, his reaction didn’t seem like it had just started.
Just as Bai Yanzhou was about to get up, Pei Wanyou turned and ran.
“…”
Early in the morning, Bai Yanzhou sat in the courtyard holding Shushu while having breakfast. He didn’t want to go to the main hall—his parents would just keep questioning him endlessly.
A maid approached.
Bai Yanzhou handed Shushu to the maid, but as soon as he let go, the little one started crying loudly, kicking her legs, though no tears fell.
Pei Wanyou, who had been sleeping, woke up immediately at the sound of the baby crying. Her heart raced, and she wished she could rush to the baby’s side right away.
The maid panicked in fright. “I, I…”
Bai Yanzhou took Shushu back into his arms and glanced down. Sure enough, she took after her mother.
Pei Wanyou rushed out quickly, her hair a complete mess and her pajamas terribly wrinkled. “I’m going to be late for school!”
Actually, she had seen so many maids in the courtyard and swallowed back what she had wanted to say…
“Young Master,” the butler entered the courtyard from outside at that moment. “The Sommerfield Patriarch has brought Miss Alma.”
If Bai Yanzhou married Alma, the Sommerfield Family would undoubtedly support him wholeheartedly—after all, the Patriarch had only this one daughter.