Chapter 015: Let's Have a Baby!

The Pear Garden

Shen Xue-ning quietly sought out Zeng Wei-yin.

Before Zeng Wei-yin was thrown out, Shen Xue-ning needed to know exactly where her plan had gone wrong.

Zeng Wei-yin’s luggage had already been tossed outside.

Dragging his suitcase behind him, he hung his head, dejected, troubled by thoughts of his uncertain future.

He couldn't possibly follow in his father's footsteps, shaping greenery by the roadside for a living. He had finally managed to secure a comfortable job, sheltered from wind and rain, thanks to his decent singing voice—only to lose it just like that. And he’d gotten beaten up for his trouble.

He truly felt as though he’d been possessed by misfortune, caught in an undeserved disaster.

Zeng Wei-yin had barely walked a few steps when he spotted Shen Xue-ning standing in the shadows.

He hurried over and said, “What happened? You promised me that I’d keep my job with the Zhou family. Now I’ve lost everything—what am I supposed to do?”

Shen Xue-ning asked, “The women’s underwear they found in your room—was that the one I had someone deliver to you?”

Zeng Wei-yin nodded. “Yes, you sent it to me, and I did as you said—I hid it under the mattress.”

Confusion flickered across Shen Xue-ning’s face. She had clearly instructed Min Xian-shu to find a way to steal it from Wen Ni’s room; how had it ended up as someone else’s instead?

No matter how she turned it over in her mind, Shen Xue-ning couldn’t make sense of it.

Zeng Wei-yin asked nervously, “Miss Shen, could you give me a job?”

She glanced at him.

He quickly added, “I can do anything, I’m not afraid of hard work, and I’m willing to learn. As long as I can feed myself, that’s enough.”

After a moment, perhaps sensing he hadn’t sold himself hard enough, he swore earnestly, “Rest assured—I’ll never breathe a word about our arrangement. If you ever need me again, I’ll go wherever you send me, no matter the cost.”

Shen Xue-ning felt a twinge of irritation. She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and said, “I’ll call my mother. Go work at the Shen family’s silk tapestry studio.”

Zeng Wei-yin thanked her profusely.

Taking advantage of the night, Shen Xue-ning left in haste.

Dragging his suitcase, Zeng Wei-yin walked away, his mind drifting back to the day when Wen Ni had come to his place for a soda.

That day—

Zeng Wei-yin had invited Wen Ni into his dorm room.

As soon as she entered, he rushed to scoop up the dirty clothes from the sofa and stuffed them into the wardrobe, blushing and awkward.

“Sorry to make you see this,” he mumbled. “I don’t usually have visitors, so I got a bit careless.”

Wen Ni smiled, assuring him it was fine.

Zeng Wei-yin turned to fetch a soda from the mini-fridge.

When he turned back around, he saw Wen Ni tugging her collar loose, revealing the delicate skin beneath her collarbone—fairer than snow.

Zeng Wei-yin swallowed involuntarily. “Madam…”

Wen Ni’s smile was wicked as she pressed her fingers into her own chest, leaving a few marks.

She stepped closer, one deliberate pace at a time. “Tell me—what did Shen Xue-ning ask you to do?”

Zeng Wei-yin was stunned. “Madam, I don’t know what you mean. What are you doing? Please, put your clothes back on! If anyone sees us, I’ll never be able to clear my name.”

Wen Ni’s smile was half amused, half mocking. “Isn’t that exactly what you all want? For your name to be dragged through the mud?”

Zeng Wei-yin could only stare.

Wen Ni seized his collar. “I can guess your plan, but today, I intend to break the game.”

He was speechless.

Wen Ni’s laughter was low. “This little partition can’t be soundproof. If I scream and claim you assaulted me…”

Cold sweat broke out across Zeng Wei-yin’s forehead. “Madam, this is a fight between the gods. What does it have to do with us little people? I’m just trying to survive.”

Wen Ni opened her mouth. “Help—”

She hadn’t even finished the word before Zeng Wei-yin, terrified, blurted, “I’ll talk! Miss Shen gave me some money and told me to cooperate, to say we were having an affair.”

Wen Ni had originally planned to use Shen Xue-ning’s transfer to set her up.

But Shen Xue-ning was clever; the money had come from a foreign account with a strange name.

So Wen Ni thought of another way to turn the tables.

After hearing all that, Zeng Wei-yin asked cautiously, “Miss Shen gave me money. If I don’t finish the job, will she take it back? If that happens, and I get kicked out, I’ll really be on the streets.”

Wen Ni assured him, “Just do as I say, and not only will Shen Xue-ning let you keep the money—she’ll even find you a new job.”

At this point in his recollection, Zeng Wei-yin’s thoughts abruptly halted.

He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—Wen Ni, that woman, truly had some tricks up her sleeve.

He hunched his shoulders, thinking that if he had really followed Shen Xue-ning’s instructions and helped drive Wen Ni out of the Zhou family, Wen Ni would have disposed of him without a second thought.

Zeng Wei-yin shook his head.

In the future, he would never underestimate women again.

—

Shen Xue-ning returned to her room.

Zhou Ming-fan was already sitting on the bed, playing a game on his phone.

When he saw her come in, he quickly put the phone aside. “Where have you been? It’s so late, and you didn’t bring your phone.”

Shen Xue-ning walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, head bowed.

Tears streamed down her face, and she couldn’t suppress the sobs that welled up from her throat.

Zhou Ming-fan panicked. “Xue-ning, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me! Please don’t cry.”

Through her tears, Shen Xue-ning stammered, “It’s all my fault. You lost your position managing the high-end collaboration project and have to work at the construction site in the western suburbs. I never meant for this to happen—I was just afraid Wen Ni would betray your brother. He’s a good man…”

She collapsed into Zhou Ming-fan’s arms, resting her chin on his shoulder. “I feel terrible. It’s all my fault you’ve been dragged into this.”

Zhou Ming-fan gently patted her back, comforting her, “There, there, don’t cry. It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself. Seeing you cry breaks my heart.”

Still crying, Shen Xue-ning’s gaze drifted to Zhou Ming-fan’s neck—where a red mole should have been, the skin was clean and unblemished.

She shifted her gaze without a trace. “Darling, I just feel so bad for you.”

He cupped her face in his hands. “I know how you feel. I love you more than anything—how could I ever resent you?”

She threw herself into his arms, whispering, “Let’s have a child.”

His heart pounded fiercely, a tide of emotion surging within him. He agreed at once.

Their child, he thought, would surely be adorable.

Shen Xue-ning lifted her head from his embrace, her lips full and red, her dewy eyes shining with an added allure.

She bit her lower lip and whispered, “Take me.”

Zhou Ming-fan’s throat tightened.

He lowered his head abruptly, kissing her with fervor.

She responded passionately, her body softening as she fell back on the wide bed.

Night fell like smoke.

Zhou Ming-fan’s possessive kisses stole Shen Xue-ning’s breath away; her lashes were beaded with tears, and her hands slowly climbed from his chest to clasp tightly around his neck.

He let out a low, shuddering breath, the kiss growing ever more intense, filled with endless longing and wildness.

Twenty minutes later, Zhou Ming-fan’s voice was tinged with shame and frustration as he forced himself to apologize, “Xue-ning, I’m sorry… I still can’t quite get over it.”