He lured her deep into his trap, using both overt and covert methods to seduce her.

Xu Ning was stunned.

Wei Yinuo has always been confident, strong, and resilient, and never sheds tears in front of him, which made Xu Ning once lack confidence in their relationship.

Especially now that we're in a foreign country.

He couldn't help but wonder, did Wei Yinuo really like him?

Is being with yourself just being pathetic?

Does she really need herself?

Until he met Xu He, a girl completely different from Wei Yinuo.

"The first-aid kit... is under the TV cabinet."

He looked away, his voice softening unconsciously.

The girl quickly got up, the hem of her nightgown brushing against his knees.

As she frantically searched, strands of her hair fell beside her cheeks, gleaming a soft brown in the morning light.

When the cold cotton swab touched the wound, Xu Ning instinctively flinched.

The girl immediately leaned closer nervously, her warm breath brushing against his chin as she gently whispered, "Just bear with it..."

She was so close that Xu Ning could smell the faint scent of shampoo in her hair, see her slightly pouting lips from her focus, and see the reflection of only him in her eyes, which were filled with heartache.

As if possessed, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her.

The girl's eyes widened in shock, and the cotton swab fell from her fingers.

But soon, she closed her eyes and responded awkwardly yet passionately to the bloody kiss.

Her cheeks were burning hot, and her fingers gripped his clothes tightly as if she were grasping at a lifeline.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting the intertwined figures of the two onto the shards of glass scattered on the floor, refracting countless overlapping phantoms.

The shrill ring of the bell abruptly shattered the ambiguous atmosphere in the room.

Xu Ning shoved the girl away from him as if he'd been electrocuted, the force of which nearly knocked over the coffee table.

That was a ringtone he had specially set for Wei Yinuo.

The melody she loved to hum now sounded like a death knell, sending chills down her spine.

"Don't make a sound!"

He lowered his voice to warn, and hovered his finger on the screen for two seconds before pressing the answer button.

The camera deliberately avoided showing the mess on the sofa, only framing half of his face.

In the video, Wei Yinuo's somewhat pale face appeared on the screen.

When her gaze fell on his bleeding mouth, her smiling eyes instantly dimmed: "A-Ning, you're injured?"

Xu Ning subconsciously licked his wound, the taste of rust spreading on his tongue.

"It's nothing, I just bumped into the backboard while playing basketball."

He forced a smile, but it aggravated his wound, causing his expression to become distorted.

Wei Yinuo's slender fingers touched the screen, as if trying to touch his wound through the cold glass.

"You're lying to me."

Her voice was as soft as a feather, "Every time you lie, your right eyebrow twitches involuntarily."

Xu Ning's breath hitched.

He hadn't expected that she would remember even such a small habit.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl quietly tidying her disheveled nightgown. Without making a sound, he moved to the side to block the blind spot of the camera.

"Nono, how was your day?"

He abruptly changed the subject, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the sofa armrest.

Wei Yinuo did not respond.

She stared at him silently, and Xu Ning felt a cold sweat break out on his back from her gaze. He awkwardly tugged at his collar.

"Do you have someone over there...?" she suddenly asked.

Xu Ning's Adam's apple bobbed violently: "A college classmate came over; they're playing games."

Wei Yinuo was a little surprised: "It's morning where you are, right? Your classmate came to see you so early?"

"They came last night, let's go to school together later."

"Ah Ning, when are you coming to see me?"

"I'll come over once the room is ready."

"Okay, I'll wait for you. You have to come."

"Yes, I'll come during my vacation."

"Ah Ning, I have something to tell you. What happened at school today..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Ning interrupted, "Nono, I have to go to school now. Can we video chat later?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yinuo let out a somewhat dejected howl.

"Then I won't bother you anymore, bye-bye."

"Bye-Bye."

The moment Xu Ning hung up the video call, she let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Xu Ning..." The girl hugged him from behind, her voice trembling with tears, burning his ear. She turned his face, forcing him to meet her gaze: "What am I to you?"

Her reddened eyes were filled with tears, and her lipstick had smudged from the kiss.

Xu Ning reached out and ruffled Xu He's hair: "Give me some time, I'll talk to her and make things clear."

The girl grinned when she heard this.

"Yes, Xu Ning, I like you so much."

She spoke softly and gently to the boy about her feelings.

Hearing her soft, sweet voice, Xu Ning reached out and pulled her into his arms, then lowered his head and kissed her.

Xu He pushed him away coquettishly: "I'm going to wash up, otherwise I'll be late for class."

With that, he got up and walked toward the restroom.

Xu Ning watched the girl's retreating figure, a smile playing on his lips.

He stood up, saw the broken picture frame on the ground, and bent down to pick it up.

The photo shows him and Wei Yinuo together.

Xu Ning stared at the photo for a while, then opened a drawer and casually tossed the photo inside.

……

Song Zhi stayed in the hospital for three days before she found out she was pregnant.

"Ninth Brother, what did you say?"

Song Zhi stared blankly at Fu Lu, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around the hem of her hospital gown.

Fu Lu reached out and gently cupped her cheek with his warm palm, his thumb stroking her cheek.

"Our little Zhizhi is going to be a mother."

His voice was low, and his eyes held a tenderness that could drown a person.

Song Zhi's eyelashes trembled, and her gaze slowly shifted downwards.

Beneath the loose fabric of the hospital gown, her flat abdomen showed no signs of anything unusual.

But there...

She carefully reached out and touched it.

"I……"

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

A strange shiver ran up her spine, and her nose suddenly stung.

Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Fu Lu frowned slightly: "Song Xiaozhi, you don't like children?"

There was a hint of nervousness in his voice, and his arm around her waist tightened unconsciously.

"How could that be?"

Song Zhi finally found her voice, and her eyes were slightly red when she looked up.

“I just…” She paused, then suddenly burst out laughing, “I didn’t expect to find out under these circumstances.”

Fu Lu's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and he lowered his head to rub his nose against her neck.

The faint smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils, yet it made him feel more at ease than any perfume.

"That scared me to death."

"I'm still in shock."

Song Zhi muttered softly, gently stroking her abdomen as if confirming some precious treasure.

Fu Lu pulled her closer to his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"So from now on, no more being impulsive."

"I didn't..." Song Zhi shrank back guiltily.

Fu Lu raised an eyebrow, about to expose her secret, when she suddenly looked up and asked, "Ninth Brother, do you like it?"

"Um?"

"Baby," she whispered, as if afraid of disturbing something, "Will you like him?"

Fu Lu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.

He leaned down, his thin lips close to her ear: "As long as they're your children."

His warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe. "I'd love even a little monkey."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Song Zhi punched his shoulder in embarrassment and anger, but he seized the opportunity to grab her wrist.

"Human language."

He chuckled softly and kissed her fingertips, then suddenly said seriously, "Wife, the wedding has been moved up."

"Why?" Song Zhi blinked blankly.

Fu Lu placed his palm on her flat stomach, his eyes incredibly tender.

"Do you want to wear a wedding dress while you're pregnant?" he said, his gaze sweeping over her head. "I want to be a bald bride."

Song Zhi's cheeks puffed up in anger: "It's all your fault!"

Fu Lu loved her look so much that he couldn't help but kiss her pouting lips again.

"It's so blaming me."

"I'll have to wear a wig then."

As she spoke, she gestured, "I want long, curly ones..."

"Listen to my wife."

Song Zhi chuckled: "So obedient?"

"Yes, listen to your wife, loving your wife will make you rich."