No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

Jiang Hua didn't have much affection for this so-called heir of the Huo family; her level of repulsion was the same as Zhou Yan's—neither of them were good people. The surrounding guests were curious about this heir, discussing him animatedly, all eager to see his true face and catch a glimpse of him.

Jiang Hua asked, "What time is it now?"

"Can we go back now?"

She doesn't want to be around people she doesn't really like.

Even if they weren't in the same space, it wouldn't matter, because Jiang Hua couldn't forget it, and she couldn't get over it. Zhou Yan, relying on the Huo family's group company behind her, suppressed the Jiang family and even dared to try to make her father apologize to her in front of all the media. This was a great disgrace to the Jiang family.

This seed of hatred was planted long ago.

Shen Yebai glanced at the time on his wrist. "It's almost nine o'clock. I'll take you home."

Jiang Hua has to go to class tomorrow.

It was almost 10:30 when we got back to Royal Dragon Bay.

Jiang Hua nodded, "Okay."

As the two were preparing to leave, a waiter at the banquet handed them an exquisite little gift box, which was the gift prepared by Mrs. Bai.

Jiang Hua accepted it, and as she turned around, someone suddenly appeared behind her.

Jiang Hua was somewhat surprised by her appearance.

Xu Xiangjun: "I'm sorry, Ms. Jiang, for disturbing you. I have something I'd like to say to Ye Bai. Could I... take a moment of your time?"

Shen Yebai remained expressionless, his eyes turning cold. "Who brought you here?"

Jiang Hua couldn't detect Shen Yebai's abnormality, but only Xu Xiangjun knew that Shen Yebai, who was speaking calmly, was actually harboring a tremendous rage.

She had no choice…

The woman's eyes held a hint of pleading as she said, "I..."

"It's me!" Just then, a playful and unrestrained voice came from not far away. A figure walked over and stood next to Xu Xiangjun. The man put his arm around Xu Xiangjun's waist in an extremely ambiguous way. "Big brother, it's been a long time. Do you still remember me?"

The other person looked somewhat similar to Shen Yebai, but in terms of both temperament and appearance, he was far inferior to Shen Yebai.

"It's quite a coincidence. I recently met a woman at an opera, and everyone says she's Big Brother's woman. I didn't believe it, so... I brought her here to confirm with Big Brother."

"Everyone says that the eldest brother is a man of integrity and not interested in women. Twenty or thirty years have passed, and the eldest brother still doesn't have a woman by his side. It seems that... what the outside world says is not true at all."

"Miss, you are very beautiful."

That sticky gaze fell on Jiang Hua, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

"You're good-looking, but you're not some illegitimate child who can't be seen in public. If you're not going to look at me, I'll gouge your eyes out." Jiang Hua retorted with a smirk, speaking the most vicious words in a calm tone.

The word "illegitimate child" struck a nerve, and the other party's expression visibly changed.

"I'll wait for you outside."

Shen Yebai: "Mm."

The other party's obviously provocative tone made everyone who heard it feel very uncomfortable.

Xu Xiangjun pulled away from the man beside her, saying, "Young Master Shen, please have some self-respect."

"Ye Bai...can I just take two minutes of your time? I really have something very important to tell you."

After Jiang Hua walked out, a waiter came over shortly after and said, "This guest, let me take you to the lounge."

"Well, that's fine." That matter probably won't be resolved anytime soon.

The maid took Jiang Hua to her resting place.

In a room in the corridor.

The sound of conversation could be heard: "I'm so happy you could come this time."

"I heard you've suffered a lot these past years, but don't take it to heart. Just think of it as... a trial by your family."

“You and your father looked exactly alike when you were young, but he was not as mature as you are now.”

The door to the room was not closed, and Madam Bai's cheerful laughter could be heard continuously.

The maid said, "The lady next door is meeting with important guests. Miss Jiang, it would be best not to disturb her. Your... lounge is over here."

The maid opened the door, and inside was a reception room for guests.

"It's troublesome."

"You're welcome. This is what I should do."

Jiang Hua didn't like being disturbed by outsiders, so she closed the door after she left.

Blocking out the outside noise, Jiang Hua sat quietly to the side playing on her phone, with a view of the scenery outside through the glass window.

...

A quiet, deserted corridor.

Xu Xiangjun had imagined a hundred ways to say the words, but she never expected to confront him today: "I'm pregnant."

A shadow of gloom quickly crossed Shen Yebai's eyes. "How long has it been?"

"Two...two months."

Two months ago was exactly the last time they did it.

During that time, Xu Xiangjun was busy with performances and didn't pay attention to her pregnancy at all. When she missed her period for the first time, she thought it was just a delayed period.

Until recently, she started bleeding from her lower body during rehearsals.

Xu Xiangjun slowly took out the pregnancy test report from her handbag. The report, written in black and white, clearly stated the information about the pregnancy test.

Shen Yebai took it: "Didn't you take your medicine?"

Hsu Hsiang-Chun: "My chances of getting pregnant were only one percent. I thought that time... it would be fine."

"This may be my only chance."

"Ye Bai, I beg you, please let me keep this child."

“I know I am not good enough for you. I have been by your side for so many years and I have never asked for anything. I have never thought about having a title. I just want this child to live a healthy life.”

Shen Yebai: "Thank you, Huai."

Xie Huai approached, "Sir."

Shen Yebai only said one sentence, "Take her to the hospital and keep a close eye on things. I need to know whose child this is."

Xie Huai nodded. "Yes."

Shen Yebai, expressionless, crumpled the examination report into a ball and threw it into the trash can next to him.

Xu Xiangjun looked at him in disbelief, a trace of sorrow in her eyes, "You think I'm not carrying your child?"

Xu Xiangjun grabbed Shen Yebai's arm, her voice choked with emotion, "Yebai, you're the only man I have, how can you not believe me!"

For a woman from outside the family to become pregnant with a child of the Shen family is a momentous event, and it would be an even greater disgrace if the clan members found out.

The consequences for offspring not recognized by the Shen family are predictable.

Xu Xiangjun paled, trying to find a trace of desire to keep the child in the man's eyes.

But... Xu Xiangjun only saw coldness in his eyes.

She was led away in despair.

The moment she was pulled into the car, she was filled with despair. Her hands trembled as she touched her slightly swollen belly, closed her eyes, and suppressed the painful emotions in her chest.

Even now... what is she still hoping for?

All of this should not have been something she could even dream about.

From the start of the banquet, Xu Xiangjun's mind was entirely on Shen Yebai. Accompanied by piano music, he danced gracefully with another woman. Xu Xiangjun had never seen him smile like that towards anyone else before.

The woman standing next to him was someone Xu Xiangjun recognized; she had known her from the very first moment she saw her…