Bringing the Nation’s Husband Home - Chapter 750-774

But now, Xu Jiamu knew. Because of the things his mother had done in the past, the two of them were now at such an arctic stage, and yet she still had no intention of backing down a little bit. So much so, she was just as vicious and merciless as before. With every move, she tried to take someone’s life.

Xu Jiamu staggered back two steps and leaned against the fence of the villa. The branches from the roses that grew over the wall pricked him in the neck, but he stood there as though he didn’t feel a thing.

So in the afternoon… someone deliberately tripped Qiao Qiao up whilst she was surrounded by reporters.

So in the afternoon… someone deliberately arranged for the camera to fall… the same camera he swiftly pulled his arm forward to keep off.

If he hadn’t been there this afternoon at Mian Xiu garden and seen Qiao Qiao, perhaps, Qiao Qiao would end up in a hospital in a coma, just as she did when she fell down the stairs last year on Chinese Valentine’s day.

Accident… Some incidents appear as though they’re accidents, but who would of figured that behind the curtain, they were really one attempt of murder after the other.

Xu Jiamu didn’t know just how long he stayed there in a daze, but he didn’t snap back to reality until someone pulled onto the sleeve of his shirt. He lowered his head and saw a five or six year old boy with a wad of notes in his hand. The boy raised his head and blinked when he looked at Xu Jiamu. “Uncle? Is this your money? I’ve helped you pick it up! Returning it to you.”

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Xu Jiamu said in a muffled voice, “Thank you”. Then he raised his hand and stroked the boy’s head, but he didn’t take the money. Instead, he feebly walked towards his car.

When he got inside it, he saw the little boy with the money walk over to another boy. The other boy was about the same age and had come out from another courtyard, crying. “Brother, I picked up money. Here, this is for you.”

When Xu Jiamu saw this, it was like he’d suffered a shock to the system. His entire body trembled. Je stepped on the accelerator, but he didn’t go back to the Xu family estate. He turned the car around and sped off.

As he held onto the steering wheel with his eyes on the road ahead, he remembered back when he was young and had picked up a wallet. He didn’t hand it to the teacher, nor did he give it to the policemen, but instead, just like the little boy, he cheerfully handed it to Lu Jinnian.

Lu Jinnian had asked him where he got it from, so Xu Jiamu took him back to where he found it. They waited until it was dark, until the owner came back for it.

He and Lu Jinnian weren’t the same. He was pampered since he was young. At the time, he was completely weak from hunger and refused to walk. In the end, Lu Jinnian had to carry him on his back. They got on a bus, and he took him back to the Xu family estate.

Xu Jiamu drove to Su Yuan Apartments.

Song Xiangsi was watching TV. When he opened the door, the sound of singing came blaring out.

Song Xiangsi could tell that Xu Jiamu didn’t look so well. She didn’t ask him what he was doing here as she did before, but went straight up to the door, grabbed him a pair of slippers, and made way.

When he entered, she poured him a cup of water and handed it over. She looked out the window to see that it was already dark out, and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Xu Jiamu shook his head, and drank a sip of water, then handed her the cup back. He pointed to the bedroom and walked in there on his own first.

Song Xiangsi stood still and stared at the door Xu Jiamu had closed for a while. Eventually, she let out a sigh, put the cup down, and walked towards the bedroom.

Even after he told her that he absolutely wouldn’t marry her, causing her to break off their relationship, he was, after all was said and done… the man she was in-love with.

A couple days ago when Xu Jiamu appeared in by Song Xiangsi’s home, it was clear to her that they would never have a happy ending. She had given him seven years of her youth, the most beautiful years of her life had been dedicated to him, and she wasn’t about to let herself waste anymore of her time. But despite how rational she was, when he held onto her tightly, the tears streaming onto her neck, she felt a hard to explain helplessness. When he weakly pleaded for her to accompany him for a while, just a little while, all her logic collapsed, surrendering to him once more.

She wasn’t sure if this time, their relationship would end in bliss or tragedy.

But it was clear that she still cared about him.

Song Xiangsi pushed open the door lightly. Xu Jiamu was sitting on the sofa, staring at his phone intently, seemingly in a daze. In front of him was a stack of papers.

He seemed to have sensed her presence, reaching towards the paper in front of him, he stuffed it into his pocket before turning around to look at her wordlessly.

Song Xiangsi sat beside him, glancing at his phone screen – Qiao Anhao’s weibo was there, a bunch of insults in the comment section of her post.

“Stop looking at those, you can’t trust whatever is on the internet.”

Xu Jiamu remained silent, nodding his head lightly. He tossed his phone to the side of the coffee table before slouching on the back of the sofa.

He had removed his jacket, and was only wearing a simple blue shirt. He had rolled the sleeves up high to his elbow since the temperature on in the room was a little high. Song Xiangsi glanced over, spotting an alarming bruise on his arm. She frowned, instantly reaching over to grab his arm. “What’s this? How did you get bruised so badly? Have you seen a doctor?”

Xu Jiamu took a sharp intake of breath when she touched his wound, and she hurriedly loosened her grip.

With a shaky voice, he explained, “I’m fine, I was just hit by a video camera, I don’t need to see a doctor.”

“It looks serious, the area is dark purple, isn’t that bad enough?” she lamented. Standing, she headed to a cabinet to grab a first aid kit before sitting beside him once more. “Let me apply some medicine.”

Xu Jiamu allowed her to tend to his wound. “Hmm.”

As she applied medicine, she couldn’t help nagging, “But if you got hit by a camera, why didn’t you get compensation from him?

“Xu Jiamu, if it gets worst tomorrow, you must go to the hospital. What if your bone got hurt?”

“Video cameras are so heavy, they shouldn’t use it if they can’t carry them! This is such a dangerous world, you should be glad that it hit your arm and not your head, if might have caused a concussion!”

Xu Jiamu froze at the last part of her sentence.

“What’s wrong? Does it hurt? I’ll try to be softer, endure a little more…”

“Xiangsi,” he called out in a solemn tone.

“Hmm?” In a loud voice, she added, “What’s wrong?”

“Qiao Qiao and my brother… What’s the worst outcome for them?”

Song Xiangsi rolled her eyes as though Xu Jiamu had just asked a dumb question. “The entire country is calling Qiao Anhao a slut, don’t you think it’s bad enough?”

Xu Jiamu paled.

Song Xiangsi realized that she might have been too blunt, so quickly she added, “Are you sure you want to know?”

Xu Jiamu nodded.

She hesitated slightly before continuing in a gravely voice, ” Let me put it simply, Qiao Qiao had an affair during her marriage, this means that her reputation is ruined for life. She probably won’t be able to continue her career as an artist and will be insulted and gossiped about. But this is just the pressure on the outside, her career would come to a standstill, no one would approach her for endorsements or films. Isn’t she participating in a competition for the female lead role in a Hollywood film? There was initially a good response and a lot of potential for her, but after the scandal, I doubt that will work out.

“As for your brother, Lu Jinnian… He would be slightly better than Qiao Qiao, but for the rest of his life, he would be living under the shadow of a third party, just like his mother.

“The scandal has escalated to the point that no public explanation or any amount of PR would be able salvage it. Besides, no one would believe them if they were to stand out and say that they were acting as a fake couple and that Lu Jinnian was acting as you.”

Song Xiangsi shook her head before adding solemnly, “I wonder who was able to obtain such an insider news. The person didn’t use it to threaten Lu Jinnian but instead exposed the news, it’s the best way to ruin their lives…”

Xu Jiamu’s throat tightened. He held up his hand, indicating for her to stop before standing. “I’m tired, I’ll go rest.”

Without waiting for her to react, he climbed into the bed, yanking the blanket over his head.

Song Xiangsi had wanted to say more but when she glanced over at him, she swallowed her words before leaving the room silently.

–

Qiao Anhao curled up in Lu Jinnian’s arms. He promised her that he would think of a way to appease the situation, and so she nodded her head compliantly. “I believe you.”

She truly believed that Lu Jinnian would think of a solution, but she also knew that it was a tricky situation that he might not be able to handle.

The “wedding” photo that Han Ruchu had exposed had placed Qiao Qiao and Lu Jinnian at a disadvantage, besides, before she had officially divorced Xu Jiamu, she had already been together with Lu Jinnian.

Qiao Anhao fully trusted Lu Jinnian, and she knew that he was definitely upset over the scandal, so she didn’t want to appear vulnerable and add to his stress.

That night, she prepared dinner with him before enjoying the meal together. Afterwards, they even went for a stroll in their backyard.

She maintained a bright expression the entire time, as though all her troubles had already been settled.

However, Qiao Anhao eventually couldn’t help but pick her phone up, when Lu Jinnian took a shower that night. The tip of her fingers tapped onto Weibo to find page after page of nasty comments about her. What’s more, the news lingered there for twelve whole hours, and it was only growing more ferocious. Lu Jinnian’s fans only commented under her name, begging her to let him go. Now they had managed to skyrocket [Let our dream man go] to the most searched topic.

She tapped onto it to and looked at the dozen million comments, unable to find any that supported her… Oh, no, there wasn’t even a neutral comment. The screen was filled with words like [You’re not worthy of our dream man!], [You vile woman], [Leave the entertainment industry], [I hope you get thrown away by my hubby!].

“What are you looking at?”

Suddenly, behind Qiao Anhao, the bed sank, and Lu Jinnian’s usual voice reached her ears.

She swiftly locked the phone screen and turned around, pushing herself into Lu Jinnian’s arms. “Nothing… I was just bored, so I was browsing Taobao 1 .”

Even though Lu Jinnian didn’t see for himself what Qiao Anhao was looking at, but he knew she was lying. His eyes flickered for a moment, but he went along with her lie and asked, “So did you see anything you want to buy?”

“Nah.” Qiao Anhao shook her head and laid her little head on Lu Jinnian’s chest. Then, she slightly looked up at his beautiful jawline and curved her brows. “I thought I saw something I wanted to buy, but as I was shopping, I remembered how we went crazy shopping not too long ago, like we were going to take the whole ACR back with us. Then I thought that I really didn’t need it… ai… it left me so disappointed…”

Qiao Anhao wore a beaming smile as she said this. Just when she finished, she even put on a troubled look on her face and let out a sigh.

Yet, though it was just for a second, Lu Jinnian clearly caught the look of helplessness and sadness the instant she lowered her eyelids. Yet she pulled her lips and continued to wear a bright smile.

Lu Jinnian stared at her forced smile, and pain weighed on his heart. With a gulp, he reached his arm out and stroked her hair. “Qiao Qiao, if you’re unhappy, you don’t have to smile.”

Qiao Anhao was stunned by Lu Jinnian’s words.

So he could tell?

It was just for a second, but Qiao Anhao’s smile bloomed like a flower once again. “Oh it’s nothing… What’s there for me to be unhappy about? It’s just being shouted at, right? It’s not like I haven’t been shouted at whilst growing up. It’s just that this time there are lots more people shouting at me. Whatever, they’re just words, they can’t hurt me. They basically can’t touch me, so why would I be unhappy…”

The more Qiao Anhao spoke so care-freely, the more Lu Jinnian’s heart hurt. Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore. He sat up and pulled her into a tight hug.

Qiao Anhao suddenly stopped her words. After a while, she tried her best to relax her voice, and asked half-jokingly, “Why did you suddenly hug me out of nowhere?”

Lu Jinnian tightened his arms around her, and said in a dull voice, “Qiao Qiao, I know that you’re upset.”

The rigid smile on Qiao Anhao’s face gently froze.

Lu Jinnian spoke again in a quiet voice. “If you’re sad, just say it. You don’t have to hold back in front of me.”

Qiao Anhao originally wanted to continue to casually answer Lu Jinnian with “You’ve got it all wrong. What’s there for me to be sad about?”. However, when she heard his words, it felt like there was something stuck in her throat… It was as though that very feeling of not wanting to reveal her emotions, which she tried so hard to suppress in her heart, had been drawn out.

“Qiao Qiao, after going through something like this, who wouldn’t be sad… For you to put on a happy face like this, it only makes my heart ache even more.

“I’m your husband… someone you absolutely can rely on and trust without holding back. I don’t want to only share your happiness, I also want to share your sadness too.”

Qiao Anhao wanted to suppress that gushing feeling of sadness, but with Lu Jinnian’s words, she just couldn’t hold her tears back any longer and they came pouring down her face.

He was right. After going through something like this, how could she not be sad?

Although most of the time, they say you should walk your own path and let others walk theirs, that was just something logical you say to comfort someone else. When it really happens to you, only then you’ll understand how scary gossip can be.

Who didn’t want to appear bright and beautiful, open and candid in front of others?

And who would be willing to have their clean reputation appear sullied with dirt, and have people shout at them the moment they come out?

What’s more, the truth was nothing like what they said on the internet. However, right now, she couldn’t explain it all even if she tried.

Yeah, she felt wronged.

Ever since the scandal broke out, ever since the reporters blocked her front door, ever since the people online started scolding her, ever since the reporters shoved and tripped her up… She felt wronged.

She just didn’t want to upset Lu Jinnian, so she endured it.

She thought that she could be strong and hold herself together, but his simple words shattered her disguise.

The more Qiao Anhao’s tears fell, the more wronged she felt. In the end, she just cried aloud.

Lu Jinnian didn’t say a word, but hugged her in silence and let her cry.

As he heard the sound of her cries, his heart felt wave after wave of discomfort.

Qiao Anhao cried for a very long time, until eventually, her body started to twitch and the sound of her cries gradually shriveled.

It was like she’d just received the greatest shock, and she lifted her head. As she sobbed, she stared at Lu Jinnian with watery eyes, and started to lament over it pitifully. “They don’t even know… Those people are so harsh. They don’t even know anything… How could they scold me so ruthlessly?

“What’s more, even if those things were true, what right do they have to blame me? Maybe, in real life, those people are even crueler than I supposedly am!

“And those reporters! I didn’t accept their interviews, so how could they continue to ask and ask and ask? Alright, they barricaded the front door, but then they continued to call as well, so annoying! What’s even more cruel was that they pushed me over. Look! I got hurt. It really hurts.”

Qiao Anhao went on and on. Eventually, she remembered how she had dragged Lu Jinnian into it online, and how they said she was unworthy of him. Her eyes couldn’t help but turn a little darker at that. Her lips quivered, and her voice lost the angry, unjustly hurt tone of voice for a restless and uneasy one.

“Lu Jinnian, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to be dragged into this mess.”

Lu Jinnian raised his hand and followed the curve of her hair. “Qiao Qiao, as long as I can be with you, even the greatest of problems is a happy surprise to me.”

You don’t even know, how much I love that the name ‘Lu Jinnian’ can follow the two words ‘Qiao Anhao’.

In my eyes, any sentences made with the four words “Lu Jinnian” and “Qiao Anhao”, no matter if good or bad, are just so touching.

Qiao Anhao’s unbearably wronged heart, warmed up with Lu Jinnian’s words. She pouted at him, still a little grieved, and said, “But the people online say I’m not worthy of you.”

“That’s right…” said Lu Jinnian with all seriousness, causing Qiao Anhao’s heart, that had started to cheer up after much difficulty, to instantly fall again. With that, Lu Jinnian patted himself. “I’m indeed…” He pointed at Qiao Anhao. “… not worthy of you.”

Ah so annoying… she clearly said she wasn’t worthy of him, but he changed it so that he was not worthy of her.

To be played like that by Lu Jinnian, not only was Qiao Anhao mad, she smiled through her tears. “Lu Jinnian, you’re clearly acting dumb!”

Lu Jinnian stared with a calm expression at Qiao Anhao’s still wet from the tears, yet smiling and honest face. After being tensed, he could finally loosen up. After trying to cheer her up for so long, she was finally happy.

He lightened up, and he couldn’t help but pinch Qiao Anhao’s tall nose. “Are you not ashamed of yourself? One moment you’re crying, and the other you’re smiling. You’re just like a child.”

“I was always a child… Three and a half years old…” With that, Qiao Anhao pouted at Lu Jinnian and made a cute pose.

“Is that right?” asked Lu Jinnian in return. Suddenly, he flipped his body and pressed her beneath him. His hands reached into her clothes, and he squeezed her breast. “How can three and a half year olds mature so well?”

“Lu Jinnian, you dirty thug!” Qiao Anhao cried Lu Jinnian’s name in anger. Soon after, he covered her lips and let out a short “Mmm…”

Then she heard the clear sound of Lu Jinnian’s seductive voice in her ear. “I can be even dirtier.”

After that, Qiao Anhao really was picked clean by the thug Lu Jinnian.

–

After Lu Jinnian finished, he wasn’t in a rush to pull out of Qiao Anhao’s body. Instead, he hugged her tightly, lowered his head, and stared into her eyes without so much as a blink. An incomparable solemn glow emulated from within his eyes when he spoke in a deep voice. An orgasmic expression came over his face, and a seductive expression came to his face.

“Qiao Qiao, don’t worry about what outsiders say. You dragged me down, you’re not worthy of me… those are just things said by unknown voices.

“There are thousands of women out there in the world that are prettier than you, smarter than you, and more outstanding than you, but you have to understand that, I Lu Jinnian never wanted the world’s best. I wanted the the best one in my heart.

“And that one will only be you, can only be you.

“That has never changed, and it will never do so in the future.

“So don’t think too much and don’t be too upset. I promise you, I will think of a way to calm the situation down and get us out of it. I will definitely think of a way.”

After Lu Jinnian said that, Qiao Anhao blinked and let a single tear quietly fall.

After Lu Jinnian said that, Qiao Anhao blinked and let a single tear quietly fall.

At that instant, she felt like the opinions and abuse from the outside world had become insignificant.

Even if her name was run through the mud, and scolded by others… so what?

She had Lu Jinnian who deeply loved her, Lu Jinnian who every woman in the world may try their hardest to meet but may never encounter.

Lu Jinnian, who even if the world cast her aside, would treat her as treasure in his hands.

It was enough… She was content.

Her life was already full. Even if there were a few obstacles now, and even if there were a few pitfalls in the future, what did it matter?

Qiao Anhao was so moved, she didn’t know how to express her emotions. In the end, she immediately hugged his neck, lifted her head, and spontaneously kissed his lips.

Her spontaneity and passion made Lu Jinnian’s body tremble slightly. Then, he pulled her head into his, kissing her deeper.

Obviously, they just had sex and obviously they were both exhausted, yet they wanted to use the most basic way to express their inner thoughts.

The room was very quiet. The only sound was that of their intimacy.

Lu Jinnian flipped around, hugging Qiao Anhao to his body, then changed positions. Just as they were about to finish, he swapped them so he was on top and she on the bottom. Then, with all the strength in his body, he rode her to the clouds above.

A long while after they finished, Lu Jinnian was still affectionately stuck to Qiao Anhao’s body, unwilling to leave her. Her eyes were shut, and her body was outstretched, too exhausted to move an inch.

From time to time, Lu Jinnian would kiss her brow, her neck, her earlobe… Eventually, he drew closer to her ear and whispered, “Qiao Qiao, I love you.”

His words made Qiao Anhao’s feet curl. Her body slumped into his arms in exhaustion and she muttered, “I love you too.”

The very instant she said this, Lu Jinnian hastily covered her lips.

–

With an entire afternoon of stress and a further night of exercise, Qiao Anhao’s body was so exhausted, it didn’t take long for her to use Lu Jinnian’s arm as a pillow and fall deep asleep.

Tonight’s sex really tired out Lu Jinnian as well, but he wasn’t really sleepy. He waited until her breathing became soft and long, before he opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. He quietly pulled out his arm from under her head, then tiptoed out of bed. He grabbed his phone and walked out of the bedroom.

Lu Jinnian walked into the study room. He had the urge to smoke, but he decided against it as he had to return to the bedroom later and was afraid the smell of cigarettes would wake Qiao Anhao up. In the end, he put the cigarette back into it’s pack, then called his assistant.

Despite it already being quite late, after a while, the call was still picked up. The first thing heard over the phone wasn’t the assistant’s voice, but the crisp sound of the door shutting. Then the man’s voice was heard through the phone. “Mr. Lu.”

“En…” responded Lu Jinnian. Without waiting for his assistant to ask questions, he said, “Didn’t XX station get in contact with me a few times for an interview, but I rejected them? Tomorrow, get in touch with their people and set up the earliest possible time for an interview.”

After Lu Jinnian hung up, he walked over to the balcony and stood there for a while with his phone in his hands. He then stealthily retreated back into the room and climbed into the bed. When he reached his arm underneath Qiao Anhao’s neck, it prompted her to turn around and move her body into his arms. In her sleep, she found a comfortable position and continued to rest soundly.

–

Last night, Qiao Anhao’s painful cries released all the pent up anguish and haziness inside her. The next day when she woke, she was a lot more relaxed in comparison to yesterday’s dreadful heaviness.

Life is never able to run smooth. When some difficult situations befall, one first feels the earth shattering and the pressure climbing up… so much so that a gentle voice starts to emerge, whispering to give up. But once you’ve endured the hardest, the darkest times, you’ll actually realize that they were no big deal.

Qiao Anhao had already prepared herself for the worst. If worst came to worst, then she’d just be known as an example for what not to do.

It’s not that she didn’t care, but no matter how much she cared… even if she cared so much she could die… she couldn’t change reality.

Everyone in the world was making life difficult for her, so why shouldn’t she make herself happier? What’s more, even if her reputation was ruined, so what? She still had Lu Jinnian who she loved the most and who loved her back just as much, by her side.

She was over it, and she wasn’t so upset anymore.

Because the scandal had gotten so big, Lu Jinnian brought all his work back home with him, so he spent twenty-four hours everyday with Qiao Anhao.

She assumed that because of her scandal, it would reflect poorly on the Hollywood’s casting competition and she would be kicked out of the running. However, she never imagined that after waiting for two days, she wouldn’t receive a call from the show’s organizers to say she was kicked out.

Since the competition would run during the weekend and she was bored at home, Qiao Anhao figured she might as well prepare for it. Lu Jinnian was with her through it all and gave some suggestions.

In her second round in the competition she was to act as “Empress Wu Zetian”. She looked up the empresses’ famous quotes, and then in five short minutes, without saying any lines, she had to act a young Empress Wu Zetian.

For an actor, this was a major challenge. There were very few people who had such an acting range.

Regardless, Qiao Anhao worked her hardest for three days before the show to get it right.

On the day of the competition, she woke Lu Jinnian up just as it was light out. In her pajamas, she wore a professional expression on her face and ran through her lines with him for tonight’s competition.

After hearing three days worth of Empress Wu Zetian’s lines, Lu Jinnian’s ears were about to form a cocoon. At that very moment, he just wanted to hug Qiao Anhao and go back to sleep, but seeing how serious she was, he got it together and played audience to her hundred and thirty-fourth take.

After three days of enthusiastic hard work, Qiao Anhao grasped well every emotion and grandeur from her initial naive impression of Empress Wu Zetian to her final domineering finesse.

That last was especially clear when Qiao Anhao said Empress Wu Zetian’s final words, “In my next life, I will no longer be an empress, but the daughter-in-law of the Lee family”. Right then, she had practically captured the vivid legendary feeling of the Empress of China.

Lu Jinnian, who was despondent at first, became utterly stunned by the end.

After Qiao Anhao finished performing, she took a deep breath and immediately recovered her usual cute-self. She abruptly jumped onto the bed like a kid begging for sweets, and looked at Lu Jinnian with hopeful eyes. “How was it?”

That’s when Lu Jinnian finally snapped out of it, reached his arms, out and pulled her into a hug. “Good.”

“How good?”

“Very very good.”

“If you were a judge, how many points would you give me?”

“A hundred points.”

“Really?”

“More authentic than gold.”

As Qiao Anhao nestled in Lu Jinnian’s arms, she giggled with a bright smile on her face. A ray of sunshine from outside the window accentuated her charming looks. She turned around and placed her shoulder against Lu Jinnian’s shoulder and said with a conceited and proud tone, “Actually, I think so too!”

“Conceited.” Lu Jinnian chuckled. “Have you no shame?”

Qiao Anhao put on a vicious expression and opened her mouth as if ready to bite Lu Jinnian, but eventually touched his face with her lips, giving him a gentle peck. “Alright, to reward you for your honesty just now, my lady shall go and prepare breakfast for you.”

Lu Jinnian hugged her waist, preventing her from leaving, then took advantage of the opportunity to kiss her deeper. “I’d rather eat you than have breakfast…”

With that, his hand reached deep into Qiao Anhao’s pajamas.

After last night’s long session, she hadn’t bounced back, but they were at it again?

Qiao Anhao didn’t think twice about it and reached her hand out and pinched the meat between Lu Jinnian’s waist. Just as he felt the pain creep up on him, she pushed him to one side of the bed and bolted off into the bathroom.

As Qiao Anhao shut the bathroom door with a thud, Lu Jinnian chuckled in pain. He pulled the covers and closed his eyes.

–

Qiao Anhao first visited the toilet. When she squeezed out toothpaste and brushed her teeth, she thought about what she was going to wear for the competition tonight. That was when she saw the uneven hickey Lu Jinnian had given her on the neck, and couldn’t help but pout in dismay.

She gargled a mouthful of mouthwash, bent over a little, and spat out her toothpaste. Perhaps it was because she accidentally swallowed some toothpaste, she felt a little puke spew up. She couldn’t help but vomit a little in the sink.

The sickly feeling disappeared as soon as it came. Qiao Anhao washed her face and put on a quick layer of moisturizer. After getting changed into her lounge clothes, she went downstairs.

She finished making breakfast when Lu Jinnian slowly came downstairs after freshening up.

The two of them sat face-to-face. Qiao Anhao first grabbed a slice of bread and shoved it into her mouth. It tasted a little bland so she pointed at the apple jam for Lu Jinnian to pass it over to her. She casually picked up a fried egg and bit into it, but before she even swallowed it, her stomach felt uncomfortable.

She thought she was going to vomit, but the feeling was fleeting, and she felt fine a second later.

Lu Jinnian opened the apple jam jar and pushed it over to Qiao Anhao. Seeing as she picked up the chopsticks but didn’t move for quite a long time, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, and carefully rubbed her stomach to find that everything was normal. “Nothing… I just felt a little strange.”

“Strange?” Lu Jinnian furrowed his brows, and reached his arm out. He rubbed Qiao Anhao’s forehead to find that her temperature was normal, but he was still a little worried. “Do you want to go to the hospital to check it out?”

“Nah…” she said. She took a bite off the fried egg and realized that she didn’t feel unwell like before. It seemed like she had completely recovered. “I’m fine right now.”

“…” Lu Jinnian paused for a moment, then sat back down on the dining chair. When he picked up a slice of bread, he spoke again. “If you’re not feeling well, don’t force yourself and go to the hospital.”

–

In the evening, when Qiao Anhao went to participate in the competition, the entrance was crowded with reporters.

Thankfully, the organizers had made preparations in advance to employ more security guards. Although the lights flashed incessantly, Qiao Anhao was able to enter straight into the studio without any trouble.

Qiao Anhao wasn’t very confident in this competition due to the scandal. She had originally held the top place on the online polls, but now had fallen below tenth place. Perhaps the show’s production crew didn’t disqualify her from the competition to show how forgiving and generous they were. Perhaps they’ll kick her out naturally through the selection process during the competition between the top eight.

Well, no matter how it was going to be, Qiao Anhao tried her best to be calm and perform what she’d practiced at home.

She had prepared something original and truly stunning for the show.

Despite her skills being on display, because of the scandal, she didn’t receive a big response, and in the end, the sound of the fifty invited members of the audience was clearly halfhearted and cold.

The judges were probably afraid to give Qiao Anhao a high score, since they would be affected by the backlash online, so they all gave quite conservative scores besides the eldest judge. Having starred as the female lead in fifty percent of the movies of her era, that particular judge was an influential and prestigious character in the entertainment industry. She was the only one who gave Qiao Anhao full marks without any qualms about it.

The evaluation she received at the time was, “I want to choose a female lead with outstanding acting, so I judge by only your skills. As for your performance just now, I give it full marks.”

With the elderly actress’ full marks, Qiao Anhao, who originally had no hopes of getting through to the finals, actually received the scores needed for eight place, barely making it to the finals.

The finals were scheduled for next weekend Because of tonight’s competition, the heated scandal from a few days ago was raised again by everyone. The flames of earth-shattering abuse were fanned once more.

Qiao Anhao, who had already been scolded once, was seemingly numbed to having to face another wave of scolding.

So much so that on the night, she celebrated reaching the finals with a candlelit dinner with Lu Jinnian.

After that she started to prepare. Under Lu Jinnian’s suggestion and after some time of consideration, she eventually decided to perform Zhao Feiyan’s drum dance.

To make sure the dance was phenomenal, Lu Jinnian especially asked a dancer he knew for many years to their home to help Qiao Anhao with the choreography.

Qiao Anhao had all the foundations. Although she hadn’t practiced in the past few years, with the help of the dancer, she used just half a day’s time to forcibly dance through the routine. As she wanted the dance to be stunning, she needed to practice hard for the next few days.

For the first two days, Qiao Anhao danced spectacularly.

Lu Jinnian even started to join her in the dancing studio. He saw her turn and turn but not feel dizzy, her moves increasingly more agile and enchanting. On the other hand, those movements did make Lu Jinnian a little dizzy. Eventually, as Qiao Anhao danced, he went over to his study room to work.

In the blink of an eye, it was already Wednesday. There was just two more days left before the competition.

After Qiao Anhao finished her meal, she went for a walk around the courtyard of Mian Xiu Garden with Lu Jinnian.

Later, as expected, she put on some melodic Chinese folk music, and continued to turn and turn as Lu Jinnian stood at the door with both arms crossed. After a minute, he couldn’t help but feel dizzy, so he closed the door and went to his study room next door.

When he turned the computer on, he coincidentally received an email. Clicking it open, he saw that Chief Wei had sent him a ring design with the following message, [Mr. Lu, this is the sample design according to your initial design. Please take a look and let me know if there is anything you would like to amend.]

Lu Jinnian enlarged the design to see a white gold ring with blue diamonds. It looked majestic and glamorous, but Lu Jinnian still felt like it was missing something. He thought about it for a long time, then replied with [Could you please engrave the words “Lu Qiao” on it? Then, on the woman’s ring, could you please add the word, ‘Shmily’?]

See. How. Much. I. Love. You.

See how much I love you.

For the past few years, this was his most beautiful confession to her.

Each gift he gave her had those words on it.

How could it possibly not be on the ring?

–

Qiao Anhao finished dancing the drum dance in one breath.

She danced so energetically just now, she stood in front of the mirror drenched in sweat. Hastily fanning herself with her hand, she gulped some water and grabbed her phone. She randomly glanced through Wechat, and exchanged a few words with Zhao Meng before continuing with the dance again.

Just as she reached the most spectacular part and the very peak of the routine, she suddenly stopped, clutching her stomach, and crouched on the ground.

Why did her stomach suddenly hurt…

Qiao Anhao creased her brows tightly, and after thirty seconds, she still felt the pain. She instinctively wanted to scream at the top of her lungs to call Lu Jinnian over from the study room next door, when suddenly, the very moment she opened her mouth, the pain was gone. The pain that had emerged so abruptly just disappeared.

Qiao Anhao pouted, and slowly got up. Pressing her stomach, she didn’t feel any pain at all. It was as though it was all an illusion just now.

She made another turn on the spot. Her stomach still felt normal, so she stamped her feet and held a crab move, followed by a backflip… there were still no problems, but Qiao Anhao couldn’t quite say why she felt so flustered.

Since she felt uneasy, she couldn’t dance well. After working hard for a few days, it was fine to have the night off. She simply shut the music off, headed straight for the bathroom and took a shower, then climbed into bed. She drilled her way under the covers and grabbed her phone to find a missed call.

Qiao Anhao recognized the phone number, it was from the company she had especially asked to make her costume for the drum dance. Seeing as she missed the call, they sent her a text message to say that her costume was ready and asked her if she was free tomorrow so they could send someone to deliver it to her.

Qiao Anhao casually sent a text back with a single word “Yes”. Soon after, she received their reply. [Ok. It will be delivered to you at around one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.]

This time Qiao Anhao didn’t reply. Instinctively, she wanted to click on Weibo, but then she figured that there’d only be upsetting things on there, so he chucked her phone aside. She turned on the TV and randomly found a variety show . As she watched on, eventually the show put her to sleep.

–

Lu Jinnian was busy until nine o’clock, when he shut his laptop and stretched out his body. He stood up and walked out of the study room to find that the corridor was particularly quiet. There wasn’t the sound of the same Chinese folk music he’d heard for these past two days, so he pushed open the door to the dance studio in curiosity. It was empty. Qiao Anhao had long disappeared.

For the past two nights, he couldn’t get her to go to bed. Every time he would have to forcefully carry her out. How come today she stopped dancing before it got to nine o’clock?

When Lu Jinnian pushed open the door to the bedroom, he heard the sound of laughter from the TV. He instinctively turned his head, assuming he’d find a little face enthusiastically watching the screen, but who would have thought that he’d see the tilted, sleeping face on the pillow.

She must’ve tired herself out dancing these past few days to actually sleep so earlier…

Lu Jinnian walked over to the bedside, feeling helpless yet wanting to spoil her. He grabbed the pillow from behind Qiao Anhao and placed it under her head, then pulled the covers over her. He shut the TV and turned the lights off, then stood by the bed staring at her sleeping face for a while. He lowered his head to plant a kiss between her brows, then walked into the bathroom.

After he came out of the shower, Lu Jinnian slipped into bed. He was used to hugging Qiao Anhao to sleep. At the thought of how they’ve been spending every night so intimate as husband and wife, but tonight… He didn’t know if it was because he didn’t want to wake her up and couldn’t do bad things, at that very moment, Lu Jinnian actually felt unusually impulsive. In the end, he figured he may as well shut his eyes. Only when his count reached a thousand sheep did he finally fall asleep.

Deep asleep, Qiao Anhao had a dream. In it, a chubby, pale baby was smiling right at her affectionately. As the baby smiled and smiled, it suddenly jumped into her belly. On a reflex, Qiao Anhao woke up shocked with a pain in her stomach.

She opened her eyes to see the dim yellow lights from the nightlight in the room, and Lu Jinnian deep asleep beside her. Her stomach felt at ease, not a single hint of pain, which went to prove that she was just having a dream.

But no matter what, Qiao Anhao couldn’t sleep. Her mind wandered around the baby who suddenly jumped into her womb.

The flustered feeling she had during tonight’s dance practice crept into her heart again.

Her eyes were wide open, and wild thoughts ran through her mind for quite some time. Then, all of a sudden, she realized what was wrong…

She pulled out her phone and opened her period tracker to find that she was over half a month late.

But then again, her period had never been on time so that didn’t mean anything.

But this time, whilst Qiao Anhao’s period came late, her and Lu Jinnian did it quite a lot.

She counted how many times she and Lu Jinnian had had sex after they got together. It had been over a month since that first time, which went to say she could really be pregnant.

Having been completely clueless during her last pregnancy, and having experienced someone murdering her child, Qiao Anhao was a lot more careful this time. She immediately clicked onto Jingdong on her phone and into the drug store to buy a few sticks of pregnancy test.

Even though she wasn’t absolutely certain that she was pregnant, the thought that she might be made her feel inexplicably eager, excited, and a slightest bit timid and nervous.

She wasn’t a mother before aiii… This was her first… What’s more, it was her and Lu Jinnian’s baby…

Qiao Anhao wasn’t even sure if she was pregnant, but she couldn’t help but raise her hand and rub her flat stomach. She bit her bottom lip as she started to have wild thoughts quietly deep in the night, imagining her baby’s future.

She would definitely be there for her baby growing up, and make record of every little detail of his life. She’d wait till the day he was all grown up to gift them to him.

She was so pretty, Lu Jinnian was… Qiao Anhao turned her head and looked at her man’s face. Being with him day in and day out for such a long time, at that very moment, she carefully looked him up and down in a trance. After a long while, she blinked, and continued with her train of thought… Lu Jinnian was so handsome. If their baby was a girl, she’d definitely be stunningly beautiful. If their baby was a boy, he’d definitely be charming and handsome… With that thought, Qiao Anhao couldn’t help but feel foolishly happy.

She imagined a multitude of situations that could happen to the baby. Eventually, she started to feel a little upset.

Everyone now knew she was scolded online for supposedly seducing two men. When their baby grew up, went to university and made friends, what would happen if other people brought up her scandal?

Qiao Anhao then remembered what granny had told her about Lu Jinnian’s childhood. Would her baby be isolated and ridiculed by everyone too?

Even though it was all in her head, her heart still started to hurt. Those situations may not even happen but if they did, then they would definitely affect the baby.

She couldn’t let her baby experience those violent rumors.

Even though Lu Jinnian said he would handle the situation and it will all be settled, but without any evidence, how could he silence these ludicrous rumors?

The more Qiao Anhao thought about it, the more serious her expression grew. Eventually, she came to a decision.

If she really was pregnant… She had to emigrate with Lu Jinnian as soon as possible.

Since she had such a horrible reputation in this country, and she would have to live a life with an infamous name, for the sake of their child, they’d better leave to give the child a clean slate, and let him grow up healthy.

–

At night, Qiao Anhao thought about many things. By the time she fell asleep again, it was already morning.

Recently, Lu Jinnian had asked his assistant to set up an interview. It was scheduled for Thursday at three in the afternoon.

Rate Translation Quality

Although Lu Jinnian needed to leave the house at twelve. At eleven o’clock, when he went to take a shower, he called Qiao Anhao to get up. After he freshened up, got dressed, and came out of the bathroom, she was still asleep.

Lu Jinnian walked to the side of the bed, and pulled her out from the covers.

Qiao Anhao squinted her eyes open and said with some early morning anger, “Whaaat.”

“I have business to attend to. Eat the food I left you in the thermal container. You haven’t eaten breakfast and lunch, so remember to eat in a while.”

Qiao Anhao’s eyes looked like they were about to fight when she nodded frantically at Lu Jinnian.

He looked at her face with the impulse to wake her up, but then rubbed her head instead. He put her back onto the bed and gave her a kiss between the brows. As he fixed his clothes up, he made his way out.

–

It hadn’t been five minutes since Lu Jinnian left when the doorbell started to ring.

Having been continuously woken up, Qiao Anhao ripped the sheets off a little angrily. When she went to open the door, she realized that it was the delivery for the dance costume. She signed for it and saw the delivery person out. She tossed the dance costume on the sofa on the first floor, then let out a yawn, wanting to go back upstairs, but the doorbell rang again.

She frantically turned around towards the delivery person. As she yawned, she signed for her package, then casually chucked it on the shelf at the entrance and groggily walked up the stairs. After taking just a few steps, she suddenly remembered what was in that package.

Her footsteps halted for a moment, then she darted back and rushed over to the entrance. She hugged the package, ran up the stairs and found a pair of scissors. The moment she cut the package open, she pulled out several pregnancy tests. She casually ripped one of them open, glanced over the instruction manual, and rushed into the bathroom.

Qiao Anhao used all seven pregnancy tests in one go. Then sat on the toilet, staring squarely at the row of pregnancy tests on the floorboard.

About five minutes passed. The first pregnancy test had two red lines.

Three seconds hadn’t even passed when the second pregnancy test had two red lines.

At the same time, two red lines appeared on the third and fourth pregnancy tests.

Following those, the results for the fifth, sixth, and seventh came out. The fifth and seventh tests had two bright red lines like the first four tests, while the sixth had just one red line and another faint line.

Qiao Anhao didn’t dare believe the results in her mind, so she compared the pregnancy tests with the manual. Then, her mind slowly drifted over the word: Pregnant…

Six of the seven sticks of pregnancy test had two red lines, which went to say… She really was pregnant!

Qiao Anhao stood up from the toilet seat excitedly. She stayed there in shock for a moment before hastily pulling her underwear up. She rushed out the bathroom to find her phone and call Lu Jinnian.

He was probably busy right now, so he didn’t pick up her call.

Qiao Anhao hung up in regret, but soon enough, her joy eradicated any hints of leftover regret.

But then, Qiao Anhao’s smile quickly froze.

Last night, whilst dancing, her stomach hurt.

What did this mean? Was there something wrong with the baby?

Perhaps it was because she’d lost her last child, Qiao Anhao suddenly grew restless.

Nah… She had to go to the hospital, now! If there were any problems, they could find out early and think of a plan.

Lu Jinnian was busy so he definitely couldn’t be with her now.

But if he was here, it would be easier for her to go out then alone… But if she left later, then what if there was something wrong with the baby?

Qiao Anhao paced around the house restlessly. She thought for a moment, then finally pulled her phone and called Zhao Meng.

It had been almost ten days since the scandal broke out. During that time, besides the day of the top eight competition, Qiao Anhao had practically never left the house.

Though the heat of the scandal was almost over, Qiao Anhao still didn’t have the courage to leave the house without any measures to disguise herself. She was afraid that if anyone spotted her in a crowd, she’d be surrounded by people with no way to escape. What’s more, now she had a baby in her belly. In the midst of the shoving and pushing, if she tripped up, the situation would undoubtedly be horrible.

So before stepping out the door, she got cloaked from head to toe, so much so that when Zhao Meng drove into Mian Xiu Garden’s courtyard, she jumped in fright when she got into the car looking like that.

–

Before Zhao Meng arrived, she had already helped Qiao Anhao contact a gynecologist. When they arrived at the hospital, they parked the car in the underground lot, where a nurse immediately escorted them to an elevator.

Even though Qiao Anhao had already had pregnancy tests at home, now that she was at the hospital, the gynecologist still had to get a urine sample and take her blood to run tests.

Her being pregnant was already an ironclad truth, but as Qiao Anhao waited for her checkup results in her private room, she was still a little nervous.

After about fifteen minutes had passed, the gynecologist brought a few forms back. She handed them to Qiao Anhao. The forms had technical language on them, which she couldn’t understand, so she took a quick glance and raised her head to look at the doctor.

“Miss Qiao, congratulations! You are pregnant for a month now.”

A month… Then wasn’t it that night she drugged Lu Jinnian in America?

She said it, she had a baby in her belly at the time, and Lu Jinnian just gave her a look of disbelief…

Qiao Anhao secretly let out an ‘ah’. She then hastily asked the doctor about more serious matters. “Last night whilst I was dancing, my stomach hurt. Is the baby okay?”

“Miss Qiao, don’t worry. The baby’s just fine.” The doctor gave Qiao Anhao a reassuring smile. “The pain you felt last night was probably because you were dancing too vigorously. It must’ve upset the fetus. As long as you don’t bleed, it’s nothing major. However, the first three months of pregnancy are rather dangerous. I recommend Miss Qiao that you rest well. Of course, resting well doesn’t suggest you stay in bed. Taking walks is good for the body.”

Qiao Anhao listened intently, paying close attention to every word the doctor said, trying to take it all in.

“Also, please remember to visit the hospital for a B-scan in a month to check the baby’s heartbeat.” After the doctor finished, she thought for a moment, then added, “Oh, right… Miss Qiao, I prescribed you some folic acid . Please have Miss Zhao pay and collect it, and please do remember to take them on time every day.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Qiao Anhao wore a light smile and looked over at Zhao Meng. Her friend immediately knew what to do, she grabbed her purse and walked out.

Soon enough, Zhao Meng returned with two boxes of folic acid.

As per the gynecologist’s orders, the nurse escorted them downstairs to the parking lot. When they got in the car, Zhao Meng couldn’t wait to take her phone out. She turned to Qiao Anhao and said, “Qiao Qiao, when I went downstairs to pay, I saw a broadcast about you and Lu Jinnian, and it’s an interview!”

As per the gynecologist’s orders, the nurse escorted them downstairs to the parking lot. When they got in the car, Zhao Meng couldn’t wait to take her phone out. She turned to Qiao Anhao and said, “Qiao Qiao, when I went downstairs to pay, I saw a broadcast about you and Lu Jinnian, and it’s an interview!”

Qiao Anhao furrowed her brows. “Interview? What interview?”

“It’s that ‘Appointment with the Great God’…” As Zhao Meng said this, she clicked into the website with the live broadcast.

Because the parking lot was underground, the signal was cutting in and out, and the streaming speed was terrible. Zhao Meng put her phone to one side and started the car up straight away. When she drove above ground, she found an area to stop at with fewer cars. Then, she brought her phone up again and started the stream.

About half a minute passed, then the presenter’s voice came out of Zhao Meng’s phone. “Just now, we talked about Mr. Lu’s thoughts on the future of Huan Ying Entertainment, so our next question for Mr. Lu is about himself. Mr. Lu, have you recently had any plans to star in a new project?”

Zhao Meng put her phone on the car’s phone stand. On the screen, Qiao Anhao saw Lu Jinnian wearing a slim, black, tailored suit. He sat on the left looking strikingly good, his long legs crossed in the armchair. He looked majestic and graceful. Between his brows, he emulated his usual distant and cold aura, making him entirely mysterious but not overly elusive.

Faced with the presenter’s question, he deliberately paused for two seconds, as though seriously considering something, then said, “I have no plans at the moment.”

“Ah, that’s a real shame. I trust many of our viewers tuning in now are definitely disappointed. After all, everyone still wants to see our Mr. Lu appear often on our screens.” The presenter’s tone of voice was very fitting, there was even a slither of regret, but quickly after, he changed the question. “We know since last year, for about half a year now, Mr. Lu has left the company for others to operate. In this past half a year, has Mr. Lu been enjoying your time off or are you working on a new project?”

“Not a new project, but investing and playing the stock market.” Lu Jinnian’s voice was as plain as usual.

“Stock market? Recently, the stock market is really bleak. I know quite a few friends who have performed poorly. I wonder if Mr. Lu is winning or losing?”

Lu Jinnian’s reply was really modest. “I’m lucky. For the time being, I haven’t lost yet.”

“So Mr. Lu, can you reveal just how much you won?”

“I think I doubled it.”

“Doubled?” the presenter shrieked. “Then Mr. Lu, can you divulge just how much did you doubled?”

Lu Jinnian had a good demeanor, but he lowered his eyes and didn’t say a word.

The presenter really had a way with words, as he immediately switched topics. “Alright, it’s better if we not ask this personal question. However, I still want to shoot my mouth off and say, Mr. Lu, how do you plan to spend all that money you’re raking in?!”

The presenter was just lamenting his feelings. He didn’t actually think Lu Jinnian would respond, so after he finished that line, they put the microphone down and flipped to the next cue card to see how they would continue with the interview.

Who knew, Lu Jinnian, who was sitting to a side, would pause for a second, then calmly say the four words, “To support Qiao Qiao.”

The moment the presenter asked Lu Jinnian how much profit he gained through the stock market, Zhao Meng nosily asked Qiao Anhao, “Qiao Qiao, how much has your husband invested into the stock market?”

Qiao Anhao shook her head at a loss. She really didn’t know how much Lu Jinnian had invested. Even though they were married, after becoming lawfully husband and wife, she was like everyone else when it came to Lu Jinnian’s finances. She knew he was loaded but she hadn’t a clue how rich.

“Qiao Qiao, you’re not really doing a great job at being a wife are ya… you don’t even know how much money your husband has…” Zhao Meng hadn’t finished complaining when Lu Jinnian’s elegant voice said “To support Qiao Qiao” through the phone. Zhao Meng’s mouth gaped, as though she’d just forgotten what she was saying, then her words changed instantly. “Qiao Qiao, you can’t find another wife as fortunate as you in this world!”

“…” Without saying a word, Qiao Anhao rolled her eyes at Zhao Meng, then turned back to Lu Jinnian on the phone. No matter how composed she appeared, her brows still shot up at the two words Lu Jinnian.

–

The presenter was left stunned by Lu Jinnian’s sudden four words, and stared at him in a daze. “Mr. Lu, you earn so much money just to support your wife?”

It was obvious how interested the presenter was about Lu Jinnian’s private life. Seeing how he had actively brought the topic up, the organizers put some cue cards with questions prepared in advance. The presenter looked at Lu Jinnian and asked, “Mr. Lu, do you care to share with us your and Miss Qiao’s story?”

Lu Jinnian spoke calmly and politely. “I’d be delighted to.”

“Mr. Lu, when did you meet Miss Qiao? How did you meet?”

Even though those glorious times had passed many years ago, he remembered everything clearly in his mind, like it had happened yesterday. Lu Jinnian didn’t think too much about it when he spoke.

“During the first half of my third year in junior middle school, I would often see her pushing her bike past the football field I played in after school with friends. That’s when I noticed her.”

Perhaps it was because he was reminiscing his past, but Lu Jinnian’s eyes grew softer. “But I actually met her in my first year of high school.”

“First year of high school?” The presenter was evidently shocked.

“Yes, first year of high school,” repeated Lu Jinnian calmly. “But then, that year when I graduated from my third year of junior middle school to high school, we once had a close encounter with one another.”

“A close encounter?” The presenter looked engrossed.

“It was on a rainy day that we found shelter under a roof together for the first time.”

“Oh that sounds so romantic… There’s lyrics by Jay Chou… How they go again?” As the presenter said this, she tilted her head in thought, but eventually couldn’t remember what they were.

Lu Jinnian, who sat to a side and was always not very talkative, eventually spoke up himself. “Rainy days aren’t the most beautiful thing, it’s to find shelter under a roof with you that is.”

“Yeah, that line. So Mr, Lu remembers that line in the song. That must mean it really resonated with you.” The presenter smiled, then asked, “So Mr. Lu, did you fall in love with rainy days after that time finding cover from the rain?”

“Yes.”

–

“Qiao Qiao, so as it turns out, Lu Jinnian has liked you since the third year of junior middle school?” said Zhao Meng, since she couldn’t resist to comment.

Qiao Anhao didn’t even bother with Zhao Meng, but stared at Lu Jinnian on the phone. She thought back to when she filmed “Alluring Times” and when his assistant asked her to go to his room. At the time, she even brought him dinner. It was raining that night. She enthusiastically ran over to the window and stared at the falling raindrops. Back then, he even asked her, “Do you like rainy days?”

She remembered it clearly… the tone of his voice and hints of surprise when he said it.

But she didn’t understand what he was surprised about exactly. She said “Yeah”, and even asked him in return, “Do you also like rainy days?”.

It was around the time they reunited, and when they spoke the most to each other.

That night, he told her that he fell in love with rainy days because of someone. Deep inside, she was a little excited because she also fell in love with rainy days because of a person.

Till now, she hadn’t realized just how many things they both loved because of one another.

–

“Mr. Lu, you mentioned that you’ve known Miss Qiao since the first year of high school. Does that mean Mr. Lu has had a secret crush on Miss Qiao for as long as a year?”

Lu Jinnian lowered his eyes. His voice was just as flat as usual, but there was also a hint of hidden sadness. “Not one year, thirteen years.”

“Thirteen years?” The presenter was completely shocked by Lu Jinnian’s words. “Thirteen years isn’t a short amount of time. Many people have had someone they’ve secretly had a crush on, but eventually they’d lose to the reality of it all. Mr. Lu, how did you persist for so long?”

“It’s not that I wanted to persist, but I couldn’t not persist, because at first, I gave her all my emotions. From that moment on, I didn’t have any emotions left for anyone else.” As Lu Jinnian said this, he had a distant expression on his face, but the words from his mouth were actually incomparably emotional.

The presenter sat beside Lu Jinnian astonished by his reply. After a pause, she then asked, “Mr. Lu, why didn’t you confess to Miss. Qiao?”

Lu Jinnian, who never once discussed his personal life to the media, for the first time, didn’t hold back or mask anything. He spoke frankly. “At first, I had to work through the scorching heat on weekends handing out leaflets to be able to give her a birthday gift, let alone talk about giving her a good life. Even the simplest daily things in life, I couldn’t provide them for her.”

“Mr. Lu, were you afraid the girl you liked would live a hard life, so you never confessed?”

Lu Jinnian didn’t say anything this time, but gave a gentle nod.

“But if I remember correctly, Mr. Lu, you won the award for best supporting actor six years ago. At the time, your pay must’ve been high, right? You could definitely give Miss Qiao a good life. Why didn’t you confess then?”

“I wanted to confess…” He thought back to the night he received the award. He had rushed over from Changsha back to Beijing overnight, just to catch her by the end of her birthday and tell her ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘I love you’. In the end, what actually happened was different. “But before I could even confess, I learned that she was engaged to someone else.”

“Someone else?” The rumors about Qiao Anhao were buzzing, and the presenter had caught wind of them too. “Was it Mr. Xu Jiamu?”

“Someone else?” The rumors about Qiao Anhao were buzzing, and the presenter had caught wind of them too. “Was it Mr. Xu Jiamu?”

Lu Jinnian let out a “Yeah” in confirmation.

“On this topic, I think we can’t not mention the recent scandal that has caused a frenzy online.” The presenter’s attitude became instantly serious. “I believe, Mr. Lu must’ve seen the photos publicized online. Furthermore, Mr. Lu just said that Miss Qiao and Mr. Xu were engaged, so… Pardon me Mr. Lu, is it true that Miss Qiao and Mr. Xu got divorced because of you and the scandals online?”

Perhaps because Lu Jinnian was live on set, the presenter’s words were far from sharp and direct, unlike those of the reporters in Mian Xiu Garden. In fact, she was extremely cunning with her words.

But the implications were all the same. She was asking Lu Jinnian if the online scandal was true… that Qiao Anhao really had an affair during her marriage, and because of Lu Jinnian, she really did abandon Xu Jiamu.

When Lu Jinnian was asked this question, his demeanor seemed utterly calm and composed, as though the person being cursed online wasn’t Qiao Anhao. The tone of his voice was dull as when he discussed Huan Ying Entertainment’s progress. “Since everybody thinks those photos are real, do you think there’s any reason for me to answer the question?”

The presenter was left stunned for a while at Lu Jinnian’s question, then smiled and said, “Mr. Lu, by that, are you suggesting that the situation isn’t as everyone thinks it is?”

Lu Jinnian was just as he was before. He didn’t directly answer the question, but as usual, he asked a question back in response. “If I said no, who would believe me?”

This time, the presenter was so stifled, she didn’t quite know what to say.

Lu Jinnian inhaled gently and continued to say, “If a man really loves a woman, I believe he wouldn’t want to ruin her reputation.

“If I really wanted to steal someone’s woman, I could of made a move five years ago when they were engaged. I didn’t have to let the woman I deeply love become my forbidden love. I didn’t have to watch as we lost five whole years.

“Myself, I only wanted to see her happy. I never hoped for her to be my wife.

“Of course, I’ve said all this, but everyone may not believe me. After all, they’re just words without any evidence. Those photos are real.

“I also know that there’s no use for me to stand out and say all this, and it can’t change anything, but I still want to let it out. Most importantly, I want to say it for her to hear.

“Because I want her to know that even if everyone in the world abandons her, I would stand by her side without hesitation and fight against the world.”

As Lu Jinnian said this, the presenter, sitting beside him, never made a sound to interrupt him.

The interview had clearly gone awry, yet everyone filming live on set didn’t relay a single prompt.

Lu Jinnian stayed silent for a moment, then opened his mouth to speak again. His voice wasn’t as dull as before, but full with intense emotions. “Qiao Qiao, no matter how many people say that you’re no good… no matter how many lies or how much gossip surrounds you, I will always see you as my beloved princess.

“I’m so sorry that I can’t share the slanders targeted at you, but I will try my very best to shield you.”

Everyone in the entertainment industry knew that Lu Jinnian never accepted interviews, nor did he answer personal questions, but today… Since he sat down, answering each and every question the presenter asked him, till the very the end, where the topic turned to Qiao Anhao, he was very cooperative in the face of the presenter’s nosy questions. Right then, his aim was for the presenter to ask him about the online scandals buzzing about these past few days.

From the very start, it looked like a regular interview, but nobody knew that it was a trap he had actually set up, one step at a time.

He didn’t have any evidence that he was the ‘Xu Jiamu’ Qiao Anhao married, so he could only use this method to clear matters up.

Of course, this clarification wasn’t very persuasive… He couldn’t persuade every single person to believe it, but he still wanted to do it.

Not only did he do it, but in front of everyone in the world, he wanted to openly swear to treat her well.

Even if the people weren’t fine with his honesty, what did that matter?

He just wanted her to be happy.

–

Qiao Anhao froze completely the moment Lu Jinnian said, “I confessed…”.

He confessed to her? How did she completely not know about it? When was this?

Yet before she could come up with an answer for all the doubts she had in her mind, he spoke again with all seriousness.

Zhao Meng, who was watching the broadcast and commenting, miraculously quietened down.

All that could be heard in the car was the echo of Lu Jinnian’s voice.

“Because I want her to know that even if everyone in the world abandons her, I would stand by her side without hesitation and fight against the world.”

His tone of voice was clearly flat, yet he gave people a feeling of shock.

Having received Lu Jinnian’s feelings, the stunned Qiao Anhao couldn’t help but raise her hand and cover her mouth at that one line.

“Qiao Qiao, no matter how many people say that you’re no good… no matter how many lies or how much gossip surrounds you, I will always see you as my beloved princess.

“I’m so sorry that I can’t share the slanders targeted at you, but I will try my very best to shield you.”

His voice was slow and gentle. When he said romantic things, his expression was just as cold his usual reclusive nature, but the words still warmed her heart.

She didn’t know if her pregnancy was amplifying her emotions, but tears started to suddenly fall from her eyes.

Before he left the house, he told her that he’d be busy dealing with work.

When she knew she was pregnant, she tried calling him but he didn’t pick up. At the time, she felt a little sorry for not being able to immediately share the surprise with him.

In fact, she was so worried for the baby in her womb that the first thing she did was go to the hospital for a check up, asking Zhao Meng to accompany her. She had been in low spirits.

However, she never imagined that this man, who left her on her own whilst she was in the midst of the scathing online attacks, had actually stood up to protect her.

A while back, she had reassured herself ‘so what if the whole world was scolding her’. But in the end, she was a Qiao Anhao who had Lu Jinnian. At that very moment, she felt content for having someone like him, even if her reputation was ruined.

Good men don’t charm you till you’re disoriented, but steadily spoil you little by little.

They say deep love is not as good as long companionship, and profound love needn’t an exchange of many words.

Yet Qiao Anhao had clearly also loved him for thirteen years, but why did she feel like her love was so insignificant and not worth a mention in the face of his love.

That man… always wore an icy cold expression and wasn’t talkative. If you jabbered on and on, he would only reply with responses like “Mm” or “Good”. Sometimes, it would also make you feel uninterested, and involuntarily want to lash out.

But the moment this reclusive man opened his mouth to speak, his words would touch the heart.

How was Qiao Anhao so lucky, to actually be able to find a person who was willing to stop the world for her?

–

When the interview finished, Lu Jinnian went back to the break room and grabbed his phone to see Qiao Anhao’s missed calls. Without thinking twice, he immediately called back. The phone rang a few times, and then it was picked yet it wasn’t her usual gentle voice but the wailing sound of sobbing.

Lu Jinnian’s entire body tightened up. “Qiao Qiao? What’s wrong?”

“I…” As Qiao Anhao had been crying for so long, she could only say one word before abruptly hiccuping.

At that instant, Lu Jinnian’s heart became suddenly anxious. Without a second thought, he turned around and apologized to the chief of the TV station, who he had made plans to treat for dinner, and said, “Sorry, Chief Fang, my wife is in a bit of trouble. I have to go back home. I’ll have to treat you to dinner on another day.”

“Don’t worry, Chief Lu. Go ahead, let’s reschedule for another day.”

Lu Jinnian apologized again, then turned around and said to the assistant, “Hurry, get the car ready. Back to Mian Xiu Garden.”

It had taken a lot for Qiao Anhao to calm herself over the phone, but when she overheard him through the still open call, she was moved to even more unrelenting tears.

After Lu Jinnian heard her cries, he darted out of the TV station so fast he almost started to fly. Just as he got into the car, he started to urge the assistant to go faster… faster.. and faster. In the midst of his commands, he would say a few comforting words to Qiao Anhao in a low voice every so often.

The TV station was located in the center of the most flourishing part of the city. On top of this, it was also rush hour at the time, so the traffic was crazy. Every now and then, the car would stop. Every once in a while, Qiao Anhao would hear Lu Jinnian’s violent outbursts towards his assistant.

“Didn’t I say hurry?!”

“Can you drive?!”

“Why didn’t you push through?!”

“Stop the car! Get out! I’m driving!”

Even though he wasn’t screaming at Qiao Anhao, she shivered for a moment at his roar. Instinctively, she stroked her belly. As she snorted, she said feebly, “Lu Jinnian…”

Lu Jinnian had planned to push the car door open, when, all of a sudden, he heard Qiao Anhao’s voice. It brought him to an abrupt halt. His voice was careful yet impatient. “What’s wrong? Qiao Qiao, I’m here.”

“I… I, I’m fine…” Because Qiao Anhao couldn’t stop sobbing, her words were choppy. At the thought of how exaggeratedly she was crying just now, she couldn’t help but smile through her tears. As she wiped them away, she angrily spoke to Lu Jinnian on the phone. “It’s all your fault… If it weren’t for you, why else would I cry?”

“Me?” Lu Jinnian was totally scared half to death by her words. What did he do to make her cry like this?

Lu Jinnian hesitated just for a split-second, wanting to say “Sorry”, but then he heard Qiao Anhao say a little choked up over the phone, “Lu Jinnian, thank you.”

With those words, he finally understood just why she was crying.

The anxiousness in his heart calmed down and his tensed up body loosened up, and he leaned back into his seat. He waved his hand over at his assistant, who had stopped the car by the side of the road and got out, to continue driving. Then he said sluggishly, “You’ve seen the broadcast?”

“En.” Qiao Anhao was still sobbing, but in comparison to just then, she sounded significantly calmer. “Where are you right now?”

“On the way home.”

“Oh,” responded Qiao Anhao. She then subconsciously cried, “Lu Jinnian, I…”

She wanted to say “I’m pregnant”.

But as the words reached her mouth, she figured that since he missed the chance to be the first to find out, it wouldn’t hurt to know a day and night late.

Tomorrow night were the finals of the competition. She couldn’t take the role in that Hollywood movie anymore, nor could she perform Zhao Feiyan’s drum dance. At most, she could wear the costume up on stage and look pretty for a moment. However, she would take the advantage of the stage to copy what he did today and give him a surprise.

But she didn’t know how he would react the instant he heard her say that she was pregnant.

“What’s wrong?” asked Lu Jinnian, after having not heard her for quite some time over the phone.

“I’m fine, it’s just that I suddenly really want to eat nuts.” Qiao Anhao hurriedly put the assumptions in her mind away and casually changed the subject.

“Alright, I’ll bring some back home for you,” Lu Jinnian replied. “Is there anything else you’d like to eat?”

“En…” Qiao Anhao thought back for a moment to the many things the doctor had recommended she eat during her pregnancy, and listed them in detail, “Apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes, fish, eggs, milk… Oh, and pig trotters.”

“Pig trotters?” Lu Jinnian was surprised. “Don’t you hate eating pig trotters?”

Qiao Anhao acted like a spoiled child. “I want to eat them now…”

Lu Jinnian instantly knew what to do. “Alright, I’ll buy some back for you.”

“En, then I’ll wait for you at home.”

–

Xu Jiamu left a contract in Mian Xiu Garden. When he went over at night to get it, he received a shared video on WeChat from Song Xiangsi. In response, he asked, “What?”

Song Xiangsi arrogantly and coolly replied with “Can’t take a look for yourself?”, then ignored him.

And so, all he could do was click it for himself and watch.

Xu Jiamu thought that Song Xiangsi had sent him a video about herself. He never imagined that when he clicked on it, the video would be of Lu Jinnian’s interview.

At the very start, they spoke about Huan Ying Entertainment’s future plans, which Xu Jiamu watched a little restlessly. As he looked at his phone, he parked the car at the entrance of the courtyard.

With the key in his hands, he was getting ready to push the car door open and step out when the presenter in the phone asked a nosy question. “Mr. Lu, do you care to share with us your and Miss Qiao’s story?”

Xu Jiamu, who knew Lu Jinnian well, couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Was the presenter eager to get snubbed? Since when did his brother ever divulge anything about his private life to the public?

In the end, he was caught off guard by the fact that Lu Jinnian actually replied with “I’d be delighted to.”

Xu Jiamu couldn’t help but stare at the phone screen, as he stood still by the side of the car.

In the video, Lu Jinnian appeared stylish and calm throughout, but when he spoke about Qiao Anhao, there was clearly a hint of gentleness between his brows.

Xu Jiamu had always known that Lu Jinnian had a girl he liked.

He only knew because his brother had let it slip one time when he was drunk. He revealed just a little and then was knocked out.

He was always curious to find out just who that woman was.

But he never imagined that the woman Lu Jinnian loved was actually Qiao Anhao.

As Lu Jinnian spoke, Xu Jiamu thought back to when he had helped him order a cake for Qiao Anhao from Black Swan. The cake cost five figures. At the time, he gave Lu Jinnian his credit card, to have it returned to him without a cent spent. Xu Jiamu had especially asked him worriedly, “Bro, where did you get the money to buy the cake?”

Lu Jinnian flipped through the physics book and said flatly, “I have it.”

Xu Jiamu had actually wanted to give him the money but he didn’t want it, so he dropped it, afraid to hurt his pride.

But then later, there was a long period of time where he would reject his invitations to play ball.

After a considerably long amount of time, he went to a bar, and incidentally heard from a bartender that he worked there for a few months.

At the time, he didn’t think much of it, not really seeing a point to it. Now that Lu Jinnian was saying all this, he finally understood. He bought the cake with the money he earned working those nights.

Later, when he had money, he didn’t confess because he knew that Qiao Anhao was engaged.

He remembered… there was a time, at a party, where he casually asked if he really had an engagement with the Qiao family.

He said yes.

He even asked, Da Qiao or Xiao Qiao?

He said Xiao Qiao.

Because of his single reply, did he give up on the girl he had had a crush on for so many years?

Because he was his little brother… was he trying to say that he absolutely wouldn’t touch his brother’s fiance?

The rims of Xu Jiamu’s eyes became a little red.

Time goes by… In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed. He thought he knew some things, but now, he realized that he’d known nothing.

That icy arrogant older brother who always treated him as his closest relative had forced himself to let go of his love.

In truth… he just didn’t know it was like that… He didn’t have to marry Qiao Qiao, but out of the many women he could of been engaged to, he liked her the most.

If he knew that he liked Qiao Qiao, he definitely, definitely, definitely wouldn’t have said he’d choose Qiao Qiao.

He definitely, definitely, definitely would have helped him get Qiao Qiao.

Even to this very moment, whilst everyone abandoned the woman he loved, Lu Jinnian stood up to protect and guard her. He never wanted to uncover the truth that he had actually pretended to be his brother.

Xu Jiamu put his phone into his pocket, then slightly turned his head and took a deep breath. He was trying to force his tears back when he saw a car park at the entrance of the villa in front of him. Qiao Anhao got out of it with a stack of papers. She waved goodbye at the person in the car. After she waited for the car to leave, she turned to open the door and accidentally dropped the papers.

Qiao Anhao stopped entering the passcode to bend down and pick up the sheets of paper.

The late winter wind was quite strong, and the southern one was blowing through the road. Qiao Anhao picked up just three or four sheets when a gust of wind blew the rest in the direction of where Xu Jiamu was standing.

Qiao Anhao chased after them and bent down to pick them up. As she chased after the last two sheets of paper, she walked over to the front of the car, where the papers finally landed. Before she could pick them up, someone bent down to help her get them.

With a word of “Thanks”, Qiao Anhao raised her head to see a stiff face, then cried, “Brother Jiamu!”

Xu Jiamu gave a slight nod. Just as he was bout to hand Qiao Anhao the two sheets of paper he picked up, his eyes were drawn to several words on them. He furrowed his brows, then brought the papers towards himself. He looked over them with all seriousness and his hand slightly tightened on the sheet. He raised his head in excitement and then asked in disbelief, “Qiao Qiao, you’re pregnant?”

“En.” QIao Anhao gave a gentle nod.

“How long has it been?” Xu Jiamu’s line of sight fell to Qiao Anhao’s stomach. It was still quite flat, as though no difference from usual.

Qiao Anhao said, “Only a month.”

“I…” Xu Jiamu paused for a moment, then finally followed with, “Bro… does he know?”

Qiao Anhao shook her head. “He still doesn’t know yet. I only just found out this afternoon.”

“En.” Xu Jiamu gave a nod, then stared at the pregnancy examination results again. He thought back to how his own mother had killed Qiao Anhao’s last child, and lowered his head in shame. After a long while, he said, “So from today onward, you have to take good care of yourself.”

Qiao Anhao understood the meaning behind those words.

The first child was lost. And it was her neglect and carelessness that caused it. As for the second child, she definitely wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen.

Qiao Anhao gave an “En”. “Thank you, Brother Jiamu. I’ll make sure to be careful.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Xu Jiamu repeated it twice. Then he fell silent, not quite knowing what else to say.

Qiao Anhao saw his quietness, and followed suit. After standing there for quite some time, she finally broke the silence. “Brother Jiamu, if there’s nothing else, I’d better be off.”

“Yeah, Yeah,” he repeated. “The wind is strong and cold. Don’t catch a cold. Pregnant women can’t eat medicine, so you’d better hurry back.”

“En.” Qiao Anhao stood on the spot without flinching. Her eyes stared straight at the two sheets of paper in Xu Jiamu’s hands.

She didn’t know what he was thinking about, but he seemed a little distracted.

All Qiao Anhao could do was speak up to remind him. “Brother Jiamu, my check up results.”

“Oh!” he suddenly responded. He hurriedly handed the papers back to Qiao Anhao. For some reason, he seemed to be a little flustered.

“Brother Jiamu, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Xu Jiamu shook his head and then said, “You’d better hurry back now.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

Qiao Anhao smiled at Xu Jiamu then turned around and walked back towards the entrance of Lu Jinnian’s villa.

Xu Jiamu stood on the spot until she entered the house. He stayed in his original position without moving so much as an inch.

Back home, Qiao Anhao first went into the bathroom to pick up the pregnancy tests she’d left on the floor and chucked them into a black trash bag. She then grabbed the test results from the hospital and circled the bedroom for a place to hide them. In the end, she crawled over the fluffy rug and shoved the sheets under the bed. That’s when she saw a familiar looking metal box.

She froze for a moment, then pulled it out. She opened it to find an aged RMB note, a plane ticket, a train ticket, and a light blue envelope covered in pink hearts.

She had planned to give it to Lu Jinnian on his birthday. But to hide the surprise gift she had bought for him that day, she needed to hide the box under the bed. Later, because all she could think about was how he aborted their child, so much so she left him, she just assumed that she had put the metal box in her suitcase.

If she hadn’t stumbled upon it under the bed today, who knows how long it would’ve stayed there for?

Qiao Anhao stared at the things in the metal box for a while, then slightly curved her lips. She put the pregnancy sticks and check up results inside, closed the lid, and put it back under the bed.

–

When Xu Jiamu arrived back at Su Yuan apartments, Song Xiangsi was wearing an apron and cooking in the kitchen.

It was an open kitchen, so when he removed his shoes at the entrance, he instantly saw her holding a knife like an expert, yet completely unregulated and ungraceful, as she sliced a cucumber.

The vent was clearly on, but for some reason Song Xiangsi managed to fill the room with smoke. When she heard the sound of the door opening, she covered her mouth and let out a cough. Turning her head, she bluntly said to him, “You’re back? Wash your hands for dinner.”

Without waiting for Xu Jiamu to answer, she turned her head right back around. Holding the knife with two hands, she randomly chopped the cucumber on the chopping board as though she was going to kill someone. Then, she picked it up and divided the slices into two bowls.

She picked them, one in each hand, and then planted them hard onto the dinning table with a “PA!”. She furrowed her brows at Xu Jiamu who stood in the living with raised eyebrows. “What are you doing blanking out? Are you not going to eat?”

“En,” Xu Jiamu responded, going to the bathroom to wash his hands. He then sat down in front of Song Xiangsi. Just as he picked up his chopsticks, he looked at the dark mess in his bowl and dropped them down in shock with a “PALA!”. “Song Xiangsi, can you tell me what the hell is this?”

She calmly lifted her eyes, a matter-of-fact expression on her face. “Fried sauce noodles. What? You’ve never had it before?”

“Fried sauce noodles? Fried sauce noodles at your house looks like this?” Xu Jiamu picked up his chopsticks again and lifted the knotted mess of noodles, the unevenly thick and thin excuse for cucumber strips, and the pitch-black sauce. He let out an evil chuckle. “Hehe, I couldn’t tell.”

As his words dropped, Song Xiangsi grabbed his bowl in a swoop and without saying a word was ready to pour it into the bin. Xu Jiamu grabbed the bowl back with his sharp reflexes. He stirred the noodles with his chopsticks for a long time, forcibly picked up a string of them and put into his mouth. The next second, Xu Jiamu grabbed for the cup beside him and gulped the water down in an instant.

“Song Xiangsi, just how much salt did you add?”