Chapter 3 She Wants to Have Eight Babies with You

Xi Xingye coughed twice, thick brows pressing down over his eyes. His glassy gaze lifted, his expression written all over with “Are you insane?” and “Say that again, I dare you.”

Xu Zijie, looking mysteriously wise, said, “I’m serious. And from what I’ve observed, she’s been plotting this for a long time. She wants to marry you first, fall in love later, then have eight babies with you in one go, and finally—leave with the child in her belly, only to reunite with you after the broken mirror is pieced together!”

Xi Xingye stubbed out his cigarette, beckoned the waiter over, and said, “Bring me that medicine bottle.”

The bottle was the old man’s emergency supply.

Xi Xingye snatched it up and shoved it into Xu Zijie’s mouth.

“Serves you right for listening to those story sessions with your grandma all day long! Listen, listen, listen—your brain’s gone rotten from listening!”

“Cough, cough, cough… Brother Xi, think about it—your reputation, who in the whole capital doesn’t know? Even kids stop crying when they hear your name… ow!”

Xi Xingye withdrew his foot. Xu Zijie immediately raised the white flag.

“Anyway, she insisted on marrying you even with a prenup, even tried to seduce you. You think that bar incident was really an accident? Obviously she did it on purpose so you’d hear about it! From now on, just watch her closely—see if she shows these three signs—”

“Replying to your messages instantly, caring about you, and getting jealous when you’re around other women.”

“If she hits two or more of those, then she definitely likes you!”

Xi Xingye narrowed his eyes, and in his mind, Shen Qingci’s words flashed back—

No staying out overnight.
No other women…

Could it be… she really likes him?

“Forget it.” Xi Xingye set down his glass. “I don’t care if she likes me or not. I’ll never fall for her in this lifetime anyway!”

“Exactly!” someone chimed in. “From the way you describe her, she’s brash and rude. Brother Xi, you’re into delicate beauties—the type like Lou Xinyue!”

The moment that name was spoken, the once-lively atmosphere froze.

Xu Zijie grinned. “Brother Xi, I heard Lou Xinyue returned to the country yesterday…”

Xi Xingye ignored him. All he could see in his mind was Shen Qingci’s cocky face, making his teeth itch with rage.

He needed to find a chance to divorce her.

If she already liked him this much now, once they started living together, wouldn’t she be completely bewitched by him?

Hospital.

The moment Shen Qingci stepped into the VIP ward, she saw Old Master Xi standing in a horse stance, swaying his head as he listened to opera.

Smack.

She casually tossed the marriage certificate over.

Looking at the messy creases all over it, the corners of the old man’s mouth twitched.

“Stamp.” Shen Qingci held out her hand.

“Relax, I keep my word.” The old man handed her the company seal, then suddenly teased, “But the Shen family’s not exactly stable right now. Even with the seal, you might not be able to manage the company.”

Shen Qingci gave him a sideways glance, then shifted her foot.

“Hey, hey, hey! You stepped on my oxygen tube! Girl, your sense of revenge is way too strong!”

She released her foot, carefully put away the seal, and was about to leave.

“Girl.” The old man called after her. “You’ve got the seal, but don’t forget your promise to me—discipline Xingye properly, make him return to inherit the family business. Remember, by any means necessary!”

“Can I hit him?” Shen Qingci turned back.

The old man: “…What?”

“Kidding.” Shen Qingci’s lips curved as she strode out.

“That didn’t sound like a joke!”

Behind her, the old man yanked out his fake IV needle, rushing after her, shouting: “Our family only has one heir every generation! If you hit him, stay away from the vital parts—avoid the vital parts!”

He then leaned out the window, yelling at Shen Qingci, who was already out the gates: “When are you moving into that brat’s place?”

“Tonight.” Shen Qingci waved.

“I’ll have him help you carry your luggage!”

“Two bags and I need him? Weakling frame, looks frail as hell.”

The nearby nurses covered their mouths, stifling laughter.

The old man raised his voice, defending his grandson’s honor: “He’s not frail at all! That brat works out all the time—he’s got every kind of muscle. If you don’t believe me, take a good look tonight! His abs—his abs are the most handsome!”

Shen Qingci didn’t reply, just got in the car and sped away.

Watching her retreating figure, the old man clicked his tongue, clearly satisfied.

Behind him, the butler looked worried. “Old Master, the young master’s been trained in martial arts since childhood. Even bodyguards can’t catch him. Miss Shen’s arms and legs are so slender—will she really manage?”

“You’re still too young,” the old man said, stroking his beard. “Here, take a look.”

He handed over a folder labeled ‘Shen Qingci’s File’.

The butler opened it curiously.

“Age 16, bullied by her family, forced to sleep in the doghouse every night.”

“Age 18, falsely accused of theft by her family, imprisoned for one year.”

“Age 20, pushed into an icy lake by her cousin, left with a chronic leg injury.”

“Age 21, earned a chance to study abroad but was betrayed by her family, trafficked to a camp in Myanmar…”

The butler froze in shock.

That tragic? She looked too frail, no way she could handle the young master!

The old man stroked his beard. “Keep reading.”

“Trafficked to Myanmar…” The butler continued, then stopped abruptly, eyes widening. “And then, singlehandedly blew up the entire camp?!”

His reading sped up.

“Age 22, targeted by three foreign fighters, defeated them barehanded, and crippled their manhood!”

“Age 23, shot a robber during a bank heist, saving 35 hostages!”

“Age 24, earned dual degrees in international finance and law!”

“Age 25, founded the Flower Foundation, donated her entire fortune—eight hundred million—to build schools for slum children!”

“Age 26, mother passed away, returned to China.”

The file ended there—Shen Qingci was now 26.

The butler set the folder down, dizzy with disbelief. “This—this is the same person?”

“Still think she can’t handle him?”

The butler swallowed hard. “Old Master, do you think… the young master can handle her?”

Closing his eyes, the old man hummed along with the opera in his ears. “First, let’s see if she can deal with that pack of demons and ghosts around him.”

The butler stiffened.

Right—after the madam passed away, the master remarried. The young master was raised by his stepmother.

That woman was the perfect white lotus—frail and gentle, winning everyone’s sympathy.

But when the old man finally brought the young master back, he realized the boy had already been spoiled rotten, surrounded by coddling nannies, indulgent servants, and a whole crowd of shady “brothers.”

Now, if the new young madam wanted to discipline him, she’d have to cut through layers of obstacles first!

The old man twirled, humming a line of opera, then pointed dramatically:

“To find out what happens next—just watch… tonight~~~!”

Shen Qingci had just returned to the country, so many of her documents had to be reissued. By the time she dragged her luggage to Xi Xingye’s residence, it was already evening.

The whole street was quiet.

In front of her stood a three-story villa glowing with warm lights. The walls were painted a soft cream, covered in lush ivy. From her angle, she could see the fenced courtyard at the entrance, full of flowers.

She raised her brows in surprise.

She thought Xi Xingye would go for an extravagant, flashy style. Who knew his place would be elegant and refined?

She pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong—

The chime was so loud she could hear it clearly from the gate.

But five minutes passed, and no one came to open the door.

Upstairs, Xi Xingye reclined lazily on a leather sofa in the living room, his loose robe slipping to reveal sharp collarbones.

He swirled the wine in his glass, his long, narrow eyes fixed on the surveillance feed showing Shen Qingci at the door. His thin lips curved in amusement.

Did she really think that just because she won over his grandfather, she could control him? What a joke.

If I let you through this door today, then my name Xi Xingye I’ll write backwards!

He crooked a finger and ordered, “Dump that bucket of cold water down on her.”

Aunt Zhang, the housekeeper, froze. “Ah? In this freezing weather, and it’s snowing… Young madam is still a girl, after all—”

“What girl!” Aunt Wang immediately jumped in. “Just look at the way she treats young master. Does she seem like a girl? She hasn’t even stepped inside yet and already dares act this way. If we don’t put her in her place, she’ll be stomping all over young master’s head in the future!”

Stomping on his head to piss and shit?

Xi Xingye immediately jabbed his finger toward the door and roared:

“Drown her!”