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Chi Yao placed his hand on the manager’s shoulder, feeling the shudder under his palm. He let out a pleased laugh.

“I’m just kidding. With me here, he won’t dare do anything to you. If anything happens, just say I threatened you. Put all the blame on me. Don’t worry, he won’t dare touch you.”

By that time, he would probably already be carrying Fu Rong’s child, maybe even have given birth. What could Fu Rong do then?

He wouldn’t dare.

Chi Yao patted the manager’s shoulder and quickly left.

The car was parked downstairs, but Chi Yao didn’t leave right away. He stayed in another room at the club to rest. He didn’t sleep well that night and made up for it during the day, sleeping until the evening.

Afterward, he went to a residence he rarely visited and stayed there for two days. During this time, Chi Yao dyed his hair from the gray-blue color back to black. He also removed the tattoo on his back—it was part of his disguise and couldn’t stay forever.

Chi Yao cut his hair and called Shen Ling to say he was back. Shen Ling offered to pick him up, but Chi Yao declined, saying he needed to visit home first.

That incident was concealed just like that.

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Pregnant – Adopting a Child

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A few days later, Chi Yao deliberately ran into Shen Ling again, this time with Fu Rong present. Chi Yao had taken acting lessons from a teacher in the entertainment industry. Though he hadn’t studied for long, his teacher said he had a natural talent for acting and even suggested Chi Yao try his hand in showbiz.

Chi Yao refused. He wasn’t interested in the spotlight; he had enough money.

Chi Yao sat beside Fu Rong, the latter’s gaze occasionally falling on him. Chi Yao, however, ignored him, his eyes and heart only focused on Shen Ling.

At one point, Chi Yao went to the restroom, and not long after, Fu Rong followed. The two stood side by side at the urinals, and Chi Yao glanced at Fu Rong, letting out a cold sneer from deep in his throat.

As Chi Yao passed Fu Rong, the latter suddenly grabbed his arm. Chi Yao’s eyes darkened with disgust as he glared at him.

“I heard from Shen Ling that you were traveling recently. Where were you a week ago?”

“Let go of me,” Chi Yao said coldly.

Fu Rong hesitated before releasing his grip.

Chi Yao walked over to the sink to wash his hands. Suddenly, he started removing his jacket, as if it were filthy, and quickly threw it into the trash.

This whole process happened swiftly.

He discarded the jacket, feeling it was dirty just from being touched by Fu Rong. Beneath it, he wore a low-cut polo shirt, its open collar revealing part of his neck. Even a glimpse of the tattoo he’d once had there was no longer visible.

Fu Rong stared at the now smooth skin—there was no tattoo.

Fu Rong clenched his fist. He realized he had truly lost it, suspecting that the person from that night might have been Chi Yao.

But looking at Chi Yao now, who showed clear disgust at even being touched by him, how could he have been the one to sleep with him?

It wasn’t Chi Yao, and perhaps that was for the best. Fu Rong didn’t want to imagine what would happen if it had been.

Chi Yao left the restroom and returned to Shen Ling’s side.

Not long after, Fu Rong left as well due to other commitments.

Chi Yao told Shen Ling that he thought Fu Rong seemed a bit off lately, advising him to be cautious.

Shen Ling chuckled, “He has been acting strange lately.”

Shen Ling, who was quite perceptive, sensed that something was troubling Fu Rong, though he didn’t know what. When he asked, Fu Rong only mentioned it was a business matter. Shen Ling had a gut feeling it wasn’t that.

But it didn’t matter. Shen Ling wasn’t with Fu Rong for anything in particular—they just shared common interests and enjoyed spending time together.

Fu Rong was a capable man, and Shen Ling enjoyed surrounding himself with such people.

Chi Yao wasn’t entirely sure if his plan to conceive had worked. It was just an experiment, a one-time thing.

If fate allowed, he would meet his child in this life. If not, he could only apologize to his baby.

He hoped the baby would be reborn into a better family and receive all the love it deserved.

Chi Yao took great care of his health. Even when his friends invited him out to play, he stopped drinking, claiming a health issue. People found it odd, but Chi Yao simply said he was temporarily abstaining from alcohol for health reasons.

He also quit smoking and avoided late nights, adhering to a strict sleep schedule. Someone came by daily to prepare meals for him, and Chi Yao exercised in his home gym.

Occasionally, he would meet up with Shen Ling. When Shen Ling had to go abroad, Chi Yao accompanied him to the airport, where Fu Rong was also present. Chi Yao appeared calm but eyed Fu Rong with hostility.

Shen Ling hugged Chi Yao before leaving, immediately lifting his spirits and making him smile.

After Shen Ling and Fu Rong left, Chi Yao soon passed through security as well, almost boarding his flight at the same time as theirs.

Chi Yao went to a private hospital where he underwent tests—urine, blood, everything. The results came back quickly, revealing that Chi Yao was indeed pregnant. It was his baby.

Lying on the ultrasound table, the embryo was still too small to be seen, but there was a faint trace of it. Chi Yao left the hospital and sat in his car, smiling. He placed his hand on his abdomen, his smile filled with the warmth of a father’s love.

Chi Yao didn’t tell anyone about his pregnancy. Few people truly cared about him, and most of those around him were after his money anyway.

Though he was careful to nurture his pregnancy, Chi Yao’s health had already recovered well. Maintaining a healthy diet and staying active suited him.

He rented a yacht and went out to sea with Xue Zhongming. Previously, Chi Yao had gifted Xue many bottles of fine wine, which Xue had kept at home, reluctant to share with anyone.

Xue believed Chi Yao treated him differently. Lately, Chi Yao had been busy, barely going out for fun, and when he did, he would always leave early rather than stay overnight.

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