The girl noticed that while some people around were eager to curry favor, she didn’t join them. Instead, she sat with her friends, casually snacking, feeling content to just be background characters. Others could fight to climb higher if they wanted, but she had no interest.

Eventually, Chi Yao noticed that the girls had arrived. The baby was full of energy that day, refusing to nap, and seemed very curious about all the people on the boat, wide eyes darting around.

Chi Yao, holding the baby, left Fu Rong’s side. In the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Ling had arrived. He hadn’t personally invited him, but he didn’t turn him away either. As long as Shen Ling behaved, Chi Yao was willing to overlook the past.

Chi Yao approached the girls’ table, where they were discussing clothes, and sat down. Before they could turn to see who had joined them, the baby’s soft cooing announced their arrival.

One of the girls, with slightly curly hair, turned around and saw Chi Yao’s striking face—perfect skin with not a single flaw. Her fingers twitched, almost tempted to reach out and touch him.

The baby, eyes wide, reached out as if to grab something. The girl had a cute little fluffy rabbit charm hanging from her phone, and the baby’s gaze was fixed on it, clearly fascinated.

“Do you like this?” the girl asked, moving the phone closer to the baby so he could touch the fluffy charm. Instantly, the baby grabbed it, his small hands surprisingly strong for their size.

Chi Yao smiled and asked the girl, “How much is it?” intending to buy the charm for the baby.

“No need, it’s just something I bought off the street for a few dollars,” she said, quickly taking the charm off her phone and offering it to the baby.

The baby immediately tried to put it in his mouth, but Chi Yao stopped him just in time.

“You can’t eat this,” Chi Yao gently reminded the baby.

The baby, however, was not happy and kept trying to put the charm in his mouth. Chi Yao sternly said, “If you try to eat it again, I’ll take it away.”

The baby pouted, his eyes filling with tears.

While Chi Yao adored the baby, he wasn’t going to indulge him unconditionally, knowing that would only spoil him.

Seeing the baby’s disappointment, Chi Yao handed the charm back but firmly reminded him, “You can play with it, but you can’t eat it.”

The baby puffed out his cheeks in frustration, clearly upset.

“He’s so adorable,” one of the girls said, her eyes bright with admiration. “Can I hold him?”

Completely smitten by the baby’s cuteness, the girl couldn’t resist.

“Sure, you can try,” Chi Yao replied.

The girl carefully took the baby into her arms. The baby glanced at her, then back at Chi Yao to make sure everything was okay. Seeing his father smiling at him, the baby seemed to relax, deciding this girl must not be a bad person.

While playing with the charm, the baby tried to sneak it into his mouth again, thinking Chi Yao wasn’t paying attention. But Chi Yao was watching the entire time and sternly called out, “Chi Yan!”

Immediately, the baby stopped and nestled against the girl, seemingly frustrated that his father wouldn’t let him have fun.

The girl holding the baby was melting from the cuteness of it all.

Chi Yao learned the name of the curly-haired girl and got her contact information. He found out she was a livestreamer, singing and dancing for her viewers. He asked her if she was interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

The girl shook her head. “I think I’m earning quite enough right now.”

Although the entertainment industry looked glamorous, she knew without talent or connections, she would only end up being used as a stepping stone for others. She preferred her current job, where she had more control and stability.

“Probably for the best,” Chi Yao agreed. “A lot of people are getting caught up in scandals lately.”

Chi Yao had recently set up his own entertainment company but hadn’t been too involved, leaving others to handle the operations.

After spending a bit more time with the girls, Chi Yao left to join Xue Zhongming, asking him how Shen Ling had ended up at the event.

Xue Zhongming quickly shook his head. Although he had interacted with Shen Ling before, he hadn’t invited him this time.

That meant Shen Ling had come on his own.

In the past, Chi Yao had beaten Shen Ling up after an incident, leaving him bloody. Out of past feelings, he hadn’t gone further, unsure if Fu Rong had intervened as well. Fu Rong hadn’t mentioned it, though.

Chi Yao glanced over at Fu Rong and Shen Ling, who appeared to be in a serious conversation. Fu Rong seemed slightly irritated.

The girl who had been holding the baby brought him back to Chi Yao. The baby, now a bit tired, was slowly drifting off in Chi Yao’s arms. Chi Yao gently laid him down in a nearby stroller, making sure he was comfortable.

Although there were a lot of people around, they are all careful not to disturb the sleeping baby.

Meanwhile, Fu Rong was in shock. He couldn’t believe that Shen Ling had found out everything—especially the fact that the baby was Chi Yao’s child. It had taken Fu Rong a long time, and a lot of effort, to discover that Chi Yao had been pregnant. How had Shen Ling figured it out so easily?

Even more surprisingly, Shen Ling claimed it was something from a past life.

---

“What past life?”

Shen Ling might have had some mental issues after being beaten up by Chi Yao and him during that last time.

But the details Shen Ling described were too real.

He told Fu Rong that in the previous life, Chi Yao and the baby died. The baby died during childbirth, which could be considered Fu Rong’s fault.

In the end, it was Shen Ling who collected the bodies of Chi Yao and the baby, and Fu Rong had no idea that Chi Yao was pregnant with his child.

Fu Rong then asked Shen Ling, “So how did Chi Yao get pregnant with my child?”

Since Shen Ling spoke of a past life, why didn’t he know about the child?

“He originally tried to drug me, but it ended up being you. You slept with him, and later he felt terrible and guilty, so he left me.”

Shen Ling twisted the facts.

“You caused their deaths in the last life, Fu Rong. And in this life, you’re still daring to stay by their side? Are you trying to get them killed again because of you?”

“If I were you, I’d have left long ago, stayed far away from Chi Yao and the baby.”

Shen Ling’s gaze was icy, as was his tone.

He believed in the previous life. He dreamed of that life, and although it was a dream, he had no reason not to believe it. A voice in his heart told him it was true.

The details in the dream differed greatly; in it, he coldly watched Chi Yao die, and it was Fu Rong who handled Chi Yao’s body, not him, Shen Ling.

But Shen Ling wanted to twist the truth because Fu Rong didn’t seem to remember the past life.

Since Fu Rong didn’t know, Shen Ling could make the story up however he liked.

Why should Fu Rong be the one to have Chi Yao and their baby?

That child should rightfully have been his.

Chi Yao used to like him so much, but now suddenly doesn’t? Shen Ling didn’t believe it.

Even though Chi Yao had made it clear the last time they met that he no longer liked him, Shen Ling still didn’t believe it.

He thought Chi Yao was lying. He must have intentionally slept with Fu Rong and gotten pregnant to provoke him.

It seems Chi Yao got what he wanted because Shen Ling now finds himself unable to stop thinking about him every day.

The person who was supposed to be his was suddenly taken away by Fu Rong.

Hatred flashed in Shen Ling’s eyes.

“You caused their deaths in the last life. In this life, as long as you’re around, something bad will definitely happen to them again. Fu Rong, you should leave.”

“Leave them to me.”

Fu Rong stared at Shen Ling. If there had been any doubt before, he was now almost certain that Shen Ling wasn’t mentally stable—he was very unwell.

The yacht had already set sail, heading toward an island in the sea. Given Shen Ling’s current state, Fu Rong wasn’t worried about him hurting himself, but he absolutely didn’t want to see him harm Chi Yao.

Shen Ling’s expression was agitated and twisted, and Fu Rong genuinely feared he might pull out a knife at any moment.

---

Madness, Pity, and Sympathy

---

“Fine, I’ll leave Chi Yao. If my presence puts them at risk, I’ll leave immediately.”

Shen Ling smiled, feeling like he was about to achieve his goal.

“Before that, though, I’d like to say goodbye to Chi Yao. Is that okay?” Fu Rong was trying to calm Shen Ling.

“Sure, of course.” Shen Ling nodded.

He trusted Fu Rong wouldn’t break his word. This was a man who kept his promises.

And Fu Rong would, but when it came to Chi Yao and the baby, they would always come first.

Fu Rong turned to walk away, heading toward Chi Yao. From a distance, with other people around chatting, Fu Rong glanced over at Shen Ling and said to Chi Yao, “I think it’s best if we’re not together. I should probably leave you and the baby.”

While Fu Rong said this, he held Chi Yao’s hand firmly, his warm palm showing no intention of letting go.

Turning his head so Shen Ling couldn’t see, Fu Rong quietly said, “Something’s off with Shen Ling—he’s not mentally stable right now. I don’t want him to hurt you or the baby. If I can’t control him, you need to be careful. I’m also counting on you guys to help.” Fu Rong glanced at Xue Zhongming and the others at the table.

Everyone at the table understood the implication.

Chi Yao frowned slightly. Shen Ling was acting up?

Chi Yao looked toward Shen Ling, whose gaze indeed seemed off.

“Wait, let me go talk to him.” Chi Yao pressed a hand on Fu Rong’s shoulder.

He casually reached into his pocket as if doing something random, but in reality, he was checking what was inside.

It was a small igniter, used for lighting incense, but it had a tip that could deliver a sharp electric current. Though small, it packed a punch on the skin.

Chi Yao signaled with his eyes for Fu Rong to stay put as he went over to Shen Ling.

Fu Rong pulled Chi Yao’s hand, genuinely afraid something would happen to him.

Chi Yao shook his head, gently removing Fu Rong’s hand.

As he approached Shen Ling, Chi Yao felt that something was seriously off.

Then Shen Ling grabbed Chi Yao’s hand, pulling him close and whispering into his ear, “The baby is yours, right?”

Chi Yao’s pupils dilated in shock.

His expression said it all.

“So what I dreamed was true. In the dream, you had late-stage stomach cancer, lying on a hospital bed, and the baby was stillborn. It’s not like now, where the baby was born normally.”

“Why is that, Chi Yao? Why?”

Shen Ling couldn’t understand. Fu Rong had only claimed Chi Yao’s body in his previous life, so why did it seem like Chi Yao had suddenly fallen for him? Wasn’t Chi Yao supposed to love him the most?

If Chi Yao could have a baby, shouldn’t it be with him?

“How about you give Fu Rong that child, and you can give me another one?”