Chapter 63: Did My Cover Just Get Blown??

That night, her period still didn’t come.

Qin Mohuai was well aware of Xia Yuan’s menstrual schedule. Worried he might forget, he had even downloaded an app to remind himself.

“Baby.”

He pushed open the bedroom door, carrying a small white porcelain bowl in his hands, filled with freshly brewed brown sugar water. Although he knew it wasn’t particularly effective for relieving menstrual cramps, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing while his wife was in discomfort.

Xia Yuan leaned against the headboard, her delicate face glowing with unusual color, showing no signs of the usual pain from menstrual cramps. To avoid raising suspicion, she lowered her eyes, pretending to be fatigued.

Xia Yuan said, “I don’t want to drink it.”

*What a joke, I don’t even have cramps because my period never came.* 🙂

Qin Mohuai set the bowl aside and gently hugged her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. “Drink a little—it might help you feel better.”

Xia Yuan obediently took two sips, surprised at how good it tasted.

In the past, her severe cramps left her in no mood to appreciate the taste, but now she realized just how good he had gotten at making it.

“My cramps aren’t that bad this time, so you don’t need to fuss over me. Go handle your own stuff.”

“It’s the weekend—I don’t have anything to handle.”

Qin Mohuai slipped his hand under the blanket, placing it against her lower abdomen. Xia Yuan immediately grabbed his wrist. For some reason, she felt like she couldn’t let him know that her period hadn’t come.

She wasn’t wearing a pad, and if he moved his hand lower, the truth might come out.

Most people wouldn’t do something like that, but Qin Mohuai wasn’t exactly ordinary. He might just pull down the covers to check.

Xia Yuan snuggled into his neck, playfully saying, “I’m really fine. Go do your own thing. I just want to rest for a bit.”

Qin Mohuai tucked the blanket around her, a gentle wave of love flickering in his serene expression, without doubting her words.

“If you feel unwell, call me, okay? I’ll be in the study.”

“Okay.”

Xia Yuan burrowed into the covers, leaving only her bright cat-like eyes peeking out as she watched him leave the room.

The moment he left, she sprang to life and called for the system.

System: “…I’m here.”

Xia Yuan: “What’s going on with Wei Yunzhou? He looks way too much like the neighbor boy!”

System: “I only deal with your matters. I don’t know anything else.”

Xia Yuan: “Useless.”

The system crackled with cold, static-filled mechanical sounds, clearly displeased by her insult.

Xia Yuan continued, “Is it normal that my period hasn’t come?”

It’s normal for most people to have early or late periods, but this body had died once before and been revived, so missing a period might be a sign of something.

The system responded, “You’ve already guessed it—the one-year deadline is approaching. Xia Yuan’s body is deteriorating.”

Xia Yuan felt a chill through her whole body. She walked barefoot to the floor-to-ceiling windows, opened the curtains to let the sunlight bathe her, and watched the shadow cast by her body stretch towards the darker areas untouched by the sun.

“If my period isn’t coming, I’m definitely not pregnant, right?”

“Of course,” the system assured her.

“Well… that’s good, then.” Xia Yuan didn’t want children, especially not in this world. If she had a child here, she would never be able to leave.

For a moment, the thought of leaving a child for Qin Mohuai crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it as absurd.

While Xia Yuan was lost in melancholic thoughts, her phone rang. Thinking it was Qin Mohuai, she answered without checking.

“Miss Xia,”a bone-chilling, cold male voice that made Xia Yuan shiver even in the sunlight.

“Who’s playing tricks now?”

“I’m Qin Jingye. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“…Sorry, I don’t have time,” Xia Yuan replied, a bit surprised. What business could Qin Mohuai’s ninth uncle possibly have with her?

The less trouble, the better. As long as she didn’t take the bait, it wouldn’t be her problem. 🙂

Qin Jingye’s sinister voice chuckled softly, like a shadow that sunlight couldn’t dispel—growing heavier day by day until it completely extinguished the light in life.

“Xia Yuan is already dead. I’m curious, who are you? I bet Qin Mohuai is even more curious. Would you rather talk to me, or would you prefer to discuss this with Qin Mohuai?”

Xia Yuan gasped. This man was truly difficult to handle. If she agreed, it would be like admitting she had something to hide, handing him leverage on a silver platter.

The best thing to do would be to ignore Qin Jingye, but she feared he might really go to Qin Mohuai and stir up trouble, ruining her plans.

“Qin Mohuai was right—you’re unhappy, so you can’t stand to see your nephew happy! If you’re so upset about losing your wife, go find another one! Who’s stopping you? Jealous of your nephew—what kind of hero does that make you?”

Qin Jingye didn’t take her childish taunts seriously. “Tomorrow afternoon, at this time, meet me at the Vanilla Café on Fuxi Road.”

Xia Yuan wanted to respond, but he hung up.

“System, what’s going on now?” she asked.

Systenm: “Go see for yourself.”

–

Xia Yuan placed a sanitary pad in her underwear, pretending her period had come.

After Qin Mohuai showered, he glanced at the dirty laundry basket, then checked the others. His phoenix eyes looked at Xia Yuan in confusion. “Baby, did you wash your underwear yourself?” He seemed a little displeased.

Xia Yuan absentmindedly responded with a simple “Mm.”

“Baby, you’re so diligent. Is something on your mind?”

Qin Mohuai walked over and kissed her, placing his hand once again on her abdomen. Xia Yuan tensed up, her eyelashes trembling, unable to meet his deep gaze.

Qin Mohuai hated being lied to. If his beloved heroine lied to him, he didn’t hesitate to punish her. How much worse would it be for her, the imposter lover?

She had lied to Qin Mohuai about many things. Luckily, she was leaving soon, or she’d be in serious trouble if he ever found out.

“I’m meeting Yang Ying tomorrow for some shopping and afternoon tea.”

Yang Ying had ended up staying with Zhou Weiqi after all.

–

The next morning, Xia Yuan woke up early, tied Qin Mohuai’s tie, and kissed him. “Morning kiss.”

“You’re being so good today.” Qin Mohuai loved these warm, daily moments, and his steps felt lighter as he left the house.

In the car, his arm resting on the window, his pale fingers absentmindedly stroked his lips. His eyes were filled with a complex glint.

His little darling clearly hadn’t gotten her period. So why lie to him?

Xia Yuan had used this trick before, so Qin Mohuai instinctively assumed she just didn’t want to get too intimate, which was why she faked it with the pad.

Not long after, Xia Yuan left the house. The reason Qin Mohuai felt at ease letting her go was that Qin Qi was following her.

If she went to Vanilla Café with Qin Qi around, Qin Mohuai would know.

Xia Yuan sent Qin Jingye a message from her phone.

He quickly replied: “Just get off somewhere random. My people will distract Qin Qi.”

Relieved, Xia Yuan got off about a kilometer from the Vanilla Café. After walking a short distance, the crowd separated her from Qin Qi.

Following the navigation, Xia Yuan entered the Vanilla Café.

It was a spacious two-story building, with soft piano music playing in the background. Green plants and plush toys were scattered around, creating a relaxing atmosphere.

She was surprised he chose such a cozy place for their meeting.

Not seeing anyone on the first floor, she took the stairs to the second.

By the window sat a man with black hair, dressed in a silver suit, his skin unnaturally pale. His lonely and indifferent phoenix eyes gazed at Xia Yuan.

What a deathly quiet man.