Lin Heng must be the devil.

Facing the perfect Tiramisu on her plate, the ratio of cocoa powder and cream was just right, with the sweetness and bitterness blooming together on her taste buds, perfectly blended.

Normally, if Shang Xinglu had just eaten a piece, she would have thought it was some kind of earthly delicacy.

But now, she was so full.

To be specific, she was very, very full!

…And yet, she had to eat it, while pretending to love desserts.

Shang Xinglu felt her acting was being heavily challenged!

She ate the piece so slowly. The sweet cream in her mouth only left a greasy aftertaste.

She wanted to throw up.

Really, she wanted to throw up…

Then there was Lin Heng, the so-called “dessert-loving” Lin Heng, sitting there with that expression of “I don’t mind, I’ll just make things convenient for her”…

Shang Xinglu: I’ll eat!

What else can I do?!

Her gaze kept drifting downstairs, and in her heart, she felt a sense of martyrdom.

As she ate, she thought, Lin Heng, you better remember, all your future likability is being exchanged by my cleverness and my stomach!

After a painfully slow progress of finishing one-third of the small Tiramisu, finally, Yin Yao finished eating. She called the waiter to pay the bill.

The waiter tried several cards, but none of them worked.

Yin Yao checked her wallet, counting even the pennies, and still didn’t have enough cash.

She looked embarrassed.

At that moment, Shang Xinglu’s phone vibrated. Marilyn was calling to remind her.

Shang Xinglu didn’t answer, hanging up and pretending to just notice Yin Yao, she said to Lin Heng, “Look, isn’t that Yin Yao?”

Lin Heng followed her finger to look.

Then, with an expressionless face, he asked, “Who?”

Shang Xinglu could bet that Lin Heng, wearing glasses, had no vision problems whatsoever.

He must have seen Yin Yao—don’t act dumb!

Shang Xinglu said, “Yin Yao, the girl who talked to you on the terrace during the banquet.”

Lin Heng glanced at her again and then realized.

“Oh, so her name is Yin Yao.”

What?!

This was the female lead! How could Lin Heng, who had a little emotional connection with the female lead, not recognize her?

What the hell?!

Shang Xinglu couldn’t believe it, “You don’t recognize her? You really don’t recognize her?”

Lin Heng replied matter-of-factly, “Why should I recognize her?”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

She felt desperate in front of Mr. Lin Heng.

Yes, desperate!!!

But now, having already reached a Zen-like state, Shang Xinglu knew she had to look forward immediately.

Otherwise, she might actually have to perform a dramatic “vomit blood” scene in front of Lin Heng someday.

Not recognizing her was fine. They had already met before. Now they could just get to know each other better!

Shang Xinglu continued with her plan.

She said, “Look, she seems to be in trouble. Shouldn’t you go help her?”

Lin Heng followed Shang Xinglu’s gaze and observed for a while.

He quickly figured out what Yin Yao’s problem was—her cards had been frozen, and she couldn’t pay the bill.

Lin Heng remembered Yin Yao’s last name and recalled the recent family disputes with the Yin family.

He thought it over for a moment and raised his hand to signal the waiter.

His hand was still raised after a second.

Shang Xinglu, struggling, leaned forward and quickly pressed his hand down.

Shang Xinglu warily said, “What are you doing?”

Lin Heng said, “Call the waiter over, take her bill, and we’ll pay it together later.”

No way!

This was the moment for Mr. Lin Heng’s grand entrance as the handsome savior in their time of crisis!

You can’t just pay the bill (meal fee) without letting Lin Heng show off!

“No, you can’t,” Shang Xinglu immediately vetoed, and cleverly gave her reasoning. “A woman like Yin Yao wouldn’t come here to eat alone, right? She’s by herself, and her cards aren’t working, so she must be in some kind of trouble. She’s alone in a foreign country; it must be so unsettling! Just a minute ago, she was arguing with the waiter, and the next minute, she’s not paying the bill anymore—it would be weird. Since my leg isn’t convenient, can you step in for me? I think that would be more proper.”

This roundabout reasoning made her sound like a little death-seeking elementary school student, always finding a way to draw attention.

Since Shang Xinglu even mentioned her leg…

Lin Heng thought for a moment and decided to go downstairs.

She leaned against the railing, watching as Lin Heng walked toward Yin Yao, spoke to the waiter, and then smartly didn’t rush back up. Instead, he chatted with Yin Yao for a while.

Yin Yao said a few things.

Lin Heng said a few things.

And they seemed to be planning to continue talking!

Shang Xinglu, at a distance, couldn’t hear what they were saying, but in her heart, she was already making victory signs!

Good!

Their likability definitely increased!

This wave was stable!

Shang Xinglu was overjoyed in her heart when suddenly, someone pulled out a chair across from her and sat down uninvited.

She was still watching Lin Heng talking to Yin Yao downstairs.

Lin Heng couldn’t possibly perform a shadow clone jutsu, could he?

Shang Xinglu sat up straight, and then she saw Shen Wang sitting across from her.

His expression… was unfriendly.

Shen Wang looked good but had a bad temper—he was the top-tier boss among the CEOs.

His eyebrows were raised, clearly showing “I’m not happy” and “I’m running out of patience.”

He looked…

Like someone who needed a beating.

Yes, exactly, Shang Xinglu really wanted to beat him up!

But then, she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

After all, she was the one who had planned the whole operation to steal the male lead’s likability…

Shen Wang looked displeased.

Could it be that he was just about to play the hero and save the damsel, but Lin Heng beat him to it?

So now he was here to settle the score with her?

Shang Xinglu rolled her eyes inwardly.

Does the male lead even have any guts? She’s just a helpless, disabled woman, and if he had the courage, he’d go face Lin Heng directly!

At this moment, Shen Wang grumbled, “Lin Heng left you here and went downstairs to flirt with other women?”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

No, stupid male lead, open your eyes and see who the woman downstairs is.

“I heard you and Lin Heng were set up for an arranged marriage. I didn’t expect Lin Heng to have no basic respect for his own wife.”

Shang Xinglu was even more speechless.

Look at that accusation he just threw at her.

If she were to say it out loud, it’d scare you! The one who told Lin Heng to go was me!

She replied, “The woman downstairs is Yin Yao.”

Shen Wang froze. “What’s wrong with Yin Yao?”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

You male leads, both of you, don’t underestimate the original female lead! When her halo shines, you’ll both get slapped in the face!

Shang Xinglu could only say, “I’m not sure why Yin Yao’s card isn’t going through. I saw it. I twisted my ankle and can’t walk. I want Lin Heng to go down.”

Shen Wang snorted coldly. “You sure are generous.”

Shang Xinglu snorted back.

Of course, she was generous—not just generous, but also big in more ways than one! Nothing’s too big for her!

“Don’t you have the habit of ignoring those you recognize in a crisis?”

Shang Xinglu had planned to say this, but she miscalculated the effect of her cold snort.

The momentum was there, but after the motion, she wasn’t sure if her stomach had tightened or loosened. The food that had been packed to the brim suddenly began to revolt.

She wanted to throw up!

She really wanted to throw up!!!

Shang Xinglu quickly maneuvered her wheelchair, veering off and heading toward the bathroom, speeding through the restaurant with the electric wheelchair almost like a bumper car.

Shen Wang noticed her change in expression and rushed after her, asking, “Are you okay?”

What the hell do you think, idiot!!!

Shang Xinglu was indeed in trouble, but she couldn’t tell him.

Because if she did, it’d likely be a string of… bleh…

Shang Xinglu held her breath and sped toward the ladies’ restroom.

As soon as she reached the door, she quickly stood up and hopped in like a rabbit on one leg.

Even the domineering Shen Wang, with all his confidence, knew better than to enter a women’s restroom.

He stopped outside, ready to ask how Shang Xinglu was doing, when suddenly a loud “bleh——!” echoed from inside.

Shen Wang’s face immediately turned dark.

Anyone, no matter who they were, would lose any goodwill toward someone vomiting or the visible result of it.

Moreover, the stereotype of a young married woman’s vomiting… it suggested something more.

Shang Xinglu… Was she pregnant?

Everyone knew that Lin Heng and Shang Xinglu had been set up in an arranged marriage. It was very traditional, not modern at all.

So their relationship was just like that—respectful in public but not showing any romantic chemistry.

Shen Wang, still holding some romantic ideals, had heard rumors circulating recently, which began among the servants and eventually reached the upper-class social circle.

He had received a lot of gossip about Shang Xinglu recently.

He had heard that Shang Xinglu and Lin Heng might have developed some affection for each other.

Though neither of them had shown it publicly, they might even be in the honeymoon phase, and maybe soon, there would be a baby.

When he heard Shang Xinglu vomiting, his face darkened even further.

Could it be… that she was carrying Lin Heng’s child?

After a moment, the sound of the toilet flushing was heard, and Shang Xinglu limped out of the restroom, holding onto the wall for support.

She looked slightly weak.

Could she not be weak?

She wasn’t some sports champion; after all, she had hopped out!

Seeing Shen Wang waiting outside, Shang Xinglu wasn’t shy. She held her hand out. “Water.”

The second young master obediently handed over the water.

Shang Xinglu rinsed her mouth, cleared out the food she had over-eaten, and felt much better.

Though… now she was a little hungry.

Shang Xinglu rubbed her belly, considering whether to order more food.

Shen Wang saw her doing this.

Shen Wang: “…”

Could it really be???

Now that Shang Xinglu felt better and Lin Heng had earned more of the female lead’s favor, she was in a good mood.

Though… maybe she was getting a little too smug…

She set down her injured leg and took a few large steps forward.

Then—

“Ow——!!!”

Her ankle hurt sharply, and she lost her balance, stumbling forward. Shen Wang, not playing the role of a door guard, was quick to react. He caught her and held her steady.

Shang Xinglu, shaken, looked up.

And there, she saw Lin Heng coming up the stairs.

His eyes, behind his glasses, moved between Shang Xinglu and Shen Wang before settling on Shang Xinglu.

His poker face didn’t change.

But his gaze… had a hint of curiosity.

Upon a closer look, it seemed cold.

Shang Xinglu: …

Why… why does this always happen to me, a respectable young woman!?

Why?!

A few billion is really hard to make!

She spoke up: “Please let me explain first?”