【I am finally... no longer alone. 】

Xia Chi's eyes were wet, and his smile was uglier than crying.

Senya couldn't help but reach out and rub his fluffy hair again, as if comforting a young animal that had found its home.

"Silly child...why are you so happy..."

Xia Chi hurriedly wiped his face with his sleeve, sniffed, and suddenly made a face at Sen Ya's pregnant belly: "Little nephew, come out quickly - uncle will buy you some candy..."

Little nephew???

Did the mythical beast reveal the gender of the child?

"Oh, right." Senya suddenly thought of something and tapped her temple lightly with her fingertips. "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

She gestured in a certain direction. "I've specially had some refreshments prepared. They're on the small table in the back room."

Only then did Xia Chi notice that this tea room had a hidden world. Behind the carved screen was an elegant compartment.

The compartment was quietly decorated. A gilded incense burner was emitting curls of green smoke. Several exquisite tea snacks were neatly arranged on the rosewood table: matcha-filled tea cakes were shaped into small flowers, and amber honey yam cakes were steaming. A cup of brewed matcha was placed next to it. The fine foam left by the tea whisk looked like new snow in early spring.

The other end of the compartment is connected to the balcony outside. When the weather is nice and the breeze is clear, it is a unique experience to enjoy snacks in the sun.

Xia Chi tremblingly picked up a maple leaf-shaped tea fruit and took a bite.

[Is this something that should exist in the human world?]

[Eat one bite and you'll become immortal...]

[I know that the concubines in the harem are not fighting for the emperor's favor. Who wouldn't fight for such a thing?]

[Tomorrow I'll write a story about a glutton who eats his way through the harem and conquers the emperor.]

Puff——

It seemed like Senya laughed.

Xia Chi stopped and pricked up his ears.

I don’t know if it’s because there are so few people, but I can hear everything outside clearly.

The sound of high heels tapping against the tiled floor came closer, followed by the soft click of a chair being pulled away. A cold female voice said, "I've heard a lot about you, Miss Mori. I'm He Zixun's mother."

Xia Chi almost choked while eating the yam cake.

[He Zixun? His mother?]

Senya has never publicly responded to any relationship news, but the anecdotes about her and her mysterious boyfriend outside the entertainment industry have always been the most talked-about legend in the entertainment industry.

Legend has it that her fiancé is He Zixun, the second son of the real estate magnate He Group. The two met at a charity dinner. The newlywed Sen Ya, dressed in a dark green cheongsam, immediately captivated the nobleman. From then on, the always arrogant prince began his vigorous pursuit of love.

The most sensational one was when He Zixun chartered the entire cruise ship to celebrate Sen Ya's birthday. The deck was covered with tulips airlifted from the Netherlands, and fireworks blooming in the night sky spelled out her name.

The two had been dating secretly for four years until they were photographed kissing on a private island by paparazzi last year, and their relationship came to light. Faced with overwhelming coverage, Senya always maintained a mysterious smile, but the rare pink diamond on her ring finger silently declared the sweetness of love.

But the wedding date has not been set yet. Some people say that the He family looks down on Sen Ya because she comes from an opera family, and prefers the daughter of a wealthy family who is of equal status; some people say that He Zixun is a playboy and cannot give Sen Ya the stability she wants; others say that Sen Ya puts her career first, and getting married now is tantamount to ruining her own future.

Public opinion and gossip finally reached a breaking point when Sen Ya's pregnancy was pushed to the top of the hot searches. Paparazzi's cameras were lurking around Sen Ya every day, but the prince who had shown his love so publicly was nowhere to be seen. All that was left was Sen Ya's increasingly obvious pregnant belly and countless speculative eyes.

Then I thought of the cold words just now, "I've heard a lot about you, Miss Mori."

The pastry in my hand suddenly became hard to swallow.

Xia Chi held his breath and looked through the hollow carvings on the screen to see a noble lady sitting in front of Sen Ya. She was wearing a custom-made suit, a string of lustrous emerald necklaces around her neck, her chin slightly raised, revealing an aloofness that didn't allow anyone to get close to her.

Sen Ya slowly stood up from the couch, her posture dignified but not restrained, her eyes clear and upright, neither trying to please nor revealing any arrogance.

"Hello, Madam He."

"Where's Zixun?" Seeing Madam He sitting alone, Sen Ya's eyes moved slightly, and her gaze first swept in the direction she came from: "I remember he asked me to come here."

"It's the same if I handle this kind of small matter." Mrs. He said in a relaxed tone.

A barely perceptible gloom flashed across Senya's eyes, but was quickly covered by her long eyelashes.

The waiter brought tea, and Mrs. He elegantly picked up the celadon teacup, her red lips leaving a perfect lip print on the rim of the cup.

"Zixun told me everything about you." She suddenly looked up, her sharp eyes swept across Senya's pregnant belly, with a meaningful smile on her lips, "What are your plans next?"

Senya bit her lip: "Zixun and I have discussed it..." Her voice was soft but firm, "We want to keep this child."

"Heh." Mrs. He suddenly chuckled, the bottom of the cup colliding with the tray making a crisp sound. "Zixun, this kid..." She slowly adjusted her silk scarf. "He's young and impulsive, and he may not be sensible. He acts on impulse." She paused delicately. "Today he wants the stars, but tomorrow he might even find the moon annoying."

He's mother spoke in a light tone, not saying anything explicitly, but each word was hinting.

Suggesting that her son had changed his mind.

【Damn it! 】

There was a burst of shouting and cursing from behind the screen.

[What does this old woman mean? ]

[What do you mean Zixun is young? You didn't stop your son when he was chasing someone!]

[You didn't say it earlier or later. Once Sister Sen Ya's belly was showing, you started playing the "evil mother-in-law of a wealthy family" role.]

[She's pregnant, so the man isn't anxious, is he? He's only now making plans to meet her.]

[This is a pregnancy trap! Isn't this clearly an attempt to exploit leverage?]

Senya leaned lazily against the soft pillows, the sun streaming in from behind, casting a soft glow around her. Pregnancy hormones gave her skin a pearly sheen. The curve of her silk dress didn't appear bulky, but rather added a touch of maternal purity. The most striking thing was the rosy flush on her cheeks, a vibrant complexion that no amount of skincare could achieve.

He's mother's eyes wandered around slowly like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, and she had to admit that the woman in front of her was still breathtakingly beautiful even though she was pregnant.

It’s a pity that he is ultimately an actor who is not worthy of being on stage.

She took a sip of tea, which helped her regain some balance.

"You are very popular and have a bright future. You won't really quit your career just to have a child, right?" Her tone was gentle as if she was advising her own niece.

"Our family values family and tradition very much. We hope you can make wise decisions and take responsibility for your children and yourself."

He's mother elegantly took out a check from her platinum bag and lightly pushed it in front of Sen Ya.

"In the final analysis, this matter is due to our ignorance." She opened her red lips slightly, "I have injured your body for no reason. Consider this 10 million as compensation..."

[Oh my god!]

【Are you sick? 】

"Our Senya's announcement alone earns over 10 million. Who are you trying to humiliate?"

[Has this old woman watched too many domestic dramas?]

There was a buzzing sound in Senya's ears.

She had anticipated such a scene a long time ago, but when the check was taken out, it was like a slap in the face.

Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and she suddenly remembered how He Zixun was ecstatic and spun around in his arms when he learned the news of her pregnancy.

"Leave it to me, Mom and Dad." Before He Zixun went back to report to his parents, he put his face against her still flat belly, "I'll get the pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets passed down from our ancestors. Our child will definitely look good in them."

But as soon as the plane landed, all communication ceased. All the messages Senya sent him showed as unread, and even the "expectant father reminder" he had carefully set up on the pregnancy app he had specially registered for was no longer updated.

Until yesterday, Senya received a message.

"See you tomorrow at Club X, Cha Ting."

There was no address, no signature, as if they had never spent four years in close contact.

X Club is a company controlled by the He family. Sen Ya had been there countless times as He Zixun's lover, but today, the same place has a completely different meaning.

Sen Ya found that she had overestimated He Zixun. This grandson didn't even dare to show up. It was He Zixun's mother who came.

"Is this what He Zixun meant?" Sen Ya asked.

"I guess so." He's mother replied.

Sen Ya took a deep breath, took out her cell phone, and dialed He Zixun's number, but it was still turned off.

In front of her, He's mother looked at her with a smug look on her face.

Come on, she thought, I've seen a lot of people like you.

I've dealt with more mistresses than flies in my life. Those who came to me pitifully wanting to keep the child were always dealt with by just a check in the end.

"Not enough?" He's mother: "Tell me, how much do you want?"

Senya's eyes dimmed.

"Let me tell you this, our He family isn't one where you can marry into the family just by your own will. We're not like those smaller families. The entertainment industry is a mixed bag, and we don't want to get involved. You're young, and I understand what you're thinking. I advise you to focus on the right path."

He's mother's lips were painted with a retro crimson color, but the smile at the corners of her lips was not warm. It was a kind of condescending tolerance, as if she was watching a poor performance.

[Oh my god, what gate is so difficult to enter, the South Heaven Gate?]

[Do you really think you're the Queen Mother? Watch out, I'm holding a machete and will chop you down from the South Heaven Gate to Penglai East Road, you damn bitch.]

He stole a glance at Mrs. He, who looked so arrogant and proud, like the mistress of a household in the old society.

[Still think the entertainment industry is too chaotic? The He family's mess could support an entire rabbit farm.]

News about Chairman He's third and fourth wives fighting over the family fortune is nearly dominating the financial channels.

[The eldest young master is even more shameless than he actually is...]

[There was only one innocent boy named He Zixun, but unfortunately he was raised to be a mama's boy.]

[A blessed woman will not enter a door without blessings, Sister Senya, run away! ]

Sen Ya had prepared herself mentally before coming here, and seeing Mrs. He's status, she was unwilling to continue arguing with her.

"Since Mrs. He has said so much, I won't beat around the bush." She folded her hands gracefully, with a half-smile.

"A wealthy family like yours, the He family, naturally looks down on us, the so-called 'smaller families.' But how you live among these wealthy families is something you must know well. I heard that Chairman He bought a luxury house by the Huangpu River last month..."

Sen Ya was halfway through her words when Mrs. He's face turned pale and a vicious light shot out of her eyes.

Everyone knows the news a few days ago that Chairman He bought a luxury house for the fourth wife, which was a slap in her face.