Nina Shaw hesitated for a moment. Following the advice Le Sheng had given her, she bent down and planted a kiss on Xavier Quinn’s cheek. Then she said, “Stop being jealous, okay?”
Ugh, even she got goosebumps from how coy her voice sounded.
Xavier Quinn couldn’t hide the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Seeing this, Nina Shaw realized the method was working, so she lowered her head and gave him another kiss on his other cheek.
It was rare for her to be this forward. All for the sake of a harmonious marriage—could anyone say this wasn’t a big sacrifice?
The amusement in Xavier Quinn’s eyes deepened; it was obvious he was in an excellent mood.
Nina Shaw stretched out her arms and hugged him. “Come on, don’t be mad anymore, okay?” Her voice was light, a tone she hardly ever used with him. Today really was unusual.
Xavier Quinn couldn’t help but remind her, “Ning, I’m in a video meeting right now. Wait for me a bit…”
The words sounded far too ambiguous, easy for anyone to misunderstand.
Only then did Nina Shaw notice the small window open on the computer screen. On the other end, someone was already struggling to hold back their laughter.
President Liu awkwardly waved at her. “Good evening, Mrs. Qiao.”
Nina Shaw’s face turned beet red. Bracing herself, she returned President Liu’s greeting and then practically fled the study.
Everyone on the call was red-faced from trying not to laugh.
Xavier Quinn’s mouth continued to curve upward, making people sigh in wonder.
So it turned out that privately, President Qiao was completely wrapped around his wife’s finger—a few words from her, and he was utterly smitten. Impressive, truly.
But having seen Xavier Quinn’s usual cool decisiveness, it was hard not to be a little shocked by this side of him.
After finishing the video meeting, Xavier Quinn returned to the bedroom to find Nina Shaw already tucked under the blankets, eyes tightly shut. Xavier Quinn could tell she was pretending to be asleep.
As soon as she felt the bed dip beside her, Nina Shaw was about to turn away when he pulled her into his arms.
“Ning, I’m not angry.” His voice was low and magnetic.
Nina Shaw pouted. “Oh… Wasn’t I really embarrassing just now?”
Just thinking of how silly she’d acted in front of others made her feel mortified.
Xavier Quinn’s smile grew even warmer. “Not at all. I loved it. Kiss me again.”
With that, he leaned his face toward her. Nina Shaw turned away, full of pride. “No way.”
What a ridiculous idea Le Sheng had given her—she’d never felt more embarrassed. The more she replayed everything, the more she realized she’d fallen for Le Sheng’s mischief.
Xavier Quinn, however, seemed utterly energized by her attention, refusing to let go as he clung to her. “Then I’ll just kiss you.”
“I don’t… mmph—” Nina Shaw pounded his chest with her fists, but Xavier Quinn was unfazed.
He pressed his lips to hers, swallowing all her words.
“Ning, I want you…”
He’d been holding back for so long; it had been ages since they’d last fulfilled their marital duties. Tonight, Nina Shaw’s actions had thoroughly awakened his desire, and now he couldn’t calm down.
Nina Shaw shivered from his kiss, her last bit of rationality whispering that she had to stop. After all, she was still pregnant.
“I’ll be gentle, okay?” Xavier Quinn coaxed in a low voice.
Nina Shaw blushed furiously. She wasn’t exactly holding up well herself, but she hesitated at his request. “Wouldn’t it be bad for the baby?”
“It won’t. I asked a doctor. The doctor said it’s fine… within reason.”
“Which doctor did you ask?”
“Dr. Shen from Ancheng First Hospital.”
Nina Shaw: “…”
Far away in Ancheng, Yancy Shaw suddenly sneezed. Stepping out of his room, he saw Le Sheng smiling at her phone. Curiously, he asked, “What’s so funny?”
Le Sheng quickly put her phone away and wiped the smile off her face. “Nothing much.”
She’d just been chatting with Nina Shaw. Now that Nina Shaw wasn’t replying, she could guess that Ning and Xavier Quinn were busy… enjoying themselves.
Yancy Shaw didn’t pry. After his shower, he lay down next to her and habitually pulled her into his arms to sleep.
----
A month later, Le Sheng found out she was pregnant. Mrs. Chen was over the moon when she heard, itching to move from the old family home to Lan Yue Residence just so she could take care of Le Sheng every day.
Yancy Shaw vehemently objected. He insisted that he could care for Le Sheng himself and that no one was allowed to disrupt their couple time—not even his own mother.
Mrs. Chen was furious and gave him an earful before running off to vent her frustrations to Bryce Shaw.
As for Le Sheng, she was helpless against Yancy Shaw’s doting nature. Since she became pregnant, he seemed even more attached. Especially when she had morning sickness—he’d frown with such intensity, it looked like he could kill a fly between his brows.
He couldn’t bear to see Le Sheng suffer; truth be told, he’d once considered not having children at all. But in the end, he gave in, because he knew she loved kids and wanted a child of their own.
Today, Le Sheng had an appointment for a prenatal checkup and happened to bump into Xiao Pei at the hospital.
Xiao Pei was there for her own health check. When she saw Le Sheng, her gaze softened somewhat.
“Le Sheng, what are you here for?”
Le Sheng smiled. “Prenatal checkup.”
Xiao Pei froze, the smile on her lips turning bittersweet. “Congratulations.”
Just then, Yancy Shaw came over with Le Sheng’s test results, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders.
Standing tall, he made Le Sheng look especially petite and dependent in his embrace.
Meanwhile, Xiao Pei stood alone with her own report, appearing lonely and forlorn.
Le Sheng watched her quietly for a long time.
After being convicted for orchestrating a kidnapping, Zhu Yurou was in jail. However, the trial kept being delayed. Zhu Xun used all his connections and paid Xiao Pei a large sum to convince her to drop the appeal, and in the end, she agreed.
But Zhu Yurou was still sentenced to three years in prison, because Le Sheng refused to compromise.
Everyone has to face the consequences of their mistakes—no one gets a free pass.
Hugo Pierce and He Shuang held their wedding with only a few close friends and family, but the ceremony still felt meaningful and complete.
Yvonne Sung was there that day as well.
When Le Sheng got married, Hugo Pierce had posted many photos and videos to his social feed. Yvonne Sung saw them all—the wedding was lavish, and it was clear Yancy Shaw had put his whole heart into it.
Now Yvonne Sung at last understood why he’d lost Le Sheng back then. But it was too late; time couldn’t be turned back.
In fact, Hugo Pierce hadn’t expected Yvonne Sung to come at all, since they hadn’t kept in touch for ages.
Things had gone downhill for Yvonne Sung. The Snow family business had gone bankrupt, their assets liquidated. Once a business titan, Xue was now shunned by everyone overnight.
Fang Lin didn’t make life easy for Yvonne Sung either. After Xue’s bankruptcy, she exposed evidence of Yvonne Sung’s and Yana Quinn’s affair before their marriage. With Yana Quinn exposed as the mistress, she was harshly condemned online and forced to withdraw from the entertainment industry.
Le Sheng saw Yana Quinn a few days ago—no longer the glamorous celebrity she once was, but thin and haggard.
Yana Quinn smiled bitterly at her. “Le Sheng, you win.”
Le Sheng gave her a calm look. “What have I won, exactly?”