"Letting you go?"
Guan Yang sized up Mu Yuxin, finding her words utterly ridiculous. "Do you really think that because I slept with you for a night, our hatred will be wiped clean?"
Mu Yuxin's brows furrowed. Of course, she didn't think that, but she had work to do and couldn't stay here indefinitely.
"Then what do you want?"
Guan Yang curved his lips. "Didn't I say it? I want to return the pain you've inflicted on me a hundredfold, a thousandfold. From today on, you'll live here and be my sex slave."
So, he had only used her as a tool for his lust last night.
Even though she knew this, hearing it directly from his lips still wounded Mu Yuxin's heart. The sharp pain in her chest made her look even more wretched.
"I still have to go to the shop…"
"That's none of my concern!"
Seeing Guan Yang about to leave, Mu Yuxin, in a moment of desperation, grabbed his arm. The next second, Guan Yang violently flung her hand away with disgust. "Don't touch me!"
Mu Yuxin flinched, startled by Guan Yang's intense reaction. After all, no matter what had happened last night, they had already touched each other.
"At least… give me back my phone!"
Guan Yang sneered. "What, want to call your man?"
"I don't have a man!"
Mu Yuxin didn't really want to explain, she just felt it was unnecessary for Guan Yang to misunderstand and use it to taunt her.
"Don't have one? Then did Mu Qiaoqiao pop out of a rock? Or perhaps…"
Thinking of something, Guan Yang grabbed Mu Yuxin's wrist, his voice chilling. "Is Mu Qiaoqiao my daughter?"
For a brief moment, Mu Yuxin saw a flicker of expectation in Guan Yang's eyes. But quickly, she dismissed it, thinking she was mistaken. Guan Yang hated her so much; if he knew Qiaoqiao was his daughter, he would surely suspect she had ulterior motives.
"No."
Upon hearing this, Guan Yang roughly shoved Mu Yuxin away. "You'd better not be!"
Guan Yang threw Mu Yuxin's phone at her and left, as if even looking at her for another second was a torment.
After retrieving her phone, Mu Yuxin immediately called the shop and arranged everything for the days to come.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Song Qinian felt a sense of relief after receiving Mu Yuxin's call assuring her safety.
She understood that some matters had to be resolved by the individuals themselves; no amount of outside intervention would be truly effective.
Fortunately, Mu Yuxin was at least her friend. Even if Guan Yang didn't show mercy to Mu Yuxin, he might show some consideration for Shen ChiYan's sake. He probably wouldn't do anything drastic to Yuxin!
Just then, "Spicy Mother-in-Law," the variety show that had garnered nationwide anticipation, finally premiered. Upon its release, the show immediately topped viewership ratings, popularity, and discussion topics across the entire network, becoming an instant hit.
With only one episode released per week, it kept the audience eagerly waiting for more.
The episode with Shen ChiYan and Zan Zan drew the highest viewership.
"Are CEO Shen and Nian Nian really that sweet? A pitifully cute little one and a domineering CEO who's cool to outsiders but a doting husband to his wife. Oh my, I believe in love again."
"The scene where Nian Nian abandoned her husband to chase after her son after seeing him was hilarious! Look at CEO Shen drowning in a sea of jealousy, how can he be jealous of his own son!"
"Little baby Zan Zan is so adorable. He's inherited all the best traits from his parents and grandmother. So refined at such a young age, he's bound to captivate hearts when he grows up."
"A thousand voices petitioning for a parenting variety show three years from now, with CEO Shen and Zan Zan participating."
Lin Qiutong wanted to avoid any news about Song Qinian and Shen ChiYan, but she couldn't help but pull out her phone to browse Weibo, as if inflicting self-harm.
Seeing their family happy and together on screen filled her with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
She threw down her tablet and angrily called Shen Qiwen on her phone. "I asked you to do something, why is it taking so long? If you don't hurry, my growing belly will be obvious, and it'll be over. Are you just placating me, saying you'll help me marry Ah Yan, but secretly wanting me to give birth to your child and have them call you father?"
"Shen ChiYan has been very busy. He goes to see Song Qinian whenever he has time, making it difficult to find an opportunity."
"I don't care. It's been almost two months. If we don't act fast, will it still be concealable then?"
"Shen ChiYan will be meeting someone at the Hao Ge Hotel tonight. Wait for me there. I'll find a way to bring him to your room."
"Really?"
"I'll do my best."
"Okay, then I'll await your good news."
After hanging up, Lin Qiutong excitedly went to pick out clothes and do her makeup. Glancing at her somewhat haggard reflection in the mirror, Lin Qiutong cursed. It was all Shen Qiwen's fault. He'd said makeup and medical beauty were bad for the fetus and forbade her from doing them, which had significantly worsened her skin.
Looking at her makeup that resembled a ghost, she called a professional styling team and asked them to give her a makeup look imitating Song Qinian.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that modern makeup artistry was akin to plastic surgery. With this transformation, she did bear a striking resemblance to Song Qinian.
Although Lin Qiutong disdained imitating Song Qinian, for the sake of tonight's success and her future, she had to endure it.
That evening, at the Hao Ge Hotel.
Shen ChiYan stood outside a private room, calling Song Qinian. "I don't know when I'll be back tonight. You'd better behave! Don't contact Li Junshen while I'm away, or go out and provoke others."
Song Qinian was somewhat speechless. "I'm painting!"
Remembering Shen ChiYan's stomach issues, he added another reminder, "Don't drink alcohol. If you end up in the hospital, I won't come to take care of you!"
Hearing this, Shen ChiYan suddenly chuckled. "Are you worried about me?"
Hearing Shen ChiYan's smug tone, Song Qinian coughed lightly. "No, I just don't want to be bothered."
"Hmph, I don't care about that. I'll assume you're worried about me."
After a short phone call, Shen ChiYan was called inside. Upon seeing him enter, Shen Qiwen's eyes flickered slightly.
Shen ChiYan was there to discuss a collaboration. The other party was difficult and kept forcing Shen ChiYan to drink. Shen Qiwen had been blocking drinks for Shen ChiYan, even throwing up twice.
Shen ChiYan had never held much affection for his brother, Shen Qiwen. However, seeing him desperately defending him today touched him somewhat.
"Have some water!"
Shen ChiYan poured Shen Qiwen a glass of water. Shen Qiwen took it and smiled at Shen ChiYan. "Thank you, Fifth Brother."
"You worked hard today!"
"It's not hard. It's either me or you drinking, and your stomach isn't good, so you can't drink anymore."
Shen ChiYan patted Shen Qiwen's shoulder, saying nothing further.
As the meeting was nearing its end, Shen Qiwen handed Shen ChiYan a glass of water. "Brother, the food tonight was too oily. Have some lemon water to cut through the greasiness, so your stomach doesn't act up again."