Delicate Beauty in the Palm : Chapter 95 - A Perfect Match Written in the Stars, Their Union was Destined (The End)

October 21, 2025 Oyen 0 Comments

Happy Reading~

Chapter 95: A Perfect Match Written in the Stars, Their Union was Destined (The End)

 

Ye Chuqing hadn’t held much hope for this marriage from the beginning—more accurately, she didn’t dare to hope, afraid the disappointment would be too devastating if things didn’t go well.

 

So her expectations were simple: that both parties could maintain appearances, keep the marriage clean, and get along peacefully like friends.

 

If things went smoothly, they could stay that way; if not, parting peacefully and starting a new chapter in life wouldn’t be too bad either.

 

But things didn’t unfold the way Ye Chuqing had expected.

 

She knew it was best not to hope for too much, but she couldn’t help herself—she kept thinking, kept overanalyzing, even tried probing Chen Shao for answers.

 

Ye Chuqing realized she was starting to act a little strange.

 

But she never imagined that peeling back the layers of this situation would reveal what it did.

 

Chen Shao kissed her lips, then pulled back a little. His warm breath brushed her face. Their eyes met in a brief, quiet moment.

 

He chuckled softly, raised an eyebrow: “Not resisting?”

 

“Huh?”

 

He kissed her again, no longer holding back like before. Only as he kissed her did Ye Chuqing realize what he had meant earlier by ‘not resisting.’ She gave a muffled sound, blushing furiously, and pushed him away.

 

“Don’t push your luck!” she snapped, flustered and annoyed.

 

He laughed, “Just normal married life.”

 

“…” Ye Chuqing felt like she was about to run out of oxygen. She turned her back to him: “I’m going to sleep.”

 

Chen Shao wrapped an arm around her from behind, through the blanket, pressing his chest to her back—it was warm.

 

She suddenly remembered waking up the day after that birthday party: Chen Shao had held her just like this from behind. She’d been too shocked back then to think it through.

 

She couldn’t remember how she’d eventually fallen asleep that night—only that everything had changed when she woke up the next day.

 

The night before, Wei Yuanhe had apparently been out partying somewhere. The voice message she’d sent him—just a single word, “Scram”—was overheard by others, and word quickly spread. It was said that Wei Yuanhe’s face turned black on the spot.

 

The lives of the rich and powerful were luxurious yet dull, and Ye Chuqing had always been a hot topic among them. 

 

By the next day, her “scram” had become widely known.

 

The gossip grew more and more outrageous. Linking her past relationship with Wei Yuanhe, people speculated it was a tangled, dramatic love story. And considering how she'd left with Chen Shao after just a few words at that one gathering, the whole thing seemed even more mysterious.

 

Some even started saying Ye Chuqing was playing two men in the palm of her hand.

 

Normally, this wouldn’t have been a big deal—after all, many of the wealthy heiresses had long disliked Ye Chuqing and talked behind her back. She was used to it. But this time, the rumors reached Huang Sheng’s ears.

 

Her parents had always believed that Ye Chuqing and Chen Shao were in a normal relationship—that even though they got married in a rush due to an unexpected pregnancy, at least there were genuine feelings involved.

 

So how had the rumors gotten so ugly? Talking about hookups and manipulation?

 

When Ye Chuqing got the call from Huang Sheng, she was still asleep. Groggily, she fumbled for her phone and answered, eyes still closed: “Hello, who is it?”

 

“It’s me.”

 

Ye Chuqing recognized the voice: “Mom? Why are you calling so early?”

 

Huang Sheng: “You’re still sleeping?”

 

“What else would I be doing at this hour?”

 

“Is A-Shao beside you?”

 

“Yeah,” Ye Chuqing replied, confused. “Do you want to talk to him?”

 

“No. Today’s your prenatal checkup, right? Don’t let A-Shao take you. I’ll go with you.”

 

“Oh, okay,” Ye Chuqing agreed without thinking much.

 

She was about to go back to sleep when Chen Shao leaned in, lips brushing the back of her neck. His voice was low and raspy: “Your mom?”

 

Ye Chuqing tensed and answered with her eyes shut: “Yeah. She’s coming with me to the checkup this afternoon.”

 

“I’ll take you both.”

 

“No need, don’t you have to go to the office?”

 

Ye Chuqing felt something was off—Huang Sheng’s attitude was a bit strange. Maybe she had something important to talk about in person.

 

But she never imagined it would be about her and Chen Shao’s marriage.

 

After the checkup, all results came back normal. The two of them left the hospital and went to a nearby restaurant.

 

Ye Chuqing could tell that Huang Sheng definitely had something to say. Her behavior was just too unusual.

 

She tried to recall whether she’d done anything wrong recently—but nothing came to mind.

 

Huang Sheng ordered an afternoon tea set, took a sip of black tea, and finally spoke: “How are you and A-Shao getting along?”

 

“…Pretty well,” Ye Chuqing replied.

 

“I heard today from someone… that you and A-Shao weren’t actually dating before. You just used the pregnancy as an excuse to trick us elders into thinking you were?”

 

Ye Chuqing froze: “Huh?”

 

Huang Sheng knew her daughter all too well. With her always fiery personality, this kind of reaction clearly meant she'd hit the mark. She immediately frowned and scolded, “I’m your mother! You even lied about something as major as getting married!? No matter what, even if your father and I had scolded you, how could you lie to us about something like this? This is your future, decades of your life we’re talking about!”

 

“......”

 

Ye Chuqing knew she was in the wrong and lowered her head obediently to take the scolding.

 

Maybe in the past, hearing this wouldn’t have affected her much, but after Chen Shao’s warm, lingering kisses last night… everything suddenly felt different.

 

It didn’t feel quite as tragic as Huang Sheng made it sound.

 

“You don’t even really know what kind of person he is, and you went ahead and married him without saying a word. Do you think your father and I raised you for over twenty years so easily? What if the future doesn’t go well—what then?”

 

Ye Chuqing couldn’t help but defend Chen Shao: “He’s not that kind of person…”

 

Huang Sheng snorted coldly. “He’s indeed not that kind of person. In fact, I’d say it’s A-Shao who’s the one with poor judgment.”

 

“?”

 

Huang Sheng added, “And today I heard someone say that your ex-boyfriend has gotten back in touch with you?”

 

“???”

 

Huang Sheng gave her a reproachful glare. “You’re married now, and pregnant. Watch your private life. Even if your marriage wasn’t based on love, you’re still legally married. You should respect the law and basic morals. If you really can’t go on, then divorce first before getting involved in any nonsense.”

 

The way she said it made Ye Chuqing feel like she was being treated like some greasy middle-aged man cheating on his wife with a younger woman.

 

Ye Chuqing was stunned. She couldn’t hold back: “No, Mom—I haven’t done anything with Wei Yuanhe! Why is everyone asking me about my relationship with him?”

 

“A-Shao asked you, too?” Huang Sheng was surprised and visibly concerned that her daughter hadn’t handled things properly. “You really need to be more cautious! Given your history with Wei Yuanhe, you should know how to avoid suspicion!”

 

“…Mom,” Ye Chuqing was exhausted. “Do you really think I’m that kind of person?”

 

Huang Sheng looked at her with an expression that clearly said: Aren’t you?

 

“......”

 

Ye Chuqing was just about to argue back when her phone rang—it was Chen Shao calling. She had no choice but to put her impending character assassination on hold and answer the call.

 

Chen Shao asked from the other end, “Is your checkup done?”

 

“Yeah, just finished. The doctor said everything’s good.”

 

“Should I come pick you up now?” he asked.

 

“No need, you’re busy. I’m still with my mom.”

 

Chen Shao said, “Alright. Should we invite your parents over for dinner tonight?”

 

Ye Chuqing looked up at Huang Sheng across the table and relayed Chen Shao’s message.

 

Huang Sheng quickly waved it off. “No, no, that’s too much trouble. Next time, have A-Shao come to our place instead.”

 

So Ye Chuqing replied, “My mom says no need.”

 

Huang Sheng immediately smacked the back of Ye Chuqing’s hand and glared at her furiously. She looked like she was on the verge of cursing her out, but had to hold back since they were still on the phone with Chen Shao.

 

Still, as mother and daughter, Ye Chuqing instantly understood the message behind her mother’s eyes: Would it kill you to speak nicely?! Why just say ‘no need’!? Why didn’t you invite him over next time like I said?! Look at how thoughtful he is, asking about your checkup! And look at the kind of mess you’ve made!

 

“......”

 

Right now, this version of Huang Sheng was fully convinced that their marriage was just some fleeting, emotionless fling—and now that she thought her own daughter was still hung up on her ex, seeing Chen Shao being warm and considerate just made her even angrier.

 

Ye Chuqing felt more wronged than Dou E [a reference to a famous unjustly executed woman in Chinese drama].

 

She didn’t feel like explaining anymore. She put the phone on speaker, set it in the middle of the table, and asked bluntly, “Chen Shao, do you like me?”

 

The phone fell completely silent. If the screen hadn’t still been lit up, she would’ve thought the call had dropped.

 

Huang Sheng: “……”

 

Ye Chuqing: “……”

 

Wasn’t this guy all affectionate just last night? Now that he’d gotten his way, he wasn’t going to admit anything?

 

She cleared her throat. “Chen Shao.”

 

“…Mm?”

 

Mm, what mm?!

 

“Answer me,” she pushed.

 

“…You’re alright, I guess,” Chen Shao replied.

 

“…You can take your luggage and get out of the house tonight.”

 

Chen Shao didn’t realize she had him on speaker. He chuckled and teasingly replied, “Then do you love me?”

 

“......”

 

I just asked if you liked me—how did this escalate to love? That’s not how this works!

 

Ye Chuqing was completely speechless—especially with her mom right there. In a fit of embarrassment and frustration, she blurted out a furious “No, I don’t!” and hung up the call.

 

When she looked up again, she saw Huang Sheng’s expression had become even more complicated.

 

…She genuinely didn’t know how to explain the current mess.

 

‘Chen Shao, do you like me?’

 

‘…You’re alright, I guess.’

 

‘…You can take your luggage and get out of the house tonight.’

 

‘Then do you love me?’

 

‘No, I don’t.’

 

This only confirmed the suspicions Huang Sheng had all along.

 

“You don’t need to worry. Chen Shao and I are doing fine now—it’s not as problematic as you think. The whole Wei Yuanhe situation is really just a misunderstanding. No matter what, I’m not the kind of person who goes crawling back to an ex. Especially not that kind of ex—he’s just a weed.”

 

Huang Sheng stared at her for a moment. She could barely believe the first part, but the second half, she reluctantly accepted.

 

How could they possibly be doing “fine”?

 

Looking at the daughter she had doted on for so many years, Huang Sheng’s eyes nearly welled with tears. After all, this was her flesh and blood, and her bias was inevitable. She didn’t continue criticizing her and instead gently patted her shoulder: “If one day you really can’t go on, tell your father and me. Don’t force yourself. You think we can’t afford to support you? Divorce isn’t some huge stigma anymore in today’s society.”

 

“......”

 

Ye Chuqing forced a reply: “Okay.”

 

That same day, back at home, Ye Chuqing brought the whole matter up to Chen Shao.

 

Chen Shao was shocked: “You asked me that while your mom was sitting right across from you?”

 

“Yeah, didn’t I just ask if she wanted to come over for dinner before that?”

 

“I thought you went somewhere else before asking me…” Chen Shao frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me your mom was sitting across from you?”

 

“If I had told you beforehand, she would’ve thought you were acting.”

 

“…” Chen Shao sat down beside her. “What about when I asked you that question?”

 

“You didn’t admit it, so why should I?” Ye Chuqing replied confidently, glaring at him. “Besides, I was just stating facts—this whole thing started with your one-sided crush, okay?”

 

Chen Shao chuckled lightly, clearly in a good mood, and clearly not buying it.

 

Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal—just a misunderstanding. Over time, trust could be rebuilt. These things needed more time than anything.

 

But both of them forgot about the ticking time bomb that was Qiu Yao.

 

Early April—Qingming Festival.

 

Neither of their families had the tradition of tomb-sweeping during Qingming, so they decided to take advantage of the holiday and get together for a meal.

 

Ye Chuqing was starting to show by then—her belly was much more obvious. She had a bit of a princess complex, having been pampered since she was young. Ever since that night she cleared the air with Chen Shao, she’d been making more and more demands of him.

 

The main hall of the Chen family’s house was unusually lively that day.

 

But Chen Die couldn’t make it back because of work. And with Wen Liang’s personality, if Chen Die wasn’t coming, he wouldn’t show up either.

 

The elders were all gathered together chatting. Ye Chuqing wasn’t interested in their topics, so she sat with Chen Shao off to the side.

 

That’s when Qiu Yao and her parents arrived.

 

Originally, Qiu Yao was supposed to be abroad. No one knew why she was still in China for so long. Ye Chuqing didn’t like her much and couldn’t be bothered to dig into it.

 

At the dinner table, Ye Chuqing became the center of attention.

 

Because of her pregnancy, the entire conversation revolved around her.

 

Qiu Yao propped her chin up and stared at her for a while. When Ye Chuqing looked over, she accidentally locked eyes with the girl’s pastel-pink hair and felt a jolt in her heart.

 

She had a bad feeling—Qiu Yao was about to stir up trouble.

 

Sure enough, the next second Qiu Yao smiled sweetly and said, “Cousin-in-law, I’ve been hearing a lot of people say you and my cousin have a fake marriage?”

 

Ye Chuqing remained composed: “How could it be fake? We've been legally married for months now.”

 

“Sure, the marriage is legal, but it wasn’t exactly the result of a long, loving relationship, right?” Qiu Yao asked innocently.

 

The others had heard whispers of this, too. They were all in the same social circle—even Huang Sheng had caught wind of the rumors. Naturally, Old Master Chen and the others had as well.

 

But seeing how well the couple got along, no one had taken it seriously. After all, arranged or pragmatic marriages were nothing new in their world. Love wasn’t always the top priority.

 

Old Master Chen shot Qiu Yao a glance and lightly scolded, “Yaoyao, watch what you say.”

 

She pouted unhappily: “But it’s true.”

 

Chen Shao chuckled and, with a calm face, replied, “It’s true we didn’t date for years. I liked Chuqing on my own for a long time. When we finally got together and decided to marry, it was sudden, yes.”

 

Ye Chuqing: “…”

 

Everyone was surprised to hear there was such a backstory between the two. It was the first time Chen Shao had ever brought it up.

 

Qiu Yao had nothing more to say.

 

Ye Chuqing and Chen Shao took the opportunity to put on a show as a loving couple at the table—feeding each other, whispering sweetly, exchanging knowing smiles—pulling out all the tricks.

 

At last, all the silent doubts people had been holding onto were finally dispelled.

 

After dinner, because Chen Shao had drunk alcohol and Ye Chuqing, being pregnant, couldn’t drive, they were driven home by the family chauffeur.

 

Ye Chuqing never hid her dislike for Qiu Yao in front of Chen Shao. As soon as they got in the car, she started ranting about her. After she was done, she added, “Why hasn’t she gone back abroad yet?”

 

“Her grades are terrible—she’s about to get expelled,” Chen Shao replied.

 

“…” Ye Chuqing, an academic overachiever, blinked and said sincerely, “Impressive.”

 

Chen Shao never had much patience for his female cousins. He reassured her, “Don’t worry, she probably won’t stay much longer.”

 

“But isn’t she getting kicked out of school?” Ye Chuqing asked.

 

“I wasn’t going to get involved, but now I’m thinking of helping her transfer to another school. Her grades are trash anyway, just needs a degree to get by.”

 

His tone made her laugh, and she gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re such a ruthless cousin. She really seems to like you.”

 

Chen Shao raised a hand to his forehead, his tone cold: “The sooner she leaves, the sooner we have peace.”

 

They drove back to the entrance of the villa community. The driver, who hadn’t dared to speak until now, glanced ahead and reported, “Mr. Chen, there’s a fender-bender up front. We’ll need to wait a bit.”

 

Two luxury cars were blocking the entrance, badly smashed. Their drivers were clamoring to call the police and the insurance.

 

Chen Shao glanced at the situation. “It’s fine, let’s just walk back.”

 

The two got out of the car and walked around the two other vehicles.

 

Ye Chuqing glanced back at the car logo, clicking her tongue in dismay. “Fixing that could cost enough to buy half a new car…”

 

Before she could finish her sentence, a warm hand suddenly pressed into her palm—Chen Shao had taken her hand.

 

Ye Chuqing froze, looking up at him. Chen Shao appeared calm and natural, as if holding hands was nothing unusual.

 

She remembered she had always thought Chen Shao’s hands were beautiful—long fingers with defined joints, no calluses from being raised in comfort, perfect for playing piano.

 

She couldn’t help but glance down. That hand was now clasped with hers, his fingers wrapped around the back of her hand.

 

Ever since Chen Shao made it clear he liked her, they’d often been physically affectionate. But they had started with a ‘home run’—once feelings were confirmed, they kissed, and from there, gradually dialed things back. Now, simply holding hands was enough to make Ye Chuqing’s heart race.

 

The two walked home hand in hand.

 

As soon as the door opened, Chen Shao pulled her inside and immediately lowered his head to kiss her again.

 

Was this man addicted to kissing her just because she didn’t resist?

 

Ye Chuqing wondered in a daze, tilting her chin up.

 

Later, as Chen Shao’s breathing grew heavier, the hand on her fair neck began to tighten slightly. The closer the heart, the harder it was to maintain control.

 

He cupped her face, pulled back a bit, but couldn’t help leaning in again to kiss her lips. His voice was hoarse: “I think I kind of regret it now.”

 

“What?” Ye Chuqing asked, then subconsciously licked her damp lips.

 

Chen Shao’s eyes darkened. “We indulged twice, and now we have to suffer for ten months.”

 

“......”

 

Great. Their relationship had now advanced to the level of exchanging lewd jokes like married couples.

 

Ye Chuqing suddenly became a bit concerned about life after giving birth. The previous two times had been in a hazy blur. Aside from the backache and soreness the next day, she didn’t remember much of the details.

 

Thinking this way, Chen Shao had been fully conscious during those times. Did that mean he had seen everything? But she hadn’t even seen him in that state…

 

“Not fair,” Ye Chuqing said.

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I realized at least you were fully conscious when you indulged. I didn’t even get to enjoy it,” she said honestly.

 

Chen Shao was stunned for two seconds, then burst out laughing. “If you want to indulge, I’m happy to oblige right now.”

 

“......”

 

Ye Chuqing’s eyes involuntarily glanced below his waist. Before she could see clearly, she quickly looked away, flustered.

 

This guy was getting more and more shameless.

 

Men really are all the same!

 

She was blushing furiously, trying to think of a way to regain the upper hand, tired of always being embarrassed by just a few of his words. Unexpectedly, it was Chen Shao who let go of her first.

 

He cleared his throat, quickly walked to the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of cold water, downing half of it in one go.

 

…Was that really necessary?

 

Ye Chuqing found it amusing.

 

She sat down on the sofa, looked at the ‘Top Fortune Stick’ in the flower pot, then lifted her eyes toward Chen Shao.

 

He was leaning lazily against the fridge door like it was a fire extinguisher, the cold bottle still pressed to his face.

 

Noticing Ye Chuqing’s gaze, he looked over and met her eyes.

 

Ye Chuqing blinked, curiously asked, “Are you okay now?”

 

Chen Shao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “No.”

 

…Well, at least he was honest.

 

“Then have another bottle of water.”

 

Chen Shao chuckled, walked over to her side, and leaned back on the other end of the couch. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Help me out?”

 

“?”

 

This—this was exactly what it meant to push one's luck.

 

Ye Chuqing looked serious and reminded him, “I'm pregnant.”

 

Although the doctor had only advised her to avoid sex in the early stages and hadn’t mentioned it again lately, she had no intention of telling Chen Shao that.

 

Chen Shao, being quite considerate, nodded and leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “We’ll use other methods.”

 

“......”

 

"Give me your hand."

 

“......” And so, several dozen minutes later, their relationship had once again deepened—under the witness of that ‘Top Fortune Stick’, no less.

 

Chen Shao wiped the “crime scene” clean with a tissue, tossed it into the trash, and leaned back with a lazy, satisfied expression. Ye Chuqing, on the other hand, looked utterly undone.

 

Just a while ago, she had kicked him to the guest room for three days over a casual smack on the butt. And now, their supposedly "strained" marriage had escalated to this level of intimacy.

 

Her breathing was unsteady, her chest and slightly rounded belly rising and falling as she struggled to recover.

 

Chen Shao, lounging nearby, couldn’t resist reaching over to gently stroke her belly.

 

Ye Chuqing snapped, swatted his hand away, and gave him a death glare. "Don’t get my belly dirty!"

 

He laughed, "If we’re talking dirty, it’s your hand."

 

“......”

 

Ye Chuqing couldn’t sit still any longer. She got up to go upstairs, ignoring him, but he pulled her back down onto the couch, making her bounce a bit as she landed.

 

Having taken advantage, Chen Shao grinned brightly. “What? Thinking of locking me out again?”

 

“You should sleep in the guest room from now on!”

 

“Hey.” He leaned in close to her ear. “Can I ask you something?”

 

Ye Chuqing turned her head and looked at him warily. “What?”

 

“Given our current situation... am I still the only one who’s in love here?”

 

“Obviously!” Ye Chuqing raised her chin like a queen above all. “What else would you think?”

 

“Fair enough.” Chen Shao nodded, unfazed by her denial. He leaned against her and half-relaxed. “Even just one-sided love from me gets this kind of treatment from my goddess—I'm satisfied.”

 

“Chen Shao!”

 

He burst into laughter as Ye Chuqing angrily swung a throw pillow at him.

 

No matter how much she hit him, it didn’t feel like enough to let out her anger. She dusted off her clothes and went upstairs.

 

Chen Shao followed a while later. By the time he got there, Ye Chuqing had already showered and washed her hands three times. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw him standing by the window on a call, facing away.

 

Before he could turn around, she looked away, lifted the covers, and got into bed.

 

On the other end of the call, his assistant was reporting recent partnership offers. When they mentioned the Wei Corporation, there was a slight pause, followed by a question: “Should we handle this one differently?”

 

Chen Shao glanced over to see Ye Chuqing boredly playing a game on the bed, her fingers surprisingly nimble. Remembering what had just happened, his mind wandered a little. He calmly responded, “Mm, cancel the partnership.”

 

Ye Chuqing heard the last part and assumed it was about some company issue. She tilted her head curiously—only to see Chen Shao staring directly at her. Instantly annoyed, she silently mouthed: ‘What are you looking at?!’

 

In the end, she didn’t ask what the ‘cancel the partnership’ was about.

 

Ever since their ‘boundary was crossed,’ Chen Shao had been acting more and more shameless by the day.

 

Ye Chuqing honestly couldn’t imagine how such a rogue had managed to behave himself for the past few months. She’d even been feeling guilty about having slept with him.

 

Now, it was clear—she had just been too naive.

 

As days passed, their status as husband and wife became more and more real—thanks to Chen Shao’s relentless shamelessness.

 

Later, the two of them attended a golden wedding celebration together. The elderly couple hosting it was about the same age as Old Master Chen and had made their fortune around the same time. They loved a lively atmosphere, so for their 60th anniversary, they threw a banquet and invited many people from their circle.

 

Ye Chuqing had never publicly announced her pregnancy—aside from Chen Shao vaguely hinting at it in front of Wei Yuanhe once. And Wei Yuanhe, of course, wasn’t going to repeat it and embarrass himself.

 

So her so-called “plastic” sisters were unaware.

 

Now, seeing her visibly pregnant belly and the very affectionate behavior between her and Chen Shao during the banquet, the group immediately turned their suspicion toward the person who first spread rumors of their marriage breaking down.

 

“But even if the divorce was fake, we were all there that time Ye Chuqing seduced Chen Shao, weren’t we?”

 

“So... it turned into a real relationship from a fake act? They sure don’t look like they’re faking it now.”

 

“Then what about that thing with Wei Yuanhe? How did she go from flirting with both men to now being so lovey-dovey with Chen Shao?”

 

“I heard from a friend close to Wei Yuanhe that Ye Chuqing just told him to ‘scram.’ Who knows how it got turned into some lingering affair. Looking back now, maybe Wei Yuanhe was the one who couldn’t let go.”

 

“She’s already married, and he’s still pestering her?”

 

“Isn’t his womanizing already well-known? And honestly, his last girlfriend wasn’t even as pretty as Ye Chuqing.”

 

……

And just like that, the rumors about marital discord between Chen Shao and Ye Chuqing collapsed on their own.

 

But all that talk about breakups was just idle gossip from nosy outsiders. Ye Chuqing never really cared—yet she didn’t expect to get another call from Ms. Huang Sheng a few days later.

 

Ms. Huang Sheng was a character. One moment, she was dragging them to a shabby temple to pray to a master for marital harmony; the next, she refused to believe Ye Chuqing when she repeatedly said everything was fine with Chen Shao.

 

Being a long-time director, she treated everyone like they were acting.

 

This time, she had somehow caught wind of a rumor that her daughter’s marriage was actually happy, so she finally called Ye Chuqing to confirm it.

 

Ye Chuqing laughed out loud. She was used to being informal with Huang Sheng: "Sis, how many times do I have to tell you before you finally believe me?"

 

“A-Shao really likes you—not just because of the baby, right?” she asked. “He treats you well too, doesn’t he?”

 

“Yes, he’s been secretly in love with me for over a decade,” Ye Chuqing said, laying it on thick. “Now that he has finally gotten to marry his goddess, of course, he treats me well. He’s lucky beyond words to have married me.”

 

Huang Sheng scolded her, “Shameless!” Then she asked, “And you? Do you like him, too?”

 

After all, in marriage, true happiness can’t come from just one side being in love.

 

Ye Chuqing quieted for a moment, straightened up a little, and gave a soft smile: “Of course I like him, too.”

 

In the middle to later stages of her pregnancy, Ye Chuqing started dragging Chen Shao out shopping for baby supplies. They ended up with an entire basket just of tiny clothes and socks—she couldn’t stop picking things out.

 

While standing at the counter, a voice called out from behind: “Chen Shao!”

 

Chen Shao turned around, raised his eyebrows, and laughed. “What a coincidence.”

 

The person behind immediately ran up, threw himself at Chen Shao, hooked his arm around his neck, and yelled, “You bastard! I’m cutting you off!”

 

The guy came charging so fast that Ye Chuqing didn’t even get a good look—though the voice did sound a little familiar, she couldn’t quite place it.

 

Chen Shao pulled the guy off by the collar and laughed as he introduced him to Ye Chuqing: “This is Lin Qimeng, my college classmate.”

 

Then he pointed to Ye Chuqing and said to Lin Qimeng, “This is my wife.”

 

Lin Qimeng: “…”

 

Ye Chuqing: “…”

 

She didn’t know how to greet someone who had confessed to her 83 times—and was also her husband’s college buddy.

 

Thankfully, Chen Shao quickly pulled her behind him, easing the awkwardness… only to make it worse with his next line.

 

Smiling, he subtly explained: “Just in case you still have that habit of confessing every time you meet.”

 

“…!” Lin Qimeng was furious and shot back, “Screw you! I’ve got a wife and daughter now!”

 

Ye Chuqing peeked her head out from behind Chen Shao and waved: “Long time no see.”

 

Lin Qimeng grinned: “Long time no see, junior.”

 

Chen Shao clicked his tongue, took a step to the side, and blocked Ye Chuqing again.

 

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Lin Qimeng snapped.

 

Chen Shao: “Why are you saying hi to my wife?”

 

Lin Qimeng sneered, “If I hadn’t confessed to her in college, would you even know her? Now you're all ‘my wife’ this and ‘my wife’ that—ever heard of gratitude? Technically speaking, I’m your matchmaker.”

 

Ye Chuqing: “…”

 

Apparently, Chen Shao’s friends weren’t all that mentally sound either.

 

Chen Shao wasn’t having it: “I knew her before you did.”

 

Even Ye Chuqing was stunned: “Huh? When?”

 

“You joined the student council in your freshman year, right?”

 

“Yeah, I was in the External Relations Department.”

 

“When you joined, I was the department head. I saw you once in the hallway, but transferring to another campus was too much hassle, so I handed you off to the former deputy head.”

 

“???”

 

Ye Chuqing was shocked—how much more had this sly fox been keeping from her?

 

Lin Qimeng was stunned too: “You never told me that.”

 

“I only saw her once and learned her name. Nothing worth mentioning.”

 

Lin Qimeng: “…You’re a damn beast, Chen Shao.”

 

Chen Shao just smiled and didn’t deny it. With that old matter settled, he changed the subject: “So what brings you to Yan City?”

 

“Business trip. Thought I’d swing by and see what I could buy for my daughter.”

 

Chen Shao smiled and offered casually, “Cool. Next time you’re in Yan City, hit me up. It’s been a while—we should grab a drink.”

 

Lin Qimeng called him out: “I’m literally standing in front of you right now. Why don’t you say that now?”

 

Chen Shao said, “Not today—my wife’s here too. You fell in love at first sight back then, remember? Best we don’t see each other too often.”

 

Even Ye Chuqing couldn’t stand it anymore. This idiot was still flirting when the man clearly had a wife and kid. She reached over, pinched him hard, and muttered, “What the hell are you saying?”

 

“I think you’re the one who fell in love at first sight. You still remember that one hallway encounter? Didn’t you step down as department head in the first week of junior year?”

 

Chen Shao smiled but didn’t deny it.

 

Lin Qimeng glanced at Ye Chuqing again and asked, “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?”

 

They hadn’t bothered to find out the baby’s gender—just wanted to let things unfold naturally.

 

Chen Shao put one arm around her shoulder and patted her belly twice with the other hand, starting to make things up again: “Twins. One of each.”

 

Lin Qimeng looked genuinely excited. “Seriously!?”

 

Ye Chuqing: “…”

 

Chen Shao, full of smug pride, replied calmly, “I’m just that amazing.”

 

Ye Chuqing: “…”

 

After a couple of seconds, Lin Qimeng shook his head regretfully and said to Ye Chuqing, “Poor you, marrying such a bastard.”

 

Ye Chuqing: “…Just doing my part to rid the world of evil.”

 

They chatted a little longer, and then Lin Qimeng’s wife called. After saying their goodbyes, Ye Chuqing and Chen Shao left.

 

Outside, the sun was perfect—it was already summer, and the warmth on their skin felt just right.

 

Ye Chuqing got into the car, thinking back to how Lin Qimeng had acted, and couldn’t help but laugh again.

 

Chen Shao looked over. “What are you laughing at?”

 

She didn’t answer, just squinted her eyes in amusement. Then, on a whim, she said, “Chen Shao, how about we go back to that shabby temple? The one we went to before the wedding.”

 

“What for?”

 

“To repay the wish,” Ye Chuqing said. “The master was actually kind of accurate. He said, ‘Your birth charts align; it’s a match made in heaven.’”

 

Chen Shao gave a short snort—ever the firm materialist. “What, you want to draw another ‘Top Fortune Stick’ and worship it at home?”

 

“Not the worst idea.”

 

“You’re like a little nun,” Chen Shao scoffed. “Not going.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Told you already, believing in that stuff is pointless.”

 

The light turned red. Chen Shao stopped the car and turned his head to look at her. “Believe in me instead.”

 

Ye Chuqing was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. “Okay.”

 

When the light turned green again, he started driving. Casually, almost like he wasn’t thinking much of it, he added, “Little nun… it’s not just me in love this time, is it?”

 

Ye Chuqing smiled again but didn’t look at him. She turned her head to watch the stream of cars outside the window. After a long pause, she replied softly, “Probably not anymore.”

 

Spring light was warm and hazy.

 

It’s unclear who said “I love you” first in the car, but soon, another voice followed—

 

“I love you, too.”

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