However, the moment the words left her mouth, the veteran actress wife realized she had misspoken.

How could a man get pregnant?

The veteran actress wife lightly tapped her forehead, sighing that she had indeed been spending too much time with her old sisters, and had subconsciously started urging marriage and pregnancy. In the next moment, she immediately apologized to Song Yun.

But after apologizing, the veteran actress wife felt something was off. If she hadn’t seen wrong…

Song Yun had only felt disgusted after seeing Shi Xianzhu?

She fell into thought, while Song Yun didn’t mind her words, he hadn’t taken them to heart in the first place.

—Moreover, he now wanted nothing more than to avoid Shi Xianzhu.

Unfortunately, before he could escape, Shi Xianzhu stood gently in front of him, his eyes full of a pleading helplessness, as if he were the one betrayed but still faithful.

He even thoughtfully guided Song Yun to stand on another side of the beach to avoid being overheard. When they stood still on the sand, Shi Xianzhu’s expression was utterly devoted.

Only Song Yun felt irritated in his heart. He really didn’t want to face Shi Xianzhu in this state, especially thinking about how Shi Xianzhu had behaved in front of his father not long ago…

Song Yun nearly vomited again, and a wave of disgust surged through him.

“Ah Yun, let’s talk,” Shi Xianzhu said softly, his voice slightly hoarse, as if he had endured countless sleepless nights.

Shi Xianzhu knew that to win Song Yun back, he had to first show weakness. He knew Song Yun’s kindness very well, if he appeared pitiful enough, Song Yun would not have the heart to refuse him.

But unexpectedly, Song Yun furrowed his brows, instinctively took a step back, and said coldly: “There’s nothing to talk about, Xianzhu. Our problems can’t be solved with just a few words.”

With that, Song Yun intended to leave.

He truly felt there was nothing to discuss with Shi Xianzhu.

Shi Xianzhu’s behavior disgusted him, but Shi Xianzhu had been with him for seven years without major problems. So Song Yun decided to calm himself and think things through later.

Thinking this, Song Yun took a few more steps forward.

‘This move doesn’t work anymore, does it…’

Shi Xianzhu thought, a shadow flashed across his eyes, but he quickly concealed it, replacing it with a hurt expression. He lowered his head slightly and said in an even softer voice: “I know I didn’t do well before and disappointed you. But I really want to make amends, to bring us back to the way we were.”

Although the conversation between the two could not be heard clearly, Shi Xianzhu’s expression and Song Yun’s cold demeanor drew curious looks from the other guests on the reality show.

Song Yun wanted Shi Xianzhu to speak properly. He wasn’t really suited to playing the pitiful role, but his feelings were complicated.

In seven years of marriage, Shi Xianzhu had always been the gentle, considerate, flawless husband, but now Song Yun found the man in front of him frighteningly unfamiliar. Even if his expression remained the one he knew…

Just thinking about the twisted relationship between Shi Xianzhu and his father made Song Yun shiver.

“Back to the way we were?” Song Yun asked, his usually gentle voice now tinged with helplessness. “Xianzhu, do you really think we can go back? Your relationship with your dad, your strange moods, your attitude toward me… I truly don’t know what you’re thinking.”

He didn’t want to think about it. Regardless of Shi Xianzhu’s intentions, his actions had already terrified Song Yun.

Shi Xianzhu sighed lightly, calculating the current situation and Song Yun’s state.

Clearly, Song Yun had started feeling disgust toward him for some reason. It wasn’t the spiritual infidelity incident, since that happened on the day his father came.

Could it be…

Recalling that rare moment of despondency when he tried to analyze himself that night, Shi Xianzhu felt he understood the crux of the matter.

—Song Yun probably reacted strongly because he felt Shi Xianzhu’s feelings for his father were a bit saccharine.

Shi Xianzhu knew this too. After all, he had a social circle, and most people in it either thought the same way or found such expressions cheesy.

Now Shi Xianzhu regretted showing these emotions.

However, this also brought out some dissatisfaction Shi Xianzhu had toward Song Yun.

Even if his feelings toward his father were cheesy, why should Song Yun treat him with disdain instead of understanding?

‘Training isn’t complete…’

Shi Xianzhu thought, his voice breaking slightly: “Ah Yun, I know I disappointed you. But I’ve cut ties with that host, and there won’t be such situations around me anymore. Yun, will you forgive me? I’ve found a lawyer and drafted the transfer contract. This villa we currently live in will legally be yours.”

Shi Xianzhu knew the saying “you can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing something precious,” so this time he went all out, offering his villa.

But his scheme also had calculations: if Song Yun accepted the villa, he could still live there later, if not, he wouldn’t lose anything—because, knowing Song Yun’s personality, he would never trick him into taking the house.

Shi Xianzhu’s guess proved correct. Song Yun looked at his deep and loving expression, and his heart grew irritated once more.

He didn’t want to hear these words. Moreover, Shi Xianzhu acted as if he were the one wronged, while the real spiritual infidelity had been Song Yun’s!

“I don’t need these, and you know the most critical issue isn’t this.”

Song Yun didn’t even want to acknowledge him this time. He stepped back and planned to request the director that he not appear on camera this time.

When Shi Xianzhu saw Song Yun’s behavior, his expression slightly changed, but he quickly returned to his pitiful look.

He stepped forward, trying to grab Song Yun’s hand, but Song Yun quickly dodged. A flicker of coldness passed through Shi Xianzhu’s eyes, but his tone remained gentle: “Yun, don’t be like this. Is there really no chance for us to recover?”

Song Yun took a deep breath, trying to suppress his irritation and disgust. He wished he were really pregnant, at least then he wouldn’t have to act out this melodramatic scene with Shi Xianzhu on the beach.

Shi Xianzhu’s expression finally darkened, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He hadn’t expected Song Yun to be so resolute, and a surge of anger rose in his heart.

But he quickly suppressed his emotions, maintaining his gentle demeanor, and said softly: “Yun, are you really this cruel? After seven years of our relationship, you would just give up?”

Song Yun looked at Shi Xianzhu’s expression, feeling a mixture of emotions.

He actually didn’t intend to give up on Shi Xianzhu. After all, it had been seven years of relationship. Even giving up on a dog would be hard, let alone Shi Xianzhu, who had done nothing unacceptable except for the spiritual infidelity incident.

—Except for his relationship with his father.

Song Yun really couldn’t accept that.

But as long as Shi Xianzhu didn’t contact his father, he acted like a normal person, which made Song Yun conflicted.

Shi Xianzhu seemed to notice this, and the sadness in his eyes grew a little.

“…Song Yun, do you dislike my parents?”

Upon hearing this, Song Yun’s expression turned sour. He had only gone out to avoid his family for a while, how did Shi Xianzhu make it seem as if he were disrespecting elders?

Moreover, wasn’t Shi Xianzhu’s relationship with his parents already hard enough to bear?

As the tension between them increased, the younger female cousin finally couldn’t hold back.

Her eldest cousin was good at times, but sometimes overly gentle—he still cared about Shi Xianzhu’s face and didn’t speak plainly. So the younger cousin decided to help him.

However, knowing every family had its own complications, she chose a reverse approach.

She cautiously approached and whispered to Shi Xianzhu, whose eyes were sad but determined: “Um… brother-in-law, Uncle and Aunt from the Shi family are still at home. If you think cousin isn’t acting right, maybe we can ask the production team to come over for a reverse observation?”

She paused and added: “After confirming the relationship today, you’ll also have to face real married life.”

Shi Xianzhu, who knew his and his father’s situation very well, stared at Song Yun with astonishment.

Gazing at his younger cousin, his mind only registered one words: Genius!

Three minutes later.

“…Ah Yun, take care of yourself. Even if you’re busy with work outside, don’t forget to look after yourself. The livestream is about to start, let’s go prepare.”

Shi Xianzhu said gently.

Song Yun, watching Shi Xianzhu’s sudden change in attitude, twitched his mouth, sent a big red envelope to his younger cousin, and had her return to her original seat.

So you do know your family situation is embarrassing…

However, Song Yun thought this with a sense of slight disdain for Shi Xianzhu.

It wasn’t that Shi Xianzhu’s parents would make him lose face. In fact, their professions were respectable, and combined with his own acting, he would never reveal scenes meant only for family to the audience.

—But here lay the key point.

Shi Xianzhu knew that his outward behavior toward his parents wouldn’t cause him trouble—but the Shi family’s rules and near-feudal logic certainly would!

His parents still adhered to the idea that children were their private property. Even if unspoken, their actions revealed it clearly.

Strict rules and feudal remnants produced entirely different consequences.

Shi Xianzhu would never allow such a major stain on his career, even his infidelity had been only spiritual, showing how much he valued his career.

It was just a pity that Song Yun seemed to have noticed this weakness. Once again, he refused Shi Xianzhu’s plea—definitely not a good sign.

Song Yun had already begun to keep his own thoughts to himself.

Shi Xianzhu clicked his tongue in his heart and glared at the handsome young man on the screen, his expression slightly hostile.

Yet Shi Xianzhu remained somewhat rational, realizing that Ye Wangxing wasn’t someone he could influence. So he shifted his attention back to the contacts in his phone.

‘Hopefully, with my guidance this time, they wouldn’t disappoint me…’

Looking at the names belonging to Father Song and Mother Ye, Shi Xuanzhu thought to himself.

While Shi Xuanzhu was thinking, Song Yun was busy dealing with the live broadcast.

Right now, just looking at Shi Xuanzhu made him feel physically nauseous—he had almost thrown up just moments ago.

So, this time the director arranged the seats like rows in a cinema.

As long as Song Yun didn’t turn his head, he wouldn’t have to see Shi Xuanzhu.

—Song Yun decided to weld his neck in this position. He absolutely wouldn’t glance sideways, not even once!

While he was thinking that, the live broadcast finally started. The host began reading out a long list of sponsors at a speed that would make rappers ashamed enough to go back to adult night school to improve their literacy.

As the host rattled off names like a machine gun, Song Yun sighed while watching his younger brother appear on the television screen.

He truly didn’t understand why his brother would appear on a dating show. Even if the matter with Kaizer already had help from the other three, and there were some new leads found abroad, this wasn’t the time to relax—shouldn’t his brother be more cautious now?

Song Yun couldn’t figure it out. But his younger cousin and her friends in the group chat had already analyzed everything.

“…He probably wanted to use the live broadcast to put himself in front of the whole world. As long as his ex-husband was still a rational person, he wouldn’t dare kill his ex in front of a global audience.”

“That’s true. After all, even though Wang Qi’s friend got involved with those guys after the man’s death, the marriage had still been valid while he was alive. That’s awkward as hell.”

Feng Chuan typed in the chat while watching the live broadcast.

He couldn’t guess who exactly Wang Qi’s so-called friend was. The personalities matched, but being crushed under a fifty-ton Scania truck and crawling out alive was something you only saw in ridiculous public service ads—

—those ‘love conquers all’ ones where someone escapes a car crash thanks to a mobile data plan.

Feng Chuan was still thinking about that when a message popped up from Wang Qi’s account:

“…Actually, those two tried to seduce my friend before his ex-husband died, and the ex even caught them once.”

Feng Chuan: “…This gossip keeps getting juicier. No wonder your friend’s worried about his safety. Wouldn’t the ex be furious? He faked his death, and six months later his partner had already picked up two lovers.”

Another girl in the chat added: “Six months means three months per lover, and when the second one came in, the first one wasn’t even gone yet—your friend has every reason to fear for his life. The fact his ex hasn’t strangled him already must be true love.”

The younger cousin reading the chat: “…”

Actually, there were three lovers.

But she couldn’t tell that to her friends in the group chat. She looked up with worried eyes at her second cousin.

She knew a bit more than Song Yun—after all, she worked under Assistant Wang, and she knew that lately, the entire USA had been turned upside down by those few families.

After they completely investigated the Gore family, it was as if they found new leads—they then went straight toward the neighboring country that was practically their backyard.

That even caused widespread panic in the USA. People couldn’t understand why two major families had mobilized their entire power like that.

But when they learned it was all over one man, the government officials and old-money elites laughed at them and didn’t pay further attention.

Yet the younger cousin felt something was off. Assistant Wang had been so busy he barely had time to breathe, and occasionally his expression carried traces of horror.

When she tried to peek at the files, he locked them all away immediately. Normally, with her connections, she had full access to everything in the company except top-secret files.

After all, being part of the inner circle meant sharing both prosperity and downfall.

Still, she managed to glimpse a few words from those documents. When she looked them up later, she discovered they were legal terms related to inheritance—words that only appeared in wills made during someone’s lifetime.

The rest of the documents were from medical institutions and family foundations.

At that time, she didn’t think much of it. She simply noted the words and went back to work. But now…

She felt she was just one thin layer away from the truth. So she shared her suspicions in the group chat.

And her all-knowing girlfriends quickly came up with a theory that almost made her drop her phone.

“—What if your friend murdered his husband?”

They said casually.

“Think about it. Inheritance documents, medical institutions, family foundations—aren’t those exactly what would put the family’s support behind your friend?”

“And he probably distributed part of the benefits to others too. That’s how he secured his position. Then, he would start transferring assets.”

The younger cousin felt goosebumps as their analysis matched everything she knew about her second cousin. But then she remembered one thing and sighed in relief—her friends had simply watched too many crime dramas.

If that were true, her second cousin’s husband would’ve already strangled him, not stayed by his side like a devoted househusband helping him pick out outfits.

While the cousin patted her chest in relief, the show’s guests began their new task.

After half a month of interactions, sparks had indeed started to fly among them—whether real or fake, the director didn’t care.

Right now, online fandom wars had only one dominant ship—Ye Wangxing’s. The rest were insignificant minnows that barely made it into comment sections.

As long as the audience was entertained, who cared whether it was scripted or not?

With that thought, the cold-blooded director began today’s task—once again sending the guests to roll in mud pits.

Of course, not all of them had to do that.

—Because the suitors and the pursued were divided into two teams.

The suitors rolled in the mud, while the pursued had it only slightly better, except…

The guests looked down at the glass boxes beneath their feet. Inside, countless cockroaches crawled. Three of the female guests screamed, and even the beautiful young man beside them didn’t look any better.

…No one knew how the director came up with such a torturous challenge. Even though there was a layer of glass between them and the bugs, the guests still felt filthy just walking over it in shoes.

The audience couldn’t even decide which was worse—rolling in the mud and turning into swamp monsters, or walking over cockroaches through glass.

The only consensus was that the director was no longer human.

The director, watching the ratings soar: “…”Not being human felt great, hehe.

Fortunately, the guests survived the torment and received their “tokens of love.”

There were three men and three women—six guests in total—perfectly paired, which clearly hinted at the director’s deliberate matchmaking.

But the audience didn’t care whether it was rigged.

—They only cared who Ye Wangxing’s “true love” would be.

Yes, this time the director had the audacity to tease the Widower himself.

She even gave Ye Wangxing a “true love token”!

And she told him mysteriously to “look forward to it.”

“The Widower might not be excited, but I sure am!”

The live chat exploded with excitement.

All eyes turned to the center stage, to the closed door.

Behind that door was the final segment of the dating show—revealing “true love” through the token.

The beautiful young man stood before the door. His long fingers gently rubbed the token in his hand—a silver ring set with a sapphire. Its cold touch made him frown slightly.

He wore a perfectly tailored black turtleneck, his expression indifferent. But that very indifference, paired with his beauty, only made him more striking.

At that moment, however, his gaze drifted. He didn’t seem to care about the outcome at all.

The host stepped forward, handed him the microphone, and asked with a bright smile: “Mr. Ye, who do you think is behind the door?”

The beautiful young man looked at the host as if at a kindergarten child.

“Do I even have a choice besides Chris?”

The chat burst into laughter—no one throughout the show had dared to pursue Ye Wangxing in front of that red-haired tycoon.

The host pressed further: “And who would you rather it be?”

The young man tilted his head slightly, thinking for a moment, then gave a faint smile. “It doesn’t matter. It’s all just for the show anyway.”

His tone was light, almost careless.

But sharp-eyed viewers noticed that as he said this, his fingers tightened around the ring, and his eyes seemed to look toward something unseen—

—as if he already had someone in mind.

The chat went wild with speculation, and under the host’s signal, the beautiful young man took a deep breath.

He raised his hand and pushed the door open.

The first thing that met his eyes was dazzling light.

Then, a tall figure stood quietly under it.

The man wore a sleek black trench coat. His broad shoulders and long legs gave off a silent, commanding presence.

But his face drew all attention—

Short silver hair glinted coldly under the lights. His blue eyes were as deep as the sea, and the scar on his cheek added a wild edge to his striking looks.

—He looked exactly like the younger uncle who had appeared on a previous live broadcast.

Exactly the same.

Most viewers immediately started joking: “Sister-in-law, open the door—it’s me, your brother-in-law!”

But when the man’s lips curved into a soft smile, his arms opening as he looked at the young man with warmth—

—the beautiful young man froze.

In front of nine million live viewers, his pupils shrank sharply, and he instinctively took a step back.

The audience was stunned. That expression—was definitely not one you’d give a brother-in-law.

The tall man seemed to have expected this reaction. He chuckled softly, took a step forward, graceful and steady.

The next second—

Rustle—

With the faint sound of fabric, the tall man lifted the young man cleanly by the waist with one arm.

With his other hand, he pulled something from his pocket.

It was a golden collar.

As the young man froze in shock, the tall man clasped it tightly around his neck—

—as if he were gripping his throat.

Holding that position, the man spoke softly and calmly: “Surprise, baby.”

 

 

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