Ning Ye blinked slightly.
The dark eyes of the man before her were deep, carrying a washed-out look of exhaustion. His tone still held a teasing, joking edge, but the solemnity around the corners of his eyes and brows was unprecedented.
Bian Xun knew very well that the time five hundred million could buy wasn't even enough for them to finish walking through this segment of the plot.
So, from a certain moment on, money was no longer just money.
It was like the ultimate direction of all the hints; he would eventually be forced to take that step.
For a businessman, this was absolutely terrifying.
But even after exhausting his thoughts, the thing Bian Xun cared about most at this moment was still her kiss.
Ning Ye felt his gaze.
She snapped back from the heat of the moment of breaking the plot, suddenly realizing what being controlled by the plot truly meant.
It meant no freedom, no ability to express oneself. All rights as a human being were invisibly stripped away; one's own order had to yield, and one's own thoughts were pushed back. In that instant, aside from a massive, black-hole-like sense of powerlessness, he must have also felt an unknown terror.
Ning Ye had only experienced the inability to move and protect the one she loved in her dreams, and that feeling alone was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
Bian Xun had perhaps used his strongest willpower to fight against all this, but the operating laws of the world were far more immense than they were.
Yet, he didn't mention any of that. He simply dismantled this pain in his own way, even making jokes.
He only asked her for a kiss.
Reflected in Ning Ye's almond eyes was his still-upright figure. With delayed realization, she felt a little sad.
They had been through so much together to reach this moment today.
She knew all too well what kind of person Bian Xun was, just as she could quickly realize that what happened just now wasn't something he would do or say.
Bian Xun... he was a man with a strong desire for control and a keen sensitivity to order. He had an almost obsessive self-control. From his student days to his current status as an entrepreneur, what he took the most pride in was his self-control and self-judgment.
So, when such a person was manipulated by an external force, unable to control his own body, what did it feel like?
The sharp corners of Bian Xun's eyes drooped as if his eyes were half-closed, waiting for a kiss.
Ning Ye looked at this face for a long time.
This face that had been close at hand from her teenage years to the present day.
After waiting for a long time without any movement, Bian Xun slightly lifted his eyelids and pretended to sigh. "You don't want to? Then I'll do it—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Ning Ye had already stood on her tiptoes and cupped the sides of his face with both hands.
Bian Xun paused.
The distance between their eyes instantly became so close that it lost focus, but Bian Xun could feel the warm, slight dampness of her palms and the solemn tenderness in her eyes.
This solemnity, rather than the pressing of their lips, made his... fingertips burn hot.
It was as if he was held within her eyes, receiving all of her care and attention.
Bian Xun's throat felt slightly dry. Under her grand gaze, he wanted to say something.
However, a forceful kiss had already landed.
She kissed Bian Xun on the lips earnestly and solidly.
It made a loud "mwah" sound.
"Bian Xun," Ning Ye looked at him with clear, resilient eyes. "We will solve all of this, and then we will have a very, very good future."
We.
Bian Xun's dark eyes deepened, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
The warm winter sun fell through the glass onto her fair, delicate eyelids. Ning Ye gave him a very forceful smooch. Just as she pulled away, an arm wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her into the empty lounge next door.
"We have to go pick up Taotao—"
Bian Xun lowered his eyes to check the time, then bowed his head, loosening his tie, as his lips crushed heavily against hers.
"We have enough time to kiss for five minutes."
...
By the time Ning Ye got into the car, her hair was messy and the corners of her lips were red and swollen.
During those few minutes of a kiss dominated by him, prying her lips apart and swallowing her breath, almost devouring her whole, Ning Ye ultimately had to hold onto his arm to steady herself.
Inside the windshield of the Maybach.
The man looked thoroughly satisfied, while the woman tucked her bangs behind her ear.
Bian Xun seemed to have adjusted his emotions. With an almost imperceptible curve at the corner of his lips, he broke free from that icy confinement and began to think.
On the way to the vocal class, he thought of several technologies that could stimulate the nerves. For example, although he would be controlled, his self-awareness at least remained. His limbs could resist in a stiff, intermittent state. If this slight fluctuation of neurons could be captured, he could react in time—connecting his bank card to spend more money buying his time.
The current CEO, even with a hundred billion to his name, began to act humbly.
In even more extreme circumstances, there was another way... but Bian Xun cast a sideways glance at Ning Ye, who was rubbing the corner of her lips, and didn't continue that train of thought.
She and the child probably wouldn't be able to accept it.
"Once we get back, I'll have the tech department make an electronic lock. I'll carry it with me to maintain stimulation and minimize the chances of what just happened occurring again."
"No." Ning Ye let go of her hand and tilted her head slightly. "We have to follow the plot—at least on the surface, we need to make the other side think the plot is running normally."
Xu Lanyi's assistant must have already relayed the information. From the female lead's perspective, she probably felt that everything was finally back on track.
Xu Lanyi's mindset wasn't hard to guess. She was a woman propped up by her family background, popularity, and the hands of her fans. She was extremely confident and naturally felt that the world belonged to her.
So, after experiencing Wang Xuebing's appearance, deciding that Ning Ye, the supporting female character, had massive flaws from her family of origin, and seeing Bian Xun start acting according to the plot, she would only become more convinced of everything she believed.
Under what circumstances could a book completely fall apart into a terrible ending? That would be abruptly collapsing during the climax.
By the same logic, how could they completely break the plot? They had to let the original story proceed normally to its most important turning point, and then completely overturn everything.
The most straightforward method, of course, was to deny everything on the day Xu Lanyi retired from acting to officially let the child acknowledge his father—at the exact moment when traffic and attention were at their absolute peak.
But that wasn't enough.
She still needed a bigger trump card... Ning Ye spaced out slightly.
The future that Taotao had in the original novel absolutely could not come to pass.
Just then, hitting a red light, the Maybach came to a smooth stop.
Bian Xun turned sideways and raised an eyebrow, the meaning in his eyes clear.
She wanted him to go through the plot with someone else?
Ning Ye nodded with clear eyes. "While staying clear-headed, you must try your best not to ruin the plot."
Bian Xun rested one hand on the steering wheel and propped the other behind her seat, his gaze falling on her slightly plump lips. "Don't you think this sounds like cheating?"
Ning Ye froze for a second, then quickly comforted him. "It's fine. We aren't married yet, and we haven't officially gotten back together, so it doesn't count."
The traffic light changed. Bian Xun expressionlessly released the brake, laughing out of sheer frustration.
The streamlined luxury car drove forward for a few seconds. The interior was somewhat quiet when suddenly, Ning Ye raised her hand again, covering her mouth.
Catching sight of this from the corner of his eye, Bian Xun thought he had kissed her too hard and made her lips hurt. He was just about to break the silence and say something when he suddenly saw Ning Ye lurch forward, covering her mouth.
"Ugh—"
Her delicate brows furrowed completely as her chest heaved with nausea.
Bian Xun was startled. He found a spot to pull over by the side of the road and twisted open a bottle of water. "What's wrong?"
Ning Ye took the mineral water, frowning as she waved her hand. "It might be the traffic. I'm feeling a little carsick."
Bian Xun's brow furrowed slowly.
He drove very steadily, and Ning Ye rarely got carsick.
Ning Ye also seemed to remember something.
She looked up, and their eyes met slowly.
Could this be...
Morning sickness?
...
The situation was truly complicated, but in short, after picking up Taotao, Bian Xun took Ning Ye straight to the hospital.
After they made the baby last time, Ning Ye had her HCG levels checked, confirming that Taotao had successfully been created in this world.
Calculating the days, it was now about the second month of pregnancy.
Physiologically, she had just gotten pregnant, but logically, she had already given birth, otherwise there would be two Taotaos in the same time frame.
The child's appearance seemed to have skipped a long and painful birthing process for her.
At Bian Xun's insistence, Ning Ye underwent various tests at the hospital, even an ultrasound, which confirmed that there was only one four-year-old Ning Zhitao in the world right now.
Bian Xun went to talk to the doctor in detail for a long time.
These were all within Ning Ye's expectations. Her pregnancy process was essentially killed by the plot. Looking at the empty ultrasound image with no gestational sac, Ning Ye patted her chest.
Her pregnancy symptoms were more like a physiological manifestation driven by her mind.
In the timeline that should have been, she would be carrying Taotao right now, and her brain would still react to it.
Strangely enough, even though Taotao wasn't in her belly right now, the experience of feeling pregnant still gave her an even stronger protective instinct.
She cared more about the baby and paid more attention to her feelings than usual.
It also birthed a fighter-like determination to resist the plot, like a destined signal reminding her to pave the way for the future.
And so, the family of three had different expressions.
Bian Xun had been tense the entire way from driving to the hospital. When he was silent, the freezing aura around him made even the doctor tremble with fear.
Meanwhile, Ning Zhitao, as the only baby to ever accompany her mother to a prenatal checkup, didn't know what her parents were doing but thought it was quite fun.
Ning Zhitao played by herself for a while, then went back to her mother, looking up and hugging her. Mommy, do you love me very much?
Ning Ye patted the top of her round little head. Of course. Why ask that all of a sudden?
Ning Zhitao scratched her head, a dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth. I don't know, it just feels like mommy already loved me a lot—
But now, it seems like you love me even more!
Ning Ye paused for a moment, then curled her lips into a smile.
On the other side, Bian Xun finally walked out, looking serious and aloof, holding a thick stack of documents in his left hand and a bag of prenatal health supplements in his right.
The second month of pregnancy was exactly when morning sickness and fatigue began to get severe.
He had been negligent.
As the months progressed, her discomfort might become even more apparent.
Bian Xun walked back to Ning Ye, his dark eyes steeped in deep thought, as if weighing a crucial proposal, facing a formidable enemy.
From now on, he had to stay by their side.
He needed to speed up the development of the electronic lock, using electrical stimulation if there were any abnormal states. He had to remain clear-headed amidst the plot's coercion, buying his own time.
No matter how much money it cost.
Bian Xun perhaps hadn't realized it yet.
By this point, money had completely become just a string of numbers, a symbol to him.
He walked toward them step by step, looking at the mother and daughter sitting on the hospital bench from afar. Their connection and origins suddenly became crystal clear.
It seemed that in this instant, Bian Xun truly understood the meaning behind his future self telling him that money wasn't important.
Because there would always be things more important than money.
When the future collapsed, he would willingly give up everything in his hands, just in exchange for a future with her and their child. ...
Bian Xun walked up to Ning Ye, took a deep breath, and bent down.
Shall I carry you?
Ning Ye looked up with a face full of question marks.
Ning Zhitao also had a little question mark on her face.
Bian Xun reached out to scoop up the back of Ning Ye's knees. Ning Ye finally realized what was happening and quickly stood up. Just act normal!
After all, it was a cyber pregnancy; there was no need to exaggerate so much.
Bian Xun nodded, his dark eyes cool, his voice steady. From now on, the daily vitamin supplements, nutritional care, and appropriate diet lists will be strictly implemented. I will mark all the things to avoid one by one. Also, starting from seven in the morning, you need to...
Ning Ye slowly covered her ears.
Ning Zhitao also quietly pinched her nose.
Oh my, is this mommy's class schedule?
Daddy looks just like when he schedules classes for her, it's too scary!
...
Ning Ye believed there were very few things she needed to avoid, mainly that they couldn't share a bed.
She already had this basic common sense and had been maintaining it; it was Bian Xun who needed to strengthen his awareness.
But as an unmarried and childless woman, her pregnancy symptoms did put her in a difficult position. After all, she didn't have maternity leave. When she occasionally felt chest tightness and nausea at work, she could only rush to the restroom to deal with it.
Bian Xun wanted to give her a long vacation, but Ning Ye refused.
Others didn't know she had pregnancy symptoms, and she had no other medical proof. Not going to work for a long time for no reason would be like ruining her newly started career herself.
Fortunately, the end of the year came quickly after the last auction, and the national Spring Festival holiday was approaching.
Ning Ye's performance this year remained an A, and after the assessment, she received a generous year-end bonus.
This meant she had completely established her footing after transferring to the headquarters.
Assistant Zhang had recently noticed that the boss, who was always vindictive and penny-pinching in business competition, had actually become much more amiable when it came to money.
This amiability wasn't in his demeanor or expression, but a feeling.
It was very mysterious, and he didn't know if his perception was correct.
In short, the boss unexpectedly exuded an ethereal aura of treating money like dirt and being aloof from worldly affairs.
Bian Xun remained expressionless.
After all, right now, the capital expenditure on the entire group's most critical project wasn't as much as he invested in himself every day.
He was now the most expensive fixed investment in the world.
Bian Xun looked at his watch. He hadn't seen Ning Ye for three hours. He stood up and walked toward the elevator.
Ning Ye had already retreated by this time, avoiding being caught by her immediate superior in the elevator again.
Holidays were pleasant, but they also meant the plot was about to arrive.
After some thought, Ning Ye finally decided to let Bian Xun go to the Bian family's old mansion by himself to spend New Year's Eve.
In the original plot, other visitors went on the first day of the new year, but Xu Lanyi, with her special status, arrived on New Year's Eve with generous gifts, meaning she was accepted as a member of the Bian family.
Right now, that jade Maitreya Buddha was still with Bian Xun. He had to take it over and present this gift to complete this segment.
More importantly, this part of the plot would directly affect what happened next—
On New Year's Eve, after making Bian Xun's attitude clear, Xu Lanyi would publicly announce that important news.
And that was the key to unlocking the climax of the story.
So, is that okay? Ning Ye asked, her porcelain-white face showing helplessness.
Bian Xun listened with his arms crossed, then looked down at himself.
On a day like this, leaving behind his pregnant wife and young child... he would rather just die for a bit and come back to life after the New Year.
But Bian Xun also knew that Ning Ye's decision was flawless, and he couldn't take her and the child to the Bian family's old residence.
It would only add to their troubles and ruin their holiday.
Both the new house and the small apartment were all tidied up now, but Ning Ye and Taotao were still staying in the small apartment in Xialu Community. She planned to spend the New Year here with Taotao.
Paper cuttings from kindergarten craft classes were pasted on the windows, and a "Fu" character hand-drawn by Taotao was already stuck on the door. Various ingredients for hot pot were prepped in the kitchen, and the big TV was ready to broadcast the Spring Festival Gala at any moment. The small home was brimming with the festive New Year spirit.
But Bian Xun knew he still had his responsibilities.
Bian Xun sighed.
On New Year's Eve, carrying a sandalwood box, he entered the Bian family's old residence.
The electronic watch on his wrist had completely upgraded into an "electronic shackle."
The back of the dial pressed against his skin and blood vessels, and along with the entire strap, it constantly recorded his heart rate and other data. It was integrated with a neuronal response system that detected muscle stiffness, and it was directly linked to his bank card.
It recorded once an hour, and every time, money flowed out like water.
Bian Xun was already numb to it.
Stepping into the main hall of the old residence, red lanterns hung in the courtyard, and a charcoal fire burned in the open space out front. The Bian family members had all brought gifts, creating a lively and prosperous atmosphere.
But it couldn't compare to the festive New Year vibe of their small apartment.
Old Master Bian had been eagerly waiting. When he caught sight of Bian Xun, his face practically glowed with health and joy, but seeing that he came alone, the old man's face immediately fell.
A room full of Bian family members happily gathered around to greet him.
"Bian Xun is here?"
"Brother!"
"Happy New Year, CEO Bian."
Bian Xun couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids. The cost of his time per second right now left him with zero patience to put on a good face for the world.
Bian Ziwen leaned in as soon as he saw him. "What big money is CEO Bian making lately? Let your little brother in on it."
Bian Xun glanced at him and said lightly, "I've been on a streak of losing money lately. You can take that."
Bian Ziwen looked at him with a complicated expression.
Damn it, how is Bian Xun pretending to be poor even more infuriating than when he's showing off his wealth??
The butler next to Old Master Bian came over smiling to take his things. "Eldest Young Master, the Old Master has been waiting for you to come back for the New Year. It's enough that you're here, why did you bring gifts?"
Bian Xun set it down casually. Catching a glimpse of a group of figures approaching out of the corner of his eye, he pointed outside. "The Xu family's daughter got this for you."
The sandalwood box was opened. Old Master Bian paused, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes.
Wasn't this the standing Maitreya Buddha he had been searching for?
Xu Lanyi, dressed in a bright red winter qipao, walked over just in time to see this scene. Holding Gu Zixun by the hand, a radiant smile instantly bloomed on her face.
Actually, when Bian Xun took the jade away after the auction, she had her doubts. Did Bian Xun really mean to buy it to give to her? He couldn't possibly be trying to scam her out of money, could he?
But now, those doubts were dispelled.
The words he had said to her assistant that day still echoed in her ears.
He said he liked boys, too.
Xu Lanyi smiled silently.
Old Master Bian looked at the jade ornament with a bit of hesitation. It was nice, but could they still accept things from the Xu family? Who exactly bought this?
Bian Xun cast his eyes down at him. "You received it, right?"
Old Master Bian asked in a low voice, "What exactly is going on here?"
Bian Xun shut the lid and placed it back by his feet.
Now that he had received it, he would be taking it away later.
Old Master Bian: "???"
Xu Lanyi had come bearing generous gifts and had Gu Zixun bow politely and greet everyone. As the saying goes, you don't slap a smiling face, especially on such an important traditional holiday. Old Master Bian began to chat with her, asking her to pass on his regards to her grandfather.
Xu Lanyi mingled effortlessly around the venue. She was the daughter of a family friend, after all, and seeing Old Master Bian's attitude, the rest of the crowd naturally interacted with her as usual.
She also spotted Yue Shiqing, who was gnashing her teeth in anger. When their eyes met, both immediately put on fake smiles.
Tonight was indeed part of the plot, because from the moment Xu Lanyi appeared, Bian Xun's money was being deducted more and more.
He was shocked by his watch from time to time, followed by a deduction.
Another shock, another deduction.
By the end of the shocks, Bian Xun stopped looking. His entire body was stiff, his face pale and cold. Looking completely detached, he leaned under the pavilion, telling himself to hold on for just another half hour before going home.
These kinds of Bian family gatherings were a mix of fame and fortune. Someone in the courtyard raised a glass and flattered, "It's rare for our family to be so complete this year, especially with Bian Xun here. He hasn't been home for the Spring Festival in years! It reminds me of five years ago when Bian Xun first started his business in the US. Everyone tried to persuade him to come home for the New Year, but he insisted on staying there alone, refusing to give up until he achieved something. Who would have thought that after just one short year, he would actually make it big..."
Bian Xun couldn't even be bothered to respond. In his mind, he was thinking that she and the child should have finished their hot pot by now. If he hurried back, they could still go downstairs together to watch the fireworks.
Those words were pure flattery. Hearing them, the Bian family members all began to reminisce about the past and marvel at the current development of Wujiang.
But while the speaker had no particular intention, the listener took it to heart.
Someone's figure shifted, suddenly seeming to have picked up on something from those words.
When Bian Xun closed his eyes and saw that it was time, he stood up, only to realize that he hadn't been shocked just now.
A sense of foreboding rolled through his heart.
He looked up and glanced around. Xu Lanyi had unexpectedly left the gathering.
Meanwhile.
Ning Ye and Taotao walked hand in hand into the community courtyard.
The temperature on New Year's Eve was very low. She and the little one were bundled up like two balls, holding a couple of sparklers in their hands. Ning Ye hadn't actually wanted to dress this warmly, but before Bian Xun left, he had ordered her to wear this duvet-like down jacket, otherwise he would protest by freezing himself to death.
Hmm, Bian Xun's mental state was indeed getting better and better.
The twinkling windows in the community all radiated a warm, everyday atmosphere. Many residents playing with fireworks gathered in twos and threes. Perhaps it was due to the progression of the plot, but it felt as if the whole world was about to welcome a happy ending.
During the countdown event before the Spring Festival Gala, the program hosts recounted the shared joys and sorrows of the people across the country over the past year. On the trending internet searches, various celebrities were posting New Year blessings, summarizing the year, and looking forward to the new one.
Ning Ye played with Taotao for a while, looked down at her phone, and sure enough, saw a trending search about Xu Lanyi.
As the undisputed queen of topics and high-traffic Best Actress over the past few months, the New Year interview clip she did for the Beijing TV station quickly shot to the top. After the blessings, the most important part was the final segment—
"The new year will also be a special one for me personally, because on the upcoming Women's Day, I will officially announce an important life decision..."
Ning Ye put away her phone, knowing that tonight at the Bian residence must be going smoothly.
Right now, Xu Lanyi should be...
The sound of high heels approached over the crackle of fireworks, and Xu Lanyi's figure unexpectedly appeared right here.
Ning Ye frowned slightly.
Had she missed some piece of information?
Ning Ye held onto Taotao and tucked her behind her back.
Xu Lanyi stared at the little head peeking out from behind her, a strange gleam flashing in her eyes.
Yes, yes, how could she have overlooked such a massive loophole?
This child was four years old, which meant she should have been born five years ago.
But five years ago, she was also in the United States. She knew that Bian Xun had participated in a closed-door scientific research project that year. He hadn't come out for a full eight months, and for about two years in total, he hadn't returned to the country at all.
And the last time she went abroad, she had someone check Ning Ye's entry and exit records, learning that it was her first time leaving the country.
Therefore, five years ago, it was absolutely impossible for them to have met.
Where did this child come from?
A bizarre fanaticism flashed in Xu Lanyi's eyes. She originally didn't believe in the occurrence of fantasy events, but even prophetic dreams had appeared in her life, so what else was impossible?
The more fanatical she became, the more details surfaced in her mind, until she finally caught a flash of insight.
"You didn't actually give birth to your child, did you?" Xu Lanyi asked.
Right, she was just over 26 years old. How could she have given birth while dealing with such heavy academic pressure at Jinghua University? And how did she manage to smoothly join a major corporation right after? Even a female celebrity like herself would face a complete career breakdown with the arrival of a child.
If she hadn't given birth to the child at all, everything would make sense!
This was Ning Ye's biggest weakness!
She had never given birth, nor had she raised her!
Xu Lanyi's scalp tingled with excitement. She took a step closer, her tone strange. "Your child is indeed Bian Xun's, but she popped out of nowhere from somewhere else, right?"
"At this point, I don't want to hide it from you anymore," Xu Lanyi smoothed her hair. Her exquisite fur coat and qipao stood in stark contrast to Ning Ye's puffy down jacket. "Bian Xun and I are the ones who have a future together, a future you will never see. But your child is ultimately his, and I am willing to raise her."
"Who the child's father is, is indeed very important. I can understand your actions."
"However, I am different from you. I have truly given birth and raised children. I know how to treat a child well, and my devotion to them will be no different. If you are willing, I will give you a sum of money you could only dream of."
"Of course, if you are not willing... you wouldn't want the child to be discovered by a special national agency, treated as a specimen, and sent off to be studied for time travel or alien phenomena, would you?"
After saying these words, a strong sense of satisfaction washed over Xu Lanyi's chest. She felt as if she could see that happy future with both a son and a daughter truly coming toward her.
She looked at the pale-faced Ning Ye standing in the cold wind and smiled elegantly. "So, your choice is..."
However, in the next second, Ning Ye suddenly frowned and took a step forward.
"Blargh!" She threw up all over her.
Objectively, physically, on New Year's Eve, she gifted her a colorful mess.
Xu Lanyi froze completely.
Ning Ye had been feeling nauseous for a while now.
After hearing all this, her nausea finally found a place to release itself.
Yes, as a fellow mother, she was disgusted by Xu Lanyi.
Xu Lanyi stared blankly down.
Looking at the substance covering her fur coat, her hair, and even her cheeks and hands, she let out a complete breakdown of a scream a few seconds later.
"Are... are you sick!? Are you crazy!!!"
Seeing this, Ning Zhitao took a pack of tissues from her mother's pocket and obediently pulled one out.
Xu Lanyi's twisted expression softened for a second, thinking at least this child was somewhat redeemable, and she opened her mouth: "Thank you, sweet..."
But the chubby little hand handed the tissue to Ning Ye instead, with a milky, sweet voice, "Mommy, wipe your mouth."
Xu Lanyi: "?!"
Her face turned a mix of green and pale. Finally unable to stand her messy state, she quickly walked away in her high heels.
"Just you wait!"
Wait until the day she makes it public!
Ning Ye took the tissue the child handed her, wiped her hands and mouth, and then led Taotao back.
Looking closely, her expression seemed calm and composed, but in reality, she was secretly tense.
Every single word Xu Lanyi had just said almost perfectly reminded her of something, making her almost unable to suppress the impulse in her heart for a moment.
Just as they walked back to the bottom of their apartment building, a figure finally came striding over from the distance.
Bian Xun had raced all the way from the old family estate. With every step he took, his wristwatch discharged electricity. He could feel the cost of rushing over to intervene in the plot burning away—perhaps billions, tens of billions already—but he had no time to care about that.
It wasn't until he grabbed Ning Ye that the man, his breath slightly hot, looked her and the child up and down repeatedly. "Are you alright?"
However, the moment she saw Bian Xun, Ning Ye grabbed his arm, her eyes glistening with tears.
She suddenly felt incredibly wronged without knowing why—wronged for the child who had to inexplicably endure everything, and wronged for herself, still suffering from morning sickness.
Perhaps the pregnancy hormones were really affecting her. The moment Ning Ye spoke, the tip of her nose turned slightly red.
"Bian Xun, I figured it out."
In this entire dramatic play, the true key to breaking the situation—
Actually, there had only ever been one all along, hadn't there?
"I know... I know too." Bian Xun lowered his eyes, his fingertips trembling as he carefully wiped away the moisture at the corners of her eyes.
The electric current coursing through the watch shocked them both with a simultaneous crackle.
Just like their own tiny fireworks tonight.
