Chapter 051: The King’s Defeat in the Chill of Autumn, Part 17 (Revised)

This man was worrying about her—no, at most they had shared a single night of passion. He must simply think she was poor and look down on her because of it.

With that thought, Zining Ouyang glared at him directly. “Yes, I’m poor. I don’t have anyone to cook for me. I’m training to be a chef; I can cook for myself.”

“You’re so exhausted after work that you don’t even want to move. How could you possibly cook? Not only would you go hungry, but so would our child.” What if, in the future, you both suffered from malnutrition—what then?

Hearing this, Zining Ouyang became all the more convinced that this man only wanted to fatten her up for slaughter—no, to ensure a healthy pregnancy, then send her packing the moment the child was born.

Still, the child was hers. No one could take it away.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’d like to rest now. Please leave.” Zining Ouyang closed her eyes, making it clear she had no desire to continue the conversation.

Having lived a charmed life since childhood, Lier Huangfu found this woman utterly unreasonable. He was only trying to do what was best for her, yet she showed no gratitude at all.

Just then, Shang Huangfu, who had gone out to pay the bills, returned.

“Brother,” he called, knocking on the door. When there was no response, he pushed it open to find the atmosphere inside thick with tension.

“Shang, thank you. You’ve gone through so much trouble keeping me company so late,” Lier Huangfu said, patting his shoulder.

Shang merely shook his head, indicating it was nothing.

With her eyes closed, Zining Ouyang thought the newcomer’s voice sounded familiar. She opened her eyes and saw someone she recognized. “Shang?!”

“Ouyang,” Shang Huangfu greeted her with a smile, his tone concerned, “Are you feeling any better?”

“I… I feel much better,” Zining Ouyang replied, her gaze flicking between the two men in the room. Remembering how Shang had addressed the domineering CEO earlier, she asked, “You and he…”

“Oh, he’s my cousin,” Shang replied with a smile, then added, quite naturally, “I had no idea you were dating my cousin. You kept that secret well, sister-in-law!”

The other two in the room were momentarily speechless at his words.

“I’m not your sister-in-law, don’t call me that,” Zining Ouyang said flatly.

Hearing her, Shang looked uncertainly from her to his cousin, whose expression had turned inscrutable.

“She’s right,” Lier Huangfu agreed, though inwardly he thought he’d better hurry and have the designer finish that ring or he’d never be able to propose and marry her.

At that moment his phone rang, and he stepped outside to answer it.

“You see?” Zining Ouyang spread her hands at Shang, “There really isn’t anything between us.”

She couldn’t help but place her hand gently over her slightly rounded stomach.

“But… cousin said you’re carrying my little nephew…” Shang asked, his voice even more cautious.

A cold laugh slipped from Zining Ouyang’s lips. “That’s right. It was just one night. Now I’m carrying his child, and I suppose he’s only waiting for me to give birth so he can kick me out.”

Shang frowned deeply, trying to defend his cousin. “He was really worried about you when we rushed over. Maybe you misunderstood…”

“Misunderstood what?” Zining Ouyang rolled her eyes. They’d lived in neighboring dorms, bought mattresses together, and would sometimes chat when their paths crossed. They got along well enough.

“You didn’t see your cousin with his holier-than-thou attitude,” she added, clicking her tongue in disbelief. “Hard to believe you two are even related.”

Sitting at the bedside, the young man scratched his head sheepishly. “Well, everyone thinks my cousin is very capable. He manages the company exceptionally well.”

“Bah, he’s just a pretentious fraud,” Zining Ouyang scoffed. Ever since she suspected the CEO wanted to take her child, whatever fondness she’d had for him vanished without a trace.

“Don’t say that,” Shang tried to console her a little more. By then, Lier Huangfu had finished his call and returned. With a glance at his junior, he told him to go home and rest.

Shang hesitated, then nodded.

“You don’t have to say it. I will never move into the Huangfu family home, so don’t even try,” Zining Ouyang declared.

“What’s so bad about living with the Huangfus?” Good food, a comfortable life—better than a pig’s.

“Everything’s bad about it.” You just want to steal my child.

“You…”

The door closed, cutting off their voices.

Standing outside the room, Shang’s gentle expression faded, replaced by a stormy gloom.

The situation was not looking good.

Ouyang was carrying his cousin’s child.

His cousin wanted Ouyang to move into the family home.

But Ouyang refused—why? The Huangfu household was comfortable and well-provided for.

Lier Huangfu couldn’t fathom what went on in his former colleague’s mind.

Still, he clenched his fists, a cold smile curling his lips. You think you can refuse to move into the Huangfu home? It’s not up to you.

You will move in—and if you marry my cousin directly, all the better.

To a traditional, rule-abiding man like his cousin, a marriage certificate was a lifetime commitment.

He just needed to find a way to get them to register their marriage, and then his cousin would stop thinking about Miss Ya.

The thought made Shang secretly delighted.

At first, he’d considered bankrupting the company, then arranging a secret engagement between his cousin and some heiress from a certain conglomerate, using marriage to secure startup funds.

Now, with Ouyang, there was no need for such schemes.

All he needed to do was help the two of them cultivate good feelings for each other.

Still, he clenched his fists, a cold smile on his lips. You think you can refuse to move into the Huangfu home? It’s not up to you.

You will move in—and if you marry my cousin directly, all the better.

To a traditional, rule-abiding man like his cousin, a marriage certificate was a lifetime commitment.

He just needed to find a way to get them to register their marriage, and then his cousin would stop thinking about Miss Ya.

The thought made Shang secretly delighted.

At first, he’d considered bankrupting the company, then arranging a secret engagement between his cousin and some heiress from a certain conglomerate, using marriage to secure startup funds.

Now, with Ouyang, there was no need for such schemes.

All he needed to do was help the two of them cultivate good feelings for each other.

Still, he clenched his fists, a cold smile on his lips. You think you can refuse to move into the Huangfu home? It’s not up to you.

You will move in—and if you marry my cousin directly, all the better.

To a traditional, rule-abiding man like his cousin, a marriage certificate was a lifetime commitment.

He just needed to find a way to get them to register their marriage, and then his cousin would stop thinking about Miss Ya.

The thought made Shang secretly delighted.

At first, he’d considered bankrupting the company, then arranging a secret engagement between his cousin and some heiress from a certain conglomerate, using marriage to secure startup funds.

Now, with Ouyang, there was no need for such schemes.

All he needed to do was help the two of them cultivate good feelings for each other.