Lu Yudong was changing clothes in the bedroom. He glanced at the pregnancy test report on the table, along with the ultrasound sheet, which could almost pass for the real thing. His hand paused for a moment, his mind a bit distracted.

Jiang Ci came in, her expression not as exaggerated and coquettish as it was downstairs. She seemed very tired, and as soon as she entered, she lay down on the bed, having just passed a critical moment, she let out a long sigh of relief.

However, there was still a more important hurdle to overcome: now that the child was "there," how to successfully "get rid of" it was a problem.

Jiang Ci seemed to mutter to herself, "Luckily, Grandpa didn't suspect anything. I was so afraid he'd be heartbroken."

"Are you really pregnant?" Lu Yudong asked Jiang Ci, his voice as usual serious and calm.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ci opened her eyes, looking at Lu Yudong five steps away, "Why are you asking this too? Don't you know if I'm pregnant or not?"

Lu Yudong always used protection, and the "know" she mentioned was probably referring to that.

He also knew it was easy for her to find someone to issue a fake pregnancy test report.

But for the first time, Lu Yudong felt a flicker of hope: what if?

Condoms aren't 100% effective.

"Who did you get to issue it?" Lu Yudong understood she meant "not pregnant," but he was inexplicably upset.

"My classmate Gao Yuan. She, Han Lan, and I, we're the iron triangle," Jiang Ci said.

"Oh?" Lu Yudong looked at Jiang Ci's relieved expression, feeling a bit indignant, "Iron triangle? Which angle are you?"

"Me?" Jiang Ci's eyes lit up at the mention of this, as if recalling her school days, "I'm the sharpest angle."

She even gestured a triangle with her hands.

"I can see that. Sharp enough to hurt," Lu Yudong said.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ci didn't quite understand his words.

Jiang Ci sensed that Lu Yudong's tone wasn't good and thought: today is Grandpa's birthday, and we've finally gotten through a hurdle, shouldn't he be happy? Why is he as unpredictable as the weather in June?

"What did I do to upset you?" Jiang Ci felt a bit wronged, "Are you unhappy because my brother came? The agreement marriage thing, I didn't tell my brother, he figured it out himself. If I told him, wouldn't I be asking for trouble? Once I tell someone, the agreement ends, what good does that do me?"

Lu Yudong said nothing.

But that night, he tormented Jiang Ci relentlessly.

Jiang Ci's eyes were brimming with tears, "What do you mean by this? Is it because I said I was pregnant and hurt Yin Xuemo's feelings, and you're feeling sorry?"

"I do feel sorry! But not for that."

"Then what are you feeling sorry for?" Jiang Ci thought: it's definitely not me.

Lu Yudong seemed overwhelmed by desire, not answering, continuing to kiss Jiang Ci's neck.

By Monday, rumors about Jiang Ci's pregnancy were spreading throughout the company.

When she went to the break room to pour coffee, a colleague cautiously advised her, "Jiang Ci, coffee isn't good for your health, maybe switch to milk or plain water."

When Jiang Ci returned to her seat, she found a new, thick "cushion" someone had placed on her chair.

People were careful not to bump into Jiang Ci, afraid of causing an accident.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Jiang Ci was very surprised.

Only Han Lan knew about this, and Jiang Ci questioned Han Lan on WeChat, [Did you tell everyone in the company about this?]

[No, my colleague just asked where I went on Sunday, and I said I went to deliver something to you. She was surprised and said: You went to Mr. Lu's house? What did you deliver? I saw Yin Xuemo at your place that day, so I just said I delivered a pregnancy test report. If Yin Xuemo keeps pestering Mr. Lu, people will know she's wrecking a family. If Mr. Lu dares to make a move, it would be an affair. Expose them online. Praise me, didn't I do well?]

[You're such a big mouth.] Jiang Ci said.

[I'm not, my colleague is.]

Jiang Ci: ….

Han Lan also knew Jiang Ci's pregnancy was fake, but by making such a fuss, where did that leave Jiang Ci? In time, when Jiang Ci's belly didn't grow, they would surely say Jiang Ci faked a pregnancy to gain favor, and it wouldn't be Yin Xuemo who got exposed online, but her.

Jiang Ci was troubled, thinking: how would she explain it then? Wouldn't she be a big liar?

Now, it seemed like people in the company were trying to please her, but in reality, they were pleasing Lu Yudong's "seed," or in other words, indirectly pleasing Lu Yudong.

Jiang Ci understood well.

She was honest with Jiang Yi: in an agreement marriage, having a child would be a burden, she still had a bright future ahead, planning to become a CPA, how could she marry or find a job with a little tail dragging behind?

Moreover, Jiang Ci felt that Lu Yudong was indifferent about this matter, he certainly wouldn't help Jiang Ci find a way to "get rid" of the child.

The training director sent a notice: [The 'New East Star' training held every Friday will now be on Monday, and this week it's still Mr. Lu's class. Everyone submit the assignments Mr. Lu assigned last time to the group.]

Han Lan sent another WeChat to Jiang Ci: [It's your Mr. Lu again.]

Jiang Ci frowned slightly, thinking: doesn't he get tired of teaching all the time?

Twenty-something assignments were gradually submitted to the group.

No one dared to leave the President's assignments unfinished.

In class, Jiang Ci and Han Lan sat in the last row.

Lu Yudong was lecturing on stage, saying he would be on a business trip the week after next, so he was holding the class this week, and he had just assigned homework last week, afraid everyone would forget.

[Where is he going on the business trip?] Han Lan asked Jiang Ci on WeChat.

[How would I know, maybe it's a last-minute decision.]

Lu Yudong began to critique the last assignments, focusing on crisis management, a very important part.

"This time, only Jiang Ci's work was decent, the rest, redo them!" Lu Yudong was very serious.

These trainees were the cream of the crop, yet in Lu Yudong's eyes, they were all rookies.

The temperature in the classroom dropped several degrees.

[Your family teaches well. We don't have such luck.] Han Lan looked dejected.

[Nonsense.] Jiang Ci felt a bit of sweetness in her heart.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Lu Yudong.

Coincidentally, Lu Yudong's gaze also turned towards her.

Jiang Ci quickly lowered her head.

After finalizing the deal, Jiang Ci was very happy and excited. It was her first time handling a transaction over a hundred thousand yuan, and she felt a bit anxious. Worried about encountering scammers or criminals, she asked Han Lan to accompany her.

Han Lan, no longer needing to keep a low profile, was quite pleased and readily agreed to Jiang Ci's request.

"For something like this, it's best to have a guy with us. If Mr. Lu goes with you, who would dare to cheat him? They wouldn't dare even with ten times the courage," Han Lan said while munching on snacks.

"It's not that easy. We're having a bit of a spat. Besides, this matter involves my ex-boyfriend. Would I be out of my mind to ask him to come along?" Jiang Ci replied.

"Why are you making such a fuss? You can see how just a casual nod from him changes everything for us. People can't wait to flatter him, and here you are, picking a fight," Han Lan said, a bit exasperated.

"Don't mention it. I've been flattering him all along." To this day, Jiang Ci still didn't understand why Lu Yudong suddenly asked her to move out.

How could she cater to his whims without knowing the reason?

"Why not try to appease him? Mr. Lu is into that," Han Lan suggested.

"How do you know? Have you tried it before?" Jiang Ci asked, her tone slightly jealous.

"No, no, I haven't even met Mr. Lu," Han Lan said, trying to act coy. "But seriously, my sister is bringing me some food this afternoon."

"Your sister? Isn't she about to give birth? How can you let her bring you food with that big belly?"

"She's not coming herself; she's sending her brother-in-law. I heard he's quite a catch," Han Lan said dreamily.

"You haven't met him?"

Han Lan rolled her eyes at Jiang Ci. "No, he didn't attend my sister's wedding; he was out of town."

"I'll check him out for you this afternoon."

At six in the evening, the dormitory doorbell rang, and Jiang Ci went to answer it. As soon as she opened the door, she widened her eyes in surprise and said, "Deng Yue?"

"Jiang Ci?"

"Who are you looking for? Me?"

Deng Yue raised the food container in his hand. "I'm delivering food for my sister-in-law to her sister. I didn't expect you two to be roommates. What a small world."

When Han Lan came out and saw that Deng Yue was quite handsome, her eyes sparkled.

"How about I treat you two lovely ladies to dinner tonight?" Deng Yue offered.

"What about the food my sister sent?" Jiang Ci asked with a slight frown.

But Han Lan was already tempted. After all, who wouldn't want to dine with a handsome guy?

"We can put it in the fridge and eat it later. It won't spoil. Let's go, I'll treat you to hot pot," Deng Yue said enthusiastically.

Recently, Jiang Ci and Han Lan had been under a lot of pressure, so they were eager for some relaxation and quickly agreed. Besides, Jiang Ci loved spicy food—the spicier, the better.

During dinner, Deng Yue asked Jiang Ci, "Since we added each other on WeChat, we haven't chatted. I didn't know you worked at New East Group. That's promising."

"I'm just a low-level employee; there's no future in that. Han Lan has more potential; she's the New East Star, a future executive," Jiang Ci said, not forgetting to praise Han Lan.

Jiang Ci could tell that Han Lan had a good impression of Deng Yue. Han Lan and Deng Yue also exchanged WeChat contacts.

"Oh, by the way, Jiang Ci is going to the suburbs on Sunday to inspect a computer factory. We've never been there and are afraid of encountering scammers, so we want a guy to come with us. Why don't you join us?" Han Lan invited Deng Yue. "My sister told me her brother-in-law runs a gaming company, so you're perfect for evaluating computers."

"Visiting a computer factory? No problem. I'll drive you two ladies there. Planning to buy computers? Why not just go to the electronics market instead of the source?"

"Two hundred units. We're donating them to children in the mountains. It's the same school we visited together," Jiang Ci explained easily, as she and Deng Yue had visited the charity school together before.

"Two hundred units, impressive. You must have some money."

"Not really. I sold my dad's house in the countryside," Jiang Ci deflected, fearing Deng Yue would ask about the money's origin, putting her in an awkward position.

She hadn't even mentioned her contractual marriage with Lu Yudong to Han Lan, nor did Han Lan know the source of the money.

Her father's old house was in the countryside, and Jiang Ci had never been there. Besides, you can't sell a homestead.

Fortunately, Deng Yue didn't press further.

What could Jiang Ci say? That she sold herself for it?

Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead.

Discord:https://discord.com/invite/ua2A852bws