After she left her father and kept her son, President Pei lost control and knelt down.

Pei Hansheng could hear Qiao Wan's hurried running and the sound of traffic around her; she was heading back.

She narrowed her eyes, a triumphant air on her face: "Tsk, murdering her own husband, what a ruthless woman."

Qiao Wan angrily hung up her phone and hailed a taxi: "Driver, to the city center, Jinxiu Jiayuan."

As the Lunar New Year approaches, fireworks light up the night sky over Beijing, creating a dazzling spectacle.

She had a natural affinity for this city. Her classmates in her high school graduating class were all planning to study abroad. The better-off students went to Europe and America, or North America and Australia, and the least desirable places were Southeast Asia.

She alone turned down the temptation of a $500,000 scholarship per semester from an American university and wrote Tsinghua and Peking University on her application.

I still remember the journey with Ye Jizhou from Hong Kong to Beijing for the report. They couldn't bear to buy plane tickets, so they took buses and old-fashioned green trains all the way. They were constantly on the move, sharing a bucket of instant noodles. They were full of enthusiasm and excitement, and didn't feel tired or hungry at all.

At that moment, she felt finally free.

After marrying Pei Hansheng, she seemed to be trapped again. This marriage was a tribulation in their fates, one she could neither escape nor return to.

The taxi took her to Jinxiu Jiayuan.

She got off the car and went straight to her home.

I could hear my son's laughter from outside the door.

"Giddy up, giddy up, giggle, giggle, so much fun!"

"Xiao Bao, are you happy?"

"I'm so happy, haha."

She could faintly hear the man's deep, resonant voice, which made her momentarily flustered.

She steadied herself and pressed the keypad lock.

In the living room, Xiao Bao rode on Gao Sheng's back, while Gao Sheng crawled around on the floor, finally managing to coax the little tyrant who was crying at the top of his lungs into a good mood.

Shen Yingtang sat at the dining table, holding a can of ice-cold beer in her hand, reviewing whether she had just revealed Xiaobao's true identity.

When Qiao Wan returned, she walked to the entrance and winked at her.

Pei Hansheng is really unethical; he even resorted to sneak attacks. She was caught off guard and must have revealed a weakness.

Qiao Wan touched Shen Yingtang's hand; it was ice-cold. She must have been terrified.

"Xiao Tang, go home, I'll handle this."

"Okay, I'll bring Xiaobao to my place to sleep tonight."

"No need." Qiao Wan pulled Shen Yingtang back: "Who is Pei Hansheng? He's a cunning fox in the business world. Some things can't be hidden."

"You wouldn't be thinking of—"

Shen Yingtang opened her eyes wide, her worry outweighing her anticipation.

Should we reveal Xiaobao's true parentage to the public?

Qiao Wan shook her head and gave a bitter smile.

The Pei family doesn't acknowledge the child, and she doesn't want to lose her son. Even if it becomes public, it won't change the fact that she and Pei Hansheng will divorce.

It's pointless and only adds to your troubles.

"So what do you want to do?"

Qiao Wan glanced at Pei Hansheng, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room with a faint smile in his eyes. Don't be fooled by his smile now; he probably already knows everything about Xiao Bao's background.

But there is one thing he will never admit is that Xiaobao is his son.

Because Qiao Wan lost her virginity the night Xiao Bao conceived, a loss etched in her memory, in Pei Hansheng's heart it was nothing more than a one-night stand with Jiang Chunzhi.

"I don't want to do anything, I'll just take it one step at a time."

Shen Yingtang put her hand to her ear and made a phone call gesture: "Then I'm leaving. Call me if you need anything."

"Um."

Qiao Wan changed her shoes and walked into the living room. Gao Sheng, unable to see clearly, almost bumped into Qiao Wan's leg.

Pei Hansheng stood up, tall and imposing. He looked at Qiao Wan with a half-smile, his eyes cold.

"You're back?"

Qiao Wan looked away from him and focused her gaze on Xiao Bao, examining him carefully to make sure he was unharmed before she felt relieved.

Xiao Bao got off Goldman Sachs and jumped into Qiao Wan's arms.

Waaah, Mommy.

Goldman Sachs dusted off his trousers and reported to Pei Hansheng.

"President Pei, Shen Yingtang's sister-in-law did indeed go to the British Film Festival."

Pei Hansheng narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, staring directly at the two people, one big and one small, who were being all lovey-dovey.

Qiao Wan squatted down, hugged Xiao Bao tightly, and kissed his forehead, eyelids, and cheeks. Xiao Bao whimpered and snuggled against Qiao Wan, acting spoiled.

Pei Hansheng knew that feeling. Qiao Wan's lips were soft and sweet, and her kisses on his skin were like holy water watering parched soil, soothing his entire being.

Since he recovered from his serious car accident, she has never treated him so gently again.

Pei Hansheng was overwhelmed by intense jealousy and resentment. He had never imagined that a mere child could make him feel jealous.

"Take the child out and bring him back in an hour."

Goldman Sachs sighed, "If we take this little devil out, are we going to make him a big shot?"

Pei Hansheng glanced at his subordinate with disdain: "Do you even know how to take care of a child? Go to the mall and buy some toys or treats. The little one is easy to please."

Goldman Sachs nodded hastily: "I understand, I understand. You want to spend time alone with your wife."

"Xiao Bao, come out and play with Uncle. Uncle will buy you Ultraman."

Xiao Bao was somewhat tempted, gazing at Qiao Wan expectantly, his face clearly showing the question, "Is it okay?"

Qiao Wan nodded and pinched Xiao Bao's nose: "It's cold outside, don't take off your hat when getting on and off the bus."

"Okay, thank you, Mom... I'll be home soon."

Xiao Bao cautiously breathed a sigh of relief at his own cleverness.

Qiao Wan felt heartbroken. Her son had to compromise so much just so they could live a restrained and cautious life in the capital.

"Go ahead, use the money in your phone's smartwatch payment app, buy whatever you want."

Xiao Bao happily followed Goldman Sachs out the door.

Qiao Wan withdrew her reluctant gaze and looked up to meet Pei Hansheng's questioning eyes.

"Qiao Wan, what exactly is your relationship with Xiao Bao?"

"Mother-son relationship." Qiao Wan paused, a chilling light flashing in Pei Hansheng's eyes. She clenched the hem of her clothes with her fingertips and added, "Not blood-related, but closer than blood-related."

Pei Han sneered, walked up to Qiao Wan, and exuded boundless rage: "Do you think I'm a fool, Qiao Wan! This is clearly the wild child you've been raising outside."

An aggressive aura pressed down on her from above, blurring Qiao Wan's vision and bringing tears to her eyes.

Wild child.

Xiao Bao clearly has parents, yet he has to bear such a heavy burden.

Qiao Wan raised her head and looked directly at Pei Hansheng: "Xiao Bao didn't just spring from a rock, he has a father."

Pei Hansheng pinched her chin, tightening his grip. Qiao Wan's tears fell in pain, landing on the man's hand and turning into sparkling diamonds that embedded themselves in Pei Hansheng's heart.

He loosened his grip, then pulled her into his arms, pinching her waist: "Who is his father? Just tell me, and I'll leave him a proper burial."

Qiao Wan could hear the man's clear and powerful heartbeat; she could sense his anger or his nervousness.

He's always been the one having affairs and raising children, but now that Qiao Wan is doing the same thing, he can't accept it.

She closed her eyes briefly, her palms damp with sweat, and feigned composure as she spoke ambiguously: "Anyway, Xiao Bao has nothing to do with you."

Pei Hansheng's chest heaved violently, the intense emotions pounding against his heart, causing a tearing pain.

"So you admit that Xiaobao is your child with another man?"

You're overthinking it.

Qiao Wan's phone rang.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, feeling sad and repressed, and pushed Pei Hansheng away expressionlessly, walking away to answer the phone.

"Understood, Mr. Yi. We'll head over now."

Pei Hansheng walked over: "It's so late, where are you going? Who are you seeing?"

"A very important friend, just contact her aunt when Xiaobao comes back."

Qiao Wan didn't wait for Pei Hansheng's reply before grabbing her bag and leaving.

Unseen by him, Qiao Wan apologized to Xiao Bao countless times in her heart.

She blocked the opportunity for father and son to recognize each other; son, don't blame her later.

"Qiao Wan, if you dare to leave, you'll face the consequences!"

Behind me, I heard an angry man's voice.

Qiao Wan sighed and quickened her pace.

Just like how Pei Hansheng abandoned her countless times for other women, now that their positions have simply been switched, Pei Hansheng can't stand it?

But she endured many days and nights of hardship alone before she mustered the courage to leave without looking back.