Chapter 4 His True Intent.

The drama having officially wrapped up, my best friend, who had been lurking at the adjacent table hungrily devouring every second of it, scooted over like a secret agent, looking as deeply contrite as a monk about to take vows of silence.

“Babe… I’ve been keeping a secret from you for over a decade. Promise you won’t be mad?”

I gasped, panicked. “You… you’re not going to tell me you’re into girls, are you?!”

“Oh, sweet jesus, cut the theatricals! I am as straight as an arrow!” She slapped her hand over my mouth with a soft thwack. “The truth is… back in high school, I was one of the kids sponsored by the Cheng family. After a rigorous selection process, Cheng Si’ang handpicked me… and casually planted me by your side as his personal surveillance camera.”

From how many milliliters of water I drank a day, to how many times I went to the bathroom, down to the exact number of times I smiled, she reported it all to my “stepbrother” every single night.

“Hey, don’t judge me! Blame Cheng Si’ang for paying a ridiculously generous salary!” she declared proudly. “Though I do have professional ethics, okay? I didn’t breathe a single word about that whole night you and Chen Xu ‘did the adult deed’!”

Cheng Si’ang arrived right on cue, gritting his teeth as he glared at her. “Tôn Thắng Nam, I knew the second I hired you that you were completely untrustworthy.”

My best friend beat a record-speed retreat, vanishing into thin air to leave the two of us alone. Standing two steps away under the soft, golden streetlights, Cheng Si’ang extended an open palm toward me.

“Good girl, sweetheart. I’m here to take you home.”

I deliberately drew out my words. “I don’t want to go home yet.”

His body stiffened slightly before he let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “That’s okay. I respect your decision.”

I gently tugged at the corner of his shirt and whispered, “Our son’s about to get off class… want to come pick him up with me… hubby?”

His eyes lit up instantly like someone had flipped a switch, every trace of disappointment vanishing in a heartbeat. He clasped my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine.

“Yeah, let’s go. A husband should always pick up the kid with his wife. Though… picking up the kid isn’t really that important. Being with my wife is.”

—

EXTRA: CHENG SI’ANG’S POV

From the moment I was born, I was burdened with the weight of high expectations. The pressure was so suffocating that even breathing felt exhausting. I was the golden child everyone praised, yet I didn’t have a single real friend.

Until a chubby, milk-scented little squish snuck into my room.

It happened on the day I failed to rank first in my class and got beaten by my father. She waddled in holding a lollipop, lisping softly, “Big Brother… are you sad? You can have my candy…”

Nobody had ever asked me if I was happy or tired. I looked at the little girl curled up asleep on the sofa and thought to myself: Soft like a boiled egg… dangerous. How can something this adorable exist in the world?

I wanted to hide her away. Keep her all to myself.

As she grew older day by day, I became increasingly unhinged. If she talked to other boys, I got irritated. If she smiled at anyone else, I burned with jealousy.

When her parents passed away, my family adopted her. I fought tooth and nail against becoming her “brother”, because the only title I ever wanted was husband.

I told myself I’d wait until she entered college to confess. Then out of nowhere, that bastard Chen Xu showed up.

After the night she landed on me and broke my legs, I had a complete epiphany. Even if I got rid of Chen Xu, there would eventually be a Chen Y, a Chen Z… a whole damn alphabet of guys showing up.

If I wanted to sleep peacefully at night, there was only one solution: keep her by my side, no matter what it took.

People say forced melons aren’t sweet?

Nonsense. My melon is exceptionally sweet.

And my wife thinks so, too.

THE END