Five years without pregnancy means you're too weak; I remarried a powerful man and had triplets

Lu Zichuan paused in his porridge-serving motion, the porcelain spoon tapping softly against the rim of the bowl. A huge look of surprise flashed across his face, which was turned away from Shen Zhiyi, and even his ears burned.

What did he hear?

Shen Zhiyi wants to turn their fake relationship into a real one.

If she hadn't been standing right behind him, he would have wanted to reach into his ears to see if there was something wrong with his hearing, or pinch himself hard to make sure this wasn't a dream.

"W-what?"

He put down the bowl in his hand, turned around, and looked at Shen Zhiyi. Even though he wanted to appear calm and collected, his expression was somewhat out of control. His lips involuntarily curled up, and even his eyebrows were tinged with an unconcealable smile.

Fortunately, Shen Zhiyi was so embarrassed that she wished she could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of her feet. She was staring at her toes with her head down and had no time to look at him.

"I said, I'll take responsibility for you. If you don't mind my background, we can be a real couple..."

"Of course I don't mind! How could I possibly mind!"

Before Shen Zhiyi could finish speaking, Lu Zichuan interrupted her as if afraid she would change her mind, his voice filled with urgency and barely suppressed joy.

……

After he finished speaking, the two of them fell silent.

The only sounds in the air were the faint rustling of steaming porridge rising gently and their slightly disordered breathing.

Lu Zichuan was still standing by the dining table, his knuckles white as he held the spoon in his hand.

He shouted that sentence so loudly that now, thinking back on it, the heat from his ears runs all the way to the base of his neck.

He clearly wanted to appear calm and collected, after all, he was now her official boyfriend, and heaven knows how long he had waited for this role. But his excitement gave him away, and even his voice cracked.

Shen Zhiyi stood there, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, her gaze fixed on the floor in front of her feet.

What did she just say? She wants to take responsibility for him? And become his real partner?

Has she gone mad? Or is she still under the influence of last night's alcohol?

No, I've already sobered up.

She saw him looking like a pitiful puppy and couldn't help but want to comfort him, but she didn't really have any expectations.

After all, the difference in their social status was obvious, and she was simply not good enough for him.

Who knew he would agree so quickly...

She secretly glanced at Lu Zichuan, only to meet his gaze.

The two looked away simultaneously, as if they had been electrocuted.

"Um..." Lu Zichuan cleared his throat, trying to regain some initiative, "The porridge... the porridge is getting cold, let's eat first."

"Oh, okay." Shen Zhiyi nodded, but her steps felt like they were made of lead. She slowly moved to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, not daring to look at him again throughout the entire process.

Lu Zichuan also sat down, with one seat between them. Although the dining table was not large, it felt like there was a Milky Way separating them.

He ladled out a bowl of porridge and pushed it in front of her, his fingers accidentally brushing against the back of her hand, and they both flinched at the same time.

"Thank you..." Shen Zhiyi said softly, taking the bowl and stirring it with a spoon. The porridge was still hot, and the steam made her eyes feel hot.

Lu Zichuan also lowered his head and drank his porridge, one mouthful after another, as quickly as if he were completing a task.

He usually eats slowly and deliberately, but now he seems to want to bury his face in his bowl.

It's so embarrassing.

Last night she clung to him like an octopus and kissed him twice. In the adult world, this kind of intimacy is as simple as holding hands. Why would she need to take responsibility?

But seeing how adorable she looked standing there, he couldn't resist teasing her. He thought he'd just say it and leave it at that, but she actually said she wanted to become his real partner.

God knows how long he waited for this identity.

But if she finds out that the two of them didn't actually have any physical relationship last night, will she regret it?

The thought of this possibility made Lu Zichuan clench his fist. No, he couldn't give her a chance to back out!

He looked up and glanced at her discreetly. She was eating her porridge slowly and deliberately with her head down. Although she tried her best to appear calm, her red ears betrayed her.

Lu Zichuan's own ears also felt hot.

But the thought that he was now Shen Zhiyi's official boyfriend made him secretly happy.

Although all of this happened so fast, so fast that he hadn't even had time to process it before he was already in the position of "boyfriend".

Although he didn't know what expression to wear when facing her, what tone to use, whether he should hold her hand, or whether he should...

But... the revolution is already halfway to success!

"Cough." Shen Zhiyi choked on the scalding porridge, her face turning bright red.

Lu Zichuan immediately looked up, then withdrew his hand halfway, finally just pushing the tissue box towards her: "Drink slowly."

"Thank you..." She took the tissue and covered her mouth, her ear tips turning as red as if they were about to bleed.

Another silence followed.

Birdsong drifted in from outside the window, crisp and cheerful, a stark contrast to the stagnant air inside.

Lu Zichuan put down his bowl, took a deep breath, and mustered his courage to speak: "Zhizhi."

"Huh?" She looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with the panic of a startled deer.

"You..." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, "You don't need to feel pressured. If you regret it, or feel it's too sudden, we can take it slow until you're fully ready to accept me."

Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment. Looking into his serious eyes, the string in her heart suddenly loosened a little.

"I don't regret it," she said softly, the tissue crumpled in her hand. "It's just... a little strange."

"Me too." Lu Zichuan smiled, this time the smile wasn't so tense, but carried a hint of relief. "Then... let's take it slow."

The two looked at each other for a second, then simultaneously looked down.

But this time, the awkwardness in the air seemed to have lessened, replaced by a subtle, sweet tension.

Like the first crack appearing on the ice in early spring, revealing surging water underneath.

Shen Zhiyi scooped up another spoonful of porridge, this time blowing on it before drinking it.

Looking at her chubby cheeks, Lu Zichuan couldn't help but smile again.

He picked up the spoon again, and this time, he drank slowly and deliberately, without the ravenous eating he had done before.

Today, everyone at Jiangxing noticed that their usually cold and ruthless CEO, Lu, was in an exceptionally good mood.

Not only did he greet the receptionist when he entered the company, but he also became more amiable when facing General Manager Yang, who usually liked to talk nonsense, during meetings.

Standing behind Lu Zichuan, Assistant Wang watched his smug expression and knew that after he went home last night, President Lu must have been doing *that* with Miss Shen. In a corner where no one was watching, Assistant Wang secretly smiled several times.

It has to be Miss Shen; she can make President Lu, whom they all fear, completely obedient!

Seeing his sinister smile, Liu, the assistant beside him, couldn't help but nudge him with his shoulder: "Old Wang, why do you have such a lewd smile?"