After five years of a cold marriage, I can no longer hide the child I secretly gave birth to.

The meal was tasteless and unappetizing, with everyone harboring their own thoughts.

"I'll go pay the bill."

Xu Daikui's phone had just been turned on by scanning the power bank, and the light from the screen illuminated her pale face.

She really didn't want to look at the perfect couple across from her anymore, especially Xu Jiaojiao, who had that victorious smile on her lips and kept trying to talk to her. Her pretentious manner was just like when she was a child.

In the past, whenever her father and stepmother pointed their fingers at her and scolded her for being superfluous, Xu Jiaojiao would do this: she would pretend to be affectionate and come over to talk to her, as if this would show her kindness and generosity.

But Xu Daikui knew better than anyone what kind of schadenfreude Xu Jiaojiao harbored deep in her heart, and what kind of despicable desire she had for Xu Jiaojiao to live in the gutter forever.

Across from her, Zhou Yanci's handsome yet aloof features inexplicably reminded her of her biased father.

The oppressive feeling of being ignored and belittled was like a dense swarm of ants, slowly gnawing at her self-esteem, forcing her to want nothing more than to stay away from the couple.

She had just stood up when Shen Jun pressed her wrist down.

Shen Jun's fingertips were slightly cool. Just as he was about to say "I'm going," he saw Zhou Yanci get up with a sullen face and walk towards the cashier. The coldness around him almost froze the air.

Xu Jiaojiao immediately put on a gentle and generous demeanor, smiling with her eyes crinkling, "It's alright, let Aci pay. You can treat us next time."

Although she said it so nicely, she secretly wished that Zhou Yanci would divorce Xu Daikui as soon as possible and never have any connection with him again in this life.

But in front of Shen Jun, she had to maintain a flawless image of kindness.

……

"Sir, would you like your takeout children's meals packed up now?"

Zhou Yanci handed the black card to the waiter. When he heard the words "children's meal," his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

His gaze sharpened as he glanced at Shen Jun in the distance, his tone carrying a barely perceptible scrutiny, "What he wants?"

The waiter nodded respectfully, "Yes, sir, that's the gentleman who ordered the children's pizza set meal."

Does Shen Jun have children at home?

A hint of doubt flashed through Zhou Yanci's mind.

He and Shen Jun were not particularly close, and he didn't remember Xu Daikui ever knowing this person before.

It seems that the two of them only became acquainted during the years they were abroad.

As for the process...

Zhou Yanci's gaze fell on Shen Jun, watching him occasionally glance at Xu Daikui's gentle profile, and then at the undisguised bitterness on Xu Daikui's face. His thin lips curled into a mocking smile, carrying a hint of inexplicable coldness.

"Ask them."

After saying that, he paid the bill and left with Xu Jiaojiao without even looking back at Xu Daikui.

Xu Daikui's gaze remained fixed on that tall, cold figure, watching him walk away step by step until he finally disappeared completely.

It felt like an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, making it hard for her to breathe.

She suddenly realized that Zhou Yanci and Xu Jiaojiao were actually quite a good match.

They were a perfect match, both in terms of looks and social standing. Unlike her, who was unloved by her father and mother, she was like a weed in a ditch, clinging to him for so many years, covered in dust and dirt. It was truly her wishful thinking.

"What, Zhou Yanci is very handsome?"

Shen Jun's teasing voice pulled her back from her wandering thoughts.

Xu Daikui withdrew her gaze, forced a smile that was more like a grimace, and said, "He is very handsome, but he's already someone else's food. I have no interest in other people's food."

Shen Jun chuckled softly, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "Of course I know. Haven't you always been thinking about your unfaithful husband? How could you possibly see anyone else?"

Xu Daikui choked up.

If Shen Jun knew that the heartless husband she loved to the bone, who had also hurt her terribly, was Zhou Yanci, the man who had just ignored her completely, would he be so shocked that his jaw would drop?

just forget it.

Anyway, she and Zhou Yanci would soon have nothing to do with each other anymore, and there was no need for a third person to know about this illicit marriage.

"I've tried to let him go," she said, her eyes lowered, her voice as soft as the wind outside. "Now, when I think of him, I feel much calmer."

Five years of silent love, five years of cold marriage, plus witnessing their sweet interactions on numerous occasions…

Her heart is made of flesh too.

"That's good," Shen Jun's voice softened a bit. "An umbrella that doesn't belong to you should be thrown away in time."

...

Shen Jun drove her back to Jinxiu Residential Area. As soon as they reached the building, a round-faced girl with a bun hairstyle suddenly rushed over, carrying a brown teddy bear in her arms.

Seeing Xu Daikui walking side by side with a man, she was taken aback at first, then took Xu Daikui's arm, her round eyes filled with vigilance as she looked Shen Jun up and down.

"Sister-in-law, who is he?"

Xu Daikui calmly pulled away from Zhou Yingying's enthusiastic hand, her tone as indifferent as plain water, "My friend."

"Oh, could you let him go first? I need to talk to you!"

Zhou Yingying knew how much Xu Daikui used to love her second brother; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her her second brother's lapdog.

Even the deepest love cannot warm a cold heart.

Xu Daikui's unusual behavior these past few days has made her feel uneasy, as if Xu Daikui has fallen for someone else.

The seemingly refined man in front of her might just be the man she's having an affair with.

"If it's because of Nibao's illness, take her to the hospital to see me this afternoon."

Xu Daikui was too exhausted to deal with her, especially when she thought of Xu Meng still upstairs, she wished she could get rid of Zhou Yingying immediately.

She and the Zhou family wanted no further involvement, and she couldn't let them discover Xu Meng's existence.

Seeing Xu Daikui's cold expression, completely unlike her former obedient and virtuous self, Zhou Yingying became even more certain of her suspicion that she was having an affair.

Her face instantly lit up with displeasure. "Sister-in-law! You watched Ni Bao grow up; it's practically your daughter! How could you be so heartless as to abandon it last night? I've just realized how cold-blooded and ruthless you can be!"

While scolding, Zhou Yingying stood on tiptoe and peered upstairs, her voice urgent, "You live upstairs, right? Quick, let's go upstairs, you can cool Ni Bao down first..."

She had to get Xu Daikui and her second brother together as soon as possible.

My second brother is getting close to Xu Jiaojiao, and my sister-in-law has a strange man appearing on her side. Both of them are showing signs of infidelity. If this continues, divorce will be a certainty.

If they get divorced, Xu Daikui will definitely never talk to her and Nibao again!

As Zhou Yingying spoke, she grabbed her and tried to rush upstairs without any regard for the consequences.

Xu Daikui's heart tightened, and she clenched her fingers. She could only bite the bullet and lie, "I don't live here. This is Dr. Shen's house. I came back with him and picked up something."

"Huh?" Zhou Yingying frowned.

Fang Qing clearly gave her this address, how could it be wrong?

Is it...

Has Xu Daikui already moved in with this man?

"Then take me to where you live!"

Zhou Yingying hurriedly pulled her, trying to separate her from Shen Jun, "I'm afraid if my little darling is delayed any longer, she'll really get brain damage from the fever."

Xu Daikui originally wanted to be heartless and ignore it, but she knew Zhou Yingying's personality too well. If she didn't get rid of her, there would be no peace and quiet all afternoon.

Most importantly, she was afraid that if Zhou Yingying made a scene, it would alert Xu Meng upstairs.

"Okay, wait a moment, Dr. Shen and I will go upstairs to get something."

Xu Daikui led Shen Jun upstairs.

Xu Meng had already woken up, and when she saw the children's pizza, a barely perceptible joy appeared on her little face.

But when she saw the strange man standing next to her mother, the joy in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of confusion.

This uncle isn't the person in Mom's drawing; it seems he's not Dad.

"Mengmeng, eat your food obediently," Xu Daikui walked over, squatted down, and gently stroked her daughter's soft hair, her voice extremely gentle, "Mommy has to go to the hospital. How about you draw at home by yourself this afternoon?"

Xu Meng liked being alone. She nodded obediently, picked up her small fork, and began to eat the pizza in small bites.

This is the first time my mother has brought a man home.

Xu Meng secretly glanced at Shen Jun. This uncle was young and handsome, and he and her mother looked quite well-matched.

Seeing that she was engrossed in eating, Xu Daikui gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, stayed with her for a few minutes, and then turned around and walked out with Shen Jun.

"Dr. Shen,"

She stopped outside the door, her voice pleading, "My husband's sister lives downstairs. My husband and his family... don't know I have a child yet, and I don't plan to let them know. So, could you please wait until we've left before you leave?"

Shen Jun had long seen that her relationship with her husband was extremely bad, and Xu Meng's aphasia might be caused by living in a repressive family environment for many years.

He nodded, his tone gentle, "Okay, no problem."

He had originally wanted to persuade her to take Xu Meng to see a more professional doctor, who might be able to cure the child's aphasia.

But when he thought of the girl downstairs who could rush up at any moment, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He could only watch Xu Daikui leave.

……

"Sister-in-law, why are you so slow!"

As soon as Zhou Yingying saw Xu Daikui, she pouted and complained, "Why don't you prioritize me now? Stop dawdling, get Nibao in the car, I'll drive!"

While grumbling, she still sharply examined Xu Daikui's lips and neck, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she found no suspicious marks.

She had been waiting for Xu Daikui for more than ten minutes, and her heart felt like it was on fire.

She was afraid that something might happen between her and the bespectacled man inside the house.

Xu Daikui belongs to her second brother; no other man should even think about touching her.