Chapter 67:

Chapter 67

Returning to Licheng, Xie Qichen first took Tan Mo home to rest.

Walking into the bedroom, Tan Mo sat on the edge of the bed. Xie Qichen went to the wardrobe to fetch some clothes and helped her change into comfortable pajamas.

Tan Mo obediently raised her arms while answering a call from the official staff of D Station expressing concern. “Hmm, I’m fine. I’m much better now…”

Unaware of the exact incident, the caller only knew Tan Mo had encountered a minor accident and was currently unfit for filming. They told her to rest assuredly, assuring her that the filming issues would be resolved on their end.

After hanging up, Tan Mo received a call from her father: “Momo, I heard you were bullied yesterday?!”

Tan Mo had initially decided not to tell her parents, fearing they would worry and get angry. However, during a call between her father and Tan Yuanzhou today, the latter accidentally mentioned going to Xicheng to find Tan Mo, prompting her father to press for the truth.

Upon learning that his beloved daughter and unborn grandchild had nearly faced an accident, Tan Mo’s father was furious, unable to believe someone dared to act so recklessly.

Tan Mo quickly reassured him: “Dad, don’t worry. I’m fine now and already resting at home.”

Meeting Tan Mo’s gaze, Xie Qichen gestured that he would handle the call. Tan Mo handed him the phone.

Taking the phone, the man poured her a glass of water while explaining the previous day’s events to her father, his tone calm and composed.

Hearing that Xie Qichen had rushed to another city immediately upon learning about the incident and was handling it seriously, Tan Mo’s father felt relieved. He asked Xie to continue taking good care of Tan Mo, adding that he and Tan Mo’s mother would come over to visit tonight.

After ending the call, Tan Mo received a text message on her phone. The sender was Yu Qiran’s agent.

Possibly having found her contact information from a previous variety show work group, the agent expressed a desire to apologize and convey their remorse.

“Lady Jasmine, I’m glad to hear you’re fine now. Can we shake hands and make peace? We are willing to offer you some compensation and earnestly beg for your forgiveness. I believe a mother is always kind and generous, right?”

Tan Mo: “…”

They sure knew how to play the guilt card well?

The agent’s tone was completely different from the arrogant attitude they had shown her back at Anhui Mountain.

If this had happened to an ordinary person, they probably wouldn’t have even bothered. This wasn’t a genuine realization of their mistake but rather fear of Tan Mo’s background. They probably didn’t know how Xie Qichen would handle it, so they were trying to approach Tan Mo directly, hoping to salvage the situation somehow.

Tan Mo showed the message to Xie Qichen, who slightly frowned: “Don’t bother. Make peace? What is she thinking?”

Xie explained that he had people investigate last night. It was true he had used his influence last year to block Yu Qiran from getting a variety show role and a TV series role. However, the subsequent loss of several important roles was due to Yu’s poor work performance and stiff acting skills.

Additionally, last year Yu Qiran was rumored to have an ambiguous relationship with a female celebrity. Though there was no concrete evidence, it did affect his public image. These factors collectively contributed to Yu Qiran’s current career downturn, which had nothing directly to do with Xie Qichen.

Last night, when Yu Qiran was drunk, he emotionally blamed everything on Tan Mo. He was clearly just acting out and hiding behind his agent now, which was quite laughable.

The previous night’s events were still fresh in Tan Mo’s mind, leaving her with lingering fear and panic. She couldn’t help but wonder what Yu Qiran might have done to her had there been no one else around. She and the baby were fortunate to be safe, but that couldn’t be used as an excuse for their actions.

Though kind-hearted, she couldn’t possibly forgive everything.

The man gently patted her head, “You don’t need to deal with this anymore. If they keep bothering you, just tell me directly.”

Tan Mo faintly smiled, “Okay, I’m not worried anyway. I have my husband.”

Xie Qichen leaned closer to look at her, his smiling eyes slightly upturned, “So your husband is that capable, huh?”

“Of course,” Tan Mo chuckled smugly, “most importantly, I really admire him for marrying such a beautiful and lovely wife.”

Xie Qichen’s lips curved into a clear smile as he pinched her cheek with his fingers, “Hmm, I admire myself too.”

Tan Mo laughed. After some playful teasing, she lay down, looking at the man sitting by the bed, softly persuading him, “Xie Qichen, actually you can go to the group company. There’s the housekeeper here to take care of me, so you don’t need to worry.”

Although she really enjoyed having him by her side all the time, the group company had many affairs, and he had a lot to handle.

Xie Qichen held her hand, “It’s okay, everything’s arranged. I’m working from home today.”

He leaned down and kissed her cheek, looking at her with a low voice, “Momo, right now, not seeing you makes me a bit anxious.”

Last night’s incident had really scared him.

Hearing this, Tan Mo tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes welling up with emotion, “Qichen, from now on, I will definitely protect our child well.”

“No, it’s me who should protect both of you.”

Remembering the man’s words in the car today about how much he liked her, Tan Mo’s eyes curved with affection as she suddenly said:

“Xie Qichen, I feel the same way.”

“What?”

“I love this little one in my belly very much because it’s our child. But even so, he can’t surpass your position in my heart.”

Tan Mo looked at him intently, “My greatest love is still you, because I’ve liked you for so many years, while he’s only been around for less than three months.”

Xie Qichen’s eyes softened, “Hmm, I know.”

Tan Mo teased with a hint of pride, “I’m telling you in advance, don’t get jealous of the baby when he’s born.”

Xie Qichen laughed, joking with her, “Who says I’ll be the one getting jealous?”

Tan Mo suppressed the corners of her lips.

Well, it might actually be possible, considering how happy this certain someone would be after having a child.

But they didn’t want to think that far for now. The baby’s healthy birth was their top priority.

“Sleep a little more,” Xie Qichen helped her pull the covers up.

“Okay…”

–

The first night back in Licheng, Tan Mo’s parents came to visit her and check on her condition.

The next day, Ji Shu learned about the incident too. As her best friend, she naturally felt very concerned and came to see her that evening.

Upon learning it was Yu Qiran’s doing, Ji Shu said no wonder she noticed on her Weibo today that there was a trending topic about Yu Qiran suddenly missing a film festival. Yu Qiran’s studio hadn’t given a specific reason.

Ji Shu laughed, “I guess he was beaten up by your husband so badly he couldn’t show his face in public?”

“…”

This possibility seemed quite high.

Ji Shu lavishly praised Xie Qichen’s boyfriend power. Although fighting couldn’t solve problems, it was still satisfying to do so emotionally.

“Besides, I have a feeling Yu Qiran is going to fall.”

Ji Shu said this not only because of his incident with Tan Mo but also because Yu had several minor scandals recently, though they had all been suppressed, “Looking at his face, I feel he’s going to collapse.”

Unexpectedly, her words proved prophetic.

A few days later, online rumors suddenly exposed that Yu Qiran, who had maintained a single image publicly, had secretly dated several girlfriends. While in relationships, he had maintained improper relationships with fans, cheating on his girlfriends, sleeping with fans, with accompanying photos and chat records as solid evidence.

Including his behavior since becoming famous last year, where he often threw his weight around on set, using stunt doubles for martial arts scenes whenever possible, his hardworking and dedicated image was completely fabricated.

One after another, these revelations surfaced online, with evidence so authentic it couldn’t be denied. Even the previously suppressed news resurfaced.

Yu Qiran’s true nature was exposed to the public, leading to many fans unfollowing and condemning him. Some endorsement brands also announced contract terminations, completely shattering Yu Qiran’s public image.

Though not completely blacklisted, Yu Qiran’s chances of becoming a top star again were gone.

After seeing the news online, Tan Mo asked Xie Qichen about it. The man remained calm, as if he had anticipated it all along.

Later, she learned that these news items had been in Xie Qichen’s possession all along and were only released now.

In fact, Xie had discovered these things about Yu Qiran after the variety show. He had chosen not to expose them, giving the other party some leeway, thinking the harm done to Tan Mo hadn’t been too serious. If Xie Qichen had really wanted to ruin Yu Qiran, he would have been finished long ago, not waiting until now.

Just as he told Yu Qiran, he would settle the score gradually. This time, Yu Qiran had truly provoked him.

The entertainment industry was too complicated, and Tan Mo didn’t want to think too much about it, leaving everything to Xie Qichen to handle.

Now, she only wanted to focus on her real life.

After this incident, Tan Mo rested at home for a while.

Initially, due to the trauma, Tan Mo often had nightmares at night, dreaming of losing the baby. She would wake up frightened and couldn’t help crying.

Seeing this, Xie Qichen was heartbroken. Later, he took her for psychological counseling. Under the doctor’s guidance, Xie Qichen helped Tan Mo relieve her emotions, comforting and accompanying her.

Gradually, the girl emerged from the shadow of this incident.

During this period, with the careful care of the housekeeper and Xie Qichen, both her mood and physical condition improved.

Three months later, Xie Qichen accompanied Tan Mo for a prenatal checkup. The doctor said the embryo had implanted stably, and the baby was developing healthily. This good news finally eased both of their hearts.

As seasons passed, time flew.

Before long, it was December, the end of the Gregorian calendar year.

At that time, Tan Mo was already four months pregnant.

Mid-month, on a leisurely Saturday.

Today, Xie Qichen didn’t have to go to the group company. In the morning, after Tan Mo woke up, she and the man indulged in sweet intimacy.

Eventually, Tan Mo was embraced by Xie Qichen, kissed until her cheeks were flushed, her gaze hazy, actively responding, almost clinging to him like a koala bear.

After a while, Xie Qichen reluctantly stopped, resting his forehead against hers, breathing heavily, his voice hoarse:

“Tan Mo, do you know I could discipline you now?”

Since she got pregnant, Xie Qichen had almost gone months without touching her.

Tan Mo’s body was relatively weak, so even after four months, the man hadn’t dared to do anything.

Four whole months without intimacy – compared to their previous frequency, it wasn’t just Xie Qichen who felt the strain; the little girl who had been “bullied” by him felt it too.

Hearing this, Tan Mo’s heartbeat accelerated like a car pressing on the gas pedal. Biting her red lips, she whispered, “Xie Qichen…”

However, the man finally kissed her passionately but refrained from further actions, murmuring in a husky voice:

“Baby, be good, wait a little longer. I’m afraid I might hurt you now.”

If he really did something, he knew his current state would be too intense for her to handle.

Tan Mo felt like a kitten who couldn’t get milk, her eyes reddening, wanting him to continue, yet too shy to say it.

Ugh, this person could actually hold himself back QAQ.

Then Xie Qichen carried her to the bathroom to wash up.

After bathing, he took out a new lounging dress to help her change, but his gaze suddenly fell on something, making his eyes darken slightly.

Tan Mo quickly grabbed the new dress to put it on, her face turning red with embarrassment.

She made an excuse to flee to the bathroom to quickly change.

Ugh, he saw her in that aroused state…

A few minutes later, Tan Mo calmed her emotions and slowly walked out of the bathroom with the washed clothes.

Then she saw Xie Qichen lazily leaning against the wall, looking down at his phone. Upon hearing her, he lifted his eyes to glance at her, a fleeting smile in his eyes.

Her face flushed red as she quickly hid her hands behind her back, pretending to ignore him, and hurriedly went to the balcony to hang the laundry.

Later, when she returned indoors, she saw Xie Qichen standing by the door, clearly asking her:

“Finished drying?”

Tan Mo’s face heated up: “Dried… dried already…”

This person was doing it on purpose, wasn’t he!

Looking at her shy demeanor, Xie Qichen smiled, walking up to her, picking her up in one motion and sitting down on the bed with her.

He held her against him, her back to his chest, his strong, warm chest pressed close, his hot, smiling breath grazing her ear:

“Let me help you change into something new, okay?”

“Um…”

Seeing what he was holding, Tan Mo’s face turned completely red, burying her head low, which only earned her a low chuckle from Xie Qichen:

“What are you shy about? It’s not like I had anything to do with it.”

The girl shyly protested, “Where? It’s all your fault from this morning…”

The man bit her earlobe, silently smirking, “Then who couldn’t resist being teased?”

“…”

Thinking about how easily she was in his grasp now, Tan Mo felt both shy and annoyed, so she playfully retaliated, “What about you? Aren’t you the same?”

Xie Qichen paused, his Adam’s apple visibly rolling, then he tightened his grip around her body and flipped her over.

Tan Mo’s head spun, and the next moment, she was lying down.

Xie Qichen looked down at her, his eyes fixed on hers:

“Sure you’re not scared now?”

Tan Mo softly murmured, her heart pounding. Then she saw him reach up and press the button to close the curtains.

The room gradually darkened.

His dark eyes met hers as he tossed the garment hanging there aside, gazing deeply at her:

“Alright, we’ll change after this is done.”

A wave of heat rose to Tan Mo’s face as she heard his deep, magnetic voice whisper by her ear, her heart racing:

“Sweetheart, now you’ve successfully lured the wolf into your den.”