Chapter Six
Those words exploded in everyone’s minds like a bomb, leaving them all stunned.
Jiang Zhiyi’s gaze swept slowly over Shu Yao, his eyes calm. “I am the biological father of this child and the direct cause of this incident—that much is undeniable.”
“If Ms. Shu wants to keep the child, we can get married.”
He added that last sentence flatly, his expression barely changing throughout, as if he were saying something as casual as “Let’s go for a walk tomorrow.”
Shu Yao was stunned. She looked at Jiang Zhiyi, unable to understand what he meant or what he was thinking.
Chen Bing hadn’t recovered yet, still reeling from Jiang Zhiyi’s words. Qin Lin’s expression shifted slightly, but she didn’t lose her composure either.
After more than ten seconds, Shu Yao shook her head and said quietly, “I appreciate Teacher Jiang’s willingness to help, but—”
She paused, her expression calm but her voice firm: “That night three months ago between Teacher Jiang and me was two adults taking what they needed. No one was forced—it was entirely consensual.”
“Failing to take emergency contraception afterward was my carelessness and my responsibility. So Teacher Jiang doesn’t need to marry me for the child’s sake.”
With that, Shu Yao gave a slow, apologetic smile.
Jiang Zhiyi looked at her smile, his brow faintly furrowing, but he said nothing.
Chen Bing finally snapped back to reality. His expression grim, he said, “I appreciate Sister Qin and Teacher Jiang coming all this way. Shu Yao and I need to discuss things further. Since we don’t know whether the paparazzi have photos of Teacher Jiang and Shu Yao together, if any other scandals surface later, we’ll need Teacher Jiang’s cooperation.”
Until Chen Bing and Shu Yao reached an agreement, the company couldn’t issue a public statement. If the paparazzi later released photos of Shu Yao and Jiang Zhiyi entering or leaving a hotel, they would need Jiang Zhiyi’s side to stay silent temporarily. Once Shu Yao decided the child’s fate, the two companies could negotiate how to explain and clarify things together.
Qin Lin nodded in understanding.
Chen Bing pressed his lips together, his expression cold, mentally running through all the possible consequences if Shu Yao decided to keep the child.
Various announcements, contracts… all work plans would have to change. Right now, Shu Yao’s figure still showed no visible changes, and she could barely handle most of her work. But once her belly grew, even if her body could endure it, she simply wouldn’t have the capacity.
And if she couldn’t fulfill her contracts and caused losses to her partners, who would bear the responsibility? Shu Yao, of course—which would mean even bigger trouble.
Her reputation, image, and resources would all suffer severely. On the bright side, if she lost the baby weight quickly and returned to work after giving birth, she might salvage some of it. But pregnancy lasted ten months. Shu Yao was already three months along—seven more to go. That was a long time. No one knew what could happen in those seven months.
No one could predict it, and Chen Bing couldn’t prepare in advance either.
Chen Bing was overwhelmed, his thoughts in chaos. He’d thought the scandal involving Jiang Zhiyi was already thorny enough—now Shu Yao was insisting on keeping the child.
His mind was a mess, his temples throbbing with pain, his face ashen.
…
Jiang Zhiyi sat in his chair, his expression composed, unreadable.
Shu Yao lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet Chen Bing’s disappointed gaze. Qin Lin’s face also betrayed no emotion. Each of them wore a different expression.
In the silent room, the cool, pleasant male voice sounded again:
“I’ll be the child’s nominal father,” Jiang Zhiyi said, his hand resting on the armrest.
Shu Yao was once again stunned.
Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes were cool and detached: “Ms. Shu and I can be nominal spouses. We’ll make our ‘relationship’ public, and after the child is born, we’ll find the right time to ‘divorce.'”
Shu Yao’s mouth fell open in bewilderment.
Jiang Zhiyi’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest, as if he had no idea what he’d just suggested.
Qin Lin frowned, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately held back.
Chen Bing’s expression shifted several times before he said, “I think this plan could work.”
Shu Yao was surprised and was about to speak, but Chen Bing stopped her with a look.
He turned to Qin Lin. “Sister Qin?”
Throughout Jiang Zhiyi’s proposal, Qin Lin had remained silent.
Her face was perfectly composed, betraying nothing. After more than ten seconds of waiting, Qin Lin spoke: “Fine.”
Half of the enormous weight pressing on Chen Bing’s chest instantly lifted. He let out an imperceptible sigh of relief and said, “Then we’ll follow this plan for the public announcement—Shu Yao and Teacher Jiang will be nominal spouses. During Shu Yao’s pregnancy, the two of them just need to play the part of a couple in front of the cameras. After the child is born, they can dissolve the arrangement.”
Qin Lin thought for a few seconds. “Alright.”
The two of them discussed more details. Shu Yao remained dazed throughout, her eyes involuntarily drifting toward Jiang Zhiyi.
The handsome, distant man sat with a calm expression, revealing nothing.
Shu Yao looked at his face and suddenly recalled that night three months ago. She hadn’t known it was him; he hadn’t known it was her. They’d seemed to wear masks, yet at the same time, stripped bare—laying bare all the emotions and thoughts hidden beneath those masks.
Kissing, touching, murmuring. Bodies intertwined, leaving behind the marks of a reckless night on each other.
Those hickeys hadn’t faded until half a month later, when Shu Yao was shooting for a magazine. Fortunately, the marks had lightened by then, and no one noticed.
Shu Yao unconsciously rubbed her arm, looked away, and lowered her gaze.
She thought, somewhat lost: Was it the Jiang Zhiyi before her now, the Jiang Zhiyi from three months ago, or the Jiang Zhiyi who played all those different roles on the big screen—which one was the real him?
She let out a long breath, her emotions tangled.
Qin Lin and Chen Bing stood up. They’d already settled the “cooperation” details. The rest would be handled by their respective staff.
—
After Qin Lin and Jiang Zhiyi left, Chen Bing stepped to the window and made a call. When he returned, he looked at Shu Yao. “I know what you’re thinking.”
Shu Yao opened her mouth but said nothing.
Chen Bing said calmly, “If you’re determined to keep the child, then Jiang Zhiyi’s proposal is the best option for you right now.”
Shu Yao hesitated for a few seconds. “The child is mine alone… It has nothing to do with Jiang Zhiyi.”
Chen Bing held his phone. “How does it have nothing to do with him? He’s the father. Even if you’re not lovers, that blood tie can’t be erased.”
Shu Yao thought for a moment. “Brother Chen, I can’t understand why Jiang Zhiyi would make this choice.”
Chen Bing sat down and was silent for a while after hearing her words. Then he said, “Jiang Zhiyi’s path to fame is actually very hard to replicate. While in school, he didn’t take any commercials or acting offers. In today’s entertainment industry, it’s not uncommon for artists to sign with agencies and start filming movies or commercials while still in college. Four years of professional training at a film academy—it’s not a long time, but not a short one either. If luck is on your side, you might even become famous before graduation.”
Chen Bing turned to glance at Shu Yao and continued, “As a female star, you should know how important time is for you, right?”
Shu Yao nodded—of course she knew. In the entertainment industry, the saying “time is money” held perfectly true. In any field, early fame wasn’t a bad thing—it meant more room for development and more time ahead. Being young meant you could keep trying, keep falling and getting back up, because you still had plenty of time.
But if you became famous late, when you were older, your choices in resources would be much more limited.
Chen Bing narrowed his eyes. “With Jiang Zhiyi’s qualifications, even during college, it wouldn’t have been hard for him to become famous if he’d wanted to.”
Shu Yao nodded. “…Right.”
Jiang Zhiyi’s looks were too good. Even in an industry overflowing with handsome men, his naturally flawless appearance stood out remarkably.
Chen Bing: “But he didn’t use any opportunity to make himself famous.”
Shu Yao fell into thought.
Chen Bing lowered his voice. “He graduated from the film academy at twenty-two and officially entered the industry. From his debut, his first role was the male lead. Logically, despite his formal training, he had no on-set experience. But he performed that role exceptionally well—nothing like a fresh graduate. Though the box office wasn’t great, the reviews were excellent. Jiang Zhiyi’s first work already opened doors for him.”
“And next, following the normal path, he should have taken on a few commercial films to maintain his popularity. But Jiang Zhiyi didn’t.”
Chen Bing paused, as if thinking about something. After a few seconds, he concluded, “In the years since his debut, Jiang Zhiyi hasn’t produced a huge volume of work, rarely courts publicity, and his exposure isn’t particularly high. Yet he’s reached this height under such conditions—relying on far more than just his strikingly good looks.”
Shu Yao seemed to understand but didn’t respond.
Chen Bing asked her one last question: “Are there any naive fools in our circle?”
Shu Yao said, “…Probably not?”
Chen Bing smiled faintly. “Then do you think Jiang Zhiyi is a naive fool?”
Of course not!
Shu Yao’s mind immediately answered. She looked at Chen Bing’s face and said cautiously, “Probably not either.”
Chen Bing said, “Exactly. Since he’s no naive fool, we can’t know why he’s helping you like this. But for now, you two playing pretend husband and wife is nothing but beneficial to you—harmless even. Until the child is born, you can even ride on his popularity. Of course, I’m just making a hypothetical.”
“Jiang Zhiyi’s current fame and recognition didn’t come out of nowhere—do you understand?”
Shu Yao nodded, vaguely getting it.
Chen Bing concluded, “Since Jiang Zhiyi is willing to help, we’ll work with him. All you have to do is play the part of his fake wife in public during your pregnancy. Don’t slip up. Leave everything else to me.”
Shu Yao frowned, thinking for a while, then said, “…Alright, I understand.”
She accepted Jiang Zhiyi’s proposal—before the child was born, she’d play the role of his fake wife, and after the birth, they’d find a chance to “divorce.”
Whatever Jiang Zhiyi’s reasons for helping her were, they weren’t her concern. What she needed to do now was adjust her mindset and, over the next six months, cooperate with Jiang Zhiyi in a play—she as the wife, he as the husband and the child’s father.
Thinking this, Shu Yao suddenly shuddered, a strange sensation passing through her.