131: Is he here? Why?

Tu Nan didn't know what Hain meant by mentioning Huai En, nor was she sure what he was trying to do, but seeing the soldiers standing rigidly aside with their ears perked up, she knew she had to clear the area first.

If Hain was planning a reckoning, she didn't want Kong Jiamu's subordinates present.

"Huai En... is at my friend's house. I'll go pick her up."

"Young Miss Pearl..." The soldiers began to hesitate, looking at Tu Nan, then at Hain. "Mr. Hain, are you going out with her?"

Hain stepped past Tu Nan and hummed softly, accepting the task.

The soldiers sighed in relief. "Then we..."

Hain didn't know what he was thinking, but he also refused the accompaniment of others.

"With me, it's enough."

Tu Nan remained silent, looking down at the tips of her shoes.

Finally, after receiving the address of the Lance Family from Tu Nan, only Hain drove out with Tu Nan.

The atmosphere inside the car was heavy. Tu Nan didn't even dare to breathe loudly. She huddled in the back seat, observing Hain several times through the reflection in the car window, trying to figure out how he would treat her.

As she secretly looked over again, Hain's gaze vaguely met hers in the reflection.

"Surprise..."

His lips barely moved, so Tu Nan didn't clearly catch the word.

After their eyes met, Tu Nan leaned back slightly, wishing she could shrink into the seat.

What surprise? It was clearly a fright.

Chewing on her fingernails, she thought.

In terms of probability, the possibility of this happening was certainly there, but it wasn't high.

She had carefully considered this point before, and it was precisely why she dared to take the gamble.

Even if a playboy like Kong Jiamu acted passionately toward the female companions who came and went, he wouldn't take them seriously. Tu Nan knew that they would take their "companions" around their dubious friends, but they wouldn't introduce them to their real circle of close friends—like introducing her to Hain.

And it was inherently harder for Hain's side to be exposed.

A nobleman like him, with a Family Legacy and a strict adherence to gentlemanly conduct, wouldn't let things become public knowledge the moment feelings began to bud, whether for the sake of his companion's reputation or due to his own traditional, reserved style.

This was originally a relatively safe method. As long as she kept Hain dangling for about a year, she could both cultivate their relationship and carry the Peacock's child.

Then she would move to a small planet near Sea Soul Star and have a relationship with Hain that ended tragically but amicably.

This way, she could secure both 5% shares of the profits.

Now, perhaps everything was ruined.

Even if one of the times—the one before getting off the starship or last night—was finally successful, and she conceived the Peacock's child, how could she continue to "eat" the Peacock and improve the child's genes under these circumstances?

Abandon the Peacock now and turn to Hain? What if she discovered she was pregnant in a few days... Besides, such a plan was overestimating herself. No matter how gentle Hain was, he wouldn't tolerate this kind of deception.

Perhaps he would mercifully let her choose a way to die among several dead ends.

"Huai En, have you been reviewing lately?" Hain's tone was eerily calm.

Tu Nan quickly looked up, but unfortunately, Hain was staring straight ahead, preventing her from seeing anything more even in the reflection.

"Miao Miao... has been keeping in touch and often asks about Father Hain." Tu Nan gently placed emotional leverage into Hain's heart for the Children.

The reason she dared to take him to Lance's place to see the Children was her firm belief in Hain's moral compass.

She trusted that no matter what, he wouldn't take his anger out on the Children.

Emotional deception, impersonating nobility, and various other things—ultimately, these were enough to cost Tu Nan everything. Children with S-rank potential would always be taken care of.

When Hain heard that term of address, he nearly snapped the vehicle's controller. He fiercely suppressed the force and emotion that almost erupted. After the car drove steadily for another stretch, he finally blinked.

Why did he like that child?

S-rank Talent? It was rare, but even the sharpest blade was just a blade. It was because that was Tu Nan's child; he loved the house for the crow... or rather, he had long envisioned that the child would become his responsibility someday.

Cultivating feelings sooner was naturally better.

"Kong Jiamu... why?"

Hain didn't want to ask, but he asked the question anyway.

It could have been anyone. Hain thought, if Tu Nan were still beside that Chaotic Beast, he would have intervened without hesitation to bring her to his side. Or anyone else, he wouldn't have felt this pressure.

But the confusing events of yesterday suddenly made him lose his standing.

Kong Jiamu entrusted Tu Nan to him, entrusting the "Female Beast" to his "brother." That was a testament to his trust in Hain's integrity, and he betrayed it all that very day.

Why did things turn out this way? How could he recklessly make a move on Tu Nan?

Was it anger? Anger at Tu Nan's deception toward him?

Thinking carefully, Tu Nan had never truly acknowledged their relationship. Tu Nan was not his fiancée, nor even his lover.

Or was it jealousy? Jealousy that Kong Jiamu could do whatever he wanted with her?

She was in front of him, yet she used that posture while calling out another person's name.

What he hated and resented in that moment was merely that she wasn't seducing him?

After frantically tearing Tu Nan apart and consuming her, he came to his senses, looked around the room, and noticed all the careful arrangements.

The candles creating an intimate atmosphere, the seemingly casually tossed pajamas on the floor, the aphrodisiac drugs prepared by the pillow, and her incredibly smooth hair, which still emitted a satin-like fragrance even after such intense tossing and turning.

Everything was exactly how Kong Jiamu would like it.

What about him? Did he, Hain, like all of this? He was shocked that he was asking himself such a question in Kong Jiamu's room, on his bed.

How despicable. Hain, you are unforgivable.

He dazedly picked up his clothes and put them on, not daring to look at the person on the bed again, and fled out the window.

He spent the entire day whipping himself internally and doubting himself. Should he immediately jump onto a starship and pretend none of this happened?

But Tu Nan was in danger, he had to... protect Tu Nan. This was... what Kong Jiamu had asked of him.

Hain deceived himself, pretending nothing had happened, and surprisingly stepped back into that house in the afternoon.

Tu Nan was shocked; her expression clearly showed that she didn't know the person last night was him.

Who did she think it was then? Kong Jiamu? Was that it?

Hain still squeezed finger marks into the controller. She didn't recognize him? His shoulders were slightly narrower than Kong Jiamu's, his fingers were more slender, and his hair was straight... Yet Tu Nan didn't notice anything wrong, perhaps because of the darkness or the drugs.

Or perhaps she wasn't truly that infatuated with Kong Jiamu.

Hain despairingly realized that after committing the mistake, he not only couldn't bring himself to explain but also wanted to shift the blame.

The vehicle stopped in front of a cozy small villa in the city, and both of them got out.

Tu Nan pressed the doorbell of the Lance Family's house as if she were going to her execution.

At the very end, she lowered her head and pleaded with Hain.

"Call me Pearl. No one here knows I am Tu Nan."

Did that mean this name belonged only to him? The thought floated through Hain's mind.

The door opened.