Are you pregnant?

Before Qiao Hua could work out what he meant, Gu Wenze suddenly pinned her against the wall, his distinctly masculine scent instantly surrounding her.

Qiao Hua jumped.

Was this lunatic Gu Wenze actually going to try something?

Her fears proved right. The next second, a large hand slipped beneath the hem of her dress, slowly moving from her thigh to her waist.

Goosebumps erupted across Qiao Hua's skin. She raised both hands to brace against Gu Wenze's chest. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?"

Gu Wenze lowered his head to meet her gaze, dark currents of desire swirling in his eyes. "Fulfilling our marital duties, of course."

Qiao Hua's scalp prickled. "We're about to get divorced! Who wants to fulfill marital duties with you?"

Gu Wenze's expression darkened. "We aren't divorced yet. We're still husband and wife. Why shouldn't we?"

Knowing better than to provoke him right now, Qiao Hua put on a radiant smile. "I'm only looking out for you. If Jiang Nan finds out you touched me, how do you think she'll feel?"

Qiao Hua was using Jiang Nan as a shield again, but this time Gu Wenze didn't lose his temper. He merely stared deep into her eyes. "You don't need to remind me about Jiang Nan. There's nothing between us. Even if we do anything, that's between you and me."

Qiao Hua grumbled inwardly, There's nothing between you and me either, okay?

"President Gu, isn't that a little heartless?" Qiao Hua's soft fingertips traced suggestively across his chest. "Anyone with eyes can tell you're involved with Jiang Nan. Isn't it rather unfair to have it both ways?"

Gu Wenze caught her chin between his fingers. "Are you jealous?"

Qiao Hua barely resisted rolling her eyes. "What I mean is, I can let Jiang Nan take my place as Mrs. Gu so you two lovebirds can finally be together."

Every word only convinced Gu Wenze further that the woman before him was jealous.

"I promise I can keep my distance from her from now on," Gu Wenze said in a low voice. "But you have to quit your job and cut off all contact with Yan Yu."

He didn't even realize he had chosen to compromise for Qiao Hua. All he could think about was keeping her away from Yan Yu.

Qiao Hua hurriedly said, "No, don't! You absolutely mustn't keep your distance from her!"

If the male and female leads kept their distance, how would their relationship progress?

But to Gu Wenze, her words meant she refused to cut ties with Yan Yu. His anger, which had only just subsided, flared back to life. "Qiao Hua, have I treated you too well? Is that why you keep pushing your luck?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Wenze leaned over her. Qiao Hua suddenly remembered something and hurriedly caught his hand. "Wait, we can talk this through."

Gu Wenze's voice turned abruptly icy. "You won't even let me touch you, and you still claim there's nothing between you and Yan Yu?"

The more Qiao Hua resisted, the more determined Gu Wenze became to touch her. He wanted to find out whether she had done something she shouldn't have with Yan Yu behind his back.

Feeling that troublesome hand inch higher and higher, Qiao Hua's brow twitched sharply. "Hey, wait!"

But it was already too late. Gu Wenze clearly felt the slight swell of her lower abdomen. Sensing something was wrong, he slowly narrowed his dark eyes. "Why has your stomach gotten so much rounder?"

Qiao Hua's heart lurched, but she kept her expression composed. "Can't I have put on weight?"

She had nearly forgotten she was carrying a child. Who could have expected Gu Wenze to pull something like this out of nowhere?

Gu Wenze studied her face skeptically. Remembering her reaction just now, he suddenly asked, "You're not pregnant, are you?"

Qiao Hua froze. Meeting his probing eyes, she fought to stay calm and snapped, "You're the one who's pregnant."

When Gu Wenze still looked suspicious, Qiao Hua added leisurely, "Mr. Gu, we use protection every time. Surely you haven't forgotten?"

At the mention of that, the light in Gu Wenze's eyes dimmed a little.

In the past, he had always used protection whenever they slept together to keep Qiao Hua from conceiving his child.

That was why they had never had a child all these years.

At that moment, a faint trace of regret stirred in Gu Wenze's heart. If Qiao Hua had a child, she would never dare bring up divorce again.

A wild thought flashed through his mind, and Gu Wenze said out of nowhere, "Qiao Hua, would having a child finally make you settle down?"

Qiao Hua thought she must have misheard.

Had Gu Wenze been driven mad? How could he even say something like that?

Hadn't he always hated the original owner of this body?

Qiao Hua quickly composed herself and gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "President Gu, I'm never going to have a child with you. If you really want one, just crook your finger and plenty of women will bear one for you."

At the sight of her insincere smile, the thread of Gu Wenze's reason snapped. Just as he was about to teach Qiao Hua a harsh lesson, someone suddenly turned the door handle, interrupting him.

Then voices came from outside.

"Huh? Why is the door locked?"

"No idea. Is someone in there?"

"Who would come to a storage room? It probably got locked by accident. Go get the key."

Seizing the opportunity, Qiao Hua broke free of Gu Wenze's arms, lifted her skirt, and ran toward the door.

Gu Wenze suddenly felt his arms empty. He turned, only to catch sight of Qiao Hua fleeing. He clenched his teeth. "Qiao Hua, just you wait!"

The door suddenly opened from the inside, startling the people outside.

Looking at the staff exchanging bewildered glances, Qiao Hua gave an awkward smile. Inwardly, she had already cursed eighteen generations of Gu Wenze's ancestors.

Anyone who didn't know better would think she and Gu Wenze had been doing something shameful in there.

Back downstairs, Qiao Hua had barely let out a relieved breath when Yan Yu's voice suddenly came from behind her. "Qiao Hua, where did you go just now?"

Qiao Hua turned and saw that Yan Yu had returned from socializing. She discreetly straightened her clothes and explained, "I went to the restroom."

Yan Yu didn't suspect a thing. "It's my fault for making you come here with me," he said apologetically. "Are you bored?"

Qiao Hua smiled faintly. "Not at all. The food here is pretty good."

Yan Yu laughed. His gaze passed over Qiao Hua's shoulder toward the staircase behind her, where Gu Wenze was coming downstairs.

Gu Wenze's eyes were fixed on Qiao Hua in the middle of the hall. Seeing her with Yan Yu again, he radiated an icy chill and started toward her.

He had only taken a few steps when someone suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Wenze, where did you go?" Jiang Nan asked softly. "I've been looking for you for ages."

Forced to stop, Gu Wenze glanced toward Qiao Hua. "What is it?"

Noticing his distraction, Jiang Nan's smile grew strained. "Nothing. The head of the Facheng Group has been wanting to meet you, but I couldn't find you. I thought something might have happened."

Only then did Gu Wenze look away. "I'm fine. Let's go back."

Jiang Nan smiled and murmured her assent. Instinctively, she reached to take Gu Wenze's arm, only to miss it. At last, she could no longer maintain her expression.

A moment later, Jiang Nan composed herself and silently followed Gu Wenze.

Watching Gu Wenze walk away, Qiao Hua breathed a sigh of relief. Someone who cared as much about appearances as he did would surely never make a scene in public.

Just as she thought she had escaped disaster, the phone in her bag rang.

The text was from Gu Wenze and contained only one short line.

"Tell him you're quitting before the end of today, or don't blame me for what happens next."