After Getting Pregnant, I Fought for a Divorce from My Alpha - Chapter 4
After sending off Director Cao Xuan, Li Guan left without even saying goodbye. Hua Jiang stood across from them, eyes fixed sharply on the two.
Shen Xiao spoke up, “Sister Hua, I’ll head out in a bit.”
Hua Jiang pressed her lips together, then turned on her heel and walked off in her high heels, the sharp click-clack echoing down the hall. Xiao Gu, very tactfully, turned to An Xiangdi and said he’d wait outside, even kindly closing the meeting room door behind him.
“Your assistant…” Shen Xiao noted Xiao Gu’s action. “Quite sensible.”
An Xiangdi grabbed his chin and turned his face back, “I picked him.”
Shen Xiao gave a faint smile and pressed a kiss to his brow.
An Xiangdi pushed him away. “Did you say something to Li Guan?”
Shen Xiao fell silent.
The conflict between An Xiangdi and his management company had been going on for a long time. It started as a difference in creative direction, but escalated over time. The agent assigned to him, Li Guan, was basically a watchdog who never actually did anything. Because of this, An Xiangdi had lost many job opportunities, and his reputation in the industry gradually suffered. If things continued this way, it would surely affect his career.
“I didn’t say much. After chatting with Director Cao yesterday, I dropped by.” Shen Xiao replied evasively.
An Xiangdi didn’t believe him. “Li Guan would never agree that easily. Be honest—what did you do?”
“He lied and said your post-holiday schedule was full. I just told him I had your schedule myself.” Shen Xiao didn’t mention the pheromone suppression—his scent, overwhelming to a Beta like Li Guan, was a clear warning not to cause An Xiangdi any more trouble.
An Xiangdi narrowed his eyes at him but eventually changed the subject. “Are you going home for the New Year?”
“…No. I have work.” Shen Xiao’s relationship with his family was strained. He hadn’t been home for New Year in years.
“Then make time to visit my family.” An Xiangdi stood from Shen Xiao’s lap. “My parents have been asking about you.”
“Okay.” Shen Xiao agreed without hesitation.
After parting ways at Huangchao Entertainment, both dove back into their packed schedules. As expected, they spent the New Year apart. It wasn’t until the fifth day of the new year that they finally visited An Xiangdi’s parents to pay respects.
Their next meeting was at the opening ceremony of Director Cao Xuan’s web drama Eyes in the Shadows.
The ceremony was held at a popular temple in Hangnan. An Xiangdi had only wrapped filming at dawn that day and hadn’t slept a wink before catching an early flight. The lingering scent of sandalwood from the temple was oddly refreshing.
Fans who knew about the ceremony had gathered early. When they spotted An Xiangdi, they screamed their lungs out.
“Ahhh! An An is so handsome!”
“An An, look over here!”
“Those legs go on forever! I want to take An An home!”
…
An Xiangdi liked compliments. Even though he looked a bit worn out, he still offered a smile. That faint smile, tinged with fatigue, only made the fans scream louder.
“Good morning, Teacher An.” Crew members greeted him one by one. An Xiangdi responded to them all politely, but his gaze eventually fell on Shen Xiao walking toward him.
Today, Shen Xiao wore a dark motorcycle jacket and black combat boots—he had the unruly look of a spoiled rich kid, not his usual style.
But he looked good.
An Xiangdi remembered how Shen Xiao had held him tightly during their short reunion on the fifth—those strong arms around his waist—and his face grew warm. Afraid Shen Xiao would notice what he was thinking, he quickly coughed and looked away.
Shen Xiao’s fans were also present. They stood on the opposite side from An Xiangdi’s fans. Despite the two having been married for over two years, the fandoms rarely interacted, partly due to the couple having never worked together—until now. With their casting in a dual male-lead drama featuring ambiguous romantic tension, the official announcement had already trended once.
Though peaceful online, seeing each other in person left both fan groups unsure of how to behave. They could only continue shouting slogans.
Shen Xiao greeted the staff on his way but walked directly toward An Xiangdi.
Standing tall at 191cm, Shen Xiao looked down slightly to meet An Xiangdi’s eyes. Before he could speak, he slipped something into his hand.
It felt a bit sharp and made a soft crinkle.
An Xiangdi looked down—it was a purple-wrapped fruit candy.
“Grape flavored,” Shen Xiao said.
An Xiangdi was picky—he only liked grape-flavored fruit candy.
He clutched it in his palm. The opening ceremony was starting soon, and it wasn’t convenient to eat it.
Shen Xiao didn’t push him and simply stood beside him.
A few minutes later, the main cast had arrived. Staff explained the ceremony’s procedures and handed out incense.
When the auspicious time came, everyone prayed to the Bodhisattva for a smooth shoot, gave speeches, and took group photos. By the time everything was over, it was nearly 11 a.m.
Exhausted and starving, An Xiangdi slipped into a quiet corner and popped the grape candy into his mouth.
As the sweet-sour taste spread, someone called out, “It’s over!”
On the first day of shooting, the crew had scheduled the afternoon as free time. An Xiangdi, barely holding on, wanted nothing more than a bed. He managed to keep up appearances for the fans, but once inside the van, the driver quickly pulled away.
As the tinted windows rolled up, An Xiangdi leaned against the seat and fell asleep almost instantly.
Shen Xiao had been delayed and left the temple later than An Xiangdi, causing a stir among the fans.
“I told you they’re not on good terms.”
“Right? They’re not even sharing a van. It’s awkward.”
“But I saw An An take the candy from Shen Xiao.”
“…You probably saw it wrong.”
…
At the hotel front desk, An Xiangdi sleepily waited to check in, face half-buried in the fluffy collar of his oversized parka.
The crew had reserved all rooms above the 25th floor for the main cast, and An Xiangdi naturally had a single.
“You go enjoy yourself,” he said to Xiao Gu after taking his room key and heading to the elevator.
It was Xiao Gu’s first time in Hangnan, and he’d been hoping to explore. Overjoyed, he said, “Thank you, Teacher An! Rest well!”
Once in his room, An Xiangdi turned on the AC, wrapped himself in the blankets, and fell into a deep sleep, hunger forgotten.
Perhaps it was the lingering taste of the candy, but he dreamed—of a summer after junior high graduation, when he and Shen Xiao had fought over something silly. To make up, Shen Xiao had sneaked out to bring him a handful of grape candies, only to break his leg climbing back over the wall.
The scene shifted to a white hospital room. Before anything more could unfold, he woke up.
The room was pitch-black except for a dim lamp near the couch. Shen Xiao was sitting there, reading a script.
“What time is it?” An Xiangdi didn’t even find it odd that Shen Xiao was in his room.
“Almost midnight.” Shen Xiao had looked up as soon as An Xiangdi stirred. He hadn’t turned a page.
An Xiangdi turned over. “I had a dream.”
Shen Xiao came to sit at the edge of the bed. “Hm?”
“I dreamed about when we fought in junior high and you broke your leg.”
“Was it the time I gave you candy?” Shen Xiao remembered clearly. “I broke your new phone.”
An Xiangdi rubbed his nose, embarrassed. “Really? I could’ve just bought another.”
Shen Xiao didn’t reply. Instead, he tugged An Xiangdi up and led him to wash up.
An Xiangdi had been pampered all his life, prone to throwing tantrums but quick to forget them. That dream had brought back old memories—and a flood of shame.
“Are you hungry?”
Shen Xiao, still thinking about where to take him for a late-night meal, was momentarily stunned.
“My treat,” An Xiangdi added when he saw Shen Xiao’s surprise, raising his voice to mask his embarrassment. “A date. You in or not?”
Shen Xiao chuckled and pinched his reddening earlobe. “I’m in.”
Under the cover of night, they strolled through the nearby night market. But the crowd was overwhelming, so they ended up taking food back to the hotel.
The next morning, they arrived together at the set. One after the other, they changed costumes and were led into the makeup room.
“Good morning, senior!” greeted Liang Yao, the only actress in the drama with romantic scenes with Shen Xiao besides An Xiangdi.
“Morning.” An Xiangdi replied and sat down at the makeup station.
Shen Xiao nodded slightly and sat next to him.
Just as An Xiangdi closed his eyes to review his lines, he heard a voice and opened them to see Liang Yao holding a lunchbox out to him.
“Teacher An, you haven’t had breakfast, right? I made rice balls myself—please try one.” She smiled innocently. “I made a lot and shared with everyone. I saved this for you since you came late.”
Something about her tone felt off, but not wanting to embarrass a junior, An Xiangdi picked a small one and thanked her.
Then she turned to Shen Xiao. “Teacher Shen, would you try some too? These are all for you.”
Shen Xiao only took one. “Thank you. Maybe offer them to the others—I already ate with him this morning.”
That we clearly included An Xiangdi.
Liang Yao had to smile and carry the box away.
An Xiangdi, head slightly bowed, waited for the makeup artist to turn around, then quickly pulled out his phone to check Liang Yao’s profile.
Seeing “Omega” under gender, he let out a quiet snort.
No wonder she told him to “just try one,” but told Shen Xiao “these are all for you.” She clearly had her sights set on his Alpha.