It’s Okay to Divorce - Chapter 03

Chapter 03

“What did you say??” Mu Mian cradled her round, bulging belly, staring at him in utter disbelief.

Faced with this situation, the woman was completely at a loss, so Zou Tingshen reminded himself not to panic.

First off, he was a man.

Second, this child—he’d watched it grow.

In a sense, maybe he really should take some responsibility?

He took a deep breath, his voice lacking its usual cool detachment.

Even his perpetually stoic, cold face softened with an almost unbelievable gentleness. “As you said, this child—I watched it grow. By rights, I should take responsibility.”

He was so used to wearing a cold expression that he’d almost forgotten how to be gentle with someone.

But once he thought about the little life in Mu Mian’s belly, there was no need for pretense—his aura and demeanor naturally warmed.

He liked kids, more than anyone could imagine.

Zou Tingshen’s proposal hit Mu Mian like another bombshell, blasting her mind all over again.

She hadn’t misheard, had she?

Zou the Jerk wanted to marry her? The guy who couldn’t even kiss her without holding back vomit… actually wanted to marry her?

Heh heh heh…

This was even more fantastical than her belly suddenly ballooning in a matter of minutes!

She clutched her throbbing head, messing up her dark hair with a series of “Aaaah”s, then stared blankly at the man. “Zou Tingshen, do I have any other choice?”

“Given our statuses, you don’t have a better one,” Zou Tingshen said.

… Mu Mian thought it over carefully.

She really didn’t have a better option. The child had grown under his watch—it wasn’t like it had nothing to do with him. Making him the father wouldn’t be unfair.

But if they got married, would their management companies agree?

The drama It’s Okay To Divorce had already filmed half its scenes, with the remaining ones all featuring Mu Mian with a pregnant belly.

There was still a month left in the shooting schedule. Zou Tingshen suggested that when Mu Mian was off-set, they could claim the belly was just for getting deeper into character.

As for the marriage, Zou Tingshen was purely thinking of the child.

Once the baby was born, it would need a proper status.

Zou Tingshen said, “I’ll take care of you during this time. As long as we’re careful, keeping it hidden for a few months shouldn’t be a problem. After the child is born, you can divorce me whenever you want.”

Mu Mian hesitated for a long while, then slammed her fist on her knee. “Fine, I’ll go along with it! We’ll divorce right after the baby’s born! Once the kid’s a bit older, we can announce their identity and give them a proper status!”

“Mm.”

Zou Tingshen had Su Xing print out a Prenuptial Agreement, two copies.

He signed both and handed them to Mu Mian. “Take a look. If there’s no issue, sign it.”

Mu Mian took the agreement and flipped through it carefully. One clause caught her eye: After divorce, the child will be raised by the father, and the mother shall not interfere with the father’s education…

What the hell!

Mu Mian looked up at Zou Tingshen, her expression incredibly complicated.

Zou Tingshen sensed something and furrowed his brows. “I want the child with me. You can think about that.”

Mu Mian pursed her lips, then suddenly grabbed Zou Tingshen’s wrist, pressing her cheek against his forearm, her eyes brimming with tears. “Old Zou, you’re practically family—an angel!! The kid’s all yours, all yours! Thank you for your kindness to the child and to me. You’ve saved a Film Empress on the brink of a career slump! You’re a beacon in the entertainment industry!”

Mu Mian clung tightly to Zou Tingshen’s arm, rubbing her cheek against it like a little dog. He could almost see her wagging a happy tail.

This woman…

Mu Mian let go of him and signed her name without hesitation.

Her heart was set on her career—she had no interest in romance, let alone marriage.

Having a kid? Raising a kid? …Heh heh… She had no desire to turn into a haggard, yellow-faced woman slaving away with nighttime feedings!

Just imagining the baby wailing in the dead of night, disrupting her sleep, or later turning into a rebellious teen who wouldn’t listen, gave her a massive headache.

Handing the child over to Zou Tingshen was perfect!

Zou Tingshen was like a living bodhisattva, rescuing her from dire straits!

After signing the agreement, Mu Mian’s belly finally settled down, returning to calm.

She sat on the hospital bed munching on fruit, while Zou Tingshen sat beside it, reviewing the script.

They’d already messaged their respective managers, planning to tell them about this bizarre incident.

While waiting for the managers, Mu Mian leaned back against the pillow, took a bite of an apple, and sighed. “Zou Tingshen, how are you so capable? Glare at someone and they get pregnant? I’m begging you, glare at me less from now on—I’m afraid I’ll end up with a whole litter, and you won’t be able to afford raising them.”

Zou Tingshen turned a page in his script and looked up at her.

His gaze was that icy, emotionless one again.

Seeing it, Mu Mian quickly shielded her eyes. “Damn damn damn… I told you not to glare at me. Why won’t you listen? If I really pop out a litter, can you even afford it!!”

“A litter?” Zou Tingshen’s face was expressionless, but a scoff escaped his lips. “Heh, you think you’re a sow or something?”

“…” The Film Emperor had been so mild-mannered all evening, and now this line hit Mu Mian like a critical blow.

She choked on her apple, coughing violently, her little face flushing red.

Zou Tingshen closed the script, reached over, and patted her back to help her breathe.

His tone carried a hint of helplessness. “Be careful, don’t choke the baby.”

Don’t choke the baby??? Wasn’t she the one choking!

Mu Mian flushed and shot him a disdainful look. “By your logic, if I swallow a sip of water, wouldn’t that drown the kid??”

—

Early morning. Ming Wei and Xu Lin rushed to the hospital.

Zou Tingshen had only given them the hospital and room number over the phone, so neither knew what had happened.

Ming Wei assumed Mu Mian’s stomach issues had flared up.

She pushed the door open and saw Mu Mian with a round, bulging belly—her clothes too small, exposing half of her fair skin.

At that moment, she was cradling her phone, fully engrossed in a game.

Beside the bed sat the refined Zou Tingshen, head down, reading his script.

The scene looked just like a homey husband watching over his pregnant wife.

Ming Wei froze for a second, and so did Xu Lin.

Seeing them enter, Zou Tingshen set aside the script, stood up, and gestured for them to sit and talk.

Ming Wei, still in disbelief, circled to the other side of the bed, poked Mu Mian’s round belly with her finger, then turned to stare at her. “??”

Mu Mian gripped her phone, battling fiercely without even glancing over, shrugging her shoulders. “As you can see, I’m seven months pregnant.”

My queen, can you be serious for once? Ming Wei looked up at Zou Tingshen. “Mr. Zou, what’s really going on with Mu Mian? What weird illness does she have?”

“Pregnant, seven months.”

Xu Lin had just sat down and was taking a sip of water when he heard that, spraying it out and burning his nose.

When had their Film Emperor learned cold humor?? And at a time when the other Film Empress was sick?

Tsk tsk tsk… So heartless.

“What kind of faces are those?” Mu Mian set down her phone, turning serious. “I’m really pregnant, seven months.”

Mu Mian explained the whole story from beginning to end.

Ming Wei’s expression stiffened, and she smiled. “Heh heh… You two are really good at joking.”

“We’re not joking.” Mu Mian stuffed the medical report into Ming Wei’s arms. “See for yourselves.”

Ming Wei opened the report, and Xu Lin leaned over to look.

The report did indeed show a child in Mu Mian’s belly.

But… was this report really legit???

“Tomorrow, Mu Mian and I will take a day off. You two handle things with the crew,” Zou Tingshen said as he poured Mu Mian a glass of water, then turned back to the managers. “This whole thing is too absurd, so I hope you two can keep it strictly secret—even from the company.”

The two managers still wore dazed expressions.

Was this not a dream?? Were these two really not pranking them?

Ming Wei leaned down, pressing her ear to Mu Mian’s belly, listening carefully. It seemed… there really was a little life in there.

Xu Lin wanted to listen too, but Ming Wei yanked him back. “What are you listening for, you big oaf? Go listen to your Film Emperor’s belly!”

Xu Lin looked clean-cut and fair, wearing frameless glasses, all prim and proper.

He adjusted his glasses, putting on a wronged expression. “My Film Emperor isn’t pregnant—how could I hear anything?”

The two managers clearly struggled to accept this ridiculous setup and discussed getting a second opinion from an authoritative doctor.

However, the next morning, they got the exact same results.

During the ultrasound, Ming Wei insisted on being present.

She saw it with her own eyes… the tiny life curled up in Mu Mian’s belly.

This was just too terrifying…

Zou the Film Emperor’s “glare and get pregnant” superpower was way too scary, wasn’t it?

The second check confirmed the first.

Xu Lin sat beside Zou Tingshen, silent for a long time as he sorted his emotions, then turned to ask him, “Old Zou, are you really planning to marry her?”

“Mm.”

“And what if, just what if,” Xu Lin said gravely, “that woman gives birth and doesn’t want a divorce—what then?”

“Up to her.”

Xu Lin’s frustration boiled over. “You like kids that much? You’re not taking your own happiness and future seriously? Old Zou, think carefully—what if that woman gives birth to a freak? You’d still raise it?”

Zou Tingshen’s eyes were full of resolve. “The child is innocent. Even if it’s unusual, it shouldn’t face discrimination.”