Chapter 121: Don’t Blame Her for Her Cutting Words

"This group of... singles?"

Shen Yan was sensitive to those three words. A chill flickered in his eyes as he looked at Ji Yanxi. However, Ji Yanxi, whose attention was entirely focused on his child at that moment, failed to notice. He even drunkenly threw his arm around Shen Yan’s neck, a persistent smile on his face. "Brother Yan, you and Ye Yaoyao have been together for so long; why haven't you had a child with her just for fun?"

"Let me tell you, I used to hate kids, too. But that was other people's kids. When it’s your own, you can't help but love them to death!" At the thought of his child’s little face, Ji Yanxi couldn't help but shake his head with a grin.

A child? Shen Yan remembered that he and Ye Yaoyao had once had a child, but it was lost in the end. At this thought, the air pressure around him dropped even further.

Bai Mohan stepped in to ease the tension. "Some things cannot be rushed." He shot frantic, meaningful glances at Ji Yanxi, signaling him to stop talking. But Ji Yanxi, lost in his own happiness, remained oblivious.

"Why not? You’re both successful in your careers now and have the time; this is the perfect moment to raise a child." Ji Yanxi continued his reckless rambling. "You get tired from work during the day, and then you come home to play with your kid—what a blissful life that would be."

Shen Yan didn't speak, but his mind uncontrollably drifted to the past. If that child of his and Ye Yaoyao's had been born, it would probably be crawling by now. What a pity... With that thought, Shen Yan couldn't stop himself from drinking heavily.

Ji Yanxi kept on talking, rambling about the sweet, daily routine he shared with his child, until he finally noticed Shen Yan’s brooding silence and sensed something was wrong. He looked at Bai Mohan in confusion, but Bai Mohan only shook his head.

Haunted by the memory of that lost child, Shen Yan drank too much and quickly became intoxicated. Bai Mohan and Ji Yanxi tried to help him up. "Brother Yan, you've had too much. Let us take you back..."

Shen Yan shoved their hands away. "I'm not drunk. I don't need help." With those words, he stumbled toward the door.

Shen Yan climbed into his car and headed toward Ye Yaoyao’s apartment. When Ye Yaoyao opened the door, thinking it was Shen Tiantian returning from tutoring, she was suddenly enveloped by a strong smell of alcohol as Shen Yan collapsed into her arms. Her instinct was to push him away, but he held her even tighter.

"Yaoyao, I'm sorry."

Ye Yaoyao blinked. "Shen Yan, what kind of drunken madness is this?"

"I... what happened before was my fault. I shouldn't have treated you that way."

Ye Yaoyao: ?

Shen Yan, apologizing? It seemed he really was drunk.

"That child... it was my fault."

Boom! Ye Yaoyao felt something explode in her mind. The loss of that child was indeed a source of deep pain for her. But at this moment, she felt perhaps it was for the best. She tried to push Shen Yan away, but he wouldn't budge, so she gave up the struggle.

"Shen Yan, it's all in the past. There's no need to bring it up again." Her cold words felt like nails being driven into his heart. "A blessing in disguise, perhaps. We’ve already gone our separate ways; it's better that there's no child." Otherwise, a child from a broken home wouldn't grow up happy.

Shen Yan’s body trembled violently, yet he burrowed even more desperately into her embrace. "Yaoyao, I want a child." He wanted to use a child to bind Ye Yaoyao to his side.

Shen Yan never would have imagined that the person he once couldn't push away was now the one he was fighting with his life to pull back.

Hearing this, Ye Yaoyao laughed mockingly. "You want a child? What does that have to do with me? If you, Shen Yan, want a child, I'm sure there are plenty of women lining up to give you one."

Perhaps struck by the sting of her words, Ye Yaoyao pushed him away with a bit of force, finally succeeding. She turned and walked into the apartment, with Shen Yan following closely behind. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. The overwhelming smell of alcohol made Ye Yaoyao uncomfortable, and Shen Yan felt like a limp weight. Helpless, she led him to the sofa and went to the kitchen to boil some hangover soup.

While the soup cooked, Ye Yaoyao couldn't help but lose herself in thoughts of the child. How could she not be hurting over the loss? By the time the soup was ready, she had composed herself. When she returned, Shen Yan was lying obediently on the sofa, sitting up the moment he saw her.

His docile appearance was a stark contrast to his usual self; he looked like a wounded puppy. Ye Yaoyao’s heart softened. She walked over, sat down, and spoke in a gentler tone. "Drink this."

"Feed me," Shen Yan said weakly.

Ye Yaoyao resisted the urge to throw her shoe at his face and picked up the spoon to feed him. For once, Shen Yan was obedient and didn't stir up trouble, drinking quietly. After finishing the soup, he felt much better.

Just then, the door opened. Shen Tiantian walked in with a lunchbox, looking relaxed, but she immediately stiffened upon seeing Shen Yan. She looked at Ye Yaoyao for help: Why was her second brother here? Ye Yaoyao signaled with her chin for her to go upstairs.

Shen Tiantian fled as if escaping. Throughout it all, Shen Yan didn't even glance at her; his gaze remained fixed heavily on Ye Yaoyao.

"How do you feel now?"

"My head hurts. I want to sleep," Shen Yan answered honestly.

"I'll take you upstairs." Ye Yaoyao helped him up. She didn't know what was wrong with her; she couldn't bring herself to be cruel to such a docile Shen Yan.

"Okay." With her support, Shen Yan walked upstairs to the master bedroom. Ye Yaoyao, who was a stickler for cleanliness, sent him straight into the bathroom. "Wash up yourself."

She left without looking back. Shen Yan didn't protest; he obediently took off his clothes and showered. He washed himself thoroughly, ensuring no scent of alcohol remained before coming out.

Ye Yaoyao was already lying in bed with her eyes closed, but she wasn't asleep. She felt every movement as Shen Yan climbed into bed and pulled her into his arms. Since his apology tonight, she felt the relationship between them had shifted. She didn't seem to hate him as much anymore...

Ye Yaoyao pretended to be asleep. A second later, she felt his hand wandering restlessly over her. With lightning speed, she pinned his hand down and lifted her leg, intending to kick him out of bed. But Shen Yan was faster, pinning her leg down first.

"Shen Yan, if you don't behave, get out."

She turned to look at him, only to find his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at her. The lights in the room were still on, and Ye Yaoyao noticed his eyes were exceptionally bright, nothing like someone who had just been heavily intoxicated.

"Yaoyao, let’s have another child," Shen Yan said with a serious expression.

"I told you, if you want a child, go find another woman to give you one."

Ye Yaoyao applied a little force to her leg, but couldn't gain any leverage, and Shen Yan took the opportunity to pull her closer into his arms.

"I only want one born from you."

"I did carry one for you, but the child died. If you want him so badly, you can go to hell and find him," Ye Yaoyao said coldly. The child was her pain; since Shen Yan dared to touch that nerve, he shouldn't blame her for cutting him deep.