Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Whose Child

Translator: 549690339

Zhou Peitian went to check on Xu Chaomu in the warehouse after finishing his call with Shen Shihan.

His company’s warehouse was still very clean, and there was a small room inside for sleeping.

“Ding…” The key turned, and the door opened.

The lights in the warehouse were on, providing ample illumination.

Hearing footsteps, Xu Chaomu, who was squatting in the corner, immediately looked up with wariness.

Zhou Peitian glanced at the untouched food on the table.

He sneered, “Still refusing to eat, huh? Do you want to starve yourself to death? Let me tell you, starving is a loss no one can afford.”

“Zhou Peitian, do you not get tired of saying these things every day?” Xu Chaomu glared at him fiercely.

In just a few short days, Xu Chaomu had lost a significant amount of weight, her chin sharpened.

“Do you think I want to say this? I’m just telling you, after a few days, once I have used you, I will let you go. But if you starve yourself to death beforehand, what should we do then?”

“You want to use me to threaten Shen Chi? Stop dreaming, for one, Shen Chi doesn’t care about me at all, and secondly, I won’t let you threaten him.”

Xu Chaomu had thought for a long time, even if Shen Chi didn’t care about her, she wouldn’t let anyone threaten him.

She had liked him for so many years; all she wanted was for him to be well and happy forever.

“It seems you really do like him a lot. Unfortunately, he doesn’t like you as much,” Zhou Peitian said.

“My liking him is my business, and him not liking me is his business. What business is it of a stranger like you?”

“You!” Zhou Peitian exploded with anger.

“Go away!”

Just then, Zhou Peitian’s phone rang.

He shot Xu Chaomu a glare before picking up the call.

“What’s up?”

“Boss Zhou, Miss Bai is throwing another tantrum, complaining about the food. She’s got quite the temper, throwing bowls at us. Several people, including Xiaolin, got injured.”

“Be more careful next time, don’t provoke her. Leave the food at the window; let her get it herself. She has to eat whether she likes it or not.”

“Boss Zhou,” the servant whispered, “Miss Bai says she’s pregnant and is asking us to move her to a different place. She said that if her child gets hurt, the Bai Family and the Shen Family would overturn our place.”

“Pregnant? Whose child is it?”

“It must be Mr. Shen’s, I’m guessing.”

The smile around Zhou Peitian’s lips deepened. Pregnant? Good.

“Then find her a better room and take good care of her.”

Zhou Peitian felt triumphantly confident that he would undoubtedly win the bet between him and Shen Shihan.

Xu Chaomu listened intently from the side. They… really kidnapped Bai Man too?

Now that Bai Man was pregnant, using her to threaten Shen Chi would definitely work.

No, in that case, wouldn’t Shen Chi’s efforts in South Africa be in vain? Would his life be in danger?

It wouldn’t be, he was so smart, he would surely guess it.

But a few seconds later, Xu Chaomu’s eyes were misted over with a layer of water.

Between her and Bai Man, Shen Chi would definitely choose Bai Man in the end.

And she was just a dispensable passerby in his life.

A passerby…

Just like her relationship with Shen Shihan, she had called him third brother for eight years and devoted genuine emotions, but in the end, what she got in return was nothing but deceit.

Shortly after, Zhou Peitian finished his phone call.

He looked down at Xu Chaomu, who was sitting on the ground, quiet and not causing a scene, although somewhat temperamental.

“Xu Chaomu, it’s up to you whether you eat or not. I won’t bother with you anymore.”

He truly didn’t need to concern himself with her any longer; all he needed to do was keep an eye on Bai Man.

“I told you to go away. Why are you still lingering around like a bad rash?” snapped Xu Chaomu, irritated.

“You! Stubborn girl! What’s the point of being so stubborn? Shen Chi surely doesn’t hold you in his heart. Compared to Bai Man, of course, it’s Bai Man who matters more, especially since, as you just heard, Bai Man is pregnant. So stop torturing yourself, eat more, and take care of yourself. When you’re energetic enough, you should leave Shen Chi.”

“Then why don’t you let me go?”

“Don’t even think about it,” Zhou Peitian said with a tone that brooked no argument.

“Pah, then why are you blabbering on and on?” Xu Chaomu looked up defiantly at him.

“You!” Zhou Peitian was momentarily at a loss for words.

“I’ve said what I needed to; the rest is up to you. Your life is your own, and there’s no need to be so hard on yourself,” Zhou Peitian advised Xu Chaomu before leaving.

“Are you going to get lost or what? You’re really annoying.”

Suppressing the urge to curse, Zhou Peitian refrained from harming Xu Chaomu out of consideration for Shen Shihan.

With an irritated slam, he closed the door behind him.

The warehouse returned to silence once more.

The walls were thick; she couldn’t hear any noise from outside. Had it not been for a clock on the table, she wouldn’t even know the time.

As soon as Zhou Peitian left, Xu Chaomu’s eyes immediately lost their spark.

Empty, pale, powerless.

She just sat there on the ground, not caring if it was cold, content to just sit.

Her eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of her, and soon, tears began to flow down her cheeks.

She wasn’t one to cry; crying children were disliked.

But she couldn’t help it…

She wasn’t afraid of being left outside alone, nor was she afraid of getting hurt. She feared the abandonment, the betrayal.

Was she not good enough? Was she too mischievous? Why did everyone abandon her…

Zhou Ran drove her away, Shen Shihan deceived her, and Shen Chi didn’t want her either…

At that moment, she realized that after eighteen years, she was still all alone.

Just like during her time in the orphanage, where she was brought over by Uncle Mo, alone, trying to escape in the face of everything unfamiliar.

But the orphanage had many little friends, and even though it was hard, her heart was sweet.

Eight years had passed. She gave her true feelings to everyone, but what she got in return was deceit and indifference.

Her heart grew cold.

She despaired of everyone in the Shen Family.

Sitting with her knees hugged to her chest, she continued to cry endlessly.

She knew her surname was Xu, and she had no blood relation to them. She wasn’t outstanding, well-behaved, quiet, or ladylike; she had many flaws. Perhaps, they had really been tolerating her for a long time.

And still, she had no self-awareness.

In her daily life, she enjoyed sticking to Shen Chi, never considering that he might be extremely annoyed with her, to the point of wanting to drive her out of the Shen Family.

If she had understood earlier, perhaps she wouldn’t have ended up in such a plight.

She sniffed, choking back sobs.

Looking down, she saw her hands.

The injuries from the previous days had formed thin scars, unattractive to look at.

She knew it wasn’t just her hands that looked horrible; her entire appearance must be dreadful.

It was the first time in eighteen years she had been in such a sorry state. She sniffled harder, her shoulders shaking with her sobs.

If someone saw her like this, would they be frightened?

She touched the back of her hand; it still hurt, but after a while, it became numb.