Chapter 367 Ah Chu, you love me, don't you?

Pei Yuan's words were like a stone thrown into Chen Chu's heart lake, causing a series of bubbles to rise in her heart.

Each cluster of bubbles radiated sweetness and joy.

Her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face, landing on Pei Yuan's shoulder.

She raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, but more streamed down her face. All the tossing and turning, anxiety, sadness and sorrow of the past two months turned into tears at this moment.

The tears kept flowing, soaking Pei Yuan's shoulder.

Pei Yuan released her and panicked when he saw Shen Chu crying her eyes out.

"Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong? Or are you feeling unwell?"

Pei Yuan wiped away her tears with his sleeve while gently coaxing her.

"Wow."

Shen Chu's tears flowed even more fiercely as she cried and apologized.

"I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide it from you. My original name wasn't Chen Chu, nor was it Chen Mo."

I am the only daughter of the Marquis of Ning'an's family, I am Shen Chuchu, the daughter of Shen Zhixing.

I disguised myself as a man to enter the imperial court as an imperial censor in order to seek justice for my father and to clear the name of the Marquis of Ning'an's family.

I prepared for this day for ten years, always holding myself to the standards of a man, just in case someone saw through my act and I failed at the last minute.

Therefore, I dared not tell anyone the truth. At first, I was afraid of being exposed and unable to seek justice for the Marquis of Ning'an's family.

As we grew closer, I became afraid that telling you the truth would implicate you.

And then..."

Later, she dared not speak anymore, for with His Majesty watching her closely, she dared not implicate Pei Yuan.

Shen Chu cried as she explained.

"There were several times when I couldn't help but tell you all of this, but then I backed down."

Especially after His Majesty bestowed this marriage upon you, I dared not do it again.

Pei Yuan explained anxiously, "My father brought me a cup of poisoned wine and said that either I accept the arranged marriage, or I drink the poisoned wine."

"If it weren't for this, I would absolutely not accept this arranged marriage."

Chen Chu stared blankly at him, glistening teardrops still clinging to her eyelashes.

"So His Majesty also threatened you."

Pei Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Also? He threatened you too? What did he say?"

Shen Chu sobbed, "His Majesty said that if I don't leave the capital, he will make the Ning'an Marquis's mansion a traitor again, and so will Consort Qiao..."

Pei Yuan's expression darkened slightly; he hadn't expected his father to resort to such methods.

“If he hadn’t threatened you with your life, I would never have accepted the arranged marriage. The moment you left the capital, I was already planning to annul the engagement.”

I've already made up my mind; I won't marry anyone but you in this life. How could I possibly accept a marriage I don't want?

Shen Chu stared at him blankly, tears streaming down her face.

Therefore, Pei Yuan always had her in his heart, and he secretly worked hard for her.

Pei Yuan panicked, "The misunderstanding has been cleared up, why are you crying even harder? Please stop crying, okay? Your crying is making my heart race."

Chen Chu wiped away her tears and said in a muffled voice, "I just wanted to cry, I couldn't help it."

Ten years have passed since the day her family was destroyed and she died. She has never cried so freely since.

For the past ten years, she has lived like a boy, telling herself that a man does not easily shed tears, and a man bleeds but does not cry.

So no matter how sad or wronged she felt, she would swallow it all down and always wear a gentle, warm smile on her face.

Even a good cry has become a luxury.

But how she longed to be that spoiled and willful little girl, Shen Chuchu, pampered by her parents and brothers, and protected by her brother Zhan.

The more Chen Chu thought about it, the more upset she became, and her tears seemed endless.

Pei Yuan sighed and reached out to cup her face.

"My little darling, please don't cry, okay?"

Shen Chu sobbed, looking at him through teary eyes.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her eyelids.

Shen Chu shuddered and instinctively closed her eyes.

Their breaths mingled, and Pei Yuan's lips landed forcefully and irresistibly.

The initial kiss was gentle and restrained. He hooked one arm around her waist and supported her neck with the other, causing her chin to lift slightly and her lips to open unconsciously.

Pei Yuan's lips were wet and hot, and the kiss gradually became more intense, but it didn't feel rough. Instead, it felt more like a hunter who had been eyeing his prey for a long time finally catching it.

He eagerly savored the sweetness in her mouth, not wanting to miss a single inch.

Shen Chu's sobs were all blocked in her throat, turning into unconscious whimpers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck in response.

Noticing her response, Pei Yuan kissed her even more deeply.

The only sounds in the room were their breathing and heartbeats.

Pei Yuan's breathing grew heavier and heavier until he noticed that Shen Chu was having trouble breathing, and then he released her.

Shen Chu was so weak from the kiss that she leaned against him, breathing softly.

Pei Yuan gazed at her rosy lips, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, his eyes swirling with emotion, and his voice unusually hoarse.

"So, Ah Chu, you love me, right?"

Shen Chu leaned against him and felt his body suddenly stiffen after he finished speaking.

Looking up, I saw him staring intently at me, his eyes filled with a barely concealed tension.

She couldn't help but purse her lips and smile gently.

This man is nervous.

"Ah Chu, hmm?"

Noticing her smile, Pei Yuan felt a little displeased and a little aggrieved, and gently pinched her waist.

Shen Chu stopped smiling, slowly sat up straight, and looked at him intently with her bright eyes.

Then, under Pei Yuan's tense yet expectant gaze, she smiled sweetly.

"Yes, Pei Yuan, I have long since fallen in love with you too."

I'm just a bit slow, and I realized it a little late.

Pei Yuan's eyes lit up, and he hugged her tightly again, gently coaxing her:

"Okay, Chu, say it again."

Shen Chu pursed her lips and leaned against him, her eyebrows and eyes full of smiles.

"I'm not going to tell you."

Pei Yuan's low laughter rang out from above, and he placed his large hand on her abdomen.

"This child... is from that night..."

Shen Chu nodded gently, then suddenly remembered that he had said he didn't like children and might never have any in his life.

She quickly pulled away from his embrace, looking at him warily.

"Don't you want children? If you don't, I..."

"Who says I don't want children? Of course I do."

Shen Chu frowned and looked him up and down, unable to resist accusing him.

"When my senior brother gave me acupuncture last time, you told him that you would never have children in this life."

I wasn't asleep at the time; I heard everything you said.

If you don't want the child, I can leave with the child.

"Don't even think about it." Pei Yuan glared at her and quickly interrupted her.

After thinking it over carefully, I remembered why I said those words that day.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly, "I had already realized my feelings for you at that time, and I thought I had really fallen in love with a man."

I resigned myself to this reality. You say I fell in love with a man, how could I possibly have a child in this lifetime?

How can two men have a child?

Shen Chu was speechless. So that's how it is.

She couldn't help but reach out and gently touch her belly, a smile appearing on her face.

"So you'll really like kids, won't you?"

Pei Yuan nodded, "Of course."

He paused, then realized something was wrong, and his voice suddenly rose two octaves.

"You just said 'children'? What do you mean by 'children'?"