What a perfect win-win situation; they could discuss the cooperation while eating. There couldn’t be a better arrangement!

Soon after, the dishes were served, and the two began to feast in the room. In no time, they had eaten more than half of it, and Hua Xiaomo’s eyes welled up with tears from the spiciness. For a moment, it was unclear if the tears were from the chili or something else.

"Don’t cry. Why are you crying? Aren’t you always so strong? Hua Xiaomo, this really isn’t like you! I’ve eaten quite a few shrimp and crabs. It’s incredible that you’re crying this much," Qi Longbing said as he gently wiped her tears away with his finger.

But did she really think she didn’t need his protection? He was puzzled. It seemed now that he could only keep her by his side using tactics. Yes, he had to use tactics to keep her with him. Otherwise, with Hua Xiaomo’s current haughty demeanor, how could she possibly listen to him? So he felt he had done nothing wrong.

He loved her. He had loved her for so long, and his heart ached. He didn’t know how desperately he had wished on his wedding night that the woman beside him was the one his heart truly desired. But the truth was cruel—she wasn’t Hua Xiaomo; she was Pan Yutong.

That wedding night had been the most painful moment of his life, but he had to swallow the pain alone. No one knew how he felt. He felt as if the world was collapsing, yet he suppressed that agony. He swore he would use every means to bind this woman to him anew.

Now he had succeeded; she was back by his side. Although it was as lovers, he was satisfied. He was more confident he could keep their relationship going longer, until he grew tired of her.

But he wondered, was it possible for him to ever get tired of her? Maybe not. Well, even if it lasted a lifetime, it wouldn’t matter.

As long as she was by his side, that was all that mattered.

Hua Xiaomo gave a bitter smile. She looked at him, not knowing what to say. She just felt there had been too many past issues and too much entanglement between them, a mess too complicated to unravel.

But, in fact, they could have been legitimately together. Yet, that chance had been missed.

To put it bluntly, it was his misguided actions and his presumptuous attitude that had made her heart retreat, pushing her away and causing him to lose her.

Therefore, she dared not be with him again. But at this moment, she had never imagined that after his marriage, they could become entangled once more. Perhaps it really was fate!

"President Qi, how was your wedding night?" Hua Xiaomo suddenly asked. She picked up another crab. This time she ate slowly, looking at him as she did so.

Qi Longbing was somewhat surprised by her question, examining her face closely.

"Actually, I imagined that woman was you, so it wasn’t too bad," Qi Longbing answered indifferently, slowly eating a crab. His tone seemed emotionless, but only he knew what that truly felt like deep inside.

Hua Xiaomo was speechless. After a while, she slowly said, having already finished the crab in her hand, "Do you have children now?"

Qi Longbing smiled. She’s quite amusing, he thought, then said,

"Do you want to have my child?" Qi Longbing asked slowly, picking up a prawn and starting to eat it. A hint of inscrutable light shone in his eyes, and his exceptionally handsome face was captivating.

"Ah?" Hua Xiaomo was momentarily stunned, then quickly stopped speaking, no longer discussing the topic as she slowly ate the crab in her hands. He didn’t know. He didn’t know she had borne him a child, and that she had also aborted another of his.

All of this was caused by him, Qi Longbing. She didn’t know how to tell him, but she truly didn’t want him to know about Candy’s existence.

Yes, Candy should have her own life. It didn’t matter that much who her biological father was.

"If you do want to have a child with me, then just have it. For me, Qi Longbing, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about having a few illegitimate children. You know that with my wealth, I can fully afford to raise them," Qi Longbing said, laughing as he ate.

"You haven’t been taking medication recently, have you?" Qi Longbing asked, having finished his prawns.

Hua Xiaomo’s cheeks flushed slightly at the question. "I won’t get pregnant again." She quickly brought the crab in her hand to her mouth.

What? Qi Longbing was taken aback. What did she mean she wouldn’t get pregnant again? Could she have been pregnant before? He was very puzzled, but he couldn’t discern anything from her expression.

They hadn’t been together for a full five years. No, that wasn’t right. Except for that one time when she returned to City A, when he’d been with her in the bridal shop, they hadn’t been together at other times.

Hearing this, Hua Xiaomo was startled, afraid he might suspect something, and quickly said, "You’re already married, and you have a wife, don’t you? I’m just your secret lover. I don’t want to get pregnant under these circumstances. Besides, if a child were born, it would be illegitimate, and that wouldn’t be good for the child, right?"

Qi Longbing smiled and replied slowly, "That’s true. An illegitimate child is, after all, quite a disgraceful matter." He then took another bite of shrimp.

"Is that so?" Hua Xiaomo said with a smile, though she suddenly began to worry about Candy’s custody.

Oh God, he absolutely must not find out Candy is his child! Otherwise, there would be problems with custody. She had to prevent him from learning about Candy’s existence.

Alright, Candy was indeed Qi Longbing’s biological child. Still, she just couldn’t let him find out. If he did, Candy’s custody would become an issue. She truly couldn’t afford to lose Candy. Without her daughter, she felt as if her very soul had been drained. Candy was her little joy, her precious sweetheart. She absolutely could not lose Candy. The thought alone made her feel completely unwell. Therefore, Qi Longbing must never learn of Candy’s existence. She would make absolutely sure of it.

She would protect and love Candy with all her heart, ensuring that no one could hurt her.

She loved her daughter dearly, because her daughter was the best baby in the world.