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oXiao's completed novel "The Substitute Wife." 。 Rong Shao and Xiang Yi's story— "The President's 7-Day Lover," the fourth installment of the Billion Series, is currently being serialized. Welcome to...Tang Shuwen stood alone on the balcony, smoking silently. The night in Paris was dazzling, with a long river in the distance. On the opposite bank, there was a line of castles, their lights twinkling like pearls embedded along both sides of the river.

Even the night is tranquil. Standing on the opposite bank to admire the night view, it offers a unique charm.

Smoke rose from his fingers, he had already smoked three cigars, his mood was at its lowest point. Tang Shuwen didn't have a heavy smoking habit, he would smoke one or two when work pressure was high, and he would also smoke a few when going out to play with Ye Ershao and the others. The number wasn't much, like today, this kind of smoking several times almost never happened, his mood was inexplicably restless.

He felt for the first time what it meant to bring his own ruin upon himself.

He thought he handled both relationships well, but he never expected Zhao Yuning to get pregnant and insist on keeping the child. This child would undoubtedly become a source of turmoil for both families, leaving no one happy.

His parents wouldn't, Xue Ru wouldn't, he wouldn't, and the Zhao family and children even less so.

How can he make Xue Ru happy

Tang Shuwen could clearly feel Chen Xu's rejection and resistance. As a mother, she struggled with her child. She was kind and tolerant, unwilling to hurt Zhao Yuning and the child. She attributed all the blame to herself, which made Tang Shuwen both heartbroken and anxious.

If this continues, she's bound to get stuck in a rut, and it's possible that she might break up with him if things get tough.

Besides, Xiao Nian is still childish and unresponsive. Xue Ru's heart is burdened with pressure as well. Tang Shuwen is truly afraid of losing their mother and son. In that moment, he even hoped Xue Ru could be selfish, allowing him to quickly deal with the child and not let the child threaten their happiness. Xiao Nian's interests were at stake, yet she never had such thoughts.

If she truly changed, she probably wouldn't be the Chen Xue-ru he loved anymore.

He just likes her kindness and tolerance.

It's just that I also hope, she could fight for her own happiness sometimes.

Perhaps Chen Xue didn't love herself, so she didn't feel like there was anything worth fighting for. This was the thing Tang Shuwu truly cared about, as if she could abandon him at any time and give him back the feeling of Zhao Yuning.

This made him feel very uncomfortable.

In such a short time, to make her fall in love with him is unrealistic, but at the very least she should have some good feelings towards him, right

It can't be that there is nothing at all, only Xiao Nian's father.

Tang Shuwu let out a heavy sigh, her heart weighed down with a sense of foreboding.

What Xue Ru was thinking, she didn't say a word, leaving him to guess. A woman's heart is like the ocean floor, unfathomable. This moment might be one way, but who knows what it will be like next

A gentle evening breeze blew, bringing a slight chill. But the coolness on his body was nothing compared to the coldness in his heart. Even smoking couldn't dispel his worries. Tang Shuwen squinted, flicked the cigarette butt, and tossed it downstairs. Just as he was about to turn back to his room, he suddenly felt footsteps approaching from behind. A woman's delicate body pressed against his back, her pale hands encircling his chest. A warm fragrance wafted from behind him, and his body seemed to be infused with the scent as well.

Tang Shuwen stood still, but he couldn't suppress the joy in his heart. That little bit of joy spread from his heart, his heartbeat was like thunder. He lowered his head to look at her hand, and he couldn't help but wonder, she didn't plan to leave him, did she

Chen Xue leaned her head against his shoulder. His body carried the faint scent of tobacco, she'd been with him for some time now and rarely saw him smoke. He must have smoked quite a bit tonight.

He felt a bit agitated inside, all because of him, he was the cause of his own unhappiness.

"Shuwen, don't be angry okay" Chen Xue said softly, "I really miss Xiaonian, he's sick. We've been out for so long, it's time to go back. We can talk about the rest later."

Tang Shuwen's heart was filled with joy, but her voice sounded slightly cold. "Do you care if I'm angry"

He didn't want Chen Xueru to know that he wasn't angry with her; he was only angry at himself for not handling the situation well, putting Chen Xueru in such an embarrassing and difficult position.

If she thinks he's angry, let her think so. It doesn't matter.

“I…care.” Chen Xue said. If she didn't care, she wouldn't have come to find him. If she didn't care, she wouldn't feel heartache seeing him standing alone on the balcony, smoking with a forlorn expression.

She hadn't been around men for a long time, feeling somewhat unfamiliar. Or perhaps, after being hurt once, she had spent all these years painstakingly raising Xiao Nian. She understood that everything depended on herself. Even after getting married, because of the past pain, she didn't dare to give her whole heart. This man married her for the sake of the child, and she was afraid of falling deeper and deeper, eventually becoming unable to extricate herself, only to end up hurt all over.

Especially Zhao Yuning's pregnancy made her feel a greater sense of crisis, and she closed herself off even more. Only in this way could she protect herself. She was also afraid that Tang Shuwenn would be shaken and choose Zhao Yuning and her child over her and Xiaonian.

He didn't know how to handle their relationship at the moment, everything could only rely on his instincts.

She didn't want Tang Shuwu to be unhappy.

The mere word "care" lightly dispersed all the gloom in Tang Shuwen's heart, as well as all his restlessness. His mood became incredibly bright, the corners of his lips slightly curved upwards, almost reaching out to hold her hand and tightly embrace her.

But he held back.

"Xue Ru, do you really care" Tang Shuwen's voice was soft, laced with a tinge of sadness and a faint ache. Chen Xue Ru felt pain in her heart. Had she truly hurt him

Did he think she didn't care about him

Chen Xue clutched him tightly, a hint of fear in her voice. "Shuwen, if I didn't care, I wouldn't have come out with you. Don't be angry, okay I admit, maybe I overreacted, but that's because I was scared. I've been alone with Xiaonian for too long. It’s finally nice to have a home. I like your parents and Mandong. They make me feel like I belong. I’m afraid if you change your mind, I’ll lose this home. I’m just afraid of losing everything."

Tang Shuwen frowned and gave a self-deprecating smile. "So it turns out you only clung to that initial piece of driftwood. If someone else had been there, would you have cared As long as he could give you a home, you would follow him wholeheartedly, wouldn't you"

"No!" Chen Xue refuted quickly, how could he say that

She desperately wanted to explain, but found herself unable to find the words. Instead, Tang Shuwen became flustered, turned his body around, and his handsome face was filled with seriousness, a darkness that seemed to threaten to consume her. Chen Xue felt a shiver of fear at his intense gaze.

"Xue Ru, you just said you like my parents and Man Dong, what about me I'm your husband, where do you put me" Tang Shuwen asked in a low voice, his hands instinctively clutching her shoulders. He was most afraid that Xue Ru didn't like him, still held a grudge against the past, and with Zhao Yu Ning's pregnancy, her impression of him was probably even worse.

Chen Xue was taken aback, lowering her head, not knowing what to say. Did she like him

Her face flushed, there was no doubt about it.

How could you not like it.

If I didn't like it, this honeymoon trip wouldn't feel so happy.

"I understand," Tang Shuwen slowly released her hand, her eyes dimming. She curled her lip in self-deprecating amusement. "So you don't like me after all..."

"No!" Chen Xue rushed to grasp his hand. Tang Shuwu looked at her, Chen Xue's face flushed. Her actress, on the silver screen, had said countless times "I love you," "I like you," and so on.

To say I like you isn't really that difficult, but right now, it feels incredibly hard to say. My heart is pounding like crazy.

Acting and life are different, after all. People say that drama is like life and life is like drama, but sometimes, there are things you can say freely on stage that you would be too shy to say to someone's face.

"Tang Shuwen, don't make things difficult for me," Chen Xue said softly, her beautiful face filled with helplessness. She wasn't stupid; she understood in her heart that he was intentional, asking for a relationship from her, but this wasn't fair.

What about him

Do you like her again

Tang Shuwen suddenly hugged her, holding her tightly in his arms as if she were fragile glass. Chen Xueru had a faint, warm scent of bath soap on her body, which made him feel comfortable and peaceful.

That's a kind of indescribable peace.

"I won't make things difficult for you, but don't make things difficult for me either, Xue Ru. Promise me, no matter what happens, whatever knots are in your heart, you have to tell me, don't make any private decisions, and don't try to guess my thoughts, understand For everything, you should at least listen to what I say. Can you do that" Tang Shuwen asked seriously. He didn't force her to fall in love with him immediately, but trust was essential.

"I did everything you said. Children's matters were before we got married, and I had no knowledge of them, so you can't blame me." Tang Shuwen continued.

Chen Xue'ru smiled softly, "I don't blame you, truly I don't."

"That's not your fault either, none of us are wrong."

Chen Xue-ru gave a wry smile, "None of us is wrong, then who's to blame Heaven's fault Should we blame fate for being so cruel"

"Promise me, okay" This was the second time he'd asked Chen Xue for trust.

"Good." Chen Xue said, her beautiful face flashing a smile. Her eyes were as bright and charming as water, rippling with a gentle sentiment that seemed to be veiled by a thin mist.

Tang Shuwu's heart skipped a beat, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

Chen Xue-ru leaned against his shoulder, responding to his kiss. The two of them kissed passionately on the balcony, oblivious to the world around them.

The castle behind them, bathed in brilliant lights, had become their static backdrop.her body alternating between hot and cold. Her mind also woke up. Chen Xue ru said softly: "Su Ran, I want to tell you, I may not be able to give you what you want. To me, my son is everything. His wi...