Huang Xiaojue smiled quietly.

Zhou Ting giggled. "Miss Yan, I’ll use tea in place of wine to toast you with Xiaojue. Wishing you a radiant future."

Yan Xixi glanced at Huang Xiaojue, then at Zhou Ting. Seeing them standing together, they appeared perfectly matched.

Especially since Zhou Ting was pregnant—pregnant.

Why did hearing that word recently sound so grating?

She also giggled. "Then I also wish you the quick birth of a healthy child and eternal harmony."

"Thank you for your kind words. Alright, I won’t disturb you any longer. Everyone, please enjoy yourselves."

Huang’s mother hurriedly escorted her out, the scene indeed resembling an Empress being attended to. Reaching the door, she looked back. "Son, remember to come back early, don’t stay out too late."

In a corner, Zhou Xiaoxuan muttered, "Why is *she* watching him so closely? Afraid someone will steal her son? Honestly..."

Xu Xiaoya whispered, "Why do you care what she does?"

"No matter how I look at those two now, I just can’t stand them. Especially Zhou Ting. She usually puts on such airs, acting all high and mighty, yet isn’t she still watching Huang Xiaojue like prey?"

Xu Xiaoya couldn’t help but laugh. "Did you take the wrong medicine?"

Zhou Xiaoxuan said bitterly, "When she needed me, she pretended to be my friend. Now, she won’t even glance my way, as if even speaking to me would lower her status. What’s so great about her anyway? She still had to resort to using pregnancy to coerce Huang Xiaojue into marrying her... Look at her, practically tailing Huang Xiaojue, terrified his feelings for Yan Xixi might rekindle... Honestly, with Third Young Master now in the picture for Yan Xixi, who would even bother trying to take Huang Xiaojue from Zhou Ting?"

Xu Xiaoya asked quietly, "Is she really pregnant?"

"Who the hell knows..."

Zhou Xiaoxuan grumbled sourly, "Anyway, I’m getting divorced soon, so I definitely won’t be able to enter their circle anymore. Huang’s mother will never tell me anything again..."

Yan Xixi was too far away from the two to hear their discussion, nor did she care. She just kept toasting her classmates, laughing and joking merrily.

Never in her life had she been so unrestrained.

As the wine slid down her throat, she suddenly felt as if nothing mattered, and all her worries vanished.

After they had all partied to their heart’s content and dispersed, it was late at night. Her classmates left one by one, until only Huang Xiaojue and Xu Xiaoya remained by her side.

She leaned against a roadside tree, feeling dizzy. When the wind blew, it felt as if her head would split open.

Huang Xiaojue looked at Xu Xiaoya. Xu Xiaoya said calmly, "You two wait here. I’ll go get the car. I didn’t drink tonight, so I’ll drive you."

Yan Xixi was noncommittal, merely clinging tightly to the roadside tree.

On the street, traffic still flowed endlessly. Huang Xiaojue took a couple of steps forward. "Xixi..."

She giggled. "Xiaojue... Congratulations... HEE HEE, congratulations on becoming a father soon..."

"Xixi!"

She was still smiling. "When are you two getting married? Ah, it’s such a shame. I probably won’t be able to attend your wedding reception... How about this: once you set a date, I’ll send two gifts, one for the wedding and one for the baby..."

He remained silent. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Xiaojue, I want to ask you something... You wouldn’t mind, right?"

"Go ahead."

She had initially wanted to ask if Zhou Ting was really pregnant.

But when the words reached her lips, they changed. "Xiaojue, you have to be happy in the future..."

He stood under the moonlight, still watching her quietly.