Xu Lai gave a wry smile. "You're overthinking things..."

"Xu Lai," Ruan Tang said earnestly, staring into his deep eyes. "I'm gradually growing fond of you, and I'm also trying to be a good mother. I hope you'll give me some time. These childish little tricks won't work on me."

"Sigh." Xu Lai sighed. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He gazed at his wife's unparalleled beauty, a mischievous urge stirring within him.

Xu Lai cupped Ruan Tang's face with both hands. She panicked, stammering, "Wh-what are you doing?"

Unfortunately, with one hand holding an umbrella and the other a phone, Ruan Tang was powerless to stop Xu Lai's mischief.

And then, her composure crumbled.

He had actually pulled at her cheeks, just like she did to Xu Yiyi...

Damn it. He's actually treating me like a child!

Ruan Tang felt both embarrassed and annoyed. "Let go!"

"Be good."

Be good my ass!

Ruan Tang wanted to bite Xu Lai's hand, but it was futile—after all, he was holding her face!

So she carefully placed the umbrella on the ground and swung her delicate fists at Xu Lai's shoulder. To him, though, the blows felt soft and feeble.

"Put more strength into it."

Xu Lai's comment made Ruan Tang grind her teeth in anger. He's going too far! I kindly came out with an umbrella to find him, and this is how he treats me, bullying me like this.

The moment she tossed the umbrella aside, Ruan Tang was drenched as well. Fortunately, her hair was tied up; otherwise, she really might have murdered him.

Just then, Xu Lai let go.

"Acting like a child, is that fun for you?" Ruan Tang demanded, rubbing her cheeks while glaring at Xu Lai, her eyes so fierce it looked like she wanted to eat him alive.

"Ruan Tang, although you don't say it, I know you've been under a lot of stress lately, whether it's because of me, Yiyi, the family, or the company," Xu Lai said softly. "I just wanted to make you happy."

"So, you pulled my cheeks?" Ruan Tang said, her expression dark. "And made us both stand in the rain like idiots?"

"When was the last time you crouched on the ground to watch ants move their home?"

Xu Lai's words left Ruan Tang stunned. What does that have to do with anything?

"It's been a long time, hasn't it? I bet you haven't done things you consider childish, like playing in the rain, ever since you became an adult," Xu Lai said seriously. "As for staring blankly at the clouds or wading through streams to catch fish and shrimp, you've probably forgotten all about those things."

Ruan Tang fell silent.

Xu Lai's hand rested gently on her shoulder. "Using an umbrella in the rain is the right thing to do, but occasionally, putting it down and letting yourself get drenched might bring you more than you expect."

With those words, Xu Lai jumped into a small puddle in front of them, splashing Ruan Tang with water. "You try it."

Ruan Tang stared at Xu Lai in astonishment, then suddenly burst out laughing, her smile brightening the gloomy, rainy day. She spoke, half exasperated and half amused, "Xu Lai, you really are such a child!"

Yet, she also rushed into that same puddle, stomping her feet to splash water back at him before breaking into delighted giggles.

They played for a long time.

When the heavy rain gradually subsided, Ruan Tang still looked toward the sky with reluctance. Xu Lai smiled and asked, "Want to play a little longer?"

"The rain has stopped."

"No, it hasn't."

Ruan Tang let out a laugh at his words. But her smile soon faded as the rain, which had stopped, began to fall again, this time with a gentler touch. It landed on their skin without feeling cold or chilling.

"You can make it rain?" Ruan Tang asked in surprise.

"I can also pray for a child. Want to try?"

"Xu Lai!"

Ruan Tang swung her fist at him.

The light rain continued to patter down until midnight.

「The next day.」

The flowers on Mount Haitang were blooming with exceptional charm.

Ruan Tang led Yiyi by the hand as they walked down the mountain. She even stooped down to pick a flower and place it on her daughter's head.

"Mommy, you're not supposed to pick the wildflowers by the roadside."

"...This is a home flower!" Ruan Tang corrected.

Xu Lai had bought Haitang Court for five hundred million, a purchase that also included the surrounding area within a five-kilometer radius. Mount Haitang was open to the public from nine in the morning until nine at night, but the area within five kilometers of Haitang Court had always been private land. Even the security team rarely entered.

Bringing up the rear, Xu Lai smiled and asked, "Can I pick a 'home flower'?"

Ruan Tang caught his hidden meaning and shot him a glare.

Xu Yiyi was quiet, her big eyes blinking as she stared at her mother. "Mommy, you seem really happy today."

"Do I?" Ruan Tang replied with a smile.

"Uh-huh," Yiyi nodded vigorously while joyfully kicking at the small stones on the ground. "Mommy rarely takes me to school, but today you not only walked me but also put a flower in my hair. And you've been smiling the whole time!"

Ruan Tang froze. Have I been smiling this whole time?

Yiyi lifted her little face and said mischievously, "Mommy, have you and Daddy made some progress in your relationship?"

Does yesterday count? Ruan Tang thought, her face turning red as she remembered the kiss. But being her proud self, she denied it, "No."

"Oh," Yiyi nodded. "Then I can go ahead and set Daddy up on a blind date."

Ruan Tang was flabbergasted.

"Qian Xiao and I think Miss Miao Momo from the kindergarten is really nice and would be a good match for Daddy," Yiyi whispered. "Since you don't like Daddy anyway, we can't let his best years go to waste."

I feel like I'm about to spit blood—who's wasting whose years?! And that Miao Momo... isn't she the teacher who led the trip to Jiuye Mountain? She does have a great figure. She glanced at Xu Lai, a sudden suspicion blooming in her mind. Could they have hooked up back then?

Caught off guard by his daughter's words, Xu Lai rubbed his forehead. "Your Miss Miao is too young. We're not a good match."

"Yes, you are! She's twenty-four, same as Mommy, and besides..." Yiyi added with an air of mystery, "I asked Miss Miao, and she's definitely not any *smaller* than Mommy, so she's totally your type, Daddy!"

*Not any smaller than Mommy...* Her daughter's words felt like a knife stabbing into Ruan Tang's heart. She was furious but maintained her smile, "Mr. Xu, you certainly have great taste."

"Daddy, if you don't like Miss Miao, I can introduce you to other aunties," Yiyi added hastily.

Xu Lai's face darkened as he flicked his daughter on the forehead. "No more nonsense, or there'll be no more candy for you!"

"Boo hoo hoo," Yiyi whimpered, holding her head. "But I was just trying to help Daddy."

"Still talking?!" Xu Lai glared.

Ruan Tang felt her heart grow weary. They say a daughter is supposed to be her parents' greatest comfort, but Xu Yiyi only ever seemed to help Xu Lai.

Her gaze drifted to Xu Lai, who immediately declared with a solemn expression, "I, Xu Lai, would rather die than go on a blind date! For the rest of my life, I am loyal only to you!"

"Hmph. Men," Ruan Tang muttered, curling her lip.

After dropping their daughter off at kindergarten, Ruan Tang drove Xu Lai to the infirmary at Dongli University. As they were about to part ways, Xu Lai suddenly said, "By the way, Liu Nanwei and Li Mi are getting married. We should go together."

"You can go by yourself."

"That won't do," Xu Lai said with a straight face. "Everyone else will bring their wives and kids. If I go alone, what if some other girl takes a fancy to me? I have to let everyone know—I, Xu Lai, am taken!"

"I'll think about it."

Ruan Tang pressed the gas pedal and drove away, the corners of her mouth curling into a slight smile.

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