"Mommy can't give you the moon and the stars, but she can definitely get you a collectible figure," Ruan Tang said with a smile.

"I'll give you the moon and the stars," Xu Lai stated solemnly.

"Stop bragging."

Ruan Tang gave him a gentle kick. "Go on, get us registered."

"Mommy!"

Xu Yiyi threw herself into Ruan Tang's arms and gave her a loud kiss. The little girl chirped, "Mommy, you're the best!"

"Let Mommy see... The grand prize is a computer, and the first prize is a collectible figure..."

Ruan Tang nodded. "Doesn't sound too hard!"

Once Xu Lai had finished registering, he whispered in Ruan Tang's ear, "Are you absolutely sure about this? I'm afraid you might not be up for the event."

"What is it?" Ruan Tang's heart skipped a beat.

"A princess carry."

"Phew."

Ruan Tang breathed a sigh of relief. It was just being carried, no big deal.

Xu Lai added, "And we have to kiss. The winner is the couple who can hold out the longest."

"K-Kissing?!" Ruan Tang panicked.

But when she looked down and saw the hopeful sparkle in her daughter's big eyes, she suppressed her alarm and gently bit her red lip.

After all... it wouldn't be the first time Xu Lai has kissed me. I'll just have to endure it, and it'll be over.

Besides... I'm drunk right now! I can just act like I don't remember anything tomorrow.

What Ruan Tang didn't know was that Xu Lai had already dispelled her drunkenness, so her silence was taken as tacit agreement.

Due to the large number of couples signing up, it took some time for the staff to handle the on-site registration.

Qian Xiao felt a pang of regret.

I could totally do it... Big Sister isn't heavy, so carrying her would be a breeze. The only problem is the kissing part...

Qian Xiao covered his face. "Adults are so shameless, competing in something like this. Why can't they compete in something pure?"

Xu Yaoyao couldn't help but laugh. "This is already the purest thing couples do."

"So what's the impure stuff?" Qian Xiao asked, full of curiosity.

Before Xu Yaoyao could answer, Luo Chu cut her off with a dark expression. "Xu Yaoyao, he's still a child!"

"That's all the more reason to tell him!"

"..."

At that moment, Liu Beiming returned with milk teas, handing one to each of them.

"Let's enter too, as a backup," Xu Yaoyao said with a grin. "Yiyi really likes one of the prizes."

Liu Beiming shook his head. "Forget it. We wouldn't last very long..."

"Are you saying I'm fat, or that you're out of shape?" Xu Yaoyao asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"I'll go sign up right now!"

Without a second thought, his survival instincts on full alert, Liu Beiming didn't dare to argue.

"What's gotten into him?" Ruan Tang asked softly. "The first time I met Liu Beiming, he wasn't like this at all."

Luo Chu nodded in profound agreement.

When she first met Liu Beiming, the man was unbearably arrogant. Now, he was completely obedient to Xu Yaoyao...

The two women immediately began to inquire about her 'husband-training secrets'.

"Speaking of which, I have your Xu Lai to thank for that," Xu Yaoyao said with a smile.

Ruan Tang was even more puzzled. Why thank him?

"Liu Beiming was always good to me, but he was just too blunt and didn't know how to talk to people. But ever since he questioned your Xu Lai that one time and got a harsh lecture from his own mentor, he suddenly saw the light," Xu Yaoyao explained with a sigh.

Luo Chu, who knew the full story, was taken aback. "Xu Lai is also a doctor? Isn't he a martial... um."

She stopped herself just in time.

Luo Chu realized that Xu Lai's identity as a Martial Artist, like hers, had not yet been revealed. Judging by Ruan Tang's expression, she probably still had no idea!

"He's always been a doctor," Xu Yaoyao said, confused.

"Oh."

Luo Chu couldn't help but change the subject. "My husband rarely speaks and couldn't care less about our family. Xu Lai, maybe you can help 'train' my husband for me sometime?"

Xu Lai gave Luo Chu a strange look.

He suddenly recalled something Qian Xiao had once said. Patting the boy's head, he sighed, "Your dad is a pitiful man!"

Not only is he being sold out by his scheming son, but now his own wife wants him 'trained'...

After another ten minutes or so, the organizers of the Yuhua Alley couple's competition finally had the roster sorted out and had cleared a large open space.

There were ninety-seven couples in total.

Although Ruan Tang had mentally prepared herself, seeing the crowd of spectators still made her nervous.

"For my daughter," she whispered to herself.

"Alright, gentlemen—or ladies, if you prefer! Please pick up your partner in a princess carry. The rules are simple: the pair that holds on the longest wins. Every participating couple, regardless of their final ranking, will receive a pair of custom-made plush dolls."

The female host quickly reiterated the rules and prizes.

While most of the participating couples were there for the festive fun, a majority were aiming for the grand prize. A smaller number were hoping to win the other rewards, like the mobile phone or collectible figures.

Once everyone was ready, the host excitedly announced, "And... begin!"

The moment Xu Lai picked her up, Ruan Tang squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart was pounding, thumping wildly in her chest like a frantic deer.

When she heard the announcement to start, she felt a cool sensation on her lips.

As the moment finally arrived, Ruan Tang actually calmed down. She even squinted her eyes open to sneak a peek at Xu Lai.

I have to admit... up close, his skin is even better than mine. And... why do I suddenly find him so handsome?

An illusion. It must be an illusion!

Xu Lai naturally noticed his wife's subtle movements.

Holding Ruan Tang, who weighed less than a hundred pounds, was effortless for him. His fellow male competitors, however, were having a very different experience.

The princess carry is an extreme test of stamina and willpower. Holding someone for a short while is one thing, but holding them indefinitely...

Who could possibly endure that!

At that moment, every man was cursing his girlfriend for not being a little lighter.

Not even thirty seconds had passed before the first couple was out. The light chuckles from the crowd made the man's face flush beet-red.

The woman was even more incensed. "Why are you so quick at everything you do!"

"Ooh."

The unexpected risqué joke sent an uproar through the crowd.

Luo Chu quickly tried to cover Yiyi's and Qian Xiao's ears, but with only two hands for four ears, she couldn't possibly cover all of them.

BANG!

THUD!

Many more couples were eliminated in quick succession; after all, not everyone had time to work out.

In just one minute, thirty couples were out, most due to improper carrying posture.

Like Xu Yaoyao, many of the women curled up slightly in their partners' arms, clasping their necks. This shifted their center of gravity onto the man's chest, saving a great deal of his strength.

Ruan Tang did the same.

One minute, two minutes, five minutes...

Fewer than twenty couples remained.

For a doctor, Liu Beiming had done impressively well to last this long. And so, he gave up.

He was mostly afraid of suddenly losing his balance and hurting Xu Yaoyao and the baby in her belly.

"A valiant effort," Xu Yaoyao said with a hint of regret.

"Auntie Yaoyao, they're still a long way from the final round," Qian Xiao muttered.

"You talk too much."

Xu Yaoyao flicked Qian Xiao's forehead, making his eyes water. Why does everyone like to flick my forehead, just like Xu Lai? It really hurts, you know!

"Go, Tangtang!" Xu Yaoyao cheered.

"Go, Daddy! Go, Mommy!" Xu Yiyi shouted as well.

Xu Lai nodded and replied, "Alright."

Ruan Tang's face instantly flushed crimson. You idiot, Xu Lai! Stop talking! Don't you know that'll...

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