"Then call me 'hubby,' and I'll go to sleep," Xu Lai said.

Ruan Tang glowered. "Xu Lai, are you itching to serve the Emperor in the palace?"

Xu Lai coughed. He knew his demand had been a bit much. He pulled the covers over himself and went to sleep, not daring to press his luck any further.

The night air was cool.

In the room, Ruan Tang shielded her eyes with her arm. She had shared a bed with either Xu Lai or Yiyi before, but all three of them together… it was a first.

Family, huh?

Biting her lower lip, Ruan Tang slowly drifted into dreamland.

She had a dream. In it, Xu Lai was gentle and refined, and their daughter was well-behaved and obedient. She herself was a virtuous wife and loving mother. The three of them lived happily together—it was the exact life she longed for.

"Mommy... Daddy... meat... eat meat..."

Yiyi's sleepy mumble reached her ears, startling Ruan Tang awake. She gently pulled the blanket, which her daughter had kicked off, back over her.

Ruan Tang then turned on her side, propping her head up with her arm to look at Xu Lai, who was lying on the other side of their daughter. She couldn't help but fall deep into thought.

The dream I just had… it wasn't that different from reality, was it? Although Xu Lai can be a rogue sometimes, he's as reliable as ever. Our daughter might be naughty and mischievous at times, but she's still my sweet, little treasure.

"Honey, why aren't you sleeping?"

Xu Lai's voice suddenly whispered, giving Ruan Tang a fright.

She glanced at the time—5 a.m. Without any pajamas on, she sat up. "I'm awake. You go back to sleep."

After speaking, she quietly got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Xu Lai asked.

"Going out for some exercise, a jog or something," Ruan Tang replied. "It's rare for me to wake up at five. This is a great time to exercise—there are fewer people out, and the air is fresh."

"I'll go with you."

Xu Lai was no longer sleepy. He went back to the room, quickly changed, and then waited for her in the living room. Ruan Tang, on the other hand, changed into a set of autumn sportswear. Although it concealed her impressive figure, it added a different kind of charm.

Xu Lai couldn't help but stare for a long moment before remarking, "No wonder our daughter is so beautiful. It's all in the genes."

Hearing this, the corners of Ruan Tang's mouth curved up slightly.

Of course. Yiyi's features and eyes look so much like mine.

But then she heard Xu Lai continue, "My genes really are amazing, aren't they? Yiyi is the spitting image of me."

Ruan Tang was speechless.

She gave a dry laugh. "Heh, you're certainly shameless, Mr. Xu. Our daughter clearly looks most like me."

"Yes, yes, our daughter looks most like you."

"That's right."

Ruan Tang nodded in satisfaction, but a moment later, her delicate brows furrowed. Something felt off…

When she realized why, a blush crept up her face.

Wasn't their bickering just now the same as the everyday squabbles of a young couple? She had personally seen Luo Chu and her husband argue for ages over who Qian Xiao resembled more. The only difference was that Xu Lai had surrendered quickly, unlike Luo Chu's husband, who only admitted Qian Xiao looked like Luo Chu after being kicked out to sleep on the couch... Even if she was reluctant to admit it, she and Xu Lai were becoming more and more like a married couple.

Realizing this, Ruan Tang patted her hot cheeks and was the first to push open the door and head out for her morning jog.

Xu Lai followed close behind.

...

At 5 a.m. in East Sea City, the two of them jogged along the seaside as the sky began to faintly light up.

Ruan Tang looked at the coastline; the view was beautiful.

Xu Lai looked at Ruan Tang; she was beautiful.

After running for about five kilometers, they bumped into an acquaintance at a tricycle breakfast stall by the sea—Luo Chu!

She was sitting on a red plastic stool, her head lowered as she was sipping soy milk and eating deep-fried dough sticks, completely lost in thought.

"Luo Chu!"

Drenched in sweat, Ruan Tang sat down beside her best friend, exclaiming in surprise, "When did you get back?"

Luo Chu snapped out of her daze. She looked at Ruan Tang and Xu Lai in surprise, then smiled. "I just got back to East Sea City this morning. I was planning to go to your place to pick up Qian Xiao after breakfast. What are you two up to?"

"Jogging, getting some exercise."

"Hmm." Luo Chu pursed her lips and smiled. "Looks like your relationship has progressed pretty quickly. You're already jogging together in the morning. Don't tell me you slept together last night?"

A jolt of panic shot through Ruan Tang's heart. Instead of answering, she pointed at Luo Chu and yelled to the stall owner, "Boss, two more bowls of soy milk and four deep-fried dough sticks! This lady's paying!"

Luo Chu grinned. "Did I guess right? Come on, tell your big sis all about it."

"Luo Chu, you're younger than me!"

"Heh heh, back when you and Yaoyao needed to copy homework, who did you always come to? You called me 'Sister Luo' so sweetly back then," Luo Chu sighed. "Now… it's 'Sister Luo' when you need something, and just 'Luo Chu' when you don't. Tsk, tsk."

Ruan Tang turned her head away with a cute huff. "Then you shouldn't have left your kid with me! You and your husband were the only ones who didn't show up for the parent-teacher conference yesterday."

Luo Chu's expression fell. "Qian Xiao's dad, he…"

Noticing her friend's sudden shift in mood, Ruan Tang asked anxiously, "What happened to him?"

"It's nothing," Luo Chu said, taking a deep breath and changing the subject. "Hurry up and eat. I can't wait to see my son."

The three of them finished their breakfast and packed three more servings to take back to Haitang Court.

At seven in the morning, Qian Xiao and Xu Yiyi slowly woke up. As for Ruan Lan... she was still lazing in bed.

"Mom!"

Seeing Luo Chu, Qian Xiao ran over happily. He looked around, then asked with disappointment, "Dad didn't come back again, huh?"

Though he was let down, it wasn't unexpected. It was clear Qian Xiao was already used to it.

"He's still a bit busy. He'll be home after a little while, and then he'll take you to the Sea Tribe Museum you've always wanted to visit," Luo Chu said with a smile.

Qian Xiao said meekly, "Mom, you and Dad have been saying that for two years."

Luo Chu looked a bit awkward. "R-Really?"

"Besides, Yiyi and I have already been to Sea City. I don't really want to go to the Sea Tribe Museum anymore," Qian Xiao said casually.

Sea City!

As an ordinary person, Ruan Tang didn't know what Sea City was. But Luo Chu was a Ninth Grade early-stage Martial Artist. Her lovely eyes narrowed, her usual gentle and intelligent expression replaced by an icy glare. "You've... been to Sea City?"

Qian Xiao was startled. He instinctively hid behind Xu Lai, peeking out with half his head before quickly ducking back behind him.

"I took him," Xu Lai said calmly. "We didn't run into any danger. You don't need to worry."

Luo Chu gave Xu Lai a deep look, then forced a smile. "Ruan Tang, I need to borrow your husband for a bit."

"What for?" Ruan Tang asked, puzzled.

"Take a guess."

"..."

Ruan Tang waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not guessing. He's all yours."

Luo Chu pulled Xu Lai into the study. Her dark eyes stared intently at him as she asked, word by word, "Who exactly *are* you?"

Sea City. That was a dangerous place teeming with countless Sea Demons. A human who entered could never come out alive. And yet, Qian Xiao had been there... As his mother, how could she not be worried?!

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