She wiped her hands and trotted back to the living room. She took a bunch of white roses from the vase on the dining table and carefully placed them into the Immortal Artifact Pill Furnace. Against the dark metal, they looked strikingly beautiful and vibrant.

Xu Lai wanted to say something but hesitated. After all, this is a Supreme Immortal Artifact. Although it was once shattered, I repaired it. A simple flower, drawing on the residual medicinal dregs and Spiritual Energy inside the Pill Furnace, will probably undergo Spirit Awakening before long, transforming and embarking on the Immortal Path… Besides, cultivators who can use a Supreme Immortal Artifact are at the very least at the peak of the Immortal Venerable Realm, or even in the Quasi-Emperor Realm! The grade of the medicinal residue inside is also frighteningly high.

Although I've unintentionally created a strand of karma, all that matters is that my dear wife is happy. This must be the flower's destiny.

"So beautiful."

Ruan Tang's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the floral arrangement.

"Indeed, beautiful."

Xu Lai nodded, but he wasn't looking at the flowers, nor at the Immortal Artifact Pill Furnace that had been relegated to a vase. He was looking at Ruan Tang.

Wait a second. When I left home, there weren't any white roses, were there?

Xu Lai asked hesitantly, "Where did these white roses come from?"

"A friend gave them to me."

"…"

What kind of friend gives roses? This is clearly a suitor! Who dares to try and steal my woman, and even managed to have them delivered to my home within an hour?

Just as Xu Lai was about to ask for more details, he heard a giggle.

"Hahaha, I knew it! If I sent you roses, Xu Lai would get jealous. Just look, his face has turned green."

Xu Yaoyao appeared on the second-floor balcony, holding an apple. Resting her chin on her hand, she looked down at the two in the courtyard and took a loud bite of the fruit, clearly enjoying the show.

"Are you jealous?" Ruan Tang tilted her head, a playful smile on her face.

"...No," Xu Lai replied seriously.

I am the Lord of the Heavenly Court, The Supreme Emperor revered by countless cultivators across the Four Immortal Domains! The great Supreme Emperor, jealous? That's impossible! A moment ago, I was simply planning to have a little chat with this 'friend' who sent the flowers about the topic of reincarnation.

Ruan Tang bit her lower lip. Just as I thought, he doesn't care about these things at all. And here I was, hoping he'd ask who sent them.

Then, she heard Xu Lai's voice, low enough for only the two of them to hear, "Dare to tease me again, and you'll face the consequences!"

Ruan Tang asked in surprise, "What consequences?"

"Family discipline!"

With a SMACK, Xu Lai stretched out his hand and gave her a firm pat on the rear.

Ruan Tang stumbled, glaring at him with shame and indignation. "What are you doing!"

"What happened?" Xu Yaoyao called down from the second-floor balcony, curious. She had glanced out at the sea for a moment and missed Xu Lai's action.

"Nothing," Ruan Tang forced a smile, then turned back to Xu Lai. What a bully!

"Honey, to tell you the truth, I was jealous just now. You have no idea how angry I was!"

"…"

Ruan Tang wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Why did I have to provoke him?

Yet, hearing him admit he was jealous… for some reason, she felt the white rose before her had bloomed even more beautifully.

She changed the subject. "Yaoyao is here to pick me up. We're going to try on wedding dresses at the same shop where we took… took those photos last time."

"Right." Xu Lai recalled, then wondered aloud, "When are our wedding photos getting here? Did the delivery get lost?"

"They weren't wedding photos!" Ruan Tang cried, on the verge of collapse. "It was just a promotional event at the photo studio..."

A few days ago, while shopping with Xu Lai, they'd passed a bridal shop. He had roped her into it with the lame excuse that 'Yiyi wants to see her mommy in a wedding dress.' She tried on one wedding dress after another. In the end, Ruan Tang wore a qipao and Xu Lai a long robe for the free photoshoot in the studio on the first floor. In exchange, the studio would use a few of their photos for publicity.

Although Xu Lai had saved plenty of photos of Ruan Tang in various wedding dresses on his phone, he was still eagerly awaiting those particular shots.

Because this was our first picture together! And in wedding attire, no less!

Eager to see them, Xu Lai couldn't help but say, "I'll go with you all."

Ruan Tang was about to refuse, but Xu Yaoyao agreed from upstairs, "Sure, sure! Bei Ming is going too, so he won't feel awkward."

Ruan Tang didn't object further, though her heart was fluttering with nervousness.

「Noon.」

Xu Lai showed off his culinary skills.

As Xu Yaoyao savored the delicious feast, she was so overcome with happiness that tears welled up in her eyes. "This is so delicious, Ruan Tang! I'm so jealous of you!"

"It's good, but aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Ruan Tang said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Just good? Wow, the power of habit is terrifying! It's made your tongue go numb to such an exquisite delicacy!" Xu Yaoyao rolled her eyes at her best friend, then mused, "Perhaps... only something else can make you feel that it's truly delicious."

Ruan Tang went silent. She covered her face. "Just shut up and eat!"

"You know what I'm talking about?" Xu Yaoyao asked, startled. Her suspicious gaze darted between Ruan Tang and Xu Lai. Finally, she patted Ruan Tang's shoulder with immense satisfaction. "Tang, oh, Tang. You've finally grown up."

"…"

Ruan Tang wished she could find a crack in the ground and disappear. Yaoyao didn't used to be like this. Why has she started telling dirty jokes at the drop of a hat?

"What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you," Xu Lai said, looking at Ruan Tang.

Before Xu Yaoyao could speak, Ruan Tang snapped with a dark face, "Don't talk while you eat, and don't talk in bed!"

"Hehehe." Xu Yaoyao chuckled mischievously. For the sake of this delicious lunch, she decided to spare Ruan Tang this time.

Xu Lai was completely baffled.

...

「Two o'clock in the afternoon.」

Xu Lai drove Ruan Tang and Xu Yaoyao to the bridal shop first.

Liu Beiming had been delayed and didn't arrive until two. The medical student, who had possessed a shockingly low EQ when they first met, showed considerable improvement in his social skills. He proactively thanked Ruan Tang and Xu Lai and even brought two small gifts. While not valuable, they were local specialties from Hangcheng.

"You've trained him well," Ruan Tang said in surprise.

"Want to learn?" Xu Yaoyao said earnestly. "The Husband-Training Handbook. Only seventy-seven bucks, a fair price for all ages!"

"You're never serious," Ruan Tang sighed.

"Hahaha." The two women dissolved into playful laughter.

After fooling around for a bit, Ruan Tang urged, "Stop messing around and go try on the wedding dresses. We still have to go to the photo studio later."

"Okay."

Xu Yaoyao and Liu Beiming went to try on their wedding attire while Ruan Tang offered her opinions.

Xu Lai suddenly turned his head to look toward Haitang Court.

That white rose has indeed undergone Spirit Awakening… Although its consciousness is still nascent, it's far more intelligent than the Gold Swallowing Beast in its Chaotic Period. It has the mind of a three to five-year-old child.

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