If it wasn't really this delicious, who would willingly be their brother-in-law's sycophant?

I, Ruan Lan, have it so tough, all for a bite of food!

Ignoring the double-barreled assault from her sister and brother-in-law, she retorted with her mouth full, "My brain isn't broken, you know."

Ruan Tang and Xu Lai: "..."

The late-night snack lasted until midnight. During that time, Xu Lai made two more dishes before Ruan Lan was finally full and satisfied.

She lay on the sofa, contentedly patting her still-flat belly, and sighed with pleasure. "Ah, this is so comfortable."

Xu Lai looked over with a peculiar expression.

How much did my sister-in-law eat? How is her stomach not bulging at all? Where did all that food even go…

Seemingly noticing his stare, Ruan Lan giggled. "Brother-in-law, have you finally noticed your little sister-in-law's celestial beauty? Since you keep staring at my tummy, I'll let you touch it."

With that, she actually lifted her pajama top, revealing her snow-white belly, and gave it a pat.

Xu Lai didn't even get a glimpse before Ruan Tang kicked out viciously.

Had Xu Lai not dodged in time, that fierce kick would have thoroughly crushed any thought of giving their daughter a little brother or sister.

After all, the country even allows a second child now. You can't go against national policy, honey! Besides, Ruan Lan was the one who lifted her own shirt. I didn't even look. Isn't my wife overreacting a little…

Deeply exasperated, Xu Lai turned and headed upstairs. "I'm going to go cover our daughter. She kicked her blanket off again."

After Xu Lai left, Ruan Tang said irritably, "Ruan Lan! Have some decency! Your brother-in-law is a normal adult man. Do you have any idea how… suggestive your actions just now were?"

"Very suggestive?" Ruan Lan flicked her hair. "It seems being too beautiful is a burden sometimes. I'll be more careful in the future, Sis."

"..."

Ruan Tang fell silent, then hurried after Xu Lai to apologize.

She was wrong. She figured Xu Lai probably had no interest in her sister. Some beautiful women are, in reality, lovable lunatics comparable to a husky. Ruan Lan, for instance… And setting aside whether Xu Lai is a scumbag or not, even if he were a true scumbag, he wouldn't stoop so low as to actually make a move on a human-shaped husky, would he?

"It's all Xu Lai's fault for letting you eat so much," Ruan Tang sighed as she returned to her room.

「That night.」

Ruan Tang rested her head on Xu Lai's arm, her eyes flickering as she gazed at the bright moon through the window, unable to sleep.

Recently, despite the occasional minor conflict or misunderstanding, Ruan Tang had realized that her relationship with Xu Lai was growing closer and closer.

So close that… she would sometimes get the disorienting feeling that Xu Lai really was the husband she'd been married to for years. Their life was as placid as water, but it was punctuated by occasional, small surprises.

Ruan Tang was immensely fond of this and enjoyed it thoroughly.

When she was tsundere, Xu Lai indulged her.

When she got angry, Xu Lai comforted her.

When she was tearing her hair out over work, Xu Lai would quietly take care of everything.

A man like this… If I put my biases aside, he's the kind of man you couldn't find even if you searched with a lantern.

"If only you hadn't suddenly vanished five years ago… How wonderful would that have been…"

Filled with regret, Ruan Tang slowly drifted into her dreams.

Xu Lai, in turn, shut down his Divine Sense and his five senses, closing his eyes to rest. His wife had been especially adorable today, and he was reluctant to pull away.

But in the middle of the night…

Xu Lai was jolted awake by a sudden pain in his chest. He quickly opened his eyes to see Ruan Tang staring at him with reddened eyes. "Xu Lai, you've changed."

I've changed? I haven't changed!

Dark lines appeared on Xu Lai's forehead. "Honey, why are you hitting me instead of sleeping?"

"You were actually together with Ruan Lan in my dream."

"..."

Xu Lai's mouth twitched. "You know it was a dream, right?"

"What you think of by day, you dream of by night. If you didn't have feelings for Ruan Lan, why would I dream of that? I can't believe you're that kind of person. You scumbag!"

"Uh."

Xu Lai frowned, thinking it over. Her logic seems sound, but something about it feels off.

Just as he was about to meticulously deconstruct the issue with Ruan Tang, she went limp and collapsed softly back into his arms, fast asleep again.

Her beautiful face, illuminated by the moonlight, made Xu Lai feel utterly helpless. "I must have really owed you in my past life."

Yet, his voice held a private sort of happiness he wouldn't share with just anyone.

Having such a jealous wife… was pretty nice.

「The night passed.」

Ruan Tang and Xu Lai opened their eyes at the same time. As their gazes met, Ruan Tang spoke first. "Morning."

"Morning."

Xu Lai sat up and said seriously, "About that dream you had yesterday, I think…"

Ruan Tang blinked her lovely eyes and replied, "I didn't dream last night. I slept straight through till morning."

Xu Lai: ???

He was stunned. "You said I was with Ruan Lan in your dream, and you even hit me. Have you forgotten?"

"I don't think so," Ruan Tang's face flushed. Having done something like that after being woken up in a sleepy daze, there was no way she could admit to it now. That would be way too embarrassing!

"All right then."

What else could he do? If you love her, you forgive her.

He got up to make breakfast, then took his daughter to kindergarten and his wife to her company. After being away for several days, Xu Lai finally returned to work at Dongli University.

「At the same time.」

At the Wan Family estate in East Sea City, a white-haired elder stood respectfully outside the door. Despite the piercingly cold wind, he leaned on his cane, standing as firm as a pine.

"Grandpa, please go back inside. It's cold out here."

Beside the old man stood a young woman. She was the eldest granddaughter of the Wan Family, the descendant her grandfather doted on the most.

The Wan Family was a wealthy family with a four-hundred-year heritage. Their ancestors had made their fortune smuggling salt, only gradually transitioning to legitimate businesses. Their descendants were diligent and knew the value of hard work. Generation after generation had striven to build the family up until they became the foremost wealthy family in East Sea City.

Furthermore, Wan Li, from the direct bloodline, was a great credit to her lineage. She had become a Martial Artist, and though she was only an average Fifth Grade, she had been accepted as a disciple by a prominent Seventh Grade Grandmaster from The North. This further solidified the Wan Family's status in East Sea.

"Lili, your master is a Martial Ancestor and your elder. For him to attend the Sea Temple Festival on behalf of our Wan Family is a huge favor, and we must not treat him with the slightest neglect," Old Master Wan said cheerfully. "What's a bit of cold wind to these old bones? As long as we can secure the rights to govern Sea Temple Island for the next ten years, our Wan Family… might just be able to reach an even higher level!"

Ten years. How many ten-year periods does any family get? The reason the Wan Family had weathered four hundred years of turmoil was precisely because they had made the most correct choice within each decade.

And for this decade, their bet was on their granddaughter Wan Li's master, Xu Huang.

Wan Li was lost in thought.

"Granddaughter, you must remember, our Wan Family has seven branch families besides our main line, yet I only brought you here to greet him," Old Master Wan chuckled. "It's not just because Martial Ancestor Xu is your master. It's also because… among the younger generation, I have the most faith in you. Do not disappoint me."

That single sentence was as good as naming her the future Family Head of the Wan Family. Wan Li's eyes welled up. She felt no joy, only the sting of tears. Her grandfather's health was declining by the day; he was clearly making arrangements for after his passing.

"He's here!"

When Old Master Wan saw the familiar license plate appear before his eyes, he couldn't help but tremble.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.