"Um...?"

Under Ruan Lan's ruthless discipline, Qian Xiao completely surrendered. He collapsed, crying out, "Auntie Ruan Lan, I was wrong! Please don't hit me anymore!"

"How old will I be in twenty years?" Ruan Lan gave him a sidelong glance. "Seize this opportunity, kid."

"Eighteen..." Qian Xiao said weakly.

"Uh-huh."

Only then did Ruan Lan nod in satisfaction. She was forever a beautiful young girl in the prime of her life. Even if her appearance changed a hundred years from now, her heart would always remain the same.

That should have been the end of it.

But Qian Xiao just had to push his luck and quipped, "By then, I'll be twenty-six. Call me 'Bro'!"

Years later, when Qian Xiao recalled this day, he had completely forgotten the torment he had suffered after making that cheeky comment. He only remembered that the afternoon sun was warm and that the giant panda at Haitang Court was exceptionally adorable. As for the various sets of girls' clothes he was forced to wear… well, they fit surprisingly well.

When Luo Chu came to pick up her son that evening and saw Qian Xiao in what was clearly Yiyi's little pink dress, she burst into a fit of laughter. Not only did she gleefully snap a couple of photos, but she also sent them to her husband along with a voice message.

"I told you our son would be very pretty if he were a girl, but you didn't believe me. Do you believe me now?"

"Mom!"

Qian Xiao was extremely aggrieved. He had been Ruan Lan's Barbie doll for the entire afternoon, forced to change into dozens of different outfits. The torment was enough to make him want to cry, but no tears would come.

My own mother! Your son was just humiliated, yet you can still laugh out loud? You can't be my real mom!

At this point, even Xu Lai felt a little sympathy for Kid Qian. Poor kid. I wonder what the size of his psychological shadow is right now.

"Sorry, son, Mom just couldn't help it," Luo Chu said, trying to suppress her laughter. "But look, it actually fits you quite well."

As she spoke, she took two more pictures and added, "Son, hold the hem of your dress and do a little jump. Let Mom post it to her Moments."

"..."

Qian Xiao completely shut down.

The only thing that brought him a little warmth was Yiyi's attempt to console him.

"Qian Xiao, you look prettier in a dress than I do." Xu Yiyi patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Next time, I'll ask Mom to buy me two dresses and save one for you."

Qian Xiao was incredibly touched.

Now, that's a true boss! Always thinking of me, unlike my unscrupulous Auntie Ruan Lan and my own mother. They're just awful!

"Thank you, Sister Yiyi," Qian Xiao said. "But just ask Auntie Ruan Tang to buy me boys' clothes, not a dress. It would be even better if she bought matching couple outfits for kids."

The next thing he knew, Qian Xiao was being tossed out the door by the scruff of his neck by Xu Lai.

I sent you to console my daughter, not to hit on her!

On the way down the mountain, Luo Chu said with a teasing smile, "Son, do you like Yiyi?"

"I like the Boss Lady the most!" Qian Xiao replied.

Before Luo Chu could ask anything else, he continued, "I also love Dad and Mom. And even though Uncle Xu and Auntie Ruan Lan always bully me, I like them too."

Uh. That's not the kind of 'like' I meant...

Luo Chu didn't say this out loud. Instead, she patted her son's head and said, "So you have to become even better to always stay by Yiyi's side, okay?"

"Like, what should I do to be better?" Qian Xiao asked, looking puzzled.

"For starters, finish all your food at every meal. Then, go to your tutoring classes on time and always listen to me. Let's start with those. I'll add more when I think of them."

"Okay!" Qian Xiao nodded, only half-understanding.

Luo Chu had no idea what kind of seed her simple words had just planted in Qian Xiao's heart. Even less did she know that her son's "okay" was a promise that would last a lifetime.

***

「That Evening」

After dinner, Xu Lai lay in bed with his wife in his arms. He hesitated for a long time before finally telling her about Yiyi getting into a fight with the other children. Although Yiyi had repeatedly told him not to tell Ruan Tang, fearing her mom would get angry and worried, Xu Lai felt he had to.

Ruan Tang was indeed furious. She smacked the pillow hard and fumed, "What right does that woman have to curse our daughter! If I ever meet her, I'll—"

"You'll what?" Xu Lai asked.

"I'll curse her to death!"

"...You know how to curse?"

Xu Lai was shocked, as if he had discovered a new continent. Since coming to Earth, he had almost never heard Ruan Tang swear.

"Of course, I do," Ruan Tang hesitated. "Does 'get lost' count?"

"Barely."

"I know others, too. Um..."

After hemming and hawing for a long time, Ruan Tang still couldn't come up with another phrase. She finally sulked, "Next time we run into her, you can do the cursing for me."

"Deal," Xu Lai chuckled. "Our daughter slapped the woman, and they even knelt to apologize. Don't be angry anymore. Let's get some sleep."

Ruan Tang nodded. She tossed and turned in Xu Lai's embrace until she found the most comfortable position, then closed her beautiful eyes. Soon, her breathing became deep and even.

After tucking her in, Xu Lai resumed weaving the wedding dress.

The days that followed were peaceful and warm. In a flash, it was time for the biggest event of the decade for the thirteen coastal cities—the Sea Temple Festival.

Recently, Sea Temple Island had been decorated with all sorts of banners, and the commercial atmosphere was thick. Vendors from all over the country flocked to set up stalls, and the island's commercial streets were packed with people. Both locals and tourists wanted to join in on the excitement. The sixty-minute fireworks display held each night was especially popular, attracting countless couples.

With just over a dozen hours left until the official start of the Sea Temple Festival, Ruan Tang brought Yiyi to watch the fireworks. The brilliant colors lit up the night sky, drawing gasps of admiration from passersby and couples alike.

As a particularly bright firework exploded overhead, Xu Lai couldn't resist wrapping his arm around his wife's fragrant shoulders. Ruan Tang didn't dodge or push him away; instead, she leaned closer into his embrace.

Her younger sister, Ruan Lan, saw this small gesture and instantly felt a pang of jealousy.

Damn it. I told them I wanted to stay home and watch anime, but they insisted on dragging me out to see fireworks. I finally get it. My sister and brother-in-law tricked me into coming out to babysit so they could have fun. And if tricking me into babysitting wasn't bad enough, they've been shoving their PDA in my face the whole time... Is it some new trend to lure single people out of their homes just to torment them?

"One day, when I get my hands on a sword, I'll slay every couple in the world!" Ruan Lan muttered sourly. "My dear, where are you? If you don't show up soon, I'm going to..."

She trailed off. In the crowd, she suddenly spotted two familiar figures. One was her best friend, Yu Xiaoxiao. The other—

Wasn't that Hu Yanjie, the president of the Martial Arts Club at Dongli University?

HISS!

Ruan Lan was shocked. She suddenly remembered that Xiaoxiao had gone to the meeting in her place that day, intending to clarify that the bet was off.

Could it be that those two really got together?

She didn't feel the slightest bit upset. Instead, filled with excitement, she ran over and slapped Yu Xiaoxiao on the shoulder, grinning. "You old spinster, someone finally wants you!"

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