「Half an hour later.」
An aroma wafted from the kitchen, and Xu Yiyi's delicate nostrils twitched. "It smells so good, Mommy! What is Daddy making?"
Ruan Tang hesitated. Should I tell her the truth? But what if it scares her?
Just then, the kitchen door pushed open. Xu Lai walked out with a dish in hand. "Sweetheart, hurry and wash your hands! A heavenly delicacy is served!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
After washing her hands, Xu Yiyi sat down at her chair. Her eyes sparkled as she picked up a piece of what looked like braised pork with her chopsticks.
Then, the little girl froze.
The scene startled Ruan Tang, who asked worriedly, "Yiyi, what's wrong?"
"Mommy, this meat is so delicious! You should try a bite."
"Mommy's not hungry." Ruan Tang shook her head repeatedly. Watching her daughter devour her food, she had no choice but to swallow the words that this was snake meat.
She glared at Xu Lai. How could he feed their daughter something like this? What kind of irresponsible father is he!
Sensing his wife's hostile stare, Xu Lai raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want any?"
"I'm not eating it!"
Ruan Tang sneered, "I, Ruan Tang, would rather starve to death than take a single bite of that stuff."
The moment the words left her mouth, her stomach let out a loud protest.
GRUMBLE.
Ruan Tang looked awkward. She had been so busy with work that she hadn't had time for breakfast or lunch, and now she was starving.
"If you're hungry, just eat some. It will even prolong your life," Xu Lai said with a chuckle.
"I won't eat it!"
"It enhances beauty and preserves eternal youth."
"I won't eat it!"
"Alright then."
Xu Lai shrugged. Although the Boundary of these two Black Dragons wasn't very high—only at the Immortal Venerable Realm—after adding various heavenly materials and earthly treasures from his storage ring as side ingredients, this is no longer just a meal. It's a treasured medicine. A single bite would allow any cultivator to form a Golden Core on the spot!
Since his wife and daughter weren't cultivators, Xu Lai had specifically removed the massive energy from the dragon meat. However, it still possessed the power to completely transform their bodies and extend their lives by a hundred years.
Xu Lai and Xu Yiyi ate with gusto.
Smelling the enticing aroma, Ruan Tang secretly gulped. It smells so good... Maybe... I should just have one bite to taste it. After all, I can't let my daughter eat something Xu Lai made without knowing what it is, can I? What if it's poisoned!
Holding onto the thought of testing it for poison, Ruan Tang picked up her chopsticks and ate a piece of meat the size of her fingernail.
The meat instantly melted in her mouth, turning into a warm current that spread throughout her entire body. It felt as though she were sitting on a warm Cloud Summit, a sensation more comfortable than even the most luxurious full-body spa.
Ruan Tang's beautiful eyes shone. Delicious!
With a half-smile, Xu Lai asked, "How is it?"
"It's average, I guess. A little better than the company cafeteria," Ruan Tang said, though her chopsticks didn't slow in the slightest. At first, she still minded her manners and propriety, taking small, delicate bites, but eventually, she completely disregarded her image. With one hand holding her bowl to sip the soup and the other wielding her chopsticks to grab more meat, she looked every bit a tomboy.
Xu Lai pursed his lips. Ruan Tang is as tsundere and stubborn as ever. Why can't she just admit it's delicious?
A pot of soup.
A plate of meat.
Ruan Tang and Xu Yiyi devoured every last bit, leaving nothing behind.
"I'm so full."
The mother and daughter lay on the couch, patting their stomachs with expressions of utter satisfaction. Meanwhile, Xu Lai quietly cleared the table.
Xu Yiyi looked at the busy Xu Lai, then turned to her mother beside her and stared. "Mommy, you're so pretty!"
Ruan Tang instinctively glanced at the floor-to-ceiling mirror in the living room, and surprise washed over her face. Although her facial features were the same, Ruan Tang felt that her reflection, from her skin and figure to her overall aura, had undergone a tremendous change.
Then she looked at her daughter. Xu Yiyi, who was already as lovely as a porcelain doll, had become even more adorable and beautiful. It was as if all the stars in the sky were hidden in her eyes, making them bright and full of spirit.
Could it be... this really is dragon meat? Ruan Tang, you must be going crazy to believe Xu Lai's nonsense.
Ruan Tang shook her head, casting the absurd idea aside and chalking it up to an illusion from being full and satisfied.
"Ruan Tang, have you ever thought about one day becoming the ruler of the Universe? The birth and death of countless races and star systems would hinge on your every whim. Even the Six Paths of Reincarnation would be under your control." Xu Lai's voice drifted from the kitchen where he was washing dishes. "Would you like that kind of life?"
Ruan Tang thought about it seriously for a minute before replying, "I don't know."
Xu Lai was surprised. "You don't know?"
"What you're talking about is too far-fetched. I can't even imagine it." Holding Xu Yiyi, Ruan Tang said tenderly, "Right now, my only wish is for Yiyi to grow up healthy and happy, doing whatever she loves."
"What about me?" Xu Lai asked, looking at her expectantly.
"Stay away from my daughter and me."
"..."
Xu Lai's mouth twitched. This woman is so cruel!
BUZZ... BUZZ... BUZZ...
Her phone started vibrating on the table. Ruan Tang got up to answer it.
"Sis, I just got word! The Ye Family in Hangcheng has been wiped out by a mysterious expert!"
Hearing the shocked voice of her sister, Ruan Lan, Ruan Tang froze and instinctively glanced at Xu Lai. She remembered him saying that he had brought Yiyi to her only after destroying the Ye Family.
"Sis, say something! What about Yiyi? Is she still with the Ye Family?" Ruan Lan's voice was fraught with anxiety.
"Oh, uh, don't worry. Yiyi is with me," Ruan Tang said, collecting herself.
Ruan Lan was baffled. "What's going on?"
"It's... a long story. I'll explain it to you in person when I get the chance," Ruan Tang said.
"Okay."
After hanging up, Ruan Tang wanted to ask Xu Lai about the Ye Family, but the words caught in her throat. After a long silence, she dialed another number.
Xu Lai listened for a moment from the side and realized she was arranging for their daughter, Xu Yiyi, to be enrolled in kindergarten.
Before long, Ruan Tang let out a long sigh of relief.
"It's settled. Galaxy Kindergarten. We'll take Yiyi there together tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Mommy, I'm sleepy. I wanna sleep," Xu Yiyi mumbled softly.
Ruan Tang hurried to the master bedroom to make the bed. "Yiyi, how about you sleep with Mommy tonight? We'll let Xu Lai sleep in the guest room."
"I want to sleep between Daddy and Mommy."
"This..."
Ruan Tang was dumbfounded. Sleep together? No, absolutely not! I already made that mistake once, I absolutely cannot make it a second time. She shot a look at Xu Lai, signaling with her eyes for him to refuse.
"Daughter, that's a very dangerous idea," Xu Lai said in a grave tone.
"It is," Ruan Tang chimed in.
"But... just this once," Xu Lai continued.
Ruan Tang stared at him in disbelief.
"Mommy, are you really going to say no to Yiyi?" Xu Yiyi asked pitifully, tugging at Ruan Tang's hand.
"I..." Before Ruan Tang could finish, Xu Yiyi's eyes were already brimming with tears. Ruan Tang quickly relented, "Of course not."
"Yay!"
Xu Yiyi's large eyes curved into two smiling crescent moons, making her look absolutely beautiful. She flopped onto the bed and gave Xu Lai a happy wink.
Ruan Tang stomped on Xu Lai's foot, a humorless smile on her face. "You're quite something, using our daughter to achieve your own wicked intentions."
Xu Lai was speechless. How could I possibly do something like that? It was all our daughter. She's just too clever for her own good! She knew there was a rift between Ruan Tang and me and wanted to help. Still, this assist was pretty awesome.
After bathing their daughter, Ruan Tang emerged from the bathroom in a black nightgown. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, and a mature, intellectual aura emanated from her with every glance.
Unfortunately, their daughter had fallen asleep right after her bath, so Xu Lai found himself barred from the room. Gazing at Ruan Tang's calm eyes as she stood by the door, Xu Lai sighed in resignation. "I get it. I'll sleep in the guest room."