Early in the morning, Xie Meiling fell asleep with a tired look, and Xie Qing himself, wearing a thin robe and holding a ss of wine, sat on the balcony, gazing at the stars in the sky.


    "I... am still not satisfied..." he thought, scratching the back of his head.


    Dragon''s bloodline... it had its pros and cons simultaneously. A strong physical body seemed to be a hindrance in this situation, so even after a long and active session, Xie Qing remained unsatisfied.


    "What aedy..." he sighed.


    ***


    Early in the morning, Xie Qing went out to the garden and began his exercises. Was this at his level of cultivation? Of course not. However, it was part of his daily routine.


    "Phew… phew…"


    Doing push-ups on the grass, Xie Qing had already done two hundred. He was shirtless, which attracted the attention of the female servants.


    "Phew!"


    Getting up from the ground, Xie Qing blinked, seeing a towel extended towards him.


    "Here. You''re a bit sweaty."


    "Oh?"


    The man smiled when he saw the familiar face. It was Fang Lan, who hade to Xie Qing''s estate after finishing her own affairs.


    "I thought you had forgotten about me," Xie Qing said calmly, wiping himself with the towel given by Fang Lan.


    "N-no, of course not!" The girl seemed to panic upon hearing his words and waved her hands: "It''s just that my family''s affairs have been a bit troublesometely, and I had to focus on that… I''m sorry for not paying attention."


    "It was a joke. I don''t mind, don''t worry."


    Xie Qing spoke in the same calm voice. In any case, he truly no longer cared about such things and understood that not everyone could always pay attention to him. With age, everyone has more things to do.


    Throwing the towel over his shoulder, the man looked at Fang Lan, who appeared gloomy – it seemed his joke had hurt her. He sighed.


    "Let''s go inside. I have a few topics to discuss with you."


    "With me?"


    "That''s what I said."


    "…"


    ***


    "Ah? Seriously, he''s already having a second child?"


    Fang Lan seemed to know about the existence of Huang Jing''s first child, but she had no idea about the second one.


    "Yeah. I was already shocked that he became a father, and now he''s having a second child. I must say, Brother Huang has surpassed me in personal life, hah." Xie Qing smiled, recalling the happy face of Huang Jing when he talked about his daughter: "He cares about her very much. It feels like that perverted Brother Huang has be much calmer after getting married. Hahaha!"


    "You''re quite the joker. This marriage became real because of you, you know?" Fang Lan said, pursing her lips and taking a sip of tea.


    "Ah, yes... I just wanted to y a prank on him back then. Who would have known, who would have known..."


    Now that this fact was pointed out, Xie Qing felt embarrassed. He even felt guilty for such an unthoughtful act, but remembering the happy Huang Jing, his heart calmed down.


    "What do children like in this era?" Xie Qing suddenly asked. He met Fang Lan''s puzzled gaze and added: "I want to give a gift to Huang Jing''s daughter. We consider ourselves brothers, and I haven''t given her anything. I feel awkward."


    "Hm... I don''t really know, I''ve never had children..." Fang Lan replied.


    "Hm?"


    Xie Qing met Fang Lan''s mysterious gaze, in which, it seemed, one could see excitement. He thought for a moment and pursed his lips.


    "...Let''s discuss thister. First, let''s figure out what we can give to a child? I have no ideas at all..." the man bitterly smiled.


    "Heh."


    Fang Lan, on the other hand, brightened up after the man''s hint and began to think intensely about the gift, offering ideas.


    Xie Qing listened attentively, propping up his chin, gazing into the green eyes of his beloved.


    ***


    "I''m back, dear."


    Huang Jing entered his bedroom with a smile and saw a beautiful woman sitting at the dressing table. She had long chestnut hair, beautiful blue eyes like a precious gem, and a slender body like a willow.


    "Wee back, dear."


    The woman turned her head with a gentle smile. Her name was Zhao Yuyi, Huang Jing''s wife.


    As soon as she turned, Huang Jing immediately noticed the ratherrge protruding belly. He approached and knelt on one knee, pressing his ear to her belly.


    "Hehe... I can almost hear it," the man said with a happy face.


    "Hehe, dear..." Zhao Yuyi looked at him with a happy smile.


    They cooed like this for a while until Zhao Yuyi sighed and remembered something.


    "Oh, yes. You recently received a letter. It was marked as extremely important. I saved it in your personal cab."


    "Oh? Who could it be..."


    Huang Jing raised an eyebrow. His servants usually marked letters, and in some cases, extremely important markings were given only to influential officials. However, there were few such letters.


    Taking the envelope with the letter from the cab, Huang Jing carefully read the sender and raised an eyebrow in confusion.


    "Xie Qing? What does this guy want from me?"


    His sworn brother was quite strange but a good guy. And usually, he hated writing letters and preferred to meet in person. Given his wealth, this was a matter of minutes.


    "So..."


    Huang Jing opened the letter, feeling a bit curious. He was interested in what this guy, who hated such formalities, had written to him.


    [I have finished my business at the estate, so I decided to visit you. Let''s skip the luxurious dinner, I want to meet your family. I will arrive tomorrow at three in the afternoon.]


    "…"


    Huang Jing put the letter back in the envelope and began to sweat. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead onto the floor.


    "Dear?"


    Zhao Yuyi was puzzled by his reaction.


    "This... is a disaster..."


    "W-what happened, dear?!"


    ***


    Xie Qing looked puzzled at Huang Jing, who was greeting him and Fang Lan at the gates of his estate.


    "What''s wrong? You look pale," Xie Qing asked, puzzled, examining Huang Jing and stopping at his eyes: "Didn''t you sleep? You look tired."


    "D-don''t worry... it''s just..." Huang Jing hesitated and, looking at Xie Qing''s puzzled face, gathered his courage and awkwardly said: "Could you... cover your face somehow? Just in case..."


    "What?"


    Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, surprised by such a sudden request. Cover his face? Why?


    "Ah..."


    Fang Lan seemed to immediately understand what Huang Jing meant and gave him a sympathetic look. Only Xie Qing did not fully understand what was going on.


    "What for..."


    "Your face. It''s too attractive. He''s afraid you''ll seduce his wife," Fang Lan whispered, making sure Huang Jing didn''t hear.


    "Ah? Why would I do that?"


    "The problem is that... it''s not even up to you."


    "…"


    Xie Qing fell silent. He truly did not understand why Huang Jing was so worried.


    "Don''t worry, everything will be fine," Xie Qing assured him: "I''m not some jerk who would flirt with my friend''s wife."


    "Well..."


    Huang Jing smiled bitterly, and Fang Lan just rolled her eyes. Xie Qing felt offended.


    "But I''m not lying!"


    "We know..."


    "It''s just that... again..." Fang Lan sighed and, waving her fan, opened it and covered half her face, leaving only her eyes, which narrowed at the handsome face of her man. She blushed: "You''re just too handsome. It will attract any woman."


    "…"


    ***


    Xie Qing still refused to wear a mask, as he found it too strange. Huang Jing sighed but did not try to persuade him further.


    "Sir, the table is set, and the Lady and the youngdy are waiting for you..." the maid said, bowing.


    "Very well."


    Huang Jing nodded sternly, then turned to his two guests with a smile and waved his hand.


    "Follow me. I will introduce you."


    They began to ascend the stairs and, after making several turns, reached a spacious hall where a long table stood in the center of the room.


    Next to the table stood two people – a pregnant woman and a little girl who clung to her mother''s hand and leaned against her thigh, looking both interested and nervous.


    "Brother Xie, Sister Fang. This is my family... allow me to introduce them," Huang Jing said gently, standing next to the pregnant woman and cing his hand on her back: "This beauty is my wife, Zhao Yuyi. Brother Xie should remember her brother..."


    "Pleased to meet you, esteemed ones..." Zhao Yuyi nodded to them with a gentle smile: "Forgive me for not being able to bow. In my condition, it is quite difficult..."


    "Do not worry," Xie Qing waved his hands and smiled: "You are the wife of my brother, so I would feel ufortable if you bowed. My name is Xie Qing, and this is my beloved."


    Fang Lan bowed elegantly and introduced herself with a smile.


    "Fang Lan. Although I have only seen you from afar, you are indeed beautiful, Lady. Huang Jing is very fortunate."


    "I am the fortunate one," Zhao Yuyi giggled, covering her mouth as sheughed. Then she pointed to her daughter: "And this is our daughter, Huang Bin" see NovelBin,em,pyr for more