My only small complaint was hoping Su Liumeng wouldn’t use that as an excuse to pin me under her on our wedding night.
As a former boy, I still had some dignity and a little pride.
After all, I had always regarded Su Liumeng as my girlfriend.
As for how Su Liumeng thought of me…
Wait—she seemed to think of me as her girlfriend too?
Maybe even like a little sister.
Forget it. I was ready to step back further.
To be honest, I no longer really saw myself as male; my thinking was almost indistinguishable from a girl’s.
Once I accepted that, I stopped worrying about who was on top or bottom.
There was some hierarchy among girls, but it wasn’t that clear or important.
It mostly depended on prior habits; some people really didn’t care about such things.
No!
My lively thoughts suddenly paused.
How had I already placed myself in the bottom role?
Never mind.
It was Su Liumeng anyway; top or bottom didn’t matter.
I didn’t care much, just a little bit of imagined pride playing tricks.
Unknowingly, I had lowered my own bottom line again and again.
You see, when you don’t love someone, even a cheap milk tea needs to be split evenly and counted.
But when you truly love someone, those things become trivial; who argues about a few cups of milk tea every day with the one they love?
Loving someone’s soul means wanting to live with her, spending life together.
The starting point was never about the three inches of bedding, so naturally, you wouldn’t cling stubbornly to one position.
“Aiya—”
I looked at the blood bead sprouting again on my finger and covered the wound.
This time it was a bit deep. I pinched the spot, eyes watering.
“Mommy.”
“You were spacing out just now?”
Zhizhi secretly threw out a ghostly aura, wrapping the wound. Soon, no more fresh blood seeped out.
I thought it was my blood platelets overactive, able to stop bleeding instantly. I had no idea it was all thanks to some little bundle.
With the bleeding stopped, only a slight pain remained.
I pinched the wound a little longer, secretly patting my flushed little face.
No more daydreaming.
How could I be thinking about other things while embroidering?
Who was it that confidently promised a single outfit was no problem but ended up with a pierced finger in front of their daughter?
I was a little embarrassed.
The little bundle must have noticed my discomfort and didn’t bring up the incident again, letting me slide past with my hypnosis intact.
Su family.
Elders’ council.
The Fourth Elder, still dusty from travel, had just sat down on a bench—his bottom not yet warm—when the Great Elder summoned him back.
Obviously, Su Liumeng was behind this.
The Fourth Elder was middle-aged, shorter than the Great Elder by a generation.
Among the named elders, only the first three were of the same generation.
“Su Liumeng brought back a girl. Here are both their birth details. Pick a good date to set their wedding day.”
The Fourth Elder had just returned, disconnected for some time, and this was the first time he heard about it.
His face fell instantly. “Great Elder, I didn’t quite hear what you said, could you say it again?”
He preferred to think he was hard of hearing than doubt the Great Elder’s words.
The Great Elder stroked his beard and repeated himself.
“?”
The Fourth Elder looked at the bright-eyed, delicate girl in front of him.
He shouldn’t be mistaken—this was the newly born little phoenix of the Su family, right?
What had the Great Elder said just now? That she was getting married?
The Fourth Elder’s eyelids twitched violently.
He’d been away in a secret realm for two years, and in just two years without contact with the modern world, he was already out of touch with young people’s thoughts?
Calm.
In front of juniors, he had to keep calm.
Seeing the Great Elder so composed, the Fourth Elder silently warned himself not to embarrass himself by acting like a clueless old man.
So he remained composed, as if listening to something ordinary, while fiddling with his Buddhist beads.
“This—shouldn’t be difficult.”
“I can naturally interpret a marriage between two girls.”
“Not hard at all.”
To prove his point, the Fourth Elder emphasized again and added, “I’ve handled several similar cases before. Rest assured, I’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow.”
At night, the Fourth Elder, who had been confident during the day, stared at the dim stars above, almost pulling his hair out.
Something was wrong.
According to the birth data interpretation, the bride’s surname was Si. The Red Phoenix Star was active. She had a beloved partner and was heavily pregnant, with only two months left until birth.
The more the Fourth Elder checked, the deeper his frown grew.
The young lady the Su family intended to formally marry was a noble daughter from another great family.
Even if the situation was a bit strange, this result was obviously wrong. How could she be a pregnant girl?
Where was the mistake?
The Fourth Elder refused to accept it, calculating again and again. The result never changed.
He decided to take the birth data sheet and ask the Great Elder directly.
He wanted to see how the Great Elder got the birth data of a heavily pregnant woman—maybe he had the wrong paper.
The Great Elder looked at the visitor and immediately laughed.
Who was it who had confidently said earlier that there was no problem?
It wasn’t even midnight, and the Fourth Elder couldn’t wait to come find him.
“You’re not mistaken. That child is indeed Yu Xi’s. Hurry and calculate an auspicious date.”
Hearing the Great Elder’s reply, the Fourth Elder nearly crumpled the paper.
What had he just heard?
Was he hard of hearing, or had the world become incomprehensible to him?
“Did you just say Su Liumeng, that little girl, got another girl her age pregnant?”
“I’m not well-educated, don’t lie to me.”
The Fourth Elder had been schooled in traditional private schools and was very serious and old-fashioned.
“No one is lying to you. This is the truth, no need for doubt.”
Seeing the Great Elder’s firm conviction, the Fourth Elder nodded blankly, unable to discern truth from falsehood.
In his mind, the Great Elder was virtuous and respected—how could he lie?
“The world is full of wonders; strange things happen all the time.”
The Great Elder suddenly realized that this phrase Si Liumeng once told him was quite useful.
It fit perfectly in various odd situations. When no explanation was available, just say it—it always worked.
The wise and inscrutable Great Elder said, “You must try to accept it, not doubt it.”
“Reasonable.” The Fourth Elder nodded. “This world is indeed mysterious, with many unknown secrets.”
Wait—this phrase sounded familiar.
The Great Elder thought so too.
Wasn’t that his own answer the first time he heard Si Liumeng speak?
He looked at the Fourth Elder with a complex expression, as if looking at a former self.
“Thank you for the lesson.” The Fourth Elder bowed, “So Yu Xi is also a blessed person. Even before the wedding, she already has a gifted daughter.”
“I’ll have the answer by tomorrow.” The Fourth Elder immersed himself in research, lowering his head to consider how to interpret the data as he left the Great Elder’s courtyard.
Seeing this, the Great Elder felt a bit guilty.
He had just joked casually.
Who knew the Fourth Elder, an old scholar obsessed with divination, would believe him outright?
Strange indeed.
Hiss—
Just as he thought this, the Great Elder gasped.
The more you say something, the more you tend to believe it yourself.
It seemed…
Si Liumeng had never lied.
She had always done her utmost to protect her beloved child.
It never felt like a game to her but rather like paving the way for her own child.
There was no hint of disappointment from being a replacement.
No matter the matter, if it concerned the little girl, she was all in—fighting with full spirit.
Could it be—
The world was truly full of wonders?
Was the child really Yu Xi’s?
The Great Elder fell into silence and self-doubt.
Moments ago, he joked about how strict the Fourth Elder was, but now his self-doubt was just as strong, even to the point of questioning his own life.
*****
The next day.
The entire Su family was steeped in festive atmosphere.
Countless servants hung red lanterns everywhere—on branches and eaves—symbolizing joy.
“Baby.”
“Do you want a simplified wedding or…”
I looked down at the fabric in my hands, speaking casually, “Either is fine.”
“Hmm.” Su Liumeng added, “Then it’ll be the latter—a grand, unforgettable wedding.”
“Casual” never meant casual.
Su Liumeng knew exactly how women’s minds worked—casual always meant choosing what she really wanted.
I slowly raised my head, “How did you know I preferred the latter?”
“Simple. You always say you don’t care, but actually you’re more excited than anyone about this wedding. So naturally, you want the ceremony to be meaningful and not half-hearted.” Su Liumeng replied.
I sneered, “People don’t have to be that smart.”
Su Liumeng laughed, “I already made two plans—one omitting the bride-receiving ceremony, one more complicated. I’ll arrange a big mansion for you to receive the bride. The usage rights are registered under your name, so it belongs solely to you. Even I have nothing to do with it.”
“It’ll be convenient when you argue with me later. When you’re unhappy, you’ll have somewhere to go. Since the house is yours, if you don’t open the door, I can’t get in.”
“How’s that? Happy? Thoughtful arrangement, right?” Su Liumeng held my little face, forcing my gaze from the needle and thread to hers.
I smiled sweetly and rewarded her with a kiss, “Happy.”
I hummed a tune I didn’t know.
Usually quiet, I didn’t express much emotion.
But this time, Su Liumeng actually heard what I was singing from my vague tone.
【Even if the rain falls】
【I’m waiting for your answer】
“What song is that?” Su Liumeng tapped my nose. I tilted my head, “A sad love song. Very beautiful.”
“Why do you listen to such songs?”
“When in love, I listen to sad songs; when broken up, I listen to passionate love songs. I’m a long-lasting rebel.”
Su Liumeng: “…”
As expected from my Xin Xin—always with her unique quirks.
I carefully folded the half-embroidered sleeve into my jade bracelet, then slowly got up from the bed’s edge.
“Do you want me to move to the manor now?”
“Not yet. It’s too crowded there, and it’d be inconvenient for you now. It’s easier to take care of you here at the Su family. Just come a few days before the wedding.”
“They’re also setting up the bride-receiving venue there. There’ll be a wedding banquet on the big day, very lively.”
“Oh, and Chunqiao will be your personal maid, accompanying you as part of your dowry. There are two other very sensible little maids. You should get to know them later.”
“Hmm.” Just as I thought, Su Liumeng was incredibly capable. I didn’t need to think at all—just enjoy being a salted fish.
I looked at the girl before me, no longer hiding her true self, only covering the two dragon horns on her forehead.
She dressed casually inside the house, revealing two fair, stunning thighs that caught my eye.
My gaze paused. I reached out a little hand and poked her chest, emphasizing clearly, “Don’t tempt me. I won’t change the type I like.”
“I’m not tempting you.” Su Liumeng sat in the chair, elegantly crossing those long legs that could almost kill me. I bit my lip in frustration and looked away with difficulty.
“Who doesn’t know what type my Xin Xin likes?”
“I’m already backing off.”
I said gloomily, “Devious woman.”
“Sisters or concubines, I know the difference.”
Su Liumeng’s eyes shifted, “Isn’t that the title of that book on your shelf?”
Me: “.”
“It’s on the bottom shelf, how did you find it?”
I’d thrown away all other books, but this one was too excellent to discard.
It was the last copy and I wanted to keep it as a treasure.
December 20th—Wedding day.
This was the best date the Fourth Elder had calculated, matching our birth data perfectly.
A good date was indispensable.
Not just the wedding night but even the time of the wedding ceremony had strict standards, symbolizing the fate that would bring us together.
“The wedding clothes are still being embroidered, should be ready in a few days.” Su Liumeng didn’t tempt me anymore but gently held my little hand, ready to take me out for a walk.
“Will there be phoenixes on the wedding dress?” I asked innocently. First time marrying someone else, and as the bride, I was curious.
“Of course. There will be nine phoenixes.”
“Phoenix, not just a feng.” Su Liumeng smiled, “A phoenix is the same species but a different gender. Our wedding clothes usually have the pattern ‘Feng Qiuhuang’ (Phoenix Seeking Phoenix). But at my request, it’s been changed to Dragon Seeking Phoenix.”
“After all, I’m not a boy.” She tilted her head, meeting my gaze.
“What? Mimicking me again?” I fixed my head and gave her a powerless glare.
I hadn’t forgotten how much of a mimic she was.
“I like you.” Su Liumeng said boldly.
My eyes darted, and I made a move to grab her, “Stop right there. Don’t run.”
She seemed to have guessed my intention, her silver bell laughter floating farther, “Come catch me. When you catch me, I won’t run.”
So annoying! I gnawed my teeth in frustration, but with this big belly, I couldn’t catch her.
I stomped my foot and threatened the girl ahead.
“Su Liumeng!”
“Stop right there!!”
“I’m going to check if you’re still wearing matching outfits with me.”
“If you don’t stop, no bed for you tonight.”