Invincible Dad

In a good mood, Xu Lai slept soundly.

The next morning, Ruan Tang drove, taking Xu Lai and their daughter to a department store downtown. Her younger sister, Ruan Lan, was fashionably late.

When she saw Xu Lai, her delicate nose twitched. "Sis, why is he here?"

"Show some respect. He's your brother-in-law," Ruan Tang glowered.

"Hmph, if he wants to be my brother-in-law, he can try again in a hundred years!"

Unlike her sister, who was dressed in a long white dress and exuded an ethereal yet icy demeanor, Ruan Lan was cool and casual in a T-shirt and denim shorts. Her long, pale legs in flip-flops were simply stunning.

However, as Xu Lai's gaze swept over Ruan Lan's A-cup scenery, he sighed.

They're blood sisters. How can the difference be so vast?

"Xu, what are you staring at!" Ruan Lan said warily.

"At your assets."

"I don't have any assets," Ruan Lan pouted.

"Then how did you afford an airport?"

"AHH! You flirtatious man!" Ruan Lan charged at Xu Lai, flailing her arms. "I'll bite you to death!"

"Mommy, what's an airport?" Xu Yiyi asked innocently.

Ruan Tang massaged her forehead. "Go ask your aunt later."

PFFT!

Her sister's words were a critical hit.

Ruan Lan snorted. "Fine, Ruan Tang. As if bullying me alone wasn't enough, now you've brought an accomplice, have you? I, Ruan Lan, will never surrender!"

"Stop talking such nonsense in public," Ruan Tang frowned. Her sister was fine for the most part, but she had a tendency to be dramatic, probably from watching too many romance shows.

"Hmph." Ruan Lan shot Xu Lai a death glare, her eyes seeming to say, 'You just wait!'

Shopping with a beautiful woman was a pleasure. Xu Yiyi held her aunt's hand, and the two chatted and laughed about something or other.

Ruan Lan glanced over, and her spirits lifted. She noticed that not only were Xu Lai and Ruan Tang walking a meter apart, but there was also no interaction between them at all. They didn't look anything like an engaged couple deeply in love.

Are they really just faking it for Yiyi's sake? Ruan Lan had long suspected as much, but before it was just a doubt. Now... she had to verify it!

"Sis, you're engaged to him, right?" Ruan Lan asked.

"He has a name—Xu Lai. And he's your brother-in-law."

"So when are you getting married?"

"It's not decided yet."

"Oh. Sis, look at those people up ahead holding hands and hugging. What's their deal?"

"They're couples or spouses. It's perfectly normal for them to do that," Ruan Tang said calmly. "If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you beating around the bush?"

"Well, you and him..." Ruan Lan said meaningfully, "you're walking a meter apart without saying a word, just like strangers."

Ruan Tang froze.

Busted!

Luckily, Xu Lai reacted quickly. He took Ruan Tang's hand and smiled. "Your sister is just shy."

Ruan Tang wanted to pull her hand away, but when she saw her daughter's big, adorable eyes, she just hummed in agreement.

"Really?" Ruan Lan grew even more suspicious. Her sister's expression was unnatural, and her movements were stiff.

"Do you want us to perform a kiss for you right here?" Xu Lai asked with a grin.

Ruan Tang's heart skipped a beat.

"Pah, shameless!" Ruan Lan huffed, turning to leave. "Yiyi, let's go."

Watching the tall and small figures walk away, Ruan Tang struggled to pull her hand free, but then she heard Xu Lai say, "Your sister is very shrewd. Don't let her see any cracks in the act."

Ruan Tang bit her lip and said nothing more.

They shopped all morning, with Ruan Tang and Ruan Lan buying a huge pile of clothes for Xu Yiyi. Xu Lai's two hands were barely enough to carry all the bags.

As evening approached, Ruan Lan received a phone call. Her radiant face gradually turned listless as she finally responded, "Yeah, I know."

Then, forcing a smile, she said, "Sis, I've got something to do, so I'll head out first."

"Is it about the arranged marriage?" Ruan Tang's expression grew serious.

"No, a classmate invited me to karaoke," Ruan Lan said, subconsciously touching her nose.

Ruan Tang fell silent. Ruan Lan always touched her nose when she lied.

She took her sister's arm and said in a low voice, "I'm going back to the Ruan Family home with you."

"Sis, are you crazy?" Ruan Lan said in a panic. "Grandpa said that if you ever dared to set foot in the Ruan Family home again, he'd break your legs! You—"

"You're my own sister," Ruan Tang said solemnly. "I can't just stand by and watch the rest of your life be ruined for the sake of the family's interests."

"Sis, it's fine," Ruan Lan said, pretending not to care. "Marrying into the Fang Family is great! They're a true wealthy family, much stronger than our Ruan Family."

Just then, Xu Lai's phone rang. It was Fang An, the Third Grade Martial Artist from the Fang Family.

Fang An's tone was respectful. "Mr. Xu, are you free tomorrow? I will be going to the Ruan Family home on behalf of the Fang Family to reject the marriage alliance. I was hoping you could be there to witness it."

Xu Lai thought for a moment and accepted.

Although my sister-in-law gives me endless grief, I still treat her sister like my first love.

After hanging up, Xu Lai said, "That settles it. Tomorrow, your sister and I will go back with you."

Ruan Lan was terrified. "Xu, are you trying to get my sister killed?!"

Xu Lai just smiled without explaining.

Everything will be resolved tomorrow.

A worried Ruan Lan followed them home. She insisted she would go back by herself tomorrow, but there was no way Ruan Tang would agree. The discussion dragged on late into the night, and since it was too late to let her go back to campus alone, Ruan Tang had her sister stay over.

But that created a problem: Ruan Lan was sleeping in the guest room.

What about Xu Lai?

"Ruan Lan, why don't you sleep with Yiyi and me tonight?"

"I'm an adult. No." Ruan Lan refused as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. With a strange look, she said, "Or could it be that you and Xu Lai really are a fake couple? Otherwise, what kind of engaged couple sleeps in separate rooms?"

Ruan Tang silently cursed her oversight but kept her expression calm. "I was hoping we could have a heart-to-heart, but if you're not willing..." She then turned to Xu Lai and called out, "What are you standing there for? It's time for bed!"

"Alright," Xu Lai replied.

Wow, my sister-in-law's assist was almost too good, wasn't it? he thought. She's a bit spoiled and dramatic, but... why do I suddenly find her kind of cute?

Noticing Xu Lai's gentle, fatherly smile, Ruan Lan shivered and slammed her door shut.

In the master bedroom, Xu Yiyi had already plopped down in the middle of the bed. She happily patted the empty spaces on either side of her. "Daddy, Mommy, come on! Time for sleep!"

Ruan Tang was silent for a long while.

Seeing this, Xu Lai chuckled. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "We'll get Yiyi to sleep first, then I'll go sleep on the couch."

Ruan Tang was a little surprised. She had figured any normal man would take this opportunity to press his advantage. But Xu Lai was being such a gentleman... She felt a pang of shame for having measured a noble man with her own petty standards.

"Come on, Yiyi," Xu Lai said, lying on his side and propping his head up with his arm. He smiled. "How about Daddy tells you a bedtime story tonight?"

"Not Snow White or The Princess and the Pea again. Yiyi wants to hear something different," Xu Yiyi pouted, making Ruan Tang feel a bit awkward.

"Alright!" Xu Lai chuckled. "Daddy will tell you a story about a human who was invincible throughout the universe for one hundred thousand years!"