The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 564: Vinegar for Momo

Chapter 564: Vinegar for Momo

With great power comes even greater responsibility. And the two cubs, had the power of cuteness, so much sweetness could be found in their little gummy smiles that Xu Feng was seriously worried about diabetes.

Was there a treatment for diabetes in this world? There should be.

It was a risk, but one Xu Feng had to take. The other option was to abandon his haul or leave the task of sorting and retrieving items solely to Xu Zeng. Xu Hu Zhe wasn’t able to enter the space, they tried.

It would be unfair to overwork his brother, and not himself.

To be fair, Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang knew about Xu Feng’s space...theoretically, at this point, but he wasn’t going to argue with anyone over him going or not going into his co-owned space. And if they knew the doorway out of his space didn’t lead directly back to Dongmen, they likely wouldn’t let Xu Feng enter their space anymore.

That wasn’t an option. His haul damn it!

They had been working diligently for three days after their first night back, but Bai Mo had been absent after the first night. He was whisked back to his own residence by his ever-efficient head steward. The man trusted by the former heads of the Bai family of Yilin Town, the Bai and Deng couple, was protective of his remaining master.

After his departure, the Bai Residence sent multiple messages in the days. But Xu Feng knew the other ger should be preparing for the Juren Exam in less than 7 days. It was a countdown to suffering in his opinion.

Bai Mo had spent much of the last three months with Xu Feng’s family. It wasn’t certain if he was prepared to take the Juren exam. It should be much harder than the exam they took in the spring. And if he was being honest, Xu Feng likely only passed because of his brother’s foundation, and Xuan Yang’s support while he studied.

If Momo was able to pass the Juren Exam even after spending so much time caring for Xu Feng’s family, he would take the final exam, the Jinshi Exam, next fall—which would qualify him for an imperial position or just the status that came with the title depending on his scores and ambitions.

... It was a pretty big deal. Even if Xu Feng had given up on his studies in this world, he knew the legacy Bai Mo carried on his shoulders. The fact his friend was still sending him messages at this critical time was touching.

And worrying. Very worrying.

That said...

Something about the messages felt strange.

When Xu Si delivered the first one, then the second, and the third, and so on, they were all brief. Short updates. Inquiries about the cubs. Friendly, but rushed.

However, when Xu Feng glanced at his helpers—both Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe—he noticed something odd.

Their messages from Bai Mo were considerably longer.

Not just longer, but detailed and carefully written... at least compared to his sloppy letter. He wasn’t a snob! But after training with Xuan Yang for an entire winter, he could tell the difference in the penmanship. Two letters were always written with care and one was always hurried...

Even worse, Xu Zeng never kept them. Every single letter was passed directly to Xu Hu Zhe, who screened them for any "important information."

His brother was the real snob!

Should Xu Feng be happy his brother was dedicated to their tasks? Or should he feel threatened that his brother and his... other brother—basically—had taken his place with his closest friend in this world?

It should be a good thing...

Still, somehow Xu Feng couldn’t help but pout, he was conflicted, and there was also this sour taste in his mouth.

He wasn’t jealous. Definitely not jealous.

It was a good thing if all his closest people were close, but it still felt strange if they were closer to each other than they were to him. Wasn’t he supposed to be Momo’s closest friend in this world? He didn’t want to give up the position, but...

...

It wasn’t a big deal. It really wasn’t. Still, it felt strange to know that Bai Mo was pouring his thoughts out to Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe while keeping his messages to Xu Feng short and simple.

Xu Feng felt a strange sense of distance that he couldn’t quite ignore.

At the very least, he could now access his space from Nanshan Estate. It wasn’t a perfect system, but at least it meant he didn’t have to abandon his treasure if his husbands were kept in the dark... for now.

The issue of exiting the space, however, was another matter entirely. Attempting to leave on his own still landed him back in Dongmen, as if the space itself recognized that his doorway out remained in the zombie plane. Yet, when Xu Zeng held his hand inside the space, his brother could successfully pull him back to Donghua.

The implications were troubling, but Xu Feng had long since accepted that his ever growing list of absurdities made almost everything seem trivial. What mattered most was that he had a way home, even if it required a little extra effort.

After their first night back, Xu Zeng stayed over in Blooming Courtyard for three consecutive nights.

The first night had been excused due to the sheer drunken loudness of Xu Feng, because of this, the fact that Budding Courtyard was far colder was ignored temporarily.

The second, third night, and fourth nights, however, involved Xu Zeng staying in the spare bedroom in Blooming Courtyard due to sheer exhaustion, and to be closer to his nephews.

The relentless task of sifting through their stockpiles left Xu Zeng utterly drained. What had started as merely sorting baby clothes and diapers had quickly escalated into a full-blown inventory assessment of their entire wealth of items.

It became evident almost immediately that Xu Si had underestimated how much larger the twin cubs were compared to other babies. Most of the clothing she had made was too small, a fact that had left her scrambling to salvage what she could for the young, young masters.

Her efforts persisted until Xu Zeng with some of his usual composure but with a subtle tension in his hands, made a quiet statement that changed everything.

"If my brother is willing, Xu Hu Zhe, Momo, and I found some young babies in need of a home."

Xu Zeng’s tone had been calm, but his clenched fists and carefully measured words betrayed the depth of his nerves. Even Xu Hu Zhe, typically more reserved, seemed confident in the outcome. He had no doubt Xu Feng would agree to take in the two babies he had never even seen or heard of.

And of course, he was right.

More babies? More friends for Xiao An, Xiao Momo, Da Long, and Xiao Long. Xu Feng didn’t even hesitate. It wasn’t as though they would struggle to feed more mouths, and with the amount of gold they now had access to, securing supplies was hardly an issue.

And so, the plan shifted. What had originally been a simple three-day effort of organizing Xu Zeng’s spoils transformed into an impromptu trip, on the fourth day after their return.

The initial excuse had been visiting Bai Momo, and while they still intended to see him, their real priority had changed. First, the two babies needed to be seen too. But there needed to be a reason for their departure from Nanshan Estate. Xuan Jian had asked for a few days before they cleared out their home of those who did not belong, and it was a reasonable request in Xu Feng’s opinion.

He didn’t know what his two husbands were doing in the shadows, but he trusted them to do what was best for their family.

With little delay, their group set out first thing in the morning, their course now leading them not to Momo’s, but to their newest unexpected responsibility.

.

.

.

The crisp autumn air swirled around them, carrying with it the mist of early morning fog. The road to town stretched ahead, lined with golden leaves that had begun their descent from the trees, settling into a blanket of warm hues over the dirt path. The rhythmic clatter of hooves against the ground provided a steady backdrop to the lively scene unfolding within the carriage.

Xu Feng’s smile brightened as he focused on the present while Xiao Long’s delighted squeal rang out, filling the enclosed space with infectious joy.

"Eeeeeeee!"

Not to be outdone, Da Long joined in, his little hands clapping together as he pointed outside with eager insistence. "Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Both boys were mesmerized by the sight of their papa and father riding alongside the carriage, their figures striking against the morning light. The slight fog added an ethereal quality, making Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang appear even more like something out of legend.

Xuan Jian, atop his pristine white stallion, looked like a celestial warrior. His long hair, bound loosely, flowed behind him as he guided the beast with effortless grace. The crisp chill of the morning didn’t seem to bother him, though Xu Feng still frowned slightly at the sight of him without a heavier coat.

His robes were of good quality but not nearly thick enough, in his opinion.

Xuan Yang, on his obsidian-black stallion cut through the mist like a shadow. The animal’s powerful strides were measured, mirroring its rider’s composed demeanor.

There was an undeniable air of control and elegance about him. The way his sharp gaze flickered toward the carriage at every small sound did not go unnoticed by Xu Feng.

His heart clenched.

"They’re showing off," Xu Feng murmured under his breath, shaking his head but unable to stop the warmth from spreading across his chest.