The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 570: Bai Residence

Chapter 570: Bai Residence

Once again, with great power came great responsibility.

Being the unfavored young bride of the Xuan family was so hard.

And this wasn’t even a first-world problem—it was a parallel world problem. But still...

Should he be a petty bit$h or a reserved bit3h? That was the question.

Xu Feng rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time.

Their original group was back in the carriage or on horse back, with only Xuan Jian’s men missing as they’d discreetly departed from the now "polluted" backyard of the inn. The four new passengers followed in the ox cart. Jian’s men had insisted that even with Si and San absent, they would be able to settle in the new recruits temporarily with Lee Hua’s help.

Xu Feng hadn’t argued about who to send back to Nanshan Estate. The girls clearly wanted to stay with his children, and Xu Hu Zhe and Xu Zeng wanted to visit Bai Mo—according to Xu Zeng, anyway.

Who was left? His husbands certainly weren’t leaving him. They were too sticky for that.

What else could Xu Feng mull over? His mind kept circling back to that ridiculous woman from the inn. The entire incident had been unnecessary.

That woman had picked on those she assumed had no backing, lording over "Strong Arm" or Xu Hu Zhe for who knew how long. But the moment someone talked back just once, she wet herself...

Such a weakling. The type who only knew how to bully those weaker than her.

Xu Feng sighed, rolling his eyes again. He had been the one to retaliate with words, but who was actually going to take revenge on that woman?

Would it be his iceberg of a husband—the one who was deceptively sweet?

Yes, Xu Feng had started to realize that Xuan Jian wasn’t all that sweet—not when it came to outsiders. Even his sons, as comfortable as they were with their papa, showed a hint of caution when dealing with his strict temperament. The contrast was hard for Xu Feng to ignore. But love meant accepting one’s partner, flaws and all, right?

Then there was Yang. That one’s venom was self explanatory. His snake had a credible excuse—his soul wasn’t whole.

Finally... No, not Xu Hu Zhe. But Xu Zeng.

A year ago, Xu Feng might have continued seeing his brother through rose colored glasses, brushing off his sharp edges. But not anymore. He couldn’t afford to live in a dream world any longer. His loved ones, with all their faults, were more than enough.

And having a petty brother was just fine.

They would be petty together.

Still, that inn owner had run her mouth in front of the wrong group. His family was full of hidden dragons and crouching... snakes.

Xu Feng’s foul mood didn’t last long. As the only other adults in the carriage—Xu Zeng had moved to the front with Xu Hu Zhe—the two girls attempted to stay quiet as their master remained deep in thought. But the four babies were hitting it off far too well.

The two newcomers were nestled in separate baskets—for now. Once they arrived at Nanshan Estate, they would share in some of Xu Feng’s "five finger discounted" baby items.

But Xiao Long wouldn’t stop fussing until Si finally brought him closer to the babies.

From the moment they left the inn until now, as they reached the gates of the Bai Mansion, Xiao Long had been babbling to his new lackeys.

And it wasn’t just Xiao Long.

Da Long, had politely handed over his hand, allowing the more restless baby to use his fingers as a pacifier—or maybe a chew toy.

Xu Feng debated giving the child a real pacifier, but the only ones in the carriage had both been in Xiao Long’s mouth today.

Could he pretend not to see?

It wasn’t exactly sanitary, was it?

But the four babies seemed content, oblivious to anything beyond their tiny world. Xu Feng glanced at Xuan Yang, who watched the scene from outside with unreadable amusement.

They weren’t even home yet, and already, their household had expanded again.

At this rate, Nanshan Estate would be taking in half the continent.

Xu Feng exhaled through his nose. Soon, their numbers would decrease.

The Bai Mansion gates loomed ahead, its familiar presence bringing a mix of nostalgia and exasperation. A part of him wondered if Bai Mo would be waiting for them or if the fox was actually studying finally.

The Bai Mansion gates creaked slightly as they opened, revealing the sprawling residence beyond. Before the carriage had even fully come to a stop, a burst of energy shot forth from the front steps.

Bai Mo.

Like a fox catching sight of prey, the ger sprinted forward with uncontained excitement, his long fox ears twitching atop his head. His voice rang out, sharp and clear across the courtyard.

"Hu Zhe! Zeng! You finally came!"

The two men steering the carriage, Xu Hu Zhe and Xu Zeng, barely had time to react before Bai Mo nearly threw himself toward them.

"Hah! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting, a promise should be kept—"

But just as suddenly as he had exploded with enthusiasm, Bai Mo seemed to remember himself.

Mid stride, his energy cooled slightly, and he forced himself to slow his steps, straightening his posture. A noble ger of the Bai family, even if he was the only one left, had to maintain some dignity.

Still, his fox ears twitched, betraying his excitement as he came to a graceful stop before Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang, who had just dismounted their horses.

With an elegant bow, Bai Mo greeted them properly.

"Master Xuan Jian, Master Xuan Yang," he said smoothly, his voice perfectly modulated. "Welcome to my humble home."

Calling Xuan Yang with a title previously was normal, but now he also addressed Xuan Jian formally. He knew more than he did a year ago, and these two men were worthy of respect.

Xuan Jian’s lips curved slightly, his icy eyes assessing the fox eared ger with quiet amusement. Xuan Yang merely nodded, his expression unreadable.

Bai Mo knew even with the passage of time, once a "wild animal" always a "wild animal." He would keep these thoughts with him till his grave either that or he would meet his final resting place at a young and tender age!

From the driver’s seat, Xu Zeng spoke up, his voice carrying a warmth that was rare for anyone outside his immediate circle.

"Have you been studying well, Momo?"

It was a simple question, but there was something in the way Xu Zeng asked it—something soft, something tender.

Bai Mo’s fox ears twitched again, and for the briefest moment, his cheeks colored faintly. But he recovered quickly, placing his hands together with the poise of a well trained master.

"I’ll do well in three days," he declared calmly and confidently. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "After the exams, I’ll talk to your brother."

A sharp movement from the carriage caught his attention.

Xu Feng.

The silver haired ger who looked eerily similar to the man he was just speaking to popped his head out, his gaze instantly locking onto Bai Mo with an arched brow.

"Talk to me about what?"

Bai Mo froze.

For a single moment, the courtyard was silent. Then, with a flash of movement, Bai Mo turned on his heel—

—and bolted back toward the mansion. He greeted Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang... wasn’t he expecting their husband to be somewhere nearby?

"Nothing! Nothing at all! Welcome! You must be tired from your journey! Come inside!"

Xu Feng narrowed his eyes.

Oh, this fox was hiding something!

At the sound of wheels crunching against the stone courtyard, the head steward finally emerged from the grand entrance of the mansion.

An elderly man, his sharp eyes still bright despite his years, stepped forward with steady grace, his rich blue robes swaying as he moved. His presence was commanding, despite his age—one could tell that he had spent a lifetime maintaining the Bai household’s honor.

His gaze swept over the visitors, pausing briefly on Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang. The moment his eyes landed on the taller man, a flicker of recognition passed through them, and his expression softened into something close to reverence.

"Master Xuan Yang," the old steward greeted with a respectful bow, his voice steady and warm. "It is a great honor to welcome you to the Bai Mansion."

Xuan Yang inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable as always, but the old steward did not take offense. He had long since learned to interpret the subtle ways of powerful men.

Next, the steward turned his attention to Xu Feng, his gaze sweeping over him with the same attentiveness he reserved for Bai Mo. He opened his mouth to offer a greeting—

And then, he saw them.

The babies.

The reaction was immediate.

The old man’s eyes widened, his entire posture shifting from dignified composure to sheer, unfiltered joy. His breath hitched slightly, and without hesitation, he turned and bellowed at the nearest servants, his voice carrying throughout the courtyard.

"Prepare accommodations at once! Suitable bedding, warm milk, soft blankets—hurry!"

The mansion staff, already peeking from the shadows, immediately sprang into motion, scurrying toward the main hall to make the necessary arrangements.

Xu Feng found himself smiling. There was something heartwarming about watching the old steward’s excitement. The scrawnier babies did not dampen his enthusiasm in the slightest—in fact, they seemed to make him even happier.

It was clear that this man had once taken care of Bai Mo with the same tenderness.

Xu Feng gave the older man a nod of appreciation before shifting his attention elsewhere—specifically, toward a certain fox who had fled moments earlier.

Momo.