The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 571: Advice From a Master

Chapter 571: Advice From a Master

With the way the old steward was preparing, one would think Xu Feng’s children were moving into the Bai Mansion permanently. Or at the very least, staying for an extended period of time. Their master’s upcoming exams seemed completely forgotten in favor of the sheer joy surrounding the four babies.

Even as the courtyard bustled with excitement, Xu Feng’s sharp eyes caught something—Bai Mo’s retreating figure slipping past the entryway.

Without hesitation, he moved.

Oh? So the fox had time to chat with his brothers but couldn’t even pretend to make small talk with him? And on top of that, there was clearly a secret!

His steps were quick and silent, silver hair trailing behind him as he closed in on his target.

Bai Mo had nearly reached the safety of the main hall when Xu Feng’s voice rang out softly behind him, teasing yet precise—

"We brought the children."

The reaction was instant.

Bai Mo jolted so hard his fox ears twitched violently, his entire body stiffening as though he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t.

He spun around, eyes wide, his feathers would clearly be ruffled in surprise... if he had them. But the moment the words sank in, all of his defenses crumbled.

Not a single moment of hesitation.

Without another word, Bai Mo turned and bolted—straight back toward the courtyard.

Xu Feng watched, thoroughly amused, as the fox skidded to a halt in front of the carriage. Bai Mo’s excitement overrode any sense of composure, his delicate hands immediately reaching for the nearest child, his entire demeanor melting into unrestrained fondness.

Xu Feng exhaled a quiet huff of amusement.

’Too cute.’

Momo was too cute.

Still, something felt... off.

Xu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, observing the fox’s every movement. The way Bai Mo fawned over the babies, the way his hands trembled just the slightest bit as he adjusted their blankets, the way his entire expression softened into something almost... wistful.

Whatever Bai Mo wanted to talk to him about, it wasn’t trivial.

It was important.

But why was he avoiding him?

Xu Feng’s gaze flickered toward Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe, who stood a few steps away from the fox, watching the scene unfold. Without a word, he sent them both a pointed look, his eyes narrowing in demand.

’Tell me.’

Neither of them responded.

But the way Xu Zeng suddenly found the clouds very interesting and the way Hu Zhe shifted just slightly—like a guilty child caught red handed—told him everything he needed to know.

They knew.

They knew exactly what Bai Mo wanted or maybe didn’t want to talk to him about.

And they weren’t telling him.

Xu Feng’s lips pressed into a thin line.

’Oh.’

So this was what it felt like to be left out of a conversation.

A creeping thought settled at the back of his mind.

’Was this what happened to new mothers and fathers? Was this the moment my non parent friends started to drift away?’

Xu Feng’s eye twitched.

’No. No way.’

That damn fox wasn’t about to "new mom" away and still fawn over his babies. Not happening.

...

.

.

.

The Bai Mansion was unusually lively, a rare sight in recent days. But today was an exception, and even the fox himself seemed caught between amusement and resignation.

Xu Feng settled comfortably in one of the cushiony seats, his gaze sweeping across the open courtyard where servants bustled about, arranging refreshments while keeping a wary yet fond eye on the four babies.

Xu Feng’s husbands were a quiet but commanding presence. Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang sat slightly to the side, their towering figures effortlessly blending into the background yet remaining entirely noticeable.

They were, as they often were in social settings, unobtrusive. Even with their large frames, they moved with a grace that made their presence feel almost ephemeral as if they belonged there but never overwhelmed the space.

But then again, they weren’t the only oversized men present. His brothers, Xu Zeng, and Xu Hu Zhe were equally tall. Xu Feng couldn’t help but smile at the realization—his group of long legged men had grown.

Now, there were four of them in their group. Technically, he could be considered the fifth, at least according to Xu Zeng. Well, that and his experience in Dongmen with switching bodies. But here, he was a ger, and suddenly shifting back to a man would be too much of a spectacle.

Still, the thought lingered, a quiet amusement bubbling beneath the surface.

The scene was warm in a way Xu Feng hadn’t expected. New faces mingled with the old, but there was a rare sense of calm among them. Everything wasn’t perfect—far from it. But there was a steadiness now, a quiet conviction in his heart.

His feelings could still be hurt, and life could still throw obstacles in his path, but it wouldn’t shatter him. Not as long as he had his family.

That realization alone sent a radiant warmth through him. His face brightened, his entire presence seeming to glow with an internal light.

Bai Mo, sitting across from him, made a small pondering noise.

Despite their earlier game of cat and mouse, the fox was calm again. His nerves had settled. Nearby, Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe lingered close, keeping an eye on the four children as they were fussed over by the adults.

The girls from Nanshan Estate, along with the Bai Mansion servants, moved naturally, making sure the babies were comfortable. There was no forced hospitality, just a genuine effort to ensure they were at ease.

There was no way his children weren’t going to end up spoilt if things continued like this.

Still, it was a welcome sight, watching everyone hover around the children as though they were little suns, radiating warmth to all who came near.

Bai Mo, having gathered his thoughts, finally spoke, his tone thoughtful. "Running a household is different for everyone, but there should always be unshakable rules."

Xu Feng listened carefully, knowing that despite Bai Mo’s young age, he had more experience in this matter. The fox might be on the scholar’s path, but he wasn’t just some bookworm who spent all his time with dusty scrolls. He was the head of his household, a noble born ger who had managed an entire estate while grieving the loss of his parents.

Momo’s insights were valuable.

"Having people you can trust is the most important thing." Bai Mo glanced toward the old steward standing at a respectful distance, a silent but constant reminder of unwavering loyalty.

"You have loyal people too, but Feng Feng, if your people don’t heed your words as their master, and you do nothing about it, things won’t end well."

His voice was gentle, but the weight behind his words was heavy. Even a child could see the complicated emotions flickering beneath the surface.

Xu Feng didn’t respond immediately, absorbing the words.

Bai Mo had grown up differently from him, from Xu Zeng, from Xu Hu Zhe. Each of them had a unique upbringing and distinct struggles. But of the four of them, Bai Mo had been raised with the explicit understanding that he would one day be responsible for an entire household.

That was why Xu Feng had come to him.

He could leave everything up to Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang, but that wasn’t fair to them. His husbands had enough responsibilities as it was. If Xu Feng truly wanted to be a salted fish, he should’ve moved to a quiet village to live in where he had no obligations.

But he hadn’t. At least not yet.

He was still on this path as the Xuan family’s young bride. And with that title came responsibilities.

"I understand," Xu Feng finally said, his voice quieter than usual. He didn’t take offense to Bai Mo’s words—he knew they were meant as guidance, not criticism. And he’d asked for advice in the first place.

Bai Mo nodded approvingly, but he wasn’t finished. "If I were in your place, I’d start by weeding out those who don’t respect you. Then, I’d set clearer rules. People need structure, Feng Feng. If you give them too much leeway, they’ll start thinking they can do whatever they want. Even if you treat them well, if they don’t fear crossing you, they won’t truly respect you."

Xu Feng exhaled through his nose, processing everything. Bai Mo’s words rang with a truth he couldn’t ignore.

Across the courtyard, Xuan Jian glanced back at them, his gaze settling on Xu Feng. And for a fleeting moment, his lips curved into a barely there smile.

Approval.

Xu Feng’s breath hitched slightly, warmth creeping up his neck. He knew it was his responsibility to run the household, but that small moment of acknowledgment from Xuan Jian still sent his heart racing.

Bai Mo caught the reaction immediately and flushed, his fox ears twitching in amusement. "Ah, young mistress is feeling appreciated?" he teased lightly in a barely there whisper. It was like he wasn’t confident in his own teasing.

Xu Feng shot him a glare but couldn’t quite suppress the embarrassed flush on his cheeks.

Bai Mo chuckled, but then his expression softened. "You’ll do fine, Feng Feng. You have good instincts. Just don’t let people take advantage of that softness. There can only be so many chances, and those people know what other masters are like, still..."

Xu Feng nodded. He wasn’t the same person he was when he first arrived in this world. He had changed. And now, it was time to make sure Nanshan Estate changed with him.

The future of his home depended on it.