The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 590: The Store Across the Way

Chapter 590: The Store Across the Way

The tea house stood tall among the many establishments in Yilin Town, its three-story structure had an air of elegance that was just shy of excessive. It wasn’t the most expensive in the area, but its popularity placed it comfortably among the top three, with the coveted third floor reserved for the wealthiest patrons.

Xu Feng wasn’t one to be overly impressed by such things, but he found himself a bit excited. This was an experience he hadn’t had before—one of those rare indulgences that came with stepping fully into another world... sort of.

As expected, their arrival caused a stir. The tea house attendants, trained to accommodate high-profile guests, wasted no time in ushering them upstairs to their private room.

However, the sight of the unfamiliar contraptions—two large strollers—gave them pause. The confusion lasted only a moment before they moved to assist, their hands careful as they lifted the strange devices up the stairwell.

Whether their gentleness came from professionalism or the way Xu Zeng’s sharp glare could probably cut stone, no one questioned the strange mechanisms further.

Once inside, Xu Feng took in their private space. The room was large and spacious, the wooden screens and calligraphy-covered walls lending it an air of refinement. The scent of incense lingered lightly in the air, just faint enough to be pleasant without being overbearing like the smaller tea house.

It was still a bit much for his tastes. The décor was too meticulous, and the deliberate placement of porcelain vases and silken drapes felt just a little too staged. He wasn’t here for the ambiance, though.

They were here for honey rice cakes.

The ones that, apparently, Xiao Momo had been enjoying for quite some time—without Xu Feng knowing.

Before they settled in Xuan Yang took the lead in ordering, his deep voice effortlessly smooth as he made selections with careful consideration for the four babies. He was reserved as always, but his gaze lingered on their youngest ones, subtly adjusting the order based on what he thought they might need.

The tea house attendant assisting them hesitated for a moment before making a suggestion.

"There is fresh cow’s milk available. Would the young ones like some?"

Xu Feng’s brows lifted slightly. He hadn’t expected milk to be readily available at a tea house. It made sense—cattle and goats existed in Dongzhou, after all they had several at home. But dairy wasn’t something most people consumed regularly, but was that different in wealthier households?

Xuan Yang nodded in response. "Have it heated," he instructed smoothly before turning to Xu Feng, his gaze warm, lips curving slightly.

Xu Feng’s lips twitched as he returned the expression, dimples appearing in full.

He was firm about what the children consumed—only warmed goat or cow milk, nothing raw. Even for the adults, he had become more mindful, ensuring that no one drank untreated water.

He and Xuan Yang had discussed it before; the scholar had initially found the concept foreign, but in the end, he had complied fully with his husband’s wishes.

The moment the smile formed, a sharp breath was sucked in from one of the attendants.

Xu Feng barely noticed, but the effect was immediate.

The tea house attendants, who had remained professional up until now, faltered. The one taking the order stammered mid-sentence, his composure cracking for the first time since they entered. His companion, however, was outright staring, his mouth slightly open, as if transfixed.

The reaction wasn’t new. Xu Feng was well aware of how people responded to his appearance, especially when he smiled. He wasn’t immune to it either—after all, he was equally affected when Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian turned their full attention on him.

Still, he was "unattractive" for a ger...

Unfortunately for the dazed attendants, their open gawking wasn’t going unnoticed.

Xu Zeng, Xu Hu Zhe, and even Xuan Jian had their attention locked on the two men, their stares piercing, each with its own sharpness.

The one who had been taking the order recovered first, his instincts kicking in just in time to yank his companion back to reality.

"Let’s go," he muttered hastily, grabbing the other man’s arm in a firm grip and dragging him toward the exit.

The second attendant barely managed to stumble into motion, but not before casting a bewildered glance at Xu Feng—then at Xuan Yang, then at Xuan Jian.

The realization seemed to hit all at once.

Rumors had been circulating for months. Some whispered that the young mistress of the Xuan family had two husbands and made a public statement himself, but that was old news. More recently, others claimed the arrangement was even more unconventional than that.

Seeing Xu Feng up close, the attendant became certain of one thing. If the ger of Nanshan Estate wanted four husbands, no one could stop him. Yet, he wasn’t at all conventionally attractive, nor did he look completely soft to the touch.

But with so many babies—he had glimpsed the plump, round faces of Xiao Long and Da Long in the stroller while carrying it upstairs—it was clear that the young mistress of the Xuan household was fertile, too! And there were more babies in the other stroller!

By the time the attendants finally escaped the room, the tension seemed to deflate, leaving behind a more relaxed air.

Ignoring the adults, Xiao An wasted no time in claiming a spot. Excited by the luxurious surroundings, she immediately sought out a place for herself and Xiao Momo, her eyes darting between the seating options.

Unlike the structured wooden chairs in most tea houses, this room was designed for comfort. Plush cushions covered a portion of the floor, while several prototypes of chaise lounges or fainting chairs were placed near the walls.

Xiao An eyed the nearest one with determination. With some effort, she managed to climb onto it, pulling herself up with the careful maneuvering of someone who refused to ask for help.

Xiao Momo followed suit, though his approach was significantly less elegant. He scrambled up, his little legs kicking until he finally made it onto the seat beside her.

For a moment, they sat there proudly.

But then, a shift in movement caught their attention.

Across the room, the babies were being carefully placed onto the floor cushions, the thickly woven carpet beneath them offering a comfortable resting spot.

Xiao An and Xiao Momo shared a look.

In an instant, they abandoned the fainting chair, sliding down and making a beeline for the plush floor seating, where Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe had already settled nearby.

Without hesitation, they plopped down beside the babies, their small hands immediately reaching out to poke at chubby cheeks and tiny fists, all while panting from the effort of their mini-marathon.

Xu Feng, watching from the tea table where he sat, exhaled slowly. Children had so much energy. His gaze softened as Xu Hu Zhe attentively prompted them to remove their jackets. It was warm in the room—not as cozy as the main building in Blooming Courtyard, but warm enough.

Xu Feng really thought they had come for a simple snack, almost forgetting the main reason for their visit to Yilin Town. Catering to the children had overshadowed everything else.

It was easy to get swept up in their needs—especially when the younger ones couldn’t yet speak. But Lee Momo and Lee An were a different case, and indulging them in a few honey cakes wasn’t a big deal... in moderation.

As he settled at the table seat closest to the children on the floor, Xuan Yang suddenly gestured for him to move toward the window. Xu Feng blinked but complied, sliding over to the far corner.

Before Xuan Jian could react, Xuan Yang smoothly claimed the seat beside him. The two men exchanged subtle smiles, a flicker of something almost competitive flashing between them.

Xu Feng pretended not to notice. That wasn’t something that usually happened. They were typically accommodating to each other.

As if nothing happened, Xuan Yang pointed toward a building just across the street, slightly to the right.

Xu Feng wasn’t particularly cold by the window, but he felt a tug of reluctance. He wanted to be closer to the children. What if the kids suddenly wanted to be held again, just like the night before? They had been perfectly content with both their papa and father this morning, but still... he felt he should be near them.

Still, he humored Xuan Yang and let his gaze follow the scholar’s direction.

At first, the building seemed inconsequential. A shop, nothing more. But as he really took it in, something felt off. It was strange. Really strange.

His brows knit together.

The sign hanging above the storefront read The Silver Scale, an eye-catching title that stood out against the more traditional signage in the area. Even stranger was the design itself—clean-cut, with large front windows displaying carefully arranged products. The exterior was sleek, with a uniform color scheme and smooth wood paneling.

Xu Feng’s fingers twitched. ’Why does this look... so familiar?’

The feeling of deja vu deepened as he noticed the subtle details—the symmetry, the polished finish, and the bold yet simple font of the signage. The entire layout felt out of place in Yilin Town, more reminiscent of modern storefronts rather than the chaotic mix of merchant stalls and traditional wooden buildings surrounding it.

Then it clicked.

This had to be Xu Zeng’s work. Or was he reading into it too much?

Just then, a familiar man exchanged a few words with a departing customer, who left with several jars carefully packed in a basket.

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