The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 601: Parenting, Pudding, and Paranoia

Chapter 601: Parenting, Pudding, and Paranoia

Was this supposed to be some sort of redemption arc? Did he have to admit that Sun Ming Hua had problems too and that life was smooth sailing for the pampered ger? Just like his brother—Xu Zeng’s life before they switched places—or his best friend, Bai Mo’s life without his parents’ protection?

Life was complex, layered like an onion.

Xu Feng liked onions. They were delicious, adding depth to dishes. But if he had to choose between onions and peppers, well... peppers were undefeated.

Peppers were the reigning champions. And not just because he wanted to live a salted fish life with lots of pepper—he had already established that he liked big, little peppers...

Xu Feng shook his head, brushing aside the unnecessary thoughts.

He felt clearer of mind these days. Even with everything that had piled up—the traumatizing childbirth, the return to the apocalypse world, fragments of past lives, the affairs of Nanshan Estate, and the glaring absence of Dong Yang—his thoughts weren’t as clouded as before.

He wasn’t consumed by confusion, just... processing. And moving forward even without complete clarity.

Maybe he was still a very horny boy, but he thought that would have changed with children. Apparently not.

A small hand reached up, straining, pressing gently against his face, tiny fingers curling slightly as if exploring the texture of his skin. Xu Feng blinked, startled out of his thoughts.

His gaze softened as he looked down, meeting the sleepy but content expression of his younger son, Xiao Long. The little boy’s drowsy smile was innocent, unburdened by the worries of the world.

Xu Feng leaned down and kissed the small fingers before him. "You’re very bold," he murmured with amusement, feeling warmth spread through his chest. The little one beamed, his lips parting just slightly in a mostly toothless grin before his eyes began to flutter shut again.

The children were much quieter now. Even after a long nap, exhaustion from a full day of adventures still clung to their tiny bodies. In the gently swaying carriage, Xu Feng could see the two youngest, Da Bao and Xiao Bao, nestled safely in their small basket.

Da Bao looked as though he was moments away from dozing off, while Xiao Bao’s bright eyes darted around curiously, absorbing everything despite the carriage’s dim interior.

Xiao Momo and Xiao An sat beside each other, their postures relaxed as small yawns occasionally escaped them. Across from him, Da Long rested against Xuan Yang’s abdomen, his expression soft as he watched his dad with Xiao Long in his arms.

All six children. Xu Feng. Xuan Yang. Xu Hu Zhe leading the carriage and the horses.

But two were missing.

The weight of that absence lingered in the space between the other two adults, a small tension settling over the carriage like an uninvited guest. The sounds of the wheels creaking over the path, the gentle rustling of the fabric inside, the steady breathing of the children—it all felt muted under the heaviness of their thoughts.

Xu Feng reached out, extending his free hand toward his older son, rubbing Da Long’s round cheeks. The boy’s sleepy expression lit up instantly, and a small giggle bubbled up from him.

"Good?" Xu Feng asked softly.

Da Long nodded enthusiastically, his dimples deepening. "Ooo!" he echoed, rubbing his face against his father’s palm.

Xu Feng chuckled before shifting his hand, his fingers finding Xuan Yang’s. The moment their hands connected, Xuan Yang looked at him, his sharp black eyes breaking free from whatever thoughts had ensnared him. A silent exchange passed between them—worry, reassurance...

No words were needed.

Xu Feng squeezed his hand. Xuan Yang squeezed back.

They were both thinking about the Sun family’s mess. About Xuan Jian and Xu Zeng, who had stayed behind to "follow up," Whatever that meant. Xu Feng didn’t need details to know that follow-ups with those two would never be simple affairs. But right now, he focused on what was in front of him.

The warm weight of his son. The gentle press of Xuan Yang’s hand in his own. The steady rocking of the carriage as it carried them home.

There were many layers to reach the core of an onion.

And some things... were worth peeling back slowly.

.

.

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The days following their first outing with all six children and Xu Feng’s visit to The Silver Scale passed in a blur. Not because nothing was happening—quite the opposite.

There was so much going on that the entire household was swept up in an endless tide of tasks, barely able to keep up with the demands of daily life at Nanshan Estate.

Childcare should have been easier with so many adults present—or at least that’s what Xu Feng thought—yet even with extra hands, Xu Feng felt just as stretched thin as the remaining residents of the estate. Even with the abundance of baby care items he had secured from Dongmen, Xu Feng quickly realized that he was still, at his core, a newbie.

Playpens—why hadn’t he thought of playpens? The two cubs, determined to crawl at every opportunity, would have been impossible to contain indefinitely, but the two treasures, who spent most of their time nestled on cushions, in baskets, and in strollers, could have benefited from a dedicated space to play.

At least Xiao Momo and Xiao An were more than eager to assist. What started as playful mimicry of the adults turned into a genuine effort as they fussed over the younger children, always ready to fetch things or keep an eye on them. To them, it was a game, but to the exhausted adults of Nanshan Estate, it was a much-needed relief.

Lee Hua, now fully settled in with his new title and going above and beyond to help others where he could with their lack of staff, had also begun to relax. With more to do, he was obviously happier and smiled often as he busied himself. With his place firmly established, he no longer felt the need to keep his children away from Blooming Courtyard.

Or maybe he just didn’t have the time to be too self-aware? Whatever the reason, Xu Feng noticed the shift—small but unmistakable. Clear roles brought stability, not just for Lee Hua, but for everyone.

Still, there weren’t enough hands. There was too much to do and too few people to do it. But now Xu Feng had no intention of his closest people shouldering everything themselves. That wasn’t why he had people he trusted, he was supposed to be cherishing them, not overworking them and himself.

To lessen everyone’s burden, he’d even weighed outsourcing some tasks like washing clothing to the villagers at the bottom of the mountain—several men from the village were already helping with the renovations for their home, so they could afford to outsource more tasks before they had more residents.

The children, renovations at home, and outsourcing household chores were all important, but the afternoon at the Silver Scale was something Xu Feng couldn’t completely shake.

For the next two days, the special "interview" with Chun Tao seemed to be at the back of his mind even as he juggled things he could actually make a difference with. Because of this, Xu Feng wasn’t as eager to return to their store just yet. The weight of everything else—the tangled mess of the Sun family, the whispers that he now understood—kept him from wanting to return before he had to.

But cooking? Cooking had always been a refuge. And once he stepped into the kitchen, all the outside noise seemed to fade away.

The moment he picked up a wooden spoon, his thoughts settled, the swirl of responsibilities quieting to a steady rhythm. He had promised pudding to Chef Tang, Xu Zeng, and, honestly, himself. And so, he set out to make some pudding when those renovating Blooming Courtyard went home in the evenings.

Sweet, smooth, and comforting, it was exactly what he needed after the past few days. AND it was a treat that Xuan Yang hadn’t seen even in the capital, something new they could add to the Silver Scale.

Meanwhile, the renovations continued throughout Nanshan Estate during the days, with different groups of workers renovating different courtyards and areas of the estate.

One of the carpenters had started on the modifications for the carriage, adjusting it for their growing family and winter in general, while another craftsman worked on the restaurant seating on the second floor of The Silver Scale. A specialist for the oven was also expected in the coming days, adding to the steady stream of workers passing in and out of their estate.

Xuan Jian and Xu Zeng had been completely occupied with the "follow-up" after the incident, making them nearly impossible to run into at home for the past couple of days. As if on cue, Xu Zeng surfaced just in time.

As for Bai Mo, Xu Feng had considered seeing him off for the exams but ultimately decided against it. He was too conspicuous, and the last thing he wanted was to bring unflattering attention to Bai Mo. Instead, he sent pudding and snacks for the fox to enjoy during breaks, entrusting them to Xu Zeng—who wouldn’t promise not to go without a mask.

At the very least, he had covered his silver hair, although Xu Feng felt bad.