Passersby on the street turned to look. Some gaped in astonishment, dropping the buns in their hands onto the ground.
Someone crashed into a roadside stall, prompting the vendor to curse angrily.
A child tugged at his mother's sleeve and pointed at the three figures walking away. "Mom, why does that big brother have two big sisters?" His mother covered his mouth and dragged him off.
Lu Jiuyuan walked on without changing expression, as if he couldn't feel all those eyes on him.
Lu Xueqi's expression was just as calm, cool as frost, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
A smile played on Jin Ping'er's lips. She looked like a fox that had just stolen a chicken, and every so often she turned to glance at Lu Jiuyuan, her eyes brimming with unconcealed delight.
"Husband, that restaurant up ahead looks nice."
"Mm."
"I want sweet-and-sour fish."
"All right."
"And osmanthus cake."
"All right."
"And I also want—"
"Order whatever you like. I'll pay."
Jin Ping'er smiled until her eyes curved into crescents, then rested her face against his shoulder and nuzzled him.
Lu Xueqi watched them from his other side without saying a word, simply tightening her grip on Lu Jiuyuan's hand.
He felt her hand tighten and turned to look at her.
She kept her gaze ahead, her expression calm, though the corners of her lips curved up slightly.
The three of them entered the restaurant and took a table by the window on the second floor.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling across the table and the three of them.
Holding the menu, Jin Ping'er rattled off seven or eight dishes in one breath. The waiter could barely keep up.
Lu Xueqi sat across from Lu Jiuyuan, quietly sipping her tea and occasionally glancing up at him.
Leaning back in his chair, Lu Jiuyuan watched the Peerless Beauty Group notifications flash nonstop. The corner of his mouth twitched.
Women were terrifying. They could talk forever!
He opened the group chat and saw 999+!!!
[Qian Renxue has joined the Peerless Beauty Group!]
[Yan Lingji: Welcome, newcomer! (????)]
[Mai Shiranui: Welcome, welcome~ Which world is our new beauty from?]
[Zi Nu: Welcome, newcomer!!!]
[Yun Yun: Finally, a new member! Welcome!]
[Medusa: Welcome!]
[Feng Qing'er: Newcomer, post a picture! Post a picture!]
A few messages scrolled by, followed by an eerie silence.
It lasted for about ten seconds, like the calm before a storm.
Then Qian Renxue sent her first message.
[Qian Renxue: @Bibi Dong Oh, isn't that the esteemed Pope of Spirit Hall? What brings you to a group like this?]
Bibi Dong replied almost instantly, as if she had been waiting in front of the screen.
[Bibi Dong: @Qian Renxue I didn't expect you to qualify for this group, either.
What happened? Couldn't hack it in the Heaven Dou Empire, so you came here to make yourself feel important?]
The group fell silent at once.
Yan Lingji's welcome sticker was still on the screen, looking especially awkward.
Then the messages came pouring in like a breached dam.
[Qian Renxue: For all my shortcomings, at least I'm better than certain people who seem so respectable on the surface but can't even tolerate their own daughter in private. Wouldn't you agree, Your Holiness?]
[Bibi Dong: Whom I can tolerate is none of your concern.
But after all these years, you still have that same snide, sarcastic attitude. You haven't changed one bit.]
[Qian Renxue: Likewise. You haven't changed either, old lady. Still just as hypocritical!]
[Bibi Dong: Hah! I'm a hypocrite? At least I never hide my ambition.
What about you? You wear that noble, icy mask, but deep down you're more calculating than anyone.]
[Qian Renxue: Me, calculating? If I really were, do you think you'd still be sitting safely on Spirit Hall's throne right now?]
[Bibi Dong: You can try.]
[Qian Renxue: Gladly. You think I'm afraid of you?]
Everyone else watched the whole exchange without saying a word.
Yan Lingji sent a message, her excitement barely contained.
[Yan Lingji: Wow! What's going on here? Mother-daughter showdown?]
[Feng Qing'er: Mother and daughter? They're mother and daughter?!]
[Mai Shiranui: They don't seem to get along very well!]
[Zi Nu: "Not very well" is an understatement. They're like enemies meeting face-to-face.]
[Yun Yun: @Lu Jiuyuan Group Master, aren't you going to step in?]
[Medusa: +1]
[Feng Qing'er: @Lu Jiuyuan Come watch the drama! No, come and deliver justice!]
[Yan Lingji: @Lu Jiuyuan Group Master! There's a fight in your group!]
Lu Jiuyuan stared at the screenful of messages as a vein throbbed at his temple.
Before he could reply, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue launched into another round.
[Qian Renxue: @Bibi Dong Why'd you go quiet? Feeling guilty?]
[Bibi Dong: I simply don't want to stoop to your level. Talking to you is beneath me.]
[Qian Renxue: Beneath you? What reputation do you even have left to lose? You've nearly ruined Spirit Hall's name already.]
[Bibi Dong: Spirit Hall's reputation is none of your concern. Worry about yourself first!
I hear things aren't going so well for you in the Heaven Dou Empire, either.]
[Qian Renxue: That's because I don't want to fight for it. If I did, the entire Heaven Dou Empire would already be mine.]
[Bibi Dong: Is that so? Then go ahead and fight for it. Anyone can talk big.]
Yan Lingji sent another message, clearly trying to fan the flames.
[Yan Lingji: Wow, what a thing to say. Qian Renxue, you can take that?]
[Feng Qing'er: Exactly! I wouldn't put up with that! @Qian Renxue Hit back!]
[Zi Nu: You're just adding fuel to the fire!!!]
[Yun Yun: You lot love watching the drama unfold.]
[Medusa: Keep going.]
Lu Jiuyuan's mouth twitched.
These women were obviously just here to watch the drama, and they were enjoying every second.
He was about to speak when Qian Renxue sent another message.
[Qian Renxue: @Bibi Dong If you're so capable, why don't you go unite the entire Douluo Continent?
What's the point of holed up in Spirit Hall and playing emperor?]
[Bibi Dong: Unite the continent? I'm not interested. But you once swore you would inherit the Angel God Position, didn't you? What happened? Couldn't inherit it, and now you've got a worse temper, too?]
[Qian Renxue: You!!!]
[Bibi Dong: What? Did I hit a nerve? Can't handle the truth?]
[Qian Renxue: Bibi Dong, don't push it!]
[Bibi Dong: Push it? Which part of what I said wasn't true?
If you think I'm wrong, feel free to argue. But can you?]
The group fell silent again for a moment.
Yan Lingji sent a sticker of someone eating melon, while Feng Qing'er posted one saying "Fight, fight!"
Mai Shiranui sent an ellipsis, and Zi Nu posted a helpless facepalm.
Yun Yun didn't post anything, but her avatar was lit up, making it clear she was watching.
Medusa's avatar was lit up, too. She hadn't said a word, but her presence was unmistakable.
Lu Jiuyuan took a deep breath and sent a message.
[Lu Jiuyuan: Enough.]
The moment those two words appeared, the group fell silent.
Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue stopped at almost the same time, like two cats fighting who had just been grabbed by the scruff.
Before you continue