Chapter 119: You Know What's Good for You (Part I)

Su Fan sat in his chair, rubbing his temples. “Seventeen, I have to admit, Softy is definitely harder to coax than Sister-in-law.”

“You’ll understand once you have children. Younger kids, when they’re really sleepy, start throwing tantrums,” Su Nanxing said as he sat beside Su Fan, briefly recounting the events that had unfolded outside.

Su Fan was startled and finally asked, “Why didn’t you let those three go out to help from the start?”

“You know she was born and raised in another realm. Life there is peaceful and tranquil, unlike Weishui, where danger lurks everywhere.” Su Nanxing recalled the first time he met Tao Ming and continued, “The worst heartbreak she’d faced before was just being separated from a man. But here in Weishui, the people might not even see tomorrow’s sun, so…”

Su Fan cut him off. “Seventeen, did Sister-in-law have other men before?”

“What’s this about?”

“You absolutely mustn’t let Father and Mother find out,” Su Fan said, swallowing the rest of his words and cautioning him.

“I wouldn’t bring it up, but if Father and Mother refuse to accept her because of this, I’ll just become a live-in son-in-law at the Qin family,” Su Nanxing replied.

“Little brother, I admire that.”

A gentle smile touched Su Nanxing’s lips. “You’ll understand when you meet a woman you truly like.”

Su Fan thought to himself, I’m asking because I don’t understand. “Seventeen, I have a question. It might sound a bit blunt…”

“If it sounds blunt, don’t say it,” Su Nanxing interrupted, unwilling to hear his overthinking.

“…” Su Fan’s temper flared. “You won’t let me speak, but I’m going to say it anyway! Sister-in-law is certainly beautiful, but Weishui has women even more stunning than her. Why do you favor her so much?”

Su Nanxing poured himself a cup of tea, holding it thoughtfully. “Does loving someone need a reason?”

“Doesn’t it?” Su Fan wondered how that could be.

“Does it? Why don’t you ask Father why he dotes on Mother so much?”

“Because Mother is beautiful,” Su Fan answered matter-of-factly.

“My wife is beautiful too,” Su Nanxing took a sip of tea, frowned slightly, and set the cup down.

“Not as beautiful as Mother.”

“Say that again,” Su Nanxing’s face darkened as he glared.

Su Fan quickly changed the subject. “Seventeen, you didn’t finish your sentence earlier. Why didn’t you let them help from the start?”

“Last chance.”

Being true to the heart is the most important thing, Su Fan knew well. “Sister-in-law is as beautiful as Mother.”

Su Nanxing thought, you’re sensible after all. “I’ve recently advanced another level. I doubt Ling Qing could match me, so I wanted to use this chance to let my wife gain some experience, which is why I didn’t let those three help.”

“What kind of experience is that? At the very least, she should have gone through Tuo Lan Cave to count,” Su Fan said, recalling his own first trial outside the mansion, where he nearly died in Tuo Lan Cave.

Su Nanxing was annoyed. “What were you doing at eight years old?”

Su Fan was puzzled. “Same as you—just started cultivation, locked in the courtyard all day.”

“My wife isn’t even eight yet!”

…

Softy had long been sleepy but stubbornly waited for Tao Ming’s return. Over-tired, her nerves became unusually agitated. She felt uncomfortable but couldn’t express it clearly, growing irritable and annoyed at everything. She could only cling to Tao Ming’s neck, wriggling about, unsure what she truly wanted.

Tao Ming patiently coaxed her with kisses and soothing words she had repeated countless times since childhood. Only then did Softy quietly nestle into her arms and fall asleep.

Tao Ming gently laid Softy on the bed, exhaled in relief, and glanced at Nuonuo beside her, who had long since fallen asleep. She reached out to touch her forehead and then kissed her little cheek before leaving the room.

Hesitating briefly, Tao Ming walked to the room where Wen Youfang and his son stayed and knocked softly.

The door opened quickly. Tao Ming saw Wen Youfang was exhausted and asked, “Mr. Wen, haven’t you slept yet?”

“Young Master Su said Mother must take medicine every two hours, so I haven’t slept,” Wen Youfang yawned, turning aside.

“What are you using to keep time?”

Wen Youfang pulled a light hourglass from his pocket. “Young Master Su gave me this.”

Tao Ming took out her phone and opened the alarm function. “How long until the next dose?”

“Half an hour.”

Tao Ming set several alarms, turned the volume to maximum, and handed the phone to Wen Youfang. “This will sound when it’s time. When it rings, you give the old madam her medicine.”

Wen Youfang hesitated to take the phone. “Thank you, Young Madam Su, but this seems valuable. I cannot accept it.”

“I’m just lending it to you. When we return to the capital, we’ll find others to take shifts.” Tao Ming pressed the phone into his hand and added, “You should try to rest a bit. You must take care of yourself first to have the energy to care for the madam.”

Wen Youfang felt Tao Ming’s hand brush lightly over his fingertips, and he shuddered. “Young Madam Su, men and women should not touch!”

Tao Ming rolled her eyes inwardly and asked, “Mr. Wen, what do you think of my husband’s looks?”

“Handsome and distinguished.”

Tao Ming stood on tiptoe and patted his shoulder. “See? You know he’s exceptional, so take the phone without worry.”

Wen Youfang was slow to catch on, only realizing after Tao Ming left downstairs that if she scolded people, she was likely even fiercer.

Tao Ming quietly descended the stairs, planning to surprise Su Nanxing, but as she reached the stair landing, she overheard Su Fan ask, “Seventeen, do you like looking at beautiful women on the street?”

Su Nanxing, back turned to Tao Ming, was playing chess with Su Fan and replied, “Men all like looking at beauties.”

Tao Ming paused, crouched hidden at the stair corner, and quietly watched Su Nanxing’s silhouette through the railing.

Su Fan glimpsed Tao Ming’s skirt edge, pretended not to see it, and lowered his voice to a volume she could hear, curious: “Seventeen, you’ve been to so many places. Where in Weishui are the women the most delightful to behold?”

Su Nanxing replied proudly, “You’ve asked the right person. Across the twelve states of Weishui, wherever beauties appear, there is no place I don’t know.”

Seeing Tao Ming remain still, Su Fan pressed on: “I’ve heard the women of Hezhou are especially beautiful—is that true?”

“Of course.” Su Nanxing gestured side to side. “Hezhou is mountainous. Most women there have slender figures and walk like wind-swayed willows—truly pleasing to the eye.”

“Seventeen, Hezhou’s quite vast. Which area has the most outstanding women?” Su Fan continued to lay his trap.

Su Nanxing’s voice brimmed with excitement. “Naturally, He Yang City. Back then, I sat by the street-facing window of Ning Feng Tower for more than ten hours, thoroughly admiring the women of He Yang City.”

Su Fan lowered his voice further. “Seventeen, have you ever been to places like Flower Viewing Tower?”

“Of course. Not far from Ning Feng Tower is a place called Drunken Dream Tower, where the beauties each have their own charm.”

Su Fan glanced at Tao Ming’s hiding spot and eagerly said, “Tell me more—I’ve never been.”

“I remember a beauty named Ying’er there, who was skilled in mimicking sounds perfectly. Then there was Rao Rao, whose graceful dance was unforgettable.”

Su Fan smiled brightly, eyes sparkling. “Seventeen, take me there next time.”

“No more chances,” Su Nanxing said regretfully. “Ah, we’ve lost a great pleasure.”

Feigning surprise, Su Fan asked, “Why do you say that?”