Joyina eventually decided to beco a resident singer at the bar. Yi Luowa was worried, so she went with Tong Airui to check on her.
The bar’s environnt was quite decent, very different from the ones Yi Luowa had frequented in the past. This place had a touch of sophistication.
Joyina had settled down for the mont, and as New Year approached, Yuan Hang’s family of four flew over from Soya.
This New Year, Yi Luowa finally experienced what a big family truly ant. There was her entire extended family, including her aunt’s family, her uncle’s family, and their kids. Then there were her little grand-uncle, second uncle, the Duke’s Ten Tigers, and their families—nearly a hundred people gathered at the Duke’s mansion. The festivities lasted for three days before everyone dispersed.
Yi Weiyang left relatively early. After years of being accustod to solitude, he found the lively atmosphere a bit overwhelming.
During the three days of the New Year celebrations, Joyina joined the crowd for a few als. But every evening, she left early. Concerned for her safety, Long Che discreetly assigned two people to watch over her.
Once everyone had left, Yi Luowa was completely exhausted. For three days straight, she and Tong Yao had been running back and forth, attending to everyone.
Just when she felt she was about to collapse, that rascal Tong Si claid he felt sorry for her, yet still had her working overti at night.
"It’s not even spring yet!" Yi Luowa raised her sore leg and kicked Tong Si.
"With you here, every season feels like spring." Tong Si shalessly replied with a grin.
"Tong Airui..." Before she could finish her words, her head tilted, and Yi Luowa fell asleep.
Tong Airui leaned over to glance at her, then reached out and pulled her into his arms, kissing her lightly on the forehead with a smile. "Sleep tight."
Once she had fallen deep asleep in his embrace, Tong Airui let out a quiet sigh. There was sothing he’d never told her. After Ai Ni finalized her engagent, he would need to head to the border for inspections. The trip would last over twenty days, leaving her alone at ho—a thought that filled him with reluctance.
On February 1st, Connie’s family, along with their maternal grandfather’s family, flew in from Laman.
On February 2nd, at Audric Hotel, Long Che held a grand engagent banquet for Tong Aino and Connie.
Connie would never forget this mont. Her beloved man knelt on one knee and asked loudly, "Connie, will you marry ?"
This man, whom she had quietly loved for so many years, would now beco an inseparable part of her life.
"I will!" Connie nodded firmly, tears mingling with her smile.
Tong Aino placed the wedding ring on her finger with a smile, then turned to take the roses from Ai Ni’s hands, offering them to Connie with both hands.
Connie accepted the bouquet, montarily stunned, and then reached into the flowers to pull out two small red booklets.
"I thought we were going to the registry office together in a few days?"
"I wanted to surprise you." Tong Aino leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Now, I can officially and legally be by your side."
Connie glanced at him amusingly.
Following the example set earlier by Tong Airui and Yi Luowa’s wedding, this ti around, the fifth son’s engagent banquet saw family and friends sparing no expense.
True to their word, Long Che and Tong Yao showed no favoritism—whatever the eldest son and his wife received, the youngest son and his wife got as well.
Although Connie’s parents didn’t hand over hundreds of billions in shares like Yi Weiyang had for his daughter, all the dowry gifts combined still exceeded a billion.
King Muta joked with King Laman, "In this day and age, having sons is more advantageous."
"Good thing I only have this one daughter," King Laman replied with a smile.
Connie and Tong Aino were overjoyed. After the engagent, the two were inseparably sweet, practically glued to each other.
Yi Luowa, however, couldn’t muster a smile. Because the day after Tong Aino and Connie’s engagent, Tong Airui departed.
That little girl, who had complained just the night before that he was an insatiable wolf, now found herself hugging his pillow and sleeping alone. She sobbed so much that his pillow was soaked through.
Tong Yao noticed her low spirits and asked if she wanted to go out to relax. If she wanted, Tong Yao was willing to keep her company for a few days of fun.
Yi Luowa pouted, "Mom, you don’t need to accompany . I’d like to go back to the estate for a few days. I’ll co back when school starts."
"That’s fine. With Huo Li and your second uncle there with you, I can rest assured."
Yi Luowa sniffled, grabbed her small suitcase, and went to the estate.
When Huo Li saw her return, she decided to skip work and stay ho with her. The two spent their ti visiting the animals in the backyard or riding horses. When they were tired, they squeezed onto a big bed and shared amusing stories.
The first day passed busily and happily. On the second day, however, Huo Li’s phone rang incessantly.
After the Nth phone call, Yi Luowa pouted and asked, "Are you really that busy?"
"There’s a lot of information that I’ve handled, and so things the team doesn’t understand."
Yi Luowa pursed her lips, "If I were as busy as you, would I still miss Tong Airui so much?"
Huo Li laughed, "Even if you were that busy, you’d still miss him. You’ve already been spoiled rotten by him."
"I regret it! When Tong Airui ntioned having a baby the other day, I agreed without giving it much thought." Yi Luowa tilted her head and collapsed onto the bed. "At least a baby could distract a little."
"You’re too naive. A child could never replace your husband."
Yi Luowa rolled her eyes at her. "You haven’t even been in a relationship, yet you act like so love expert."
"Sigh..." Huo Li lay down beside her. "Sotis, I do want to have a romance—to put all my theories into practice."
Yi Luowa’s eyes lit up as she sat up imdiately. "Do you have soone in mind?"
Huo Li glanced at her. "Not yet. As soon as I do, you’ll be the first to know. By the way, how’s Joyina doing recently?"
"She’s doing great. I’ve heard she now has regular custors who show up every night to support her, with tips that far exceed her wages." Yi Luowa tilted her head and stared at Huo Li intently for a long ti. Then she said, "You used to hate it when people asked about your love life, but now you seem relaxed when talking about it. I think sothing’s up with you!"
Huo Li sat up straight. "Ha... Just because you think sothing’s up doesn’t an sothing’s up! Let tell you—people’s emotions are like the weather—they change all the ti. I’m stepping out of my gloom; you’re entering yours. That’s simply how it works. Get it?"
"No!" Giving the blanket a tug, Yi Luowa wrapped it around Huo Li and playfully began smacking her. "I miss my husband!"
Huo Li, annoyed, kicked her from inside the blanket. "If you miss your husband, why are you taking it out on ?"
Yi Luowa burst into laughter. "Yeah, you’re right. Hitting you won’t magically conjure my husband here."
"Crazy... Beep beep..." Before Huo Li could finish her sentence, Yi Luowa’s phone rang.
Picking up the phone, Yi Luowa glanced at the screen and imdiately yanked the blanket off Huo Li’s head. "My husband’s calling! Could you leave the room and stop eavesdropping on our private conversations?"
"You nutcase!" Huo Li muttered under her breath as she angrily got off the bed. Before she could leave, she heard Yi Luowa sweetly chirp, "Honey~"
Huo Li shivered and hurried out of the room.
Watching her retreating figure, Yi Luowa giggled uncontrollably.
"What’s got my wife so happy?"
"Other than missing you, what else would I be doing? Honey, when are you coming ho?" Yi Luowa pouted as she asked.
Tong Airui sighed, "I’ve only finished inspecting one border—three more to go."
"..." Only one! Yi Luowa didn’t know what to say for a mont.
"Darling? Are you still there?" Tong Airui sounded a little anxious.
"I am." Yi Luowa sniffled. "Can I record your voice so I can listen to it whenever I miss you?"
Tong Airui chuckled helplessly. "Have you started recording?"
"Yes."
"Darling, I love you..."
Yi Luowa laughed brightly. "Honey, just talk normally. Spare the declarations—I’ve heard ’I love you’ so often I’m nearly immune to it. Every ti you say it, I feel like you’re channeling your inner hungry wolf again."
"Fine, I won’t say it now. I’ll save those three words for when we’re at ho in bed." Tong Airui teased her, then added, "Wife, right now I’m at the West Border—the toughest area. The cars here have all been replaced with the shock absorbers you designed. The team asked to thank you on their behalf."
"Ah! How did they know I was the one who designed them?" Yi Luowa asked in surprise.
"I told them, of course. I couldn’t let my wife’s hard work go unnoticed."
Yi Luowa smiled sheepishly. "Let’s keep it low-key, dear."
"Alright, I’ll try to keep it discreet." Tong Airui smiled, then glanced at Yuan Hang standing at a distance with a worried expression. Quickly, he said to Yi Luowa, "Honey, let hang up for now—I’ll call you back later."
Yi Luowa murmured an acknowledgnt and reluctantly set down her phone.
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