Looking at his father, belt in hand, ready to explode at any mont, Ren Suo wasn't afraid of being beaten, but his dad was already in his fifties, and being a math teacher was hard work. If it weren't for the Ren Family's excellent genes—they never went bald—Ren Suo would have to look for so miraculous "Hair Growth Spell" for him... Anyway, the best strategy was to not give his dad a reason to blow his top.
So, Ren Suo swapped places with his sister, using her as a shield by putting her in front of himself, cowering behind her. Although his sister was slightly shorter than him, Ren Suo had no problem using her as a human shield when acting sheepish.
Ren Xingi certainly knew what he was thinking, but she didn't care. Instead, she turned around, grabbed Ren Suo's hand, and asked, "Bro, just spill it. What are you really thinking?"
"Um..." At this point, even Ren Suo was sowhat at a loss for words. "How should I put this..."
"Then let say it," Ren Xingi glanced at their father and said, "How many girls do you have romantic entanglents with, exactly?"
"Three... four." Ren Suo looked down and saw Black Cat squeezing into the study at so point, also watching Ren Suo's 'criticism session,' so he honestly replied, "Dad, you've t them: Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, Gu Yueyan, and one you're not familiar with..."
"I don't know her? Who?" Ren's father raised an eyebrow.
"Even if I told you, you wouldn't know her," Ren Suo decided to keep so secrets; ntioning the na 'Luna' would likely lead his dad and sister to guess that Ren Suo's new girlfriend was the female lead 'Moon Chanter' from Ren Naiser's new video.
Then they would ask where he t her, and Ren Suo could only say it was in a dream...
It feels like a huge hassle and pointless to speak about it, he thought. Whether they believe it or not, in their perception, Luna would be enjoying the blessings of becoming a spirit, so how could she possibly descend to the mortal world to look for ? Do they think this is the storyline of the Weaver Girl or the Third Holy Mother?
Ren Suo planned to wait until Luna could completely maintain her pretty girl form, then ask 'Illusory Dominator' Ilina to give her an off-the-books identity, and only then introduce her to everyone.
Besides, Ren Suo already had three, so what difference would another unknown girl make?
Ren Xingi looked at her brother skeptically. How could there be another girl she didn't know about? Her brother's social circle is so narrow; whoever he could et, I could definitely et as well. Is there any need to hide it?
Wait a minute, Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, Gu Yueyan—they're all won, so no wonder he comfortably revealed them.
Although Ren's father was physically fit, any kind of shock wouldn't be good at his age.
So now, having established his Casanova status, who could he be hiding... could it be?
"Could it be Lin Xianyu?" Ren's father asked with a frown, though his expression showed little surprise.
Both Ren Suo and Ren Xingi looked at their father in amazent. Ren Suo imdiately shook his head like a Spinning Top. "How could it be? It's definitely not her! I assure you, my relationship with Xianyu is absolutely clear and aboveboard!"
Ren's father looked at Ren Suo skeptically, not believing him one bit.
He was a teacher, after all, and had read many pedagogical books, so he rembered a very famous concept—the Oedipus complex, that is, the mother-complex.
The mother-complex is quite normal; affection towards the mother is a child's nature. Not all children act out sothing like Oedipus; usually, as they grow older, they beco rebellious, and the mother-complex naturally gets severed. But the impact of the mother-complex is profound, not just affecting psychological growth, but also greatly influencing a child's view on choosing a partner.
In Ren's father's view, of all the girls they had t, the one most similar to Ren's mother was undoubtedly Lin Xianyu—strange and quirky, lively and cute, with an innocent wisdom...
If Ren Suo likes Lin Xianyu, I wouldn't be surprised at all. After all, we're father and son; taking the sa dood path is only natural...
"Xianyu is very nice, and I like her a lot, but... she's always monkey-like, and humans can't date monkeys, Dad," Ren Suo explained earnestly, imparting so scientific knowledge. "Monkeys date other monkeys."
Though Ren Xingi didn't speak, there was a hint of agreent in her eyes.
SMACK!
Ren's father pulled the belt tight, resulting in a loud whistling sound.
He looked at Ren Suo coldly. "Okay, I've heard enough."
"But Dad, you don't believe . Really, Lin Xianyu is monkey-cute. I like her a lot, but it's impossible for love to blossom, because I'm not the monkey-kinda guy..."
"Enough with all this 'monkey' talk!" Ren's father said angrily, standing up. "I'm the one who raised a monkey like you, and I haven't even started complaining! Can't you show a little respect!?"
"The monkey part was just to make a better analogy for you, Dad. Actually, we youngsters refer to similar personalities as 'Salted Fish.' I was worried you wouldn't understand... And to be fair, it was my mom who gave birth to . Dad, you just assisted a little..."
"Stop—changing—the subject!" Ren Xingi quickly intervened to halt their bickering and got straight to the point. "Alright then, Bro, how do you actually feel about Qiao Muyi, Dong Chengling, Gu Yueyan, and that unknown Miss we don't know about?"
"I like them." Seeing that his dad was getting angry, Ren Suo's Fear plumted—after all, if he's already angry, there's no harm in getting a little angrier, right?—and he said very honestly and seriously, "It's the kind of like where I'd feel so heartbroken without any one of them that I couldn't breathe."
But Ren's father suddenly wasn't angry anymore. He sat down, looked at him, and said, "This must be your late-blooming hormones, huh? Playing house like a little kid, and you like four of them, just like kindergarten…" He shook his head with a laugh.
Ren Suo didn't care about Ren's father's disdain and smiled. "Let it be kindergarten then. I've matured in every other aspect; only this part of remains as willful as a kindergarten child... But I know my feelings are real. I've been through a lot with them to get to this point."
Ren's father wanted to retort, You're childish in more ways than just this! But he couldn't say that, or else Ren Suo would sidetrack the conversation again…
"You will grow up eventually," Ren's father said indifferently. "You only have one life and can only give it to the one you truly love."
"We'll see when the ti cos. At least I don't plan on having any regrets now," Ren Suo said with a bitter smile. "Dad, it's not really a sin, is it? At most, I'm just daydreaming… Even if I wanted to, they might not want it either!"
It was only then that Ren's father realized and nodded. "That's true. If you dared to tell them your thoughts openly, we wouldn't have to worry, and your mom could help you collect so information on the girls to prepare for a matchmaking session…"
Ren's father went off on a tangent for a mont. Yeah, what use was it for Ren Suo to just think about it? He didn't have the Ability to make it happen!
It wasn't that he lacked the resources. Apart from the unknown girl that Ren's father didn't know about, the three girls he did know weren't the materialistic gold-digger type; on the contrary, they each had the attributes of a vibrant, upwardly-mobile career woman.
It was said that even the youngest, Gu Yueyan, had started to show her edge, not to ntion Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling. Their future was bound to be limitless…
If they were my own daughters, I'd definitely break Ren Suo's legs without hesitation to keep him away from them. Ren's father thought.
Ah, thankfully Xing i grew up with Little Suo since childhood. Being so smart, she will definitely not end up with soone like Little Suo in the future. That's a relief.
And as for Dong Chengling and the other two, they certainly wouldn't aim to be supported by Ren Suo—with Ren Suo's character, anyone who knew him well was aware that he could barely take care of himself.
Ren's father even thought, Maybe they want to keep Ren Suo as a sugar baby… In this scenario, how could they possibly allow Ren Suo to betray them by violating marital fidelity?
Thinking this, Ren's father couldn't help but look at Ren Suo and wonder, Is this what they call a fool's luck?
He had imagined his son might make a living with his body soday, like moving bricks or handing out leaflets, but he never thought his son could actually make money lying down!
But co to think of it, their last trip to Lianjiang showed that Ren Suo had also grown quite a bit recently, keeping his place tidy every day. Perhaps he could beco a decent and well-behaved homaker in the future, which might be very good.
Ren's father instantly put his mind at ease. He even prepared himself for the possibility that Ren Suo might end up with nothing after being dumped and left all alone. By then, he might mature and realize that Lin Xianyu was the type he liked… No, better not to let him follow in my own footsteps.
Actually, it was quite normal for Ren Suo to have these romantic fantasies, since he was also a goofy young man in his twenties.
Ren's father stood up, patted Ren Suo's shoulder, and said, "Work hard, young man, and stop daydreaming."
I should also remind Ren Suo to enter the Sage State more frequently to clear his mind, Ren's father thought, but after considering it, he decided not to say it.
After Ren's father left the study, Ren Suo breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Ren Xingi had not let him off the hook yet. "Bro, I have a question for you, and you need to answer as quickly as possible."
"Alright."
"If only one could survive between and those four girls you like, who would you choose!" Ren Xingi asked as quickly as she could.
"You!" Ren Suo answered instantly.
Ren Xingi blinked, looking at Ren Suo in disbelief. "Really?"
"Really." Ren Suo nodded. "You're my sister. Of course, I have to protect you."
Ren Xingi looked at Ren Suo seriously, sensing he wasn't angry, and continued to tentatively ask, "Then... you wouldn't care about them?"
"I would."
"How?"
"I'll first look for a way to resurrect them. If I really can't find any Hope, I reckon it won't be too long before I'm dead," Ren Suo said seriously. "I don't know how I'll die, but I most likely won't live much longer."
Ren Xingi's joyful expression instantly faded. She looked at Ren Suo and said helplessly, "Why can't you just live properly?"
"Living the rest of my life in mories doesn't sound very appealing," Ren Suo scratched his head. "But these are all hypotheticals. Such a situation won't occur anyway. Whatever I say can't be proven, so it's not worth fussing over."
"Can't you just live well for ?" Ren Xingi asked softly, holding his arm.
Girls just love to get to the bottom of these kinds of hypothetical stories, he thought.
"Soone better than will co along to love you," Ren Suo said with a smile.
"Really..."
"Nope, I'm the best," Ren Suo said with a smile as he patted his sister's head. "By the way, you've reached your second turn. What gift do you want?"
"Can I ask for anything?" Ren Xingi's eyes twinkled as she asked.
"Not anything. I'm not that rich. If you want to buy you a house or a supercar, I probably couldn't even afford the down paynt..."
"No, I'm talking about sothing you can do," Ren Xingi said with a twinkle in her eye, her tone laced with a hint of a trap.
Ren Suo looked at his sister, realizing sothing, and smiled. "Do you also think your brother is a scoundrel, toying with people's feelings, a scum who should be sent to the Incinerator for humane destruction, and so you want to persuade to be faithful?"
"Not at all!" Ren Xingi answered imdiately, shaking Ren Suo's arm. "Bro, you said it yourself, you're the best."
Ren Suo grinned sheepishly, feeling a bit embarrassed. I'm fine with bragging about myself, but when soone else does it, it makes uncomfortable—oh dear, it's not good for others to hear such truthful praise!
Ren Xingi hesitated for a mont, hung her head, and thought for a while. Then she suddenly looked up at Ren Suo and said, "Bro, I support you!"
"HUH?!"
"Don't listen to Dad. Stick to yourself. Even if it's childish to want it all, go for it. You deserve Teacher Dong and the others!" Ren Xingi looked at Ren Suo earnestly. "You can definitely make them happy!"
Ren Suo, moved, hugged his sister tight. "Yes! I will definitely do it!"
"Yeah, you definitely will!" Ren Xingi enjoyed Ren Suo's embrace, patting his back and continuing to encourage him.
As if that could ever happen~
If you could sort things out with all three of them, I would take your surna~
But this is good too. When your feelings leave you full of scars, you'll appreciate how good your sister is~
Ren Xingi didn't truly believe Ren Suo could do it. She had been there for his birthday night and knew full well that those ladies were not so easily dealt with. And love, by nature, is possessive; Ren Xingi understood this better than anyone.
That's why she didn't oppose Ren Suo and would always stand by his side, forging an unbreakable bond with him, always attentive and reactive to any shifts in his emotional state.
If Ren Suo ever really did beco faithful, that'd be the real trouble... He'd have to get beaten down by reality, deal with several harsh lessons from the world of emotions, and then I could have a Perfect brother at last!
"So, what gift do you want? Tell . As long as I can afford it, I'll buy it!" Ren Suo said spiritedly. Finally finding a supporter—it was not easy!
"I'll let you know when I think of sothing," Ren Xingi said, pulling him toward the living room. "It's been a long ti since we duo queued. Let's play ranked."
Ren Suo played gas in the living room while holding the cat for a while before Ren's mother and Qiao Muyi ca back.
"I told you, wandering around Flower Street is boring," Ren Suo said with a chuckle as he put down his phone. "Crowded with people and nothing to buy."
Ren's mother gave him a glance. "It's because Yiyi was recognized on the street. A bunch of people surrounded her asking for autographs and photos, so we had to co back early. Sigh, it's such a rare encounter. Having Yiyi as my Foster Daughter is wonderful, and of course, Xingi is great too. The heavens have been good to ."
Ren Suo, accustod to this sort of treatnt, shrugged and said, "…Okay then."
"Yiyi is leaving. Could you walk her out?" Ren's mother waved her hand and asked, "Where's your dad?"
"Dad is playing on the computer in the bedroom."
Ren Suo stood up and left the house with Qiao Muyi, taking the elevator to the underground parking garage. Qiao Muyi didn't speak, so Ren Suo tentatively touched her hand, then took hold of it, saying, "My mom... well, she's quite... you know. If you don't like this kind of foster mother and daughter relationship, I'll go back and tell her."
"No, I really like your mom," Qiao Muyi shook her head. "I envy you for having such a good mother. She's been very nice to too."
Really? Ren Suo was skeptical.
"She was bad-mouthing you the whole ti, earnestly advising to leave you now before I invest more and the sunk costs get too high," Qiao Muyi said with a smile as she looked at him.
Well, I have to believe that Mom really likes Qiao Muyi now.
Even using terms like sunk costs? Does Mom really think I'm bound to sink? Ren Suo wondered.
"So how did you respond?" Ren Suo asked curiously.
Qiao Muyi didn't answer but walked with him to the car door, then turned around with open arms.
Ren Suo blinked, stepped forward to hug her, and didn't make any other move.
After a few quiet minutes, Qiao Muyi gently pecked his cheek, then climbed into the car, saying, "I'm going back. Rember to think about every day. It's okay if you don't; I'll send you a ssage every day."
"Drive safely."
"If you're really worried, co back with and be my bodyguard at night." Qiao Muyi leaned on the steering wheel and glanced at him, the tender affection in her playful gaze making Ren Suo's heart sway. "Get ready quickly. I've been waiting so long the flowers have withered."
Watching the vehicle drive out of the parking lot, Ren Suo scratched his head and took the elevator back ho.
As soon as he got ho, Ren Suo, who had intended to continue playing gas while cuddling the cat, was suddenly called out to the balcony by his mother for a talk.
In the cool spring breeze, Ren's mother shut the balcony door and looked at Ren Suo. "My boy, I heard from your dad that you're very bold with your ideas."
"Uh…" Am I about to be scolded again? Ren Suo wondered.
"I don't want to say much, although I don't know how I raised such a Casanova like you. But you're in your twenties now, grown up, and it's ti to make your own life decisions. Mom and Dad can't always interfere. After all, choosing a life partner is sothing you have to do yourself, and I won't make that decision for you," Ren's mother leaned against the railing, watching the cars drive by on the road outside, and said lightly, "As an adult, you have to take responsibility for yourself."
"Yes, yes, yes." Ren Suo nodded repeatedly.
"However, I do have my expectations of you. One must have a baseline as a person, even if you're a powerful Cultivator, even if many people like you," Ren's mother turned her head and looked sternly at Ren Suo. "I, too, have my limits."
"Go ahead, Mom, what are your requirents?" Is she going to ask to maintain a distance from girls and not get too intimate before making any decisions? Ren Suo thought.
"My bottom line is," Ren's mother walked up to Ren Suo, touched his cheek, and said earnestly, "I don't care if you turn into a fickle Casanova or if you beco devoted as your father said you might…"
Ren's mother suddenly increased her grip, twisting Ren Suo's face into a funny expression, and spoke deliberately and emphatically,
"But you've got to make Qiao Muyi happy, or else don't expect to acknowledge you as my son anymore."
"…"
Although you said you won't make decisions for , this threat... clearly shows you've taken her side!
What kind of bottom line is this!
The way you're looking at , it feels like you're about to say 'Qiao Muyi is the best in the world.'
What on earth did you two talk about while strolling through Flower Street!?
anwhile, Qiao Muyi sped down the highway, a smile on her face. Ren Xingi played her ga absently, glancing towards the balcony with a smirk. The Black Cat lay on the couch, its tail wagging, eagerly watching the clock. In the bedroom, Ren's father watched a web series, completely relaxed and unperturbed.
The losers of the day were Ren Suo and Auntie Ba.
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