"Son-in-law, please."
Outside the residence, the old butler spoke to Wang Baole and the others with a respectful expression.
In the past, he really looked down on Wang Baole, this live-in son-in-law, but the people accompanying him today gave him an inexplicable sense of oppression, especially that burly man.
The old butler felt that the other could probably crush him with just a finger. Precisely because of these companions, he had made a special effort to notify the madam.
Unfortunately, the madam didn't care about Wang Baole at all.
"Mm."
Wang Baole just responded flatly. After all, this old man always made things difficult for him. If it weren't for the Wang clan's patriarch, he would have beaten up this old thing long ago.
"Son-in-law, do you know how long you'll be staying this time?"
The old butler asked tentatively.
"I'll leave after seeing the patriarch and Yulin." Wang Baole didn't hide his intentions.
The old butler was stunned and asked, "You're not attending the patriarch's eight-hundredth birthday banquet? It's in seven days."
Wang Baole patted his forehead. "I almost forgot about that. I'll leave after the birthday banquet is over."
The old butler continued, "Then I'll have the servants prepare some guest rooms for your friends."
Wang Baole rejected him without a second thought. "No need. We'll just stay in my old courtyard."
The old butler wanted to say more, but when he saw the burly man's fierce glare, he swallowed his words.
Everyone passed through the front courtyard and, after a moment, arrived at a secluded part of the residence.
Cao Youqian looked at the courtyard, with only three small houses and weeds everywhere—a place that clearly hadn't been lived in for a long time. He couldn't help but mutter, "Junior Brother Wang, you used to live in this doghouse?"
Xiao Chen said blandly, "Second Brother, don't insult dogs. The separate house where my family's three Blazing Hounds lived when I was young was better than this."
The two women at the side didn't speak, but their slightly furrowed brows showed their dissatisfaction.
The old butler: "..."
Three Blazing Hounds—those are True Fate Realm great monsters. Just who is this guy, that he could raise such fierce beasts as pets at home?
Wang Baole laughed. "It's already much better now. When I first got here, I had to live with several old nannies."
Cao Youqian patted his shoulder. "No wonder you wanted to leave the Wang clan. If it were me, I'd have smashed this place with a single punch."
Xiao Chen teased, "Second Brother, your family's patriarch would never let you be a live-in son-in-law. You were a bit of a rascal before, but you were the precious darling of the Xuanhuo Pill King."
"That's true," Cao Youqian nodded. "Fine, we'll just treat this as a chance to experience life. Having somewhere to stay is still better than sleeping in a cave."
Wang Baole turned to the old butler and said, "You may go now. By the way, help me pass a message to the patriarch that I'd like to meet with him."
The old butler looked troubled. "Son-in-law, it's not that I don't want to, but the patriarch has been in seclusion and won't see guests. He'll only show up on the day of the birthday banquet. Not even the master of the house can see him, let alone me."
"Alright, then I'll just wait a few more days."
Wang Baole had wanted to greet the patriarch in advance, to ask him not to neglect his senior brothers and sisters, but it seemed that wasn't possible.
As for his so-called father-in-law, that old man wouldn't see him at all.
"I'll take my leave, then."
The old butler bowed out of the courtyard. After some thought, he decided to inform the master of the house that the son-in-law had returned. Otherwise, he'd surely be blamed later.
After the old butler left, Wang Baole and the others began to tidy up the courtyard.
About half an hour later, a voice as sweet as a nightingale called out from outside the gate.
"Brother-in-law, you're back!"
Everyone turned to look at the gate. They saw a young girl in a plain long dress, her hair styled elegantly, looking beautiful and lively, standing at the entrance.
Her brows were curved, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on her face. When she looked at Wang Baole, her eyes sparkled.
Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian were both experienced, so their first reaction wasn't to look at Wang Baole, but to glance at Nangong Yu beside them.
Nangong Yu took half a step forward, keeping an ambiguous distance with Wang Baole.
Liu Yue'er, noticing their gazes, immediately rolled her eyes at the two of them. 'What kind of senior brothers watch their junior brother's drama like this?'
Wang Baole didn't notice Nangong Yu's change at all. He looked at the young girl standing at the door, stopped what he was doing, and called out with a smile, "Yufei, what brings you here?"
Wang Yufei tilted her head and said, "I heard someone say you were back, brother-in-law, so I came to find you."
"Yufei, come over here. I'll introduce you to my senior brothers and sisters."
Wang Baole walked up to welcome her in and began the introductions.
"Yufei, this is my eldest senior brother, Xiao Chen."
Hearing the name Xiao Chen, Wang Yufei's eyes widened, her mouth forming an O-shape. "Brother-in-law… his name is exactly the same as that prodigy from Wendao Academy!"
Wang Baole scratched his head awkwardly. "My eldest senior brother is indeed the number one prodigy of Wendao Academy."
"Huh?"
Wang Yufei looked even more surprised. "Brother-in-law, you… you really joined Wendao Academy?"
She still remembered, when her brother-in-law left the Wang clan years ago, he'd said he would definitely join Wendao Academy.
All he got in return was ridicule from everyone in the Wang clan. She never expected he would really become a disciple of Wendao Academy.
"That's right."
Wang Baole didn't try to deceive her and admitted it openly.
"Then… are you back this time to break off the engagement with my sister?"
When Wang Yufei asked this, her eyes looked at her brother-in-law cautiously.
Wang Baole said, "Mm, I came back this time to break off the engagement with Wang Yulin."
Hearing this, a look of sadness flashed in Wang Yufei's eyes. She glanced at the fairy-like woman beside her brother-in-law and, using all her strength, said, "Brother-in-law, I wish you happiness. If you have time in the future, remember to visit me. I have something to do, so I won't disturb you anymore."
With that, she turned and left. Watching her go, Wang Baole felt that Yufei seemed a little off today.
Nangong Yu spoke, "Junior Brother Wang, aren't you going after her?"
"Why would I go after her?" Wang Baole looked confused.
The group immediately fell silent.
Cao Youqian patted his shoulder. "Junior Brother Wang, are you sure you don't have feelings for that girl?"
Wang Baole's face turned red at once. "Senior brother, how can you tell?"
Cao Youqian replied with exasperation, "Anyone normal can see it. I might not be a womanizer, but as someone who's been around, let me give you some advice—don't leave yourself with regrets."
Wang Baole nodded. "Don't worry, senior brother. Once I break off the engagement with Wang Yufei, I'll propose to Yulin."
Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian exchanged glances and said in unison, "In that case, let's make everything clear this time—not only to win you some face, but also to settle the matter once and for all."
Wang Baole was touched. "Thank you, senior brothers. What do I need to do?"
Xiao Chen smiled. "Just prepare a birthday gift. Leave the rest to us!"
Cao Youqian continued, "Exactly. It's time the world knows your name, Wang Baole!"
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