He saw the "clothing" was a meter long, and the sleeves were a meter wide.

If Ruan Lan hadn't said it was clothes, Xu Lai would have suspected it was an oversized cleaning rag—it was just too artistic.

Xu Lai sighed. "I'm sorry, I still overestimated your tailoring skills."

A month's salary, just like that, down the drain. If I had known it would turn out like this, I would never have agreed to lend my sister-in-law the money for fabric and materials.

"Huh?" Ruan Lan was not happy. With a pout, she said, "Xu Lai, you have no taste. Do you even know what the two-dimensional world is? This is a Lolita Dress!"

Right. She's not even calling me brother-in-law anymore.

Xu Lai rubbed his temples. There's a world of difference between the advertisement and the actual product, but as long as my sister-in-law is happy, it's fine.

"You should prepare a new gift," he said, patting Ruan Lan on the shoulder. He turned to leave, thoughtfully closing the door behind him. "Go to sleep early, and don't waste materials next time."

"AHHH!" Ruan Lan threw herself onto the bed, rolling around in frustration.

My tailoring skills are a work of genius, and that scoundrel of a brother-in-law dares to criticize my work? You must be jealous of my talent!

Ruan Lan got out of bed, puffing with anger. Barefoot, she padded over to her sister's room, intending to confront Xu Lai about what was so wrong with her creation.

She gently pushed open the partially closed door and was stunned.

There in the moonlight, Xu Lai was crafting a garment, its rough outline already complete. It was as dazzling as the stars—simple yet luxurious.

Ruan Lan murmured, "So... so beautiful..."

In comparison, what the hell was that thing I made? The difference was like night and day!

Hearing the noise, Xu Lai calmly stowed the garment into his Storage Space and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Brother-in-law, what was that you were just making? It's gorgeous!" Ruan Lan's eyes twinkled with anticipation. "Is it for me?"

"No."

"Thank you, dear brother-in-law! I knew it was for me."

"...No."

"Thank you!"

"..."

Xu Lai didn't want to deal with the thick-skinned Ruan Lan anymore. He rolled his eyes and said, "I'm going to sleep."

"I'll sleep here, too." Ruan Lan jumped onto the bed, adopting a clear "give me the dress or I'm not leaving" posture.

"..."

Just then, the air in the room seemed to plummet, becoming bone-chillingly cold.

They both turned their heads to see Ruan Tang standing at the door, wrapped in a bathrobe with her hair still slightly damp.

Ruan Lan froze.

Xu Lai froze.

Ruan Tang said nothing. She simply turned and headed downstairs as if to grab a kitchen knife.

Ruan Lan scrambled to hug her sister's waist, pleading nervously, "Sis, don't be impulsive! It's a misunderstanding! I just wanted brother-in-law's clothes!"

The veins on Ruan Tang's forehead bulged even more.

"Ah, not the ones he's wearing! It's that he..."

Before Ruan Lan could explain, Xu Lai clapped a hand over her mouth. He coughed and said, "Honey, our sister has had too much to drink. I'll take her back to her room."

Too much to drink? I haven't even had dinner! My stomach is rumbling from hunger! Ruan Lan fumed internally.

But seeing Xu Lai winking and gesturing frantically, she suddenly got it.

Xu Lai, just like me, is an outstanding designer and tailor. He chose to make the gift himself as a surprise for his beloved. The only difference is that my gift is for my niece, while his is for his wife! This... this is love! Since we're both artisans cut from the same cloth, I'll do him this favor!

Pushing Xu Lai's hand away, Ruan Lan had a stroke of genius. She walked over to the wardrobe, pulled out one of Ruan Tang's nightgowns, and said, "Sis, I just came to borrow some pajamas. I won't disturb you two."

With a SQUEAK, Ruan Lan gently closed the door, adding from the hallway, "Good night!"

Back in her own room, Ruan Lan giggled. I'm a genius! That excuse was seamless, completely flawless!

Ruan Tang sat at her vanity while Xu Lai stood behind her, drying her hair with a hairdryer.

"So," Ruan Tang began, looking at Xu Lai through the mirror, "can you explain why she came to borrow pajamas while already wearing pajamas?"

Xu Lai pretended not to hear.

Ruan Tang turned around, took his hand, switched off the hairdryer, and with a stern expression, asked the question again.

"You know she's always been an airhead. This isn't the first time," Xu Lai said helplessly.

Ruan Tang stared at him intently for a long moment before finally uttering two words: "Fair enough."

Xu Lai breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want Ruan Tang to know about the wedding dress before it was finished. It was meant to be a complete surprise. Of course, he decided to make a matching one for his daughter, too. Aside from Ruan Lan's questionable skills, he knew that even though his wife would be the most beautiful woman on their wedding day, their daughter couldn't be overlooked!

"Alright, let's rest." Ruan Tang had been busy at the company all day and then up late at Sea Temple Island. Her eyelids were getting heavy.

"Want a massage?"

"No need."

Ruan Tang laid her head on the pillow and quickly fell asleep. Xu Lai looked down at her for a moment before drifting off himself.

The next few days were calm and peaceful. Life in Haitang Court was harmonious, with the only thing troubling Xu Lai being his 'poverty'.

Things were better in the Immortal Domain. During his Cultivation, he often came across people trying to murder him for his treasures. Of course, those highway robbers never succeeded; instead, they were the ones who ended up getting swindled. After all, the Human Race was particularly weak back then, and as a Human Race Cultivator, he was also particularly poor. Aside from preying on other predators, there was no other way to quickly obtain Cultivation resources. As his Boundary increased, those days were gone forever.

Xu Lai murmured, "I wonder if there are any rich fools I can swindle for old times' sake. Ah, the nostalgia."

All was quiet in East Sea City, but the Lin Family in Jiangbei was in an uproar.

Lin Ju, a mid-phase Ninth Grade Martial Artist, had vanished without a trace along with two Sixth Grade Martial Artists. One of them was Lin Song, the most beloved grandson of Family Head Lin Tianxiong.

Having been out of contact for a full seventy-two hours, everyone knew the three of them had likely perished.

But no one dared to say it out loud. Instead, they mobilized all available manpower and resources to search for them. However, there was no news whatsoever.

The entire Lin Family was on tenterhooks, walking on eggshells. Everyone was extra careful in what they said and did, afraid to offend the old Family Head and become his punching bag.

Even so, Family Head Lin Tianxiong had still smashed dozens of teacups in three days. His face was impossibly gloomy and terrifying.

"Have you found out yet?" Lin Tianxiong roared. "Where did Lin Song and the others go? Who were the last people they contacted?"

A middle-aged man knelt on one knee in the living room, sweat dripping from his forehead. Clenching his fist, he reported, "Family Head, Young Master Lin Song's last known location was Sea Temple Island. At that time, Xu Lai of East Sea happened to be there with friends. I suspect..."

The rest of the sentence hung in the air, the implication heavy.

But Lin Tianxiong furiously smashed the teacup in his hand onto the middle-aged man's forehead, breaking the skin and drawing blood.

"I don't want suspicion! I want a precise answer!" Lin Tianxiong said coldly. "Continue the investigation. If you can't find out..."

Before he could finish, angry shouts erupted within the Lin Family estate. Someone had broken in.

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