Feng Yi Lan looked sullen as she walked down the corridor. Qi Shuai looked at her like that and could not help but smile. “It’s fine, you don’t have to be so off. You know how your brother is. Also, you shouldn’t have teased him when you know overnight, things can’t change.” 

Feng Yi Lan looked at Qi Shuai and pursed her lips. Keeping her hangs over her hips, she chided, “You treasure your friendship over love and that’s why you side with him. Fine, why am I carrying your child? Shouldn’t you ask him?” 

She said without thinking and her words made Qi Shuai pause in his steps for a moment. He turned to see her on his side. Not finding her parallel to himself, he came to realize that she had stopped making the comment a few steps back. 

Turning around, he looked back at her, finding her raising a challenging brow at him. He wasn’t surprised with her edgy attitude for recently, he has read all the books about pregnancy and parenting. He was ready to take the tantrums and mood swings of both his pregnant lady and the coming baby. 

Pulling his lips in a smile, he shook his head, “You got is wrong, darling. I have always been on your side. Your brother was wrong. I will speak to him tomorrow bout this.” He said, trying to appease. 

But seeing Feng Yi Lan still standing there, he knew that his words have not worked on her. Clicking his tongue, he walked back to her. He wanted to wrap his arm around her shoulder but with a little one in his arm, he waited before transferring him in the next arm. Then taking her in his arm embrace, he rectified his words to say, “Okay, okay, I won’t talk to him. I will chide him for treating you still like a kid. I will say that he can’t treat you the same because now you have married me and have become my wife. Will that be fine?” 

Feng Yi Lan brows eased for a moment but then it got scrunched again. They walked through the corridor while she pondered a bit before shaking her head in denial. “

“Nope, you can’t say that to him. Even though I am your wife, I am still his sister. He is my elder brother and he can treat me as he wants. You can’t interfere. Do you get it? And not like he was letting others reproach me. He was the one doing it. Also, I was wrong. I can’t tease Xue like that anymore. He is now my elder sister-in-law, an heiress of the country and also the matriarch of the family. He was right to remind me of that.”

She said and Qi Shuai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He knew this would happen, given the adoration and respect the little sister had for her elder brother and that was the reason why he never stepped between them. But even with that, he had to be the one to take all this. 

Nodding, he accepted, “You are right, darling. He is your elder brother and he has the right to care for you and also, he can reproach you when wrong. I got it. I won’t say anything to him. Instead, we will invite them home for lunch or dinner. How is that?” 

Feng Yi Lan again thought for a moment. Her pupils shone with thought and she excitedly nodded. “Perfect! We would do that. I will ask my sister-in-law, that way my devil brother won’t be able to refuse.” She said and then turned to look at Qi Shuai, who nodded back to her.

She smiled and then continued, “But we have to make so many preparations for that? What should we prepare? Should we ask the chefs to make the continental? But Li Xue is not a big fan of continental food. Or should we…” 

Before she could proceed for more, Qi Shuai stopped her. “It’s okay, darling. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow. We will take our time in preparing that. With all the wedding things going, we were all busy and now we are all tired. Let’s take a few days break before getting on this. Okay?” 

Feng Yi Lan nodded, but in her thoughts, she was still planning. But before she could speak about that, Qi Shuai was quick to close the topic. “Fine, now that’s been agreed, let’s get back and take a rest first. WeiWei must be waiting for us and even Little Ming is asleep.” 

Talking that on their way, soon the two adults exited the hotel with the little one in their arms. But they missed something peeking at the corner. 

*** 

Back in the room,  𝓞𝚟𝓁𝐍𝔢xt.𝕔𝑜𝔪

Li Xue looked at Feng Shufen through the mirror as she slowly removed the accessories from her hands. Even though she was dressed minimally and not many jewelries came on show, still there were many small pieces her, like rings on her fingers, bracelets on her writs, hair accessories vined in hair and many more. And it will take a lot of patience and time to get out of all that. 

“You should be mindful of you attitude when you speak to Yi Lan. She is pregnant and pregnant women are high on emotions. The smallest things in this time can affect them.” She said while trying to unhook the bracelet. 

Feng Shufen looked at her and plainly said, “Even in the emotional state, she should not forget how she should talk to the matriarch.” 

Li Xue pursed her lips and turned to look straight at him. Something was wrong with the bracelet, because even after trying, the hook was not coming off. Keeping her efforts on, she walked to him near the bed to defend her friend, “Yi Lan is my friend. My best and good friend. She doesn’t need to be so formal with me.” 

Feng Shufen remained nonchalant. Looking up at her from the bed, he didn’t say anything, but stared at her with a look that said that what he did was right and nothing could change it. 

“Fine. Live with that thought, but I am not going to follow it. Yi Lan is my friend and she would be treated differently by both the princess and the matriarch. No one can change that as well.” Saying that she turned with a huff and was ready to walk away when suddenly her wrist was held, pausing her in the step.  And the next second, before she knew she was pulled down on the lap.