99: Chapter 98 The Way to Break the Stalemate

Faced with Li Fan's resolute threat of death, Wen Xinmei's eyes trembled slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she no longer wavered.

Her tone was calm, her words resolute.

"If Husband insists on seeking death, then I shall accompany Husband and die together."

Hearing this, Qian Zhenzhen, standing at her side, immediately looked up and spoke up right after.

"It is only death, this Young Miss is not afraid either."

Father Qian, standing to the side, looked up. His lips parted, he wanted to say something several times, but in the end, he couldn't utter a single word.

He gazed at the determination in his daughter's eyes, shook his head slowly, lowered his head again, and sighed secretly.

"Zhener... she is beyond saving."

The two women's responses left Li Fan at a loss.

The scenes of their argument just moments ago flashed rapidly through his mind...

Li Fan murmured silently.

"Are you both unwilling to leave me..."

After a moment of thought, Li Fan let out a breath, and spoke in a seemingly weary tone.

"Why go this far?"

"I just didn't want to fail your sincere hearts. Being caught in a dilemma, I resorted to this desperate measure."

"I do not wish to force you to seek death."

He paused deliberately, his gaze heavy, his tone carrying a hint of resolution as he continued.

"If that is the case, I will not seek death!"

"I will live in seclusion and disappear completely from your sight."

"This way, no one needs to die with me, and I won't have to show favoritism or fail anyone."

As his voice fell, Li Fan shook off the two women clinging to him, stood up, and made a move to leave.

This action instantly threw Wen Xinmei and Qian Zhenzhen into a panic.

If they could never see Li Fan again, they might as well die together.

In their desperation, the two women almost simultaneously grabbed Li Fan's sleeves tightly, refusing to let go.

Wen Xinmei spoke first, her tone flustered.

"No, Husband! I can accept it..."

She only minded another person coming to share Li Fan, but compared to losing him completely, one more person was nothing.

After all, there were already Nangong Miao and Wen Xinran at home, so one more didn't matter.

Qian Zhenzhen, seeing Wen Xinmei concede and compromise, also intended to agree, but the words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't bring herself to say them.

She turned her head to look at her silent father, hesitated slightly, and began to explain.

"Father, Li Fan is the Dao Companion I mentioned to you."

"Back in the Secret Realm during the school examination, it was he who risked his life to save me. I owe him my life."

Upon hearing the reason, Father Qian looked up, his gaze falling on Li Fan. Seeing his yellow hair, the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he felt a complex mix of emotions.

However, after composing himself, he looked solemnly at Li Fan and asked in a deep voice.

"Li Fan, I won't say anything more. Can you take responsibility for Zhener to the end?"

Faced with such a serious question, Li Fan, who was usually laid-back and rarely serious, uncharacteristically composed his expression.

His gaze was open and honest as he replied solemnly.

"Whether it is Zhenzhen or Xinmei, I will treat both with sincerity. I will absolutely not show favoritism or fail either of them."

Father Qian stared at him for a long time, his gaze finally falling back on that glaring yellow hair.

In the end, he didn't offer any more warnings, just sighed deeply and said indifferently.

"When you have time, dye your hair back."

After speaking, he stood up and walked outside.

Seeing this, Li Fan hurriedly looked at Xiao Chun, who was still secretly recording on her terminal under the table, and urged her.

"Xiao Chun, hurry and see Uncle off."

Xiao Chun looked up, swept a reluctant glance over the three of them, her eyes full of regret for not finishing the gossip.

However, she still stood up, quickly walked to Father Qian, pushed open the hall door covered in array patterns, and left together.

Once the figures of Father Qian and Xiao Chun had completely disappeared, the inner hall quieted down. Qian Zhenzhen then turned her head, raised her eyes, and met Li Fan's gaze.

"This Young Miss..."

She stopped mid-sentence, blinked hard, her tone carrying a hint of shyness.

"I... I naturally can accept it too."

Hearing this, Li Fan was completely relieved.

He opened his arms, taking the opportunity to pull Wen Xinmei and Qian Zhenzhen into his embrace, and spoke gently.

"Regardless of who came first, you are both my wings."

The two women leaned quietly against Li Fan's chest, their gazes meeting quietly, still carrying hostility in their eyes.

It appeared to be a brief moment of harmony, but in reality, they were secretly competing.

Wen Xinmei broke the silence first again. With a hint of provocation, she spoke softly.

"Little Sister Zhenzhen, at most you've only held Husband's hand, right?"

"Do you want Big Sister to teach you the ways of in-depth interaction between a man and a woman?"

Qian Zhenzhen refused to show weakness and immediately raised her head to counterattack.

"No need to trouble yourself, Big Sister. I have already engaged in mouth-to-mouth interaction with Husband."

Wen Xinmei chuckled upon hearing this, completely unbothered by her counterattack, her eyes instead showing a hint of understanding.

She lowered her eyes meaningfully, her gaze traveling down Li Fan's body.

"So, the intimate interaction Little Sister Zhenzhen spoke of is only this much?"

"It seems I understand Husband's length better."

These words were so blunt that even the inexperienced Qian Zhenzhen understood the hidden meaning instantly.

Her face flushed red, her ears burning, but she gritted her teeth and retorted, refusing to lose.

"It's just a matter of who came first! Sooner or later, I will formally engage in Dual Cultivation with Husband!"

She lifted her chin and retorted with full confidence.

"According to the regulations of the Xuannü Civilization, before the birth of the first heir, Dao Companions must engage in regular Dual Cultivation every seven days to fulfill their obligations!"

"In the future, when Husband and I perform our routine Dual Cultivation, I can only ask Big Sister to bear the grievance of listening to the sounds from outside the door."

Qian Zhenzhen's counterattack made Wen Xinmei so angry that she stuttered.

"You... you rogue!"

Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Li Fan hurriedly spoke up at the right moment to change the subject.

"Zhenzhen, which university do you attend?"

Hearing this, Qian Zhenzhen cast aside her competitive gaze with Wen Xinmei and answered frankly.

"Xuanzhuan University, but this Young Miss also has to manage the Qian Family business, so I am not often on campus."

Li Fan nodded. No wonder he had been to Xuanzhuan University several times but had never met Qian Zhenzhen.

He raised his hand and patted Qian Zhenzhen's head.

"I am usually at Xuanzong University. Zhenzhen, you can come find me when you are free."

Seeing Qian Zhenzhen nod in agreement, he then turned and patted Wen Xinmei's head.

"Xinmei, Zhenzhen will be part of the family from now on."

"Everyone should be understanding and tolerant."

However, Wen Xinmei did not nod in agreement, but instead asked with interest.

"Husband, when do you plan to tell Little Sister Zhenzhen how many people are actually in this family of ours?"

Hearing this, the corner of Li Fan's mouth twitched, and he was instantly tongue-tied.

"This..."

This remark also made Qian Zhenzhen suspicious, and she asked, pressing for an answer.

"Husband, our family... could it be that there are many people?"

Li Fan felt embarrassed to speak and began to use his old tactics: he closed his eyes and started to give up.

Seeing him like this, Wen Xinmei chuckled and answered on his behalf.

"Little Sister Zhenzhen, don't think that handling me alone is the end of it."

"In our family, besides me, there is still..."

She paused deliberately as she spoke, as if counting the number of people in her heart, whetting Qian Zhenzhen's appetite.

Seeing this, Qian Zhenzhen's heart tightened, and she saw Wen Xinmei hold up two fingers.

"Before you, there are two others."

"I am ranked second. By this calculation, Little Sister Zhenzhen, you can only be considered the fourth in our family..."