64: Raising children is not that simple.

Tu Nan watched with satisfaction as Sheng Ranran moved out of her small courtyard.

Although she found it slightly strange that they didn't cause more trouble, Tu Nan didn't have much energy to dwell on others' business right now.

She was truly about to give birth.

Because the System had actually provided a new progress bar.

[Twin genes perfected, pregnancy duration 112/120]

The time the Children spent awake was gradually increasing, and every minute they were awake, they wanted to compete for Tu Nan's attention.

"Mommy, when can I see you? Doggy Big Brother is always kicking me." Her daughter was always very lively.

"Mommy, Kitty Little Sister stretched her leg... I wanted to move out of the way, but she seems to have hurt her leg." Her son's temperament was very tolerant.

It really was a cat and a dog. Well, it seemed like a dog son and a cat daughter... Their personalities were a bit different from what she had expected, but it seemed more interesting.

Besides, no matter what, they were her little treasures.

"Miao Miao, look, Big Brother is yielding to you, so you should also care for him, right?" She reasoned with her daughter first, then educated her son, "Ao Ao, you must also have principles. If Little Sister stretched her own foot out, it's not your fault. As the older brother, you should educate her first."

"Can you two listen to Mommy?"

"We can~" The two of them agreed obediently.

Tu Nan could not suppress the smile on her face no matter what.

Happiness overflowed on her face. For these two little treasures, she suddenly felt that nothing else was important—including her own life.

***

The mother and daughter who moved away actually moved to a courtyard on the next street. They didn't lack money; that courtyard was even larger than the one Tu Nan and the others rented, and it was better equipped.

"At least this room is fit for people to live in." Sheng Ranran tossed her things aside and spoke angrily to Chen Fang once Gaia, who had helped with the move, left.

"Living there for so long was completely useless. Two people had to stay in such a small room. Honestly, I don't know how you could stand it."

"Wasn't I doing it for you... Otherwise, where else would you find an A-rank Male Beast to help you fight for the position of Family Head?"

Sheng Ranran tugged at her handkerchief in annoyance. "He won't even look at me. Besides, that Tu Nan is about to give birth."

Chen Fang gave a meaningful smile: "Silly child, it's better if she gives birth... Only after a child is born do men truly understand the use of power."

Sheng Ranran didn't quite believe her mother's words. After saying so much, she herself still hadn't secured the position of the Sheng Family's Matriarch. Just as she was about to retort, a communication request suddenly came through the bracelet on her hand, which hadn't lit up in a long time.

With just one glance, her eyes instantly lit up.

"Father!" She immediately connected the call, and tears fell instantly as she cried pitifully. "Father, why did you only call me now? You almost didn't get to see me. You don't know... Sheng Shijie, he..."

"Alright." Father Sheng interrupted her gently but firmly. "It's good that you're okay, baby. Didn't I ask you if you wanted to return to the main residence when you became an adult?"

Sheng Ranran's sobbing almost choked up. That's right, he had asked, but she thought returning to the main residence meant enjoying wealth and glory. Who knew it meant choosing to face the cruel struggle for the heirship?

"I... I didn't know..." She didn't know why her father was no longer the person who granted her every request.

"The Sheng Family is like this, baby. Sigh... look at you, it's hard for me to do anything now that you're regretting it."

"Master." Chen Fang pinched her daughter and took over the conversation, saying flatteringly, "Ranran doesn't regret it; she's just acting spoiled. She has already found an A-rank Male Beast outside who is willing to fight for her."

"Oh?" Father Sheng was very surprised. He laughed loudly on the other end: "Which one? Ranran is quite capable."

"It's a wild A-rank, one not recruited by any Family..."

"Good!" Father Sheng was overjoyed.

"Very good! As expected of my daughter. Then I'll wait for you to bring him back."

The call ended.

Chen Fang's face was as dark as water. She looked at her daughter gloomily, her expression completely devoid of her usual softness.

"What do you want to do? You know the rules of the Sheng Family. Withdrawing from the struggle for the Family Head halfway means death."

Sheng Ranran shrank back. Chen Fang looked toward Tu Nan's small courtyard, the madness and ambition in her eyes constantly expanding.

She murmured, "Soon. When her child is born, it will be our best opportunity."

She turned and stared into her daughter's eyes, asking, "Do you want to be the master of the Sheng Family, or do you want to die?"

Sheng Ranran stomped her foot and answered hatefully.

"I must make Sheng Shijie die!"

"That's more like it..." Chen Fang patted her with satisfaction and said, "Let me arrange it... don't be in a hurry..."

***

Tu Nan didn't know yet that the mother and daughter had targeted Li with a death-defying determination. She was currently having a headache refusing Li's advances.

During this time, she had indeed eaten too well. Morning and night, whenever there was a chance, she would catch Li to make love. It had become a habit for Li, and now that she had refused him for several days in a row, he was starting to look restless.

"Didn't you say we should do it often so your delivery would go smoothly?"

Li still remembered the reason Tu Nan gave when she was obsessed with him before.

He thought that since Tu Nan was a Foster Mother, she might have experience in this area. Plus, it was indeed hard for him to resist her temptation, and she had succeeded every time.

By now, it had become a habit.

And now... he was being rejected?

Tu Nan realized she had dug a hole for herself, but... anyway, it wasn't okay now.

"No, when you're about to give birth, you have to take care of your body. You can't do it." Tu Nan fooled Li solemnly. Seeing that he was still a bit unwilling, her eyes darted around, and she changed the subject.

"Lord Li~" She smiled very sweetly.

Li suddenly felt a shiver. Every time Tu Nan called him like that, there was always some difficult-to-satisfy request at the end.

Li stared at Tu Nan warily.

"The Children are about to be born. Have you thought about... how to raise them?"

Li didn't know why she asked this, but maybe a Female Beast about to give birth just felt very insecure? He promised, "I will raise them well, don't worry. I'll also take care of you."

"That's not it." Tu Nan guided him.

"Look, we live in this area, it's peaceful and harmonious, much more stable than the River Valley, right? But this isn't just Military District territory; our identities... are all..."

Faked. Tu Nan didn't say it aloud, but Li understood.

"What if someone finds out?" she asked Li.

"I can wander with you, go to the desert, find another River Valley."

"What about our Children?" Tu Nan asked. "Should they also wander with us? Or live in a River Valley where they can't see the sunlight, worrying about tomorrow every day?"

"Will they one day live like you did when you were little, or like I did when I was little?" Tu Nan's tone gradually became lighter and heavier.

"I want them to have legitimate identities and grow up lively and happy. Just like Owen."

Li was stunned. Owen, the boy across the street. Always energetic and mischievous, yet everyone was very friendly to him, and he was always very happy.

As for his own childhood... he didn't want to think about it anymore. His hand holding Tu Nan tightened.

"Then what should we do?"

Li looked up, and for the first time, something called ambition appeared in his eyes.