When Yao Le'er saw the caller ID as "Wife," she jumped, feeling like a thief caught in the act.
Xu Bin, holding her by the waist, casually answered the call: "Hey, what's up?"
"Honey, there's a power outage tonight. Should we buy some candles?"
Hearing her sister's voice, Yao Le'er's face changed, and she looked terrified, as if she had been caught cheating. Xu Bin enjoyed her emotional turmoil and turned to kiss her lips gently, but not passionately.
Yao Le'er's lips were tightly pursed, and her bright eyes pleaded with him.
Xu Bin didn't push further, just said softly, "No need, babe. It's just a day and night without power. I told you we're going to the Ocean World, remember?"
"Really?"
Yao Le'er sounded surprised, thinking it was just an excuse to tell their mom's friends.
"Of course! We all need to relax sometimes."
"You talk to Mom and let her know. I'll pick her up when it's time, and you wait for us at Ocean World."
In front of his wife, Xu Bin was always dominant and masculine. Yao Le'er was used to this and sometimes even liked it.
After hanging up, looking at the shy girl in his arms, Xu Bin smiled and said, "The power outage starts tonight."
Before Xu Bin could finish, Yao Le'er obediently said, "I know, Mom's friends are just a bunch of gossips. I heard you talking to them."
Xu Bin checked the time, smiled, and patted her butt. "Baby, it's time to take you to school."
"S-Sisterfucker... I'll go change my clothes!"
Yao Le'er stood up, a bit unsteady on her feet, obviously embarrassed and probably wet through her underwear. Xu Bin didn't tease her further because he hadn't received his system reward yet, and no new task had been generated.
They arrived at the school with her change of clothes and daily necessities. Just as they reached the gate, they saw Ah Qiao standing there, looking annoyed. Seeing Yao Le'er and Xu Bin together, she hesitated but seemed to be waiting for Yao Le'er.
Xu Bin frowned, wondering how to deal with this nuisance, when Yao Le'er ran over to Ah Qiao and smiled, "Thanks for your kindness, but it's not necessary."
"Oh, it's nothing. Your godfather is just poorer than my sister's husband."
Yao Le'er took out her iPhone 14 and said softly, "We're not poor, just strictly managed. This is a gift from my sister's husband for my studies, more than what your godfather gave you, right?"
"You..."
Ah Qiao was determined to cause trouble but was caught off guard by Yao Le'er's bold response.
Girl drama can be intense. Xiao Miaomiao also walked over, hugging Yao Le'er tightly and looking at Ah Qiao. "Come on, Ah Qiao, go find someone else to bother with your small change."
"What do you mean small change?"
Ah Qiao retorted.
"A few thousand? That's small change? Your godfather owns a small restaurant; how much could he have? He can't compare to Yao Le'er's sister's husband. He spent over ten thousand on a summer cicada bracelet series in just two days."
"Know what money is? He buys jewelry without caring about the weight, then complains it's too heavy for mahjong and buys a lighter one."
"Yao Le'er's family is strictly managed, not poor. Her sister's husband is financially free and doesn't need to work. He's in a different league from your godfather."
"Know how much Yao Le'er spends on underwear? Never less than two hundred yuan a piece."
"Just these school supplies, not counting the phone, cost at least twenty to thirty thousand. Ever used a 68-yuan face basin?"
Xiao Miaomiao was relentless, "If you want a sugar daddy, find Yao Le'er's sister's husband. Your middle-aged man is gross."
Ah Qiao's face turned green, and Yao Le'er pulled her away. Xu Bin didn't say a word and left Ah Qiao standing there.
Following the phone registration, Xu Bin was listed as the parent. Everything seemed normal, but there was an issue with the dorm assignment.
No. 1 Middle School is an old prestigious school, previously with eight-person dorms, which were already considered good. Now, there are new dormitories with four-person and even two-person rooms, well-equipped with air conditioning and other amenities.
The school's sponsorship fees are clearly stated, and there are scholarships and living allowances for students who get in. However, getting a child into the school through sponsorship is no small feat, costing twenty thousand yuan and with no additional benefits, a heavy burden for any family.
Yao Le'er got in on her own merits, so her fees were lower. Xiao Miaomiao missed the cut by two points and had to pay the sponsorship fee. Her family, both teachers, were busy and hadn't handled the paperwork themselves.
"Xiao Miaomiao, the regular dorms are almost full. Talk to your parents about moving to the new building," the teacher suggested.
Xiao Miaomiao hesitated, "Teacher, my mom is in the city taking an exam."
Xiao Miaomiao's parents, both teachers, were extremely busy, and friends were handling the paperwork.
"You should still ask them."
Xiao Miaomiao's parents seemed to know the situation. The new dorm's occupancy rate was below thirty percent, and sometimes connections could get you perks, but also required effort.
"Teacher, my mom said to pay the extra fee, but I want to live with my classmate."
Xiao Miaomiao pulled Yao Le'er aside.
This request was reasonable, and the teacher quickly arranged it. The two girls happily hugged and cheered.
With the dorm assignment, Xu Bin followed them to the dorm but was told parents weren't allowed to help set up the room. He sighed, his wish to visit the girls' dorm unfulfilled.
"Dear parents, school escort time is over. Please leave the campus."
In the evening, Xu Bin left but encountered traffic. He decided to let his mother-in-law, Shen Ruyu, take a taxi to meet them, as it would be faster.
The subway was also crowded, and by the time Xu Bin met his wife, Yao Nan, at the Ocean World lobby, his mother-in-law hadn't arrived yet.
"Honey, this place is named interestingly, almost like an aquarium..."
"Honey, they say the buffet here is great!"
Just then, Shen Ruyu arrived, looking radiant and alluring, clearly having won some money.
Behind her was Yanzi, wearing a low-cut dress that highlighted her curvaceous figure. Unlike Shen Ruyu's voluptuous body, Yanzi had a more slender build but was equally seductive with her fox-like eyes and well-maintained appearance. Her wavy long hair added to her allure, giving her a wild and passionate aura.
"Mom, Yanzi Aunty."
Yao Nan stood up politely.
Yanzi smiled, "Nan Nan, the best food here isn't the buffet, it's the sea view restaurant."
"That sounds expensive!"
Yao Nan hesitated.
Yanzi looked at Xu Bin and said, "Not at all. Your husband is doing so well. Last time, he even sent food from here to your mom. We were so jealous."
Shen Ruyu proudly said, "There weren't enough people for mahjong tonight, so I brought Yanzi along."
"Mom, I'll get the tickets."
Xu Bin didn't question how they ended up together, knowing his mother-in-law's pride. She wouldn't back down from a challenge, even if it meant spending extra money. So, she brought Yanzi along to prove a point.
Completing the wife task was a must, and an extra person didn't matter to Xu Bin.