The night breeze was rather chilly for it was still winter in the region. Even a place like Hainan would still feel cold in the night.

At this moment, three beautiful people sat inside a lit room. The whole villa was filled with tender romance with a heavy dose of shyness and awkwardness.

“Are...are we really going to sleep on the same bed tonight?” Liang Siyao was so nervous that she started to tremble. If a gigantic hole were to appear beneath her now, the woman would surely leap in without a doubt.

“I... I’ll go sleep in the next room.” Fan Fan was cringing so badly that she had the violent urge to chicken out. Truthfully, she was the more conservative and traditional woman out of the two. She was a woman with poise and status.

However, all efforts to run away were futile when Xia Lei blocked their way out. There was a smirk on his face. “What’s with you two today? It’s not every day that we get the chance to travel together. Shouldn’t we enjoy this opportunity more? I mentioned that I wanted to tell stories to my children. Have they given you permission to leave?”

Both Liang Siyao and Fan Fan stared at him in silence.

This man sure was shameless. His children were probably as underdeveloped as a peanut, how were they supposed to give their mothers permission? And of course, the inevitable question. How should Fan Fan’s child refer to Liang Siyao and how would Liang Siyao’s child refer to Fan Fan?

Not leaving a chance for his two lovers to understand the question, the shameless man extended his arms and pulled them by the waist to the bed. The two women struggled half-heartedly in the process.

Following that, Xia Lei immediately helped them take off their shoes and socks, washed their feet then rubbed their backs. The man did not forget to add in a bunch of gentle and sweet words of love, melting their hearts into goo and dissipating their bashfulness.

There was a process for everything. Xia Lei had been nothing but lovely, showing his best performance as a man and husband.

“A long long time ago, there was a monk who lived in a temple, deep within the mountains...” After making sure that his wives were comfortable, he placed himself between them. The man told a story to his children as he caressed the top of his lover’s stomach. He was content with the peace and honey-like sweetness their dynamics had.

“Gosh, you’re bringing up such an old story?” Fan Fan pouted. “If this is what you meant by prenatal education, I am disappointed.”

Xia Lei scowled, looking like a wronged child.

“I second that,” said Liang Siyao.

“Prenatal education should be left to us women. A man like you wouldn’t know what to do,” noted Fan Fan.

Xia Lei abruptly continued his story. “One day, two nuns appeared at the temples. They soon took a great liking towards the monk and the monk had reciprocated their interest. After that, they lived happily ever after. They’d share meals, wash each other’s feet and...”

“What the fuck? What kind of dirty story are you reciting? You’re actually serious about telling that to your children?” Fan Fan was bewildered.

“Yeah, you’re so damned awful. You’re going to pollute the kids!” said Liang Siyao.

“Sleep together!” This seemed to be the ending of his story. As soon as his words fell in silence, Xia Lei pulled the covers over them and the three welcomed the darkness.

Sleeping together under a large blanket was something Xia Lei yearned to do. This little dream of his was no longer a fantasy.

“Whose hand was that?”

“Jeez! Stop that!”

“Didn’t I mention that I’m going to be a part of this!”

“No! No damn way!”

“I think you’re better off telling stories... Mmph!”

“Who gave you the permission to take those off?! Kya!”

Whatever that followed next in the dark was a string of risque stories.

The next morning, after Xia Lei and his two lovers had arisen from their slumber, someone all too familiar had made an appearance before they could leave for breakfast.

She was Shentu Tianyin.

She was wearing a black maxi skirt, black stilettos and her glistening Sacred Heart diamond necklace. Her aura was the same as ever. It was as strong and prominent as a queen’s. Albeit so, there was a faint sheen of sadness in her beautiful orbs.

Her abrupt appearance quickly stripped Xia Lei and his two lovers of their smiles and prior light-heartedness. Suddenly, the tension was heavy and awkward.

“Tianyin, when did you reach?” Xia Lei broke the silence.

Shentu Tianyin spared a brief glance on Fan Fan and Liang Siyao instead. “I arrived yesterday too. I heard you were coming and was expecting a visit from you. However, you hadn’t made a move to look for me till now so I figured that I should come to you.”

Xia Lei chuckled sheepishly. He was busy enjoying life with his two lovers, why would he be reminded of Shentu Tianyin?

“Hello, Siyao.” Shentu Tianyin greeted Liang Siyao.

“Hello, Tianyin.” Liang Siyao returned it with a light courteous smile. Her words were hallowed from friendliness.

Some time ago, Shentu Tianyin had reigned victorious over her. The woman was Xia Lei’s wife. But things had taken a turn and made her his ex-wife while his ex-girlfriend had reinstated her status. Not to mention, Liang Siyao was now secretly pregnant with his child. This was something both Shentu Tianyin and Liang Siyao hadn’t seen coming.

“And this is?” Shentu Tianyin’s gaze landed on Fan Fan.

Before Xia Lei could open his mouth to introduce them, Fan Fan came and stood closer to Xia Lei’s side. She hugged his arm and put on a bright smile. “I’m Xia Lei’s fiancee. I’m Fan Fan and you are?”

“Shentu Tianyin, his ex-wife.” The woman answered.

Truthfully, they both knew who each other were.

They continued to hold their gazes, eyes meeting one another. Their disdain and resentment towards each other were poorly concealed.

Immediately, the tension thickened.

Xia Lei could feel the top of his head go numb. He cleared his throat. “Uh... Tianyin, have you had breakfast? Would you like to join us?”

Liang Siyao reached one of her long legs over to kick the back of his shin lightly.

Xia Lei pretended to not feel it in favour of soothing the pain in his head. The man certainly didn’t want Shentu Tianyin to take his offer, especially in a setting with Fan Fan and Liang Siyao around. Xia Lei was just offering it out of courtesy. To no one’s surprise, as soon as the words escaped his mouth, Liang Siyao had already given him a kick. If Shentu Tianyin had actually agreed to it, would Fan Fan go easy on him?

“That sounds like a good idea. I hadn’t had breakfast either.” Shentu Tianyin smiled.

At this moment, Fan Fan reached her arm over and pinched his lower back with force.

Once again, Xia Lei feigned ignorance. The man kept his friendly smile on his face to mask his urge to cry. Last night, his women had served him like a king. The feast of desire was his paradise on earth but the spoiled man was immediately met with a sharp turn of events the next morning. He was walking on thin ice and this was akin to a dangerous calm before a storm.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Three women and one man were seated at the dining table.

Each woman had shared a messy romance history with Xia Lei. Having to face an uncanny combination of the three women whom he loved had Xia Lei’s appetite thrown out of the window. The only thing he wished, for now, was that breakfast would end without any issue.

“When is your marriage ceremony?” Only touching her lips with some congee, Shentu Tianyin broke the silence.

“We...” Now that she mentioned it, Xia Lei came to the realization that he did not even know when he would be registering his marriage with Fan Fan. The union was supposed to be a hoax but their feelings had matured over time. Now, their marriage was not as fake as it started out to be. Plus, Fan Fan was carrying his seed inside of her womb.

“We will do it when we feel it is the right time.” Fan Fan continued, “I’m already pregnant with his child so we can’t put this off too long or my stomach would be too obvious.”

A small smile formed on Liang Siyao’s lips. Fan Fan’s strategic response was amazing. She would’ve said the same thing to Shentu Tianyin hoping to dim her lingering feelings for Xia Lei.

Shentu Tianyin’s expression went a few shades darker, the melancholy in her eyes becoming more obvious. The woman forced out a smile. “When we were still together, I had always wanted a child. Sadly, things didn’t turn out the way I wanted.”

Xia Lei felt his heart clench painfully. If his relationship with Shentu Tianyin was smooth-sailing, perhaps they would’ve been parents by now. Despite that, bearing a child would be close to impossible for Tianyin back then without Fan Fan’s antidote.

Fan Fan replied, “Miss Tianyin, you’ll have a child of yours someday. You’re an amazing woman, I’m sure you have many suitors. If you give yourself another chance at marriage, you’ll surely have your own child.”

Shentu Tianyin looked at Xia Lei.

Xia Lei smiled bitterly. It was not his place to speak.

Shentu Tianyin consumed another few spoons of congee and then placed her cutleries down. “You guys go ahead, I’m done with breakfast. Xia Lei, I’ll look forward to hearing your speech at the forum.” With that, she stood from her seat and left.

Xia Lei wanted to call out to her but Liang Siyao hurriedly stuffed a french bean into his mouth.

Fan Fan exclaimed, “Bye, Miss Tianyin. Come visit us someday when you’re free.”

Shentu Tianyin’s footsteps halted for a moment but the female said nothing. She strode away with her back against them.

Her departure had Xia Lei’s heart sigh in both relief and heaviness. He wasn’t keen on having their issue entangle them for life, it was about time to put an end to this.

“If we weren’t here, you would’ve made a mistake again,” said Fan Fan.

“Sister Fan Fan, you’re amazing,” praised Liang Siyao with a grin.

Xia Lei could only smile wryly. “She’s got it hard too. She’s managing a company all by herself and constantly plagued with family politics.”

As soon as he was done talking, his two lovers immediately stuffed his mouth full of vegetables.

Fan Fan rolled her eyes at him. “You’re too soft for your own good. You’re a failure at rejecting others. She’s got it hard but have you thought about us?”

“Think about what she did. That way, you won’t be able to go soft on her,” added Liang Siyao.

Xia Lei silently chewed on his french beans.