Fan Ruyin wanted to use the rumors to pressure her way into the household.

It was not a clever trick, but it was useful against people who cared about face.

Unfortunately for Fan Ruyin, Li Jain was not a normal person, and the Li children were not easy to fool.

Still, Li Xinyue decided that she should warn him.

...

Inside the hall, Li Jain was looking at the menu with Li Yujian.

There were too many guests, and the banquet dishes had to be prepared carefully. Some dishes could be made ahead of time, while others had to be finished shortly before serving. Since the banquet food would carry spiritual effects, the order of serving also mattered. If the dishes clashed, guests might feel uncomfortable.

Fan Ruyin entered with a smile and called out: "Li Jain."

Li Jain looked up as if he’d just seen her: "Fan Ruyin, you’re here. Is something wrong?"

Fan Ruyin walked closer: "Nothing’s wrong. I only wanted to see if you needed help. Tomorrow’s banquet is important. Since I am also connected to this family, I thought I should help during this busy time."

Li Jain nodded in approval: "Then you can help prepare ingredients tonight. There will be a lot to handle. The more hands I can get in the kitchen the better."

Fan Ruyin’s smile stiffened again.

She had expected him to say something like asking her to receive guests or stand with him during the banquet. Who knew he would really send her to prepare ingredients?

Still, she could not refuse too directly, otherwise it would expose her plans.

"Alright," she said: "I brought servants with me. They can also help with the ingredients."

Li Jain’s eyes brightened instantly: "That is thoughtful of you."

Fan Ruyin looked at his genuinely pleased expression and felt her heart blocked. This man truly did not understand her meaning.

At this moment, Li Xinyue entered. As soon as Fan Ruyin saw her, she frowned in annoyance.

Li Jain looked up: "Xinyue, what is it?"

Li Xinyue waved her hand: "It is nothing. But I have something to remind you. I’m worried that if I leave without reminding you, something might go wrong tomorrow."

Li Jain was puzzled at why she became serious all of sudden: "What is it?" He asked

Li Xinyue glanced at Fan Ruyin, then smiled. "Tomorrow’s banquet will have many guests. Since you are the host, it’s important with who you stand with to receive guests. You should arrange the positions clearly beforehand, or some unnecessary misunderstandings may appear."

Li Jain blinked, as if telling her to speak clearly.

He looked at her, then at Fan Ruyin, then back at her: "Misunderstandings?"

Fan Ruyin’s expression changed slightly. What she fears has come true. Some people really can’t stay out of other’s business.

Li Xinyue smiled: "Yes. If someone who is not officially recognized stands too close to the host and receives guests, people would misunderstand your relationship. And once rumors begin to spread, it will be hard to get rid off."

Li Jain thought for a moment and said, "But Xinyue, you are helping with the banquet. If you stand besides me and receive the guests, they should understand our relationship."

Li Xinyue almost laughed from helplessness.

Fan Ruyin lowered her eyes to hide the flash of joy in them. Since Li Jain did not understand, that was even better.

But before she could relax, a calm voice came from the side.

"Father, Aunt Xinyue is not talking about herself." Li Yujian said.

His face was calm, but Fan Ruyin’s heart tightened by the smirk on his little face.

Li Yujian looked directly at Fan Ruyin.

"She means you should not receive guests with aunt Fan Ruyin tomorrow. Otherwise people would misunderstand and think she’s your mistress."

The hall became quiet.

Fan Ruyin’s face immediately turned red: "Yujian, what are you saying? I am only trying to help and thinking about the household."

Li Yujian replied calmly: "You do not need to think for the household. We already have it all planned out."

Fan Ruyin’s expression turned ugly: "I am your younger brothers’ mother."

Li Yujian didn’t reply and just looked at her meaningfully. Fan Ruyin could barely keep her smile.

Li Jain finally understood.

He looked at Fan Ruyin with some surprise: "Ruyin, is that what you planned?"

Fan Ruyin didn’t expect to be asked directly, she immediately shook her head: "Of course not. I only wanted to help. Since I have a relationship with the children, I thought it would be better if I helped receive some guests."

Li Jain didn’t think much of it and said: "Oh, I see. But if the person who receives guests needs to have a close relationship with the host, then Liu Xiong is more suitable."

The mention of Liu Xiong made Fan Ruyin’s expression darken.

Li Xinyue saw it clearly and was very pleased. But then again, is her brother and Liu Xiong really in that kind of relationship?

Li Jain thought for a while, then added: "Ruyin, you can help in the kitchen tonight. I really could use your help. As for tomorrow, there will be a special seat for you, so don’t worry about the guests."

Fan Ruyin’s fingers tightened. Li Jain had directly placed her position as a guest.

She wanted to argue, but Li Yujian was staring at her. Fan Ruyin swallowed her anger. She could always find another opportunity, tomorrow is still far away.

"Alright," she said softly: "I understand."

Li Jain nodded, satisfied that the matter was settled.

Li Yujian looked at him silently and suddenly felt that his father’s understanding of certain things was truly worrying.

Li Xinyue also sighed in her heart. Fortunately, the children were smart.

Otherwise, someone like Li Jain would probably never understand the situation.

....

That night, the kitchen remained busy.

Fan Ruyin’s servants were indeed useful. Although Fan Ruyin herself did not do much heavy work, the servants she brought helped wash vegetables, sort spiritual herbs, clean meat, prepare fruit, and arrange ingredients according to Li Jain’s instructions.

Large baskets of spirit vegetables were carried in and cleaned. Spiritual fish were sliced and marinated. Several kinds of beast meat were cut into proper portions.

Moondew rice was washed and soaked. The fruit for desserts was separated into different trays.

Li Jain moved between the tables, checking each ingredient one by one. Sometimes he would correct the thickness of a cut, sometimes he would change the soaking time, and sometimes he would remove a herb that had been placed in the wrong pile.

Fan Ruyin watched him from the side.

She had always known Li Jain could cook, but watching him prepare a banquet so calmly still made her heart stir. This was not the useless Li Jain who had once been thrown out of the Li family. This was a man with wealth, and ability.

If she could become the woman beside him, everything would be different.

The more she thought about it, the harder it became to give up.

Unfortunately, every time she tried to move closer to Li Jain, those little demons would somehow appear one after another. Requesting things that don’t make sense. It was as if they had planned to keep her away from him.

By late night, most of the ingredients had finally been prepared.

Fan Ruyin’s servants were tired, but no one dared complain. Li Jain gave them each a large bowl of warm spiritual soup as thanks, and the servants immediately became energized after drinking it. Even Fan Ruyin could not help drinking a bowl.

The taste made her unwillingness deepen.

The food at Spiritual Tavern was truly something no other restaurant could compare with. And after her time in Qingyuan Town, she knows that living with Li Jain means eating such delicacies everyday.

Li Jain opens the guest rooms for the people who stay over to sleep in. Fan Ruyin also got a room, but she didn’t dare make any rush moves.

...

After the children went to sleep, the house finally quieted down.

Li Jain finally stepped out of the kitchen after finishing one of the broths.

He had only walked into the side corridor when a familiar hand reached out and gently caught his wrist.

Liu Xiong stood in the shadow beside the pillar, watching him quietly.

"You have been busy all day." Liu Xiong said.

Li Jain smiled: "Tomorrow is the twins’ birthday. It is only right to be busy."

Liu Xiong looked at his tired face and reached out to wipe a faint smudge of flour from the corner of his cheek: "You always say that."

Li Jain blinked: "Say what?"

Liu Xiong’s voice was low: "Taking care of the children is only right. Cooking all night is only right. Running across cities to bring them back is only right. You make everything sound simple."

’It won’t be bad to complain once in a while.’ Liu Xiong thought.

Li Jain looked at him for a moment, then smiled gently: "They are my children, it’s only right."

"There we go again." Liu Xiong’s gaze softened, but there was also helplessness inside it.

He pulled Li Jain a little closer.

Li Jain looked around quickly: "There are servants nearby."

"This is our house." Liu Xiong said. He can control himself around the children, but he didn’t care about those intruding servants.

Before Li Jain could answer, Liu Xiong lowered his head and kissed him gently.

After a long while, Liu Xiong finally let him go.

Li Jain’s ears were faintly red. "You are becoming more and more bold."

Liu Xiong looked at him and smiled: "Tomorrow will be busy. You should rest early."

"I’m not sleepy." Li Jain shook his head.

"Are you worried?"

"A little," Li Jain admitted: "This is the first birthday banquet I am holding for them."

Liu Xiong looked at him quietly. After a moment, he said: "They will be happy."

Li Jain’s expression softened: "I hope so."

Liu Xiong "They already are. Even though the twins still do not know the truth, the others have been excited for days. Once Cheng and Zhang find out, they will understand how much effort you put into it."

Li Jain sighed: "I don’t know. Maybe the surprise wasn’t a good idea. But Xiao Zhang looks so sad these days. I can’t even look at him. It makes my heart ache."

"You’re overthinking it, come on, let’s get some sleep." Liu Xiong pulled the distracted Li Jain towards his bedroom with a smirk on his face.

The night went by peacefully.