Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 487 The Warmth of Home

After Lin Chen dismissed Lü Bu, he glanced at Wen Ruoxi, who was fast asleep, and then went to Liu Ruyan's courtyard first.

Liu Ruyan was still awake, leaning against the headboard reading a book.

Lin Nianjun slept next to her, his little face round and chubby, his mouth slightly open, and his drool glistening.

When Liu Ruyan saw Lin Chen enter, she put down her book and smiled slightly.

"Is Ruoxi alright?"

"She's already asleep, she's fine."

Lin Chen walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked down at his son and gently touched his face.

Lin Nianjun wrinkled his nose in his sleep, turned over, and continued sleeping.

Liu Ruyan rolled her eyes. "Be gentle, it took me so long to get him to sleep."

"You've worked hard!" Lin Chen grasped Liu Ruyan's hand, and Liu Ruyan leaned into Lin Chen's arms.

The two sat there without saying a word.

After a while, Lin Chen stood up: "Go to sleep early."

Liu Ruyan hummed in agreement, watching Lin Chen's retreating figure. Just as he reached the door, she suddenly spoke:

"When are you leaving?"

Lin Chen turned around: "We'll have breakfast tomorrow!"

Liu Ruyan nodded and said nothing more.

Lin Chen went to Qin Shuyan's place again. Qin Shuyan was still awake and was looking at the account book under the lamp.

Lin Nianbei slept in the cradle next to her, her little hands clenched into fists and placed next to her head in a bold posture.

Lin Chen walked over and took the account book away. Qin Shuyan looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot.

"Still watching this late?"

"I can't sleep." Qin Shuyan rubbed her eyes.

Lin Chen sat down on the edge of the bed, put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her closer to him.

Qin Shuyan leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder and closed her eyes.

The two sat there for a while, and after a while, Qin Shuyan's breathing became steady, and she fell asleep.

Lin Chen gently laid her down on the bed, covered her with a blanket, glanced at Lin Nianbei in the cradle, and then turned and left.

Xiao Yulou, that martial arts fanatic, was still practicing his sword in the middle of the night; the courtyard was filled with flashing sword light and whistling wind.

Lin Chen stood by the moon gate for a while, waiting for her to sheathe her sword before walking over.

Xiao Yulou wiped his sweat, looked at Lin Chen, and frowned:

"Why don't you spend more time with Ruoxi?"

"She's asleep. I came to check on you and the baby."

Xiao Yulou sheathed her sword, took Lin Chen's arm, and walked into the house, saying as they went:

"Nianying rolled over today! She rolled over three times! Let me tell you—"

She chattered on and on the way, and Lin Chen listened, smiling, occasionally chiming in with a comment.

Once inside, Lin Nianying was sleeping soundly in bed, her little fists clenched around the blanket.

Xiao Yulou leaned over the bed and watched her for a while, then suddenly turned to look at Lin Chen:

"When are you leaving?"

"I'll have breakfast tomorrow!" Lin Chen replied.

Xiao Yulou said "Oh" and didn't say anything more, but she tightened her grip on Lin Chen's hand.

Lin Chen looked at them one by one: Chu Yueyao, Murong Xue, Su Xiaoxiao, Ye Qingying, Liu Shengxue... and finally stopped at the entrance of Zhao Mingyue's courtyard.

Zhao Mingyue was still awake. The room was lit, and her shadow was cast on the window paper as she reclined on the couch, holding a book in her hand.

Lin Chen pushed the door open and went in. Zhao Mingyue looked up at Lin Chen and put down her book.

"Are you done with your work?"

Lin Chen nodded and walked over to sit down next to her.

Zhao Mingyue's belly was already quite big, eight months along, round and plump.

She was wearing a loose nightgown, her hair was casually tied up, and she wasn't wearing any makeup, but her skin was still glowing white.

Lin Chen frowned slightly: "I heard from my mother that you've been staying up very late lately?"

"I can't sleep." Zhao Mingyue picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. It was calming tea.

"The baby's movements have been so strong these past few days, kicking so hard I can't sleep."

Lin Chen placed his hand on Zhao Mingyue's stomach, and the little one inside kicked him, striking his palm with considerable force.

Lin Chen chuckled immediately: "This kid is just like you."

Zhao Mingyue rolled her eyes: "How did you know it was a kid?"

"I guessed."

"You guessed?" Zhao Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "How accurate could your guess be?"

Lin Chen said seriously, "I've always been right about everything I guess in my life."

Zhao Mingyue looked at Lin Chen and couldn't help but laugh.

She leaned back in her chair, her hand on her stomach, her face bearing an indescribable expression.

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, took Zhao Mingyue's hand, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Mingyue was silent for a moment, then spoke:

"You've taken on the responsibility of supporting eight families, and now all eight families have children. From what I've heard when I chat with Ruyan and the others, they seem to want to have another child for your family."

Lin Chen smiled upon hearing this: "They're really overthinking things. No matter which branch of the family they're from, aren't they all my children, the bloodline of the Lin family!"

"That's different!" Zhao Mingyue said earnestly.

"Although they were once your brother's women, their hearts now belong to you, and they will naturally consider your needs. Don't take them for granted."

Lin Chen shook his head and smiled wryly, "I know, but the child was only born recently. We should wait until the child is a little older before making any decisions."

"Besides, with their current cultivation level, living for several hundred years is no problem, so there's no need to rush to have children."

Zhao Mingyue rolled her eyes. "Don't you know that the higher one's cultivation level, the harder it is to give birth?"

"Uh—" Lin Chen choked for a moment; he had completely forgotten about that.

However, as long as his cultivation level is several levels higher than the women's, this problem will not exist.

"I know what I'm doing," Lin Chen said, lowering his voice to Zhao Mingyue's ear.

"Madam, it's getting late, let's rest!"

"It's good that you know what you're doing!" Zhao Mingyue nodded with a smile, then pressed Lin Chen down onto the bed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next morning, Lin Chen had breakfast with his family.

After finishing breakfast, Lin Chen stood up but before he could speak, Lin Nian'er tugged at his sleeve, her eyes reddening. "Daddy, are you going on another long trip?"

Lin Chen bent down and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back soon."

Lin Nian'er let go of her hand, lowered her head, and tears fell onto the table without making a sound.

Lin Chen glanced at the people inside the room.

The Old Madam, Su Wanqing, Liu Ruyan, Zhao Mingyue, Chu Yueyao, Qin Shuyan, Xiao Yulou, Wen Ruoxi, Ye Qingying, Murong Xue, Su Xiaoxiao, Liu Shengxue, and all the children.

He waved his hand, turned around and walked out of the dining room to the open space in the backyard, raised his hand and swiped in front of him.

The void cracked open, revealing a pitch-black fissure. On the other side lay the streets of that small town in Zhongzhou, the sky still hazy and not yet fully bright.

Lin Chen stepped inside, and the crack closed.

……

Zhongzhou, Tianjian Villa.

Unaware that Lin Chen had returned to the Eastern Region the previous night, the others assumed he had spent the night outside.

Yan Ruyu said with a hint of resentment, "You men, you always think the wildflowers outside smell better!"

Lin Chen coughed lightly without offering an explanation.

"I've already eaten. You guys have breakfast first, and then we'll continue our journey."