Dragon Palace Home #10.
During the final weekend before Iris was scheduled to end her bed rest in the next few days, Theresa Blipsburg returned from Cross Academy and brought customized supplements plus other helpful concoctions for pregnant women like pain-relieving and calming massage oils, creams for stretch marks, and so many more. All of these were for Iris.
The most impressive that she gave Iris, however, was a personalized printed guide book that Theresa wrote after consulting with all of her mentors from the academy based on Iris' medical files. It covered everything including the most common and not-so-common do's and don'ts during pregnancy, recommendations for a wide range of areas such as diet, exercise, relaxation, and even suggestions for safe sex positions complete with detailed illustrations.
Iris was very grateful for her friend's thoughtfulness and generosity. Even Jin Liwei received a special copy of the guide book modified for him as an expectant father. The only issue he had was that the tone in his modified guide book was harsher. Reading it was like hearing Theresa lecturing, warning and scolding him to take better care of the pregnant Iris.
Theresa didn't stay for too long but promised to stay in touch with both Iris and Jin Liwei whenever they had any concerns about Iris and their twin babies' health. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
After meeting with Iris' private doctor to coordinate Iris' new health plan, Theresa returned to Cross Academy on the same day. AJ Zheneres and Ashandra Knightson also left with her. The friends all said their goodbyes to each other.
As for Amanpio Kileksky, he chose to stay for a few more days. He was working on something with Alric Bauer at Orchidia Beauty and rarely stayed at Dragon Palace except to sleep. Iris didn't stop the inventor but her husband looked displeased that Amanpio was overstaying.
It was now Sunday.
The husband and wife were together on their bed reading the guides that Theresa gave them. Both had serious expressions on their faces, as if they were both studying for an important exam.
"This is really helpful," Iris commented. "I appreciate how detailed this guide is compared to all those pregnancy books that you bought. Some of those books are so vague that I wonder how the authors even got published and touted as experts on the subject in the first place."
Jin Liwei chuckled. Indeed, the difference in quality was clear. Theresa Blipsburg was a genius after all. However, he had a wry expression due to the harsh tone of his personalized guide. He felt like a masochist just reading it even though it was indeed extremely helpful in his journey as an expectant father and as a supportive husband to his pregnant wife.
"Excuse me, Mommy and Daddy," a cute child's voice interrupted them. "Grandpa Butler is now accompanying Uncle Long Jian and his poopoo-headed mother Zhu Ning to mommy and daddy's room. Meow~"
Iris didn't react much and continued reading her guide. On the other hand, Jin Liwei closed his book and placed it on top of his bedside table.
He asked Ketchup, "Only the two of them?"
"No, Daddy! Mommy's lawyer, Atty. Hong Shaoqiang, is accompanying them. Meow~"
"Good." Jin Liwei glanced at his wife who still wasn't showing any reactions whatsoever.
At first, Jin Liwei instructed his lawyer, Atty. Kang Huizhong who was also Jin Corporation's famous corporate lawyer, to handle Zhu Ning's case. However, they decided to hand the case over to Iris' lawyer, Atty. Hong Shaoqiang, instead. This was to show and make a point to both Long Jian and his mother Zhu Ning that it was Iris who helped them.
Of course, Jin Liwei also had a hand in it and so did his brother-in-law's Shadow Winds, especially the hacker team ShaWn. However, most of the preliminary work was done by his wife and their AI children. In the end, it was Bacon who achieved a breakthrough in the case and dug the concrete evidence they needed to free Zhu Ning from jail and clear her from the crime.
Jin Liwei wanted to emphasize to both Long Jian and Zhu Ning that if not for his wife, he wouldn't even bother lifting a finger to help in this case at all. So they shouldn't dare to disregard his wife and thank only him.
His expression reverted to his old intimidating cold indifference. He looked like someone who was getting ready to mete out punishment.
"Darling." Iris reached out and interlocked their hands together. "No need to get so worked up for people like them. We're only doing this for my deal with Long Jian. Nothing more, nothing less. Whatever happens to them after this is none of our concern."
"I know, love." He gave her a soft smile but his expression turned cold again. "I just can't help but feel angry whenever I remember that foul-mouthed woman slandering you back then."
"Zhu Ning is not worth your anger. She hates all of Long Tengfei—Father's other women and children. Besides, I really don't feel too affected personally. It's Wei Lan and Long Xiulan she hates, not Evelina. But of course, I'm Long Xiulan now so I'll still defend myself if Zhu Ning continues to act foolish and insist on making me her enemy."
Jin Liwei curled his lip. "I won't let it come to that, love. If she dares offend you, I'll put her back to jail for harassment or for some other crime. With her nasty personality, it's easy to induce her to do stupid things and land herself back to the police station."
"I'll leave it to you then." Iris had no qualms passing today's meeting with Long Jian and Zhu Ning to her husband. She tilted her head to the side and thought of something. "Long Jian is not bad. He has changed in a number of ways for the better compared to Long Xiulan's memories of him in the past that I have. It'd be nice if his mother learns to control herself and not be a hindrance to her own son's potential of achieving sucess."
Before he could reply, Ketchup alerted them that Long Jian's group was now at the door of their master suite. Seconds later, the butler arrived leading the visitors inside the bedroom.
"Little Sister, Brother-in-law," Long Jian greeted.
His mother, Zhu Ning, stepped out from behind him. She didn't speak.