Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nianyao and Liulin Xu returned from inspecting the shipbuilding progress at Chuantun and encountered Huzi carrying a large box.

Tiger placed the box beside the tea room: "Boss, this is a gift from Sister Dongfang from Little Sand Island."

Nianyao opened the box and rummaged through it. Such small clothes? She took out a pair of pretty tiger-head embroidered shoes, put them on her feet, and said, "They're so small, how can I wear them?"

Tiger frowned as he looked at it: "Boss, this isn't for you to wear."

Nianyao threw the shoe at him: "Didn't you say it was given to me by Sister-in-law Dongfang?"

Tiger said, "These are for your child. The Dongfang family's child is growing up, and these clothes and shoes are all new. It would be a waste to throw them away, so Sister-in-law Dongfang is giving them to you..."

Nianyao snapped out of her daze and raised her voice: "Whose child?"

Tiger repeated: "The Dongfang family's child..."

Nianyao frowned: "Whose child is this being given to?"

Tiger said, "Your child. The cargo ship from Little Sand Island came over, and the deliverymen praised the gang leader for not being delicate. She's two months pregnant and still running around working hard for the Great River Gang. Brother Dongfang brought a message saying that the gang leader should take good care of herself and that he'll give her a big red envelope when she gives birth next March..."

Nianyao's brows furrowed even more: "Stop, stop, stop... Who's two months pregnant? Who's giving birth next March..."

Tiger was stunned: "Wasn't it you who gave birth to him? It couldn't have been the young master, could it?"

Everyone turned their attention from Nianyao to Luo An, their eyes filled with questions: What's going on?

Qin Jiu tentatively asked, "Young Master?"

Luo An was unusually bewildered.

Nanfei walked over and reached for a handful of clothes—colorful little outfits, made of high-quality material. There were also various kinds of tiger-head shoes, exquisite and adorable.

Nanfei said, "The Dongfang family is quite wealthy, isn't it?"

Tiger said, "Of course, his wife's family is the richest in Taizhou. Boss, Brother Dongfang also said that if you don't mind, his family has many more. Anyway, the baby isn't due until March next year, so there's no rush."

Nianyao was furious: "Give birth my ass! Who said I was pregnant?"

Tiger: "Everyone on the islands knows. The brothers on Little Sand Island are wondering why we don't know? Chief, why are you keeping such a big thing from us? This is a joyous occasion for the Great River Gang, and even more so for Chongming Island. We should be the first to know, otherwise we'll lose face..."

Nianyao's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the side of the tea room, making Hu Zi's heart pound with fear.

Who spread the rumor? What was their purpose? Did all the islands know about it? Why didn't she know?

Nianyao was having a headache from thinking, and when she looked up, she saw Xu Lai and Liu Lin staring at her.

Nianyao stood up: "Why are you all looking at me like that? Do you think I don't know this? Of course not! Absolutely not!"

Tiger said, "Chief, this matter has spread far and wide, how could it not have been?"

Nianyao said, "Just because it's spread everywhere doesn't mean I should have it. If I don't, I don't. Article 8 of the Dahe Gang's rules states that spreading rumors and causing trouble is prohibited. If you keep spreading rumors, I'll have my monthly pay deducted."

"That won't do!" Tiger said urgently, "Chief, you're usually careless and reckless. You must be pregnant without realizing it. Let the young master take a look at you."

Hu Zi pulled Nian Yao to the table, and Qin Jiu quickly got up to offer her a seat, sweeping the chess pieces aside.

Tiger pressed Nianyao down into a chair, pulled her hand and slammed it onto the table with a loud thud.

Nianyao screamed in agony, "Couldn't you be a little gentler?"

Tiger said, "Young master, please take a look at her quickly."

Luo An reached out to take his pulse.

Luo An's hands are so beautiful, long and fair, with distinct finger bones, which makes her hands look dark and rough in comparison.

Was taking too long to take a pulse?

Liu Lin, Xu Lai, and Nan Fei all gathered around.

Luo An slowly said, "I'm more than two months pregnant."

Amidst the stunned silence, Tiger exclaimed gleefully, "I knew it! How could this be fake? Boss, no offense, but you went too far. Everyone else saw it, but you didn't. Hey, why aren't you all saying anything?"

Tiger looked at the group of stunned people. Luo An was still taking pulses, his expression grave. Was something wrong?

Tiger asked nervously, "Young Master?"

Luo An enunciated each word clearly: "Dragon-Phoenix-Twins".

The chess piece in Qin Jiu's hand and the book in Nan Fei's hand both fell to the ground at the same time. Liu Lin and Xu Lai's legs went weak, and they supported each other to barely stand up.

Tiger jumped three feet high and ran out of the teahouse: "I'm going to tell the brothers."

Qin Jiu stumbled after him, shouting, "Tiger, pass the word down: this month's pay will be... doubled!"

Tiger's voice carried from afar: "Thank you—Ninth—Uncle—"

Money makes the world go round; now he knows to call me uncle.

Tiger's voice startled Nianyao awake. She asked blankly, "Whose?"

Luo An said, "Yours."

Nianyao asked, "Who is the father of the child?"

Luo An answered very simply: "I don't know."

Nianyao said, "I know."

Luo An was stunned: "Whose?"

Nianyao withdrew her hand, touched her wrist, pulled down her sleeve to cover it, looked up at Luo An, and said slowly, "Ji—Qi—"

Nianyao got up and walked out of the tea room. Thinking of Luo An's stunned look, a sense of joy rose from the bottom of her heart.

Ji Qi? The name sounded familiar. Nan Fei stared blankly at Luo An: "Young Master, you've become a father?"

Luo An threw a bunch of chess pieces at Nan Fei.

Nanfei ignored all that and grabbed Qin Jiu, asking, "Brother Jiu, who is it?"

Qin Jiu glanced at him disdainfully: "Hou Ji, have you been reading books all day and they've gone to the dog's belly?"

Houji? The God of the Five Grains!

Nanfei snapped out of his daze and realized the seriousness of the situation: "Young Master, this joke has gone too far, you..."

Qin Jiu interrupted him: "It's none of your business if the young master is willing."

Luo An smiled, clearly pleased.

Nanfei thought of the phrase "Thank you for not minding" again, and thought to himself: This young master is serious...

Men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they come of age. Nianyao is actually... barely... passable!

Nianyao's joy didn't last long; she soon realized something was wrong: she was being secretly followed wherever she went, with countless eyes watching her...

Nianyao returned to Xianzhou Garden from the training ground and finally couldn't bear it any longer. She roared, "All of you, come out here!"

Twenty or so people suddenly appeared from some unknown corner and stood before her, bowing respectfully: "Chief..."

Nianyao sneered: "You have nothing better to do, huh? What are you following me for?"

The brothers remained silent, each glancing at her stomach, intentionally or unintentionally.

Nianyao gritted her teeth and roared, "Luo An, come out here!"

Luo An walked out leisurely, followed by Liu Lin and several others.

Luo An walked over and stood next to Nian Yao, his eyes shining, his face smiling, generous and open, with an elegant and graceful demeanor.

The brothers, who had just been silent, immediately became restless:

"Dr. Luo smiled, it looks so good."

"Didn't they say Dr. Luo never smiles?"

"It is said in the martial arts world that one can die laughing without regret upon seeing the Jade-Faced Divine Doctor."

"Being a dad must be a happy thing!"

"The father of twins must be doubly happy."

……

Nianyao was at her wits' end and angrily said, "Luo An, explain it to them clearly, right now..."

Luo An was very obedient: "She's not pregnant."

Nianyao said, "Did you all hear that? Anyone who spreads rumors again will be dealt with according to the gang rules."