Chapter 1296: It Still Defaults To The Harem Route

(MC POV)

Diao Chan gaped at the restored painting that was in full view of everyone.

The store was completely silent as everyone stared at the painting, most probably marvelling at the detail and beauty of the work that Diao Chan had put in.

She had definitely worked on this for a really long time and it's now obvious that coming over to our store everyday was to reference the source material for her painting.

"It's beautiful, Diao Chan," Lian Li praised, shattering the silence.

Her words made Diao Chan jump in surprise as she turned around to look for the source of the noise, only for her eye to widen even more when she realised she was not alone.

"Wait! Since when were all of you here?!" She shrieked.

Lian Li raised an eyebrow at her, "We've been here from the start, you just never noticed us."

"AHHHHH!! Don't look!! Please don't look!!" Diao Chan screamed, trying to cover up the large painting with her body.

"But it looks nice though? I think it perfectly captured Darling's likeness and His perfection! You must have really poured your heart into this!"

"NOOOOOO!!"

I chuckled, "Let's not bully the poor girl that much, Dear. But in all seriousness though, it really is a good painting. Shall I introduce a few other galleries that would be much better alternatives for you to display it?"

Diao Chan forgot about hiding her painting for a moment to turn to me, "You... You can? No wait! Who are you, really?!!"

"Hmm? I thought an intelligent woman like you should have figured it out by now, right? Or do you just want me to say it to confirm your assumption?"

She nodded, letting me know that it was the latter.

I shrugged, "Well, I suppose my former title would be Master Lin of Heaven Sect. Is that good enough for you?"

In an instant, her attitude switched once again where she did a perfect ninety degree bow towards me.

"For all the rudeness I have displayed towards you all this time, please accept my sincerest apologies!!"

Yeah... I mean... Her attitude thus far was because she had Feng Xian's backing but even he would not be able to do anything to me so such a thing was useless.

Being the intelligent woman that she was, she knew that if I wanted to, I could ruin her life and Feng Xian's if I chose to.

I waved at her, "It's fine, you don't need to worry about it. I actually thought you were rather cute when you tried so hard to act tough like that."

She immediately stood upright again, "Cu-cu-cu-cu-cute?!! Wha-wha-what are you talking about?!"

Oh my, her entire face is red. This is definitely a sight that we'll never see in our World's version of Diao Chan. Had I said that to her in our World, I think all I'll get is her giggling and trying to strip me.

Just because of that... I kind of want to tease her a little bit more.

I moved towards her and cupped her cheek, using my hand to tilt her head up so that she was looking at me.

"I said that you are cute, Diao Chan. You're really, really cute. So cute that I wouldn't mind taking you back home with me to show you just how cute you are~"

I stroked her cheek with my thumb which caused her to shudder noticeably. I wasn't sure if the shudder was from fear or from pleasure though I'm willing to bet that it was most likely the latter.

"Awawawawawa-- Don't... Don't tease me like that!!"

"Ara, ara? I didn't know Darling was this popular~" Manami commented, appearing behind Diao Chan. "Does Darling also want her in your harem too?"

Err... Whoops... I just treated Diao Chan with the same familiarity as the one from our World even though we aren't that close in this one...

She's also supposed to be attached to Feng Xian isn't she? Yet I'm making a move on her like that...

This kind of makes me look like scum doesn't it? Should I reverse time after all?

Before I could decide though, Lian Li spoke up again, "Of course! Isn't it great that there's more people joining Darling's harem? We can all be together and make this the best patisserie in the continent!"

Everyone turned to look at Lian Li who had her hands clasped together while smiling brightly at us as though she didn't just suggest something out of the ordinary.

Umm... I don't think harems are the norm in this World though... So I doubt anyone aside from Lian Li would even be receptive of the idea that--

"Ufufufu~ I suppose that is the best outcome, isn't it? My little Kiyomi?"

"If that is what elder sister wants, then I have no complaints either."

Eh? Wait, wait... I thought Manami and Kiyomi would be more against the idea than the others? Manami might have been joking around with the 'darling' thing but for her to so easily accept being part of a harem... That's just weird?

Even the original Manami did not accept that so easily, she only agreed to accompany us as my disciple and not as my partner.

Especially since I'm a married man in this World, they shouldn't be brushing that fact off like that?

And Kiyomi just going along with Manami's suggestion? That would be normal back in our original World but over here Kiyomi should be acting like the older sister here right? She's more headstrong and independent than the one back in my World you know?

Not saying that the one in the original World is inferior to this one, mind you.

"Umm... If... If Master would accept me here as well..." Eris added, her voice barely above a whisper.

Err... Ok, I can see Eris accepting that suggestion since the alternative would be to go back to her old life. Even something like this would have been much more preferable to that.

Everyone else turned to look at Diao Chan who was still blushing fiercely at what was going on in front of her.

Wait, wait, you girls should not be looking at her like that, she is not a single lady.

Manami giggled, "You know... If you accepted it, you could see Darling and draw Him whenever you want~"

Huh? Why would Diao chan even want that? Doesn't she just want to paint? Having me around shouldn't matter, right?

Unexpectedly, Diao chan turned towards me and poked her fingers together shyly, "I will be in your care... Husband..."

What the crap? Why are they acting all weird all of a sudden? What about Feng Xian?! Why are you behaving like he doesn't exist anymore?!

And of course, the door just had to open at that exact moment to let Brendan come in.

"Ah... Bad time? Master Lin?"

I already pity him.