"My goodness, come look! The Americans have been completely defeated by the Kingdom of Best!"
The maid's astonished cry instantly echoed through every corner of the villa, immediately drawing the attention of other maids who were tidying up.
Curiosity piqued, they gathered around.
One look was all it took for their eyes to fill with surprise and disbelief.
"Is this... real? Is the Kingdom of Best really this powerful?"
"Of course! It's almost unbelievable they dared to go to war with the United States!"
"Incredible! The news said the U.S. had an aircraft carrier sunk on the high seas. An aircraft carrier!"
"And countless other warships were sunk, with over 35,000 casualties~~"
...
The chatter filled the villa. It was too astonishing. The United States had actually suffered such a devastating defeat.
In their eyes, the U.S. was an invincible force, relying on its numerous aircraft carriers and advanced weaponry to attack whomever it pleased and sanction anyone it wanted.
Who would have thought they'd finally met their match? The Kingdom of Best, a newly rising nation, was like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, and they had crippled the U.S.'s pride and joy, its carrier strike group.
So, the American aircraft carriers weren't as formidable or invincible as they seemed!
Undeniably, this blow from the Kingdom of Best had directly toppled the U.S. from its hegemonic pedestal.
Its prestige had collapsed like a falling mountain.
The heated discussion within this villa was merely a tiny fraction of the countless conversations happening worldwide. In countries everywhere, a new understanding of America's hegemonic status had formed.
While the U.S. was still a force to be reckoned with, it was no longer the same as before!
The United States would never realize the immense impact this hastily fought war with the Kingdom of Best had on its hegemonic position.
Shortly after China sent its congratulatory message, then...
The Northern Bear nation sent its congratulations!
The Eagle nation sent its congratulations!
The Fur Ball nation sent its congratulations!!
Suddenly, all nations hostile to the U.S., or those who had been bullied and sanctioned by the U.S., sent congratulatory messages, all officially announced.
This wave of actions undoubtedly disgusted the United States!
At the same time, it propelled the Kingdom of Best into an even more intense spotlight.
The world was in an uproar~~
The U.S., furious, immediately issued heavy bounties, launching a frenzied assassination campaign against the high-ranking officials of the Kingdom of Best. It couldn't be denied that a generous reward attracts brave individuals; in no time, countless assassins and forces swarmed towards the Kingdom of Best, and a grand decapitation operation commenced.
...
Time flew by.
The fervor surrounding the Kingdom of Best was quickly overshadowed by the fast-paced nature of other events, and no one even paid attention to the Kingdom of Best's affairs anymore.
Until one day, the day before Luo Tianyi was to officially end her confinement period.
"Daddy, Daddy, can you tell us the story of The Wizard of Oz, please~?"
"Mhmm, we haven't heard it in a long time."
"Hehe, that's right~~"
The three little ones, having finished a delightful breakfast in the living room, were snuggling with their daddy on the sofa. Luo Tianyi gave them a playful glare, as if implying their aspirations were modest.
"Alright."
Ye Xuan dotingly ruffled the children's hair, and then began to retell the story of The Wizard of Oz.
"The magician took off his head and hollowed out the straw. He crept into the back room and brought out a large quantity of brains, made of pins and needles, mixed together; and he filled the sack with them, and putting it upon the Scarecrow's head, he then tied it up with a string to hold them in place..."
Golden sunlight streamed into the living room, accompanied by Ye Xuan's storytelling voice. The golden light quietly shifted towards a platinum hue.
Time slipped away silently, the atmosphere serene and beautiful.
In the blink of an eye, the twins Ping and An An were already a month old.
Time truly passed quickly!
After about half an hour of storytelling, the three energetic children chased each other and began to play.
Ye Xuan, accompanied by Luo Tianyi, went to the poolside at the back to bask in the sun, drinking beverages and enjoying their rare time alone.
"You must have been bored, staying cooped up for a month."
Ye Xuan put his arm around the stunning beauty, his voice filled with affectionate laughter.
"Hmph, it's all your fault~"
Luo Tianyi gave Ye Xuan a playful glare. "But, it's finally over."
"Hehe... Tomorrow, I'll take you to Yangcheng to visit my parents and my maternal grandfather."
Thinking of the phone calls from his parents during this period, "Mom and Dad have been calling quite a bit to urge us."
"Anything is fine."
"As long as I can get out, I'll go even to the wilderness."
Luo Tianyi said expectantly. She truly didn't want to spend another minute in the villa, fearing she might lose her mind.
"Wilderness?"
"You little rascal, are you implying your man should reassert his dominance?"
He pinched Luo Tianyi's delicate, almost breakable cheek, teasing her with a smile.
Luo Tianyi gave him a playful glare, not to be outdone. "Hmph, I'm not afraid of you!"
"Who knows whose dominance will be reasserted then, yours or mine,哼哼~"
"Oh ho~"
Hearing Luo Tianyi's almost explicit provocation, Ye Xuan chuckled. "Why don't we... give it a try sometime."
"Pfft~"
"You wish, you big dummy!"
Luo Tianyi glared at him. She was just saying it; she wouldn't dare if it were real. After all, who knew what might be out in the wilderness, and it would be so embarrassing if someone saw them.
But... maybe they could go camping with a tent.
Huh??
Pah! Luo Tianyi, what are you thinking!!
Sensing the acceleration of her heartbeat, Ye Xuan paused slightly. This girl seemed to be moved.
Just then, Ye Xuan whispered intimately into Luo Tianyi's ear, "Darling, how about we draw lots tonight?"
"Ah!"
Hearing his sudden suggestion, Luo Tianyi thought of the couple's poker games they had been enjoying so much before, and her face flushed a little brighter. "This... isn't it too soon? I just finished my confinement period."
"Hey, what's wrong with that? Don't worry."
"I'll be mindful of the boundaries~"
Ye Xuan took a small sip of his wife's fragrant face, dotingly.
"This, okay then."
Luo Tianyi considered it and agreed. He must have been cooped up for a long time, and it was time to return to normalcy. But speaking of which... it was quite something to look forward to.
The thought of drawing lots with that guy made Luo Tianyi's heart pound uncontrollably, like a reunion after a long separation.