Chapter 826: I’m joking

[Skyline Plaza]

"Are you alright?" Zoren watched his wife pace back and forth, seated on the couch in the living area.

It was already late, and normally, Penny and Zoren should have been locked in their bedroom, making love. But here they were, in the living area, because his wife was worried about someone.

Penny paused and snapped her eyes at Zoren. "Renren, aren’t you worried about Mark?"

"Why would I?"

"Hah!" she huffed, dropping her hands to her sides and then jumping to his side. "I sent him to represent me in the meeting with Lily, and I told you he almost wept and begged me not to. So, I’m worried because it’s already late, and he’s still not back!"

Zoren blinked, staring at his wife. "Are you going to be like this once our quadruplets come home late?"

"What?"

"I need to know so I can plan their curfew."

Penny’s face twitched, confused by what her husband was talking about now. She hadn’t paid attention to it initially, but ever since the family gathering, Zoren had been constantly mentioning their unborn quadruplets.

"Renren, we don’t even know if we’re going to have four children at once. I’m not even sure if we can take care of them."

"We can." Zoren nodded reassuringly. "I’ll take care of them, so no one dies."

"What?"

"When Amanda gave birth, Renny wasn’t the only one she gave birth to. There were a few more, but they all died for different reasons. I won’t let that happen to our kids."

"..." Penny slowly covered her mouth, looking at her husband with mixed emotions. "Is this... is this your concept of having children and childbirth?"

How could he just casually compare her to a black panther?!

"Besides, since we’re not sure if you’re going to have quadruplets, I should rely on the law of attraction," Zoren continued in the same logical tone as if everything he was saying was smart and made sense. "If I believe it, then there’s a high chance it’ll come true. Of course, at the right time, when you’re ready."

"Oh, ho..." Penny was rendered speechless, opening and closing her mouth.

Just moments ago, she was worried about what had happened to Mark. Not that she feared he got in trouble on the way home, but it was possible he had dropped dead because of Lily and Ginnie. When those two were together, they could be quite... a pair.

But now, Penny’s worries doubled after hearing everything her husband casually spewed. Aside from the quadruplets, Zoren seemed very sure of it! Not to mention, he thought giving birth was just like how animals do it!

Wasn’t that concerning?

"Renren, my love, ha ha..." Penny suddenly grabbed Zoren’s hand, laughing awkwardly. "Why don’t you tune these quadruplets a bit? You’ll be very disappointed in the future."

"I won’t be if they are four."

"At this rate, I might just have to grab three other babies and not make you sad when that time comes," she blurted out as he tilted his head to the side.

"Why would you do that? That would make them seven. I can’t take care of seven kids. That’s too much. Or... were you manifesting to have septuplets?"

"!!!" Penny covered her mouth and looked away, mentally weeping at her husband’s clueless response. ’What’s wrong with me? Why do I find him cute?’

Slowly, the corners of Zoren’s mouth curled up as he pinched her cheek. "I’m joking."

"What?"

"Did that ease your worry?" he asked with a smile, making Penny sigh heavily.

"No, it did not! It just made me think I have a bigger thing to worry about aside from this one!" she lamented aloud. "It’s a good thing you were just kidding."

"I am kidding, but not about the quadruplets."

"Huh?"

"I have a feeling we’ll be blessed with a lot of kids."

Penny’s face twitched. She leaned forward to ask, "Renren, do you see me as a baby machine?"

"Of course not." He smiled beautifully and innocently. "We love each other, so we’ll have a lot of children."

Does that mean his parents didn’t love each other enough? After all, he was an only child.

Good thing Penny loved him, or she would’ve blurted out that insensitive thought aloud.

"Yes, I love you so much, but please... let’s not talk about the quadruplets for now." Penny cupped his face and sighed. "It’s not that I don’t want children, but because I—four is an overkill."

"That’s why I’m preparing you mentally."

"..." Penny’s face deadpanned as she stared at him dead in the eye. "You’re lucky I love you, just know that."

Zoren nodded. "And I’m grateful."

"Oh, goodness." She shook her head, keeping her hands on his face. She arched a brow as she brushed her thumb across his cheek. "Renren, what kind of facial wash do you use? How come your face is so smooth?"

"The one in our bathroom."

Penny looked up and thought about it. "Which one?"

"The blue one? The one you use and always leave in the shower."

"..." Penny pressed her lips together, only knowing one blue container in the bathroom, which she left in the shower. But for some reason, that container kept reappearing on the sink. "Your facial wash is on the sink."

"They are?"

"Right behind my facial wash."

"Oh. I use the one in the shower."

"..." Again, Penny blinked. "That’s... feminine wash."

"Oh?" Zoren tilted his head. "No wonder it has a cooling effect. I thought you got me a new one."

"Renren, are you really getting better?!" she panicked, almost weeping. "How could you mistake my—"

Penny’s breath hitched when she caught a figure from the corner of her eyes. Turning her head, she quickly spotted Mark dragging his feet inside the entryway.

"Mark!" she called, and as if completely forgetting about her ridiculous discovery, dashed to welcome him. Standing in front of him, her face twisted as she noticed the dark bags under his eyes. "Welcome back...?"

Mark blinked weakly, catching sight of Zoren approaching behind Penny. When his listless eyes landed on Penny, his mouth opened, but no words came out.

"How’s the meeting?"

The second she asked that question, his eyes seemed to shine with a desire to die right then and there. Penny didn’t say anything when he just turned and dragged his feet away from her.

"How’s he?" asked Zoren quietly, standing beside his wife.

Penny shook her head, her eyes on Mark’s figure. "Bad—very bad. Should I apologize?"

"You should, if that’s the case."