John stood in front of the door to Qing's apartment. It was fairly modern, and somewhat similar to his own apartment. A keycard lock, an impressive looking steel door with a camera set in the middle of it to keep track of visitors, and then a small speaker next to the door handle with a buzzer.
"Seems like that guy didn't hesitate to spend on his living expenses..."
Unlike Bai, who seemed to be quietly siphoning off funds to spend on various gacha games while renting a cheap studio apartment somewhere nearby, Qing's apartment was a luxury suite with enough space to house parties and everything. At least, it should be like that judging from what John saw while walking up.
He didn't know for sure, because he hadn't scanned the area with his spiritual sense.
Not because he was afraid or anything. No, he definitely wasn't afraid to confront the likely very upset three women that he treated like his actual sisters.
Definitely not.
He was just paranoid about interrupting a private 'girl talk' session between them like the last time and getting chewed out about the importance of privacy and not snooping around.
And considering how he could sense that the three of them were there together, as well as the fact that Daji ducked out of sight when he looked at her...
John sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "They probably won't be too upset... right?"
After all, they had known him longer than Yue and definitely knew about the fact that he wanted to take a trip back home the moment he could.
Then again, they were also the ones who emphasized over and over again that since he had taken Yue's hand in marriage that he should make sure to treat her well and make sure to not cause any more misunderstandings.
...Which meant that they would definitely be pissed off. Especially if they learned that she was pregnant-
John froze. Sweat started to run down the back of his neck as he had that thought.
They... didn't know, right? Surely they didn't.
The only ones who knew that Yue was pregnant right now were him, and-
Wait. He just streamed the other day with Yue, who clearly showed her baby bump. And there were probably plenty of screenshots and articles online about his beloved wife and their interactions now at this point...
But Qing would have stopped that, right? The guy was sensible about those sorts of things. And considering how he immediately acted to sort out the situation for John, he... probably prevented them from finding out, right?
Right.
...But wait. Wouldn't they be more upset if they thought he was hiding it from them then? Xuannu might not mind as much and just roll her eyes at him for being stupid while Daji would just call him an idiot, but Little Zhaojun would definitely be mad.
She wouldn't show it, of course. Zhaojun was like Alphy in that way and would just quietly bottle it up. But she would still be mad.
In that case-
*Just how long do you plan to stand outside the door, Master John?*
John flinched, for a split second worrying that it was one of his three sisters. But then he realized that it was a male voice. And a familiar one at that. He sighed and said, "Sorry, Qing. Just got a lot on my mind."
*And you think I do not? Do you even KNOW what kind of-!?*
A pause, and then a sigh echoed from the speaker.
*Nevermind.*
John rubbed the back of his neck and said, "My bad. I'll make it up to you later."
*Yes. You will. But for now, go handle your guests, please. And try not to make too much noise. I have thousands of applicants to sort out.*
John winced and then let out a wry smile. "I'll... try. But I'm not sure how those three are feeling about the situation right now, so..."
*...I suppose that will have to do.*
A low buzz echoed, and then the lock on the door clicked. Qing's doing no doubt.
With a sigh, John steeled himself and then grabbed the door handle. Turning it, he pushed the door open... and then realized that it was a door that opened outwards. He coughed and then pulled it open to walk inside.
The first thing he noticed was that it was neat and tidy, without a single speck of dust anywhere.
A shoerack was lined up against the entrance hall. As expected of Qing, there were a few pairs of shiny black dress shoes and a few brown loafers sitting in the rack. But there were also a few other shoes. A pair of crimson stiletto heels, some white furry boots, and then plain sneakers.
Xuannu's, Daji's, and then Zhaojun's, no doubt.
The hall opened up in three directions up ahead. Directly in front of the entrance was a room with a [Do Not Disturb] sign on it. Qing's office, judging from the fact that John could sense the dragon's presence behind the door.
To the right, there was what looked to be a bedroom. And due to the proximity to the office, probably Qing's.
But to the left... John couldn't see them at the moment, but he could sense the three women waiting over there.
[Play Reduced to Ashes - Clannad OST]
"Well, Johnny. Are you going to stand around there like a shy little virgin, or are you going to actually man up and walk over?"
John sighed and said, "Really now, Xuannu? Still with the virgin jabs?" He took off his shoes, setting them by the rack, and then walked over to the opening on his left.
It led to a wide living room, with two doors leading to what were probably bedrooms on the right side while there was a kitchen area to the left, furnished with fancy electronic cooking equipment.
And then in the center of the living room, in front of a window overlooking the streets and showing a view of the nearby buildings, there were a pair of sofas. Sofas where three beautiful young women were lounging about... and three beautiful young women who immediately turned to look at him as he walked over.
John looked at each of them in turn.
The first, seated on the sofa to the left, was Daji. Like always, she was dressed in an elegant outfit, wearing a sakura-petal kimono. Unlike her usual bubbly self though, her expression was cold and a bit aloof, more like the Demon Lord she actually was than the cute younger sister he remembered.
Next to her was Xuannu. Scantily clad as always in a crimson silk robe, she had her arms crossed, emphasizing her greatest assets, per usual. But like Daji, her expression was different than how it usually was. Instead of the carefree and teasing woman that reminded him of an annoying older sister, she seemed to have gone back to that stern and uncompromising teacher he met back at the beginning.
And then there was Zhaojun. In contrast to the other two, the black-haired beauty didn't even look at John. Completely turned away with her back to him, she idly tuned a guitar on her lap while staring out the window.
...Yeah. They were mad, alright.
Xuannu leaned back in the sofa and then said, "Well? There's something you have to say, isn't there?"
John nodded and then walked forward. Conjuring a chair for himself, he sat down and said, "Yeah. Sorry for leaving without telling you guys."
Daji huffed and turned her head, causing her crimson hair to scatter. "Idiot. That's not what you should be sorry for, Big Brother."
It wasn't that, huh? Right. They already knew he planned to return to Earth eventually, so it wouldn't be that much of a mistake. Then... Was it that?
John rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Er... thanks a lot for standing up for Yue back in the Three Realms? You three went through a tough time until I got there, right? I'm sorry."
Xuannu sighed. "While I appreciate that you finally remembered to show some gratitude... No. It isn't that."
John started to sweat.
If it wasn't him running off without a word, and if it wasn't him seeming ungrateful for the three helping out...
Judging from the fact that Little Zhaojun still hadn't turned around, it seemed that they were waiting for him to admit to a serious mistake.
And among everything he did recently, the only one that really came to mind was leaving Yue while she was pregnant. So...
Xuannu sighed and covered her face. "Honestly, is it that hard to fathom? Or do you really just not want to take responsibility?"
John winced and then let out a deep sigh. "Fine. I'll admit it. I'm an idiot for leaving Yue behind in the Three Realms without realizing that she was pregnant."
A guitar string snapped. Immediately after that, the guitar clattered to the ground and Zhaojun spun around to look at John, her crimson eyes wide. "Senior Brother did WHAT?!"
John froze and then slowly turned to look at Daji and Xuannu.
Daji's gaze was icy, and she had subconsciously let out her appearance as a nine-tailed fox, her crimson hair now a pure white and nine fluffy tails floating behind her with ghostly will-o-wisps.
As for Xuannu, she had stood up, looking down at John with pure contempt and disdain.
Oh.
They didn't know.
Well...
This was bad.