Chapter 16: Taking My Little Sister to School

After dinner, Su Yifan was just about to return to his room when his mother, Zhang Hong, called out to him, “Yifan, wait a moment.”

“Mom, is something the matter?” he asked.

Zhang Hong exchanged a glance with her husband, Su Zhenguo, then spoke, “Yifan, you’re only twenty-one this year. Your father and I have discussed it and we’d like to send you back to school. What do you think?”

Upon hearing her brother was to be sent to school, Su Meng was overjoyed. She clapped her hands and laughed, “That’s wonderful! That way, I can study at the same school with my brother again!”

Yifan glanced at his sister, then turned to his mother, “Mom, there’s no need. I’m now a martial cultivator... Besides, I’ve been away from school for so many years, I’ve long since grown unaccustomed to that environment. Going back would be pointless.”

What a joke!

He, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, a powerful immortal in his own right, being sent off to school?

Impossible!

Su Zhenguo and Zhang Hong hesitated, words on the tips of their tongues. Indeed, their son had been away from school for so long, it was unlikely he’d be able to settle back in. But on the other hand, he was still so young. If not studying, what would he do? Help manage the company, perhaps?

“But I wanted to go to school with my brother!” Su Meng’s face fell as she heard her brother’s refusal. Memories of their childhood together—attending kindergarten all the way through middle school at the same institutions—flooded back. Then he’d disappeared for five years. Now that he’d finally returned, she’d hoped things could be as they once were.

“Don’t be sad, Meng’er. Even if I’m not a student, I’ll visit you at school whenever I can,” said Yifan, a brilliant smile lighting up his face.

He, too, wished things could be as they had been, studying alongside his little sister. But his path now lay in the pursuit of immortality.

“Really? You promise?” Meng’er’s disappointment softened. It didn’t matter if they studied together or not—what mattered was her brother was back.

Yifan nodded. “Of course. When have I ever lied to you?”

Seeing the two siblings so close, Su Zhenguo and Zhang Hong could only smile in silence, gratified by their children’s bond. Their son might be grown, but his affection for his sister had never changed; they were as close as ever.

If he didn’t want to study, so be it. He could stay home—after all, their family could easily support him. In a few years, he could gradually take over the family business.

Just then—

Su Zhenguo said, “Your sister starts her third year of university tomorrow. Your mother and I were going to take her, but now that you’re back, you can take her instead.”

“Alright,” Yifan agreed. He was idle anyway, and it would be good to see his sister’s school.

The next morning, at six o’clock, a crimson sun rose from the east. Atop the Su family’s roof, Yifan sat cross-legged in meditation. It wasn’t that he was particularly diligent—this was his master’s instruction. The moment when the first rays of sunlight appeared was the only time he could cultivate the Primordial Purple Qi Technique. Because the conditions for cultivation were so strict, after five years, he had only managed to reach minor accomplishment.

An hour later, he exhaled a long breath, leapt down from the roof, and headed inside. Normally, he would have cultivated for two hours, but today was his sister’s first day back at school, so he had to stop early.

After more than an hour’s journey, Yifan and Su Meng arrived at her campus—one of the best in the entire southeastern province. Once out of the car, Yifan pulled his sister’s suitcase as they walked into the school grounds.

It was the first day of the new term, so the campus bustled with people—veteran students and new arrivals alike. The lively, youthful scene reminded Yifan of his own school days five years ago, as if it were only yesterday.

“Meng’er, don’t you need to check in?” he asked.

“No, we can go straight to the dorm,” Meng replied.

“Oh, alright,” Yifan said, smiling awkwardly. Having never attended university himself, he knew little about such things.

Just then, a girl’s voice called out, “Meng’er!”

Meng looked ahead and recognized her best friend, Han Qingqing.

“Qingqing!” Meng waved cheerfully.

Qingqing, spotting her friend, hurried over—her eyes falling on Yifan as well.

Reaching Meng’s side, Qingqing pulled her aside and whispered, “So much for promising we’d both stay single until graduation! You secretly found yourself such a handsome boyfriend!”

“No, it’s not—”

“No excuses! Out with it—what’s his name, where does he live, and most importantly—” she glanced over at Yifan, “does he have any brothers who look like him? If so, introduce me! I’m not picky, you know.”

“It’s not what you think, I—”

“Don’t ‘I’ me! We’re best friends—if you don’t introduce us, we’re not friends anymore!” Qingqing wrapped an arm around Meng’s neck, her tone both serious and playful.

Interrupted repeatedly, Meng finally stopped resisting. As Qingqing waited expectantly, Meng sighed, “Well, are you going to let me speak now?”

Qingqing shook her head vigorously—right now, all she wanted was the handsome man’s contact information.

Seeing that her friend had finally quieted down, Meng explained, “You’ve misunderstood—he isn’t what you think.”

“Then what is he, if not that?” Qingqing pressed, clearly unconvinced. A guy this handsome, helping with your luggage, walking so close—who would believe there wasn’t something between you?

“It’s really not what you think,” Meng said, exasperated by her friend’s gossiping and constant thoughts of romance. Couldn’t she be a little more composed?

“Fine, if you’re not romantically involved, then what is he to you?” Qingqing insisted.

Resigned, Meng looked over at her brother, who stood not far away, “Brother, you’d better explain it to her, or she’ll never believe me.”

Brother? Qingqing stared at Yifan, then back at Meng.

“Meng’er, what did you just say? He’s your brother?”

At that moment, Yifan approached, smiling, “Hello, I’m Su Yifan, Meng’er’s brother.” As he spoke, he held out his hand.