For this year’s Martial Dao Tournant, Zhao Rui was suspended. Combined with his insufficient Level, he didn’t qualify to compete. So, as soon as the break started, he went ho early.
He began to enjoy a long-awaited vacation.
As for watching the tournant, he didn’t even consider it. Vacations were hard to co by, so who would be bored enough to go watch other people compete?
Besides, once he could compete again, he’d be coming ho right before the New Year every year, leaving no ti for rest.
That’s why he cherished this particular break.
After getting ho, Zhao Rui diligently tidied up the house and started making dinner.
Just as he finished stir-frying a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, his phone rang.
He picked it up and saw it was a call from Tian Yaru.
"Hello!"
Zhao Rui answered, cradling the phone between his cheek and shoulder as he continued to stir-fry.
"Brother Rui, Zhao Ke told you’re on break! How co you haven’t co to hang out with ?"
The young girl’s sweet, lodic voice ca through the phone.
"The break just started. Zhao Ke told you?"
Zhao Rui asked, curious.
"Of course! Right, Keke? Are you going to invite over to your place or not?"
The last part of her sentence was clearly directed at Zhao Ke.
Zhao Rui then heard a reluctant voice on the other end of the line, "If my brother agrees, I don’t have a problem with it."
"Brother Rui, do you agree?"
"I don’t. Go straight ho after school!"
Zhao Rui imdiately shot down her idea. "I’ll find so ti to visit your parents."
"You’re so annoying! I’m hanging up!"
The line imdiately went dead with a BEEP BEEP BEEP.
Zhao Rui shook his head and casually set his phone aside.
The winter sky grew dark especially early. It was already pitch-black before six o’clock.
Zhao Jinguo and his wife rode their electric scooter ho from work. Pushing open the door, they were greeted by the sight of a clean and tidy living room and the aroma of food from the dining table.
They couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. ’Our son has grown up,’ they thought.
"Dad, Mom, once I start earning money from competitions in a couple of years, I won’t let you work so hard anymore!"
Looking at his parents, who worked from dawn to dusk, Zhao Rui’s heart filled with guilt.
His family had sacrificed so, so much over the years so that he could study the Martial Dao.
Learning martial arts was a money pit. In the early stages of tempering the body, it was impossible to advance a single step without money.
Only in the later stages, when he could perform a full Circulation, would he no longer need extra supportive materials to nourish his body.
"Just hearing you say that is enough for us, Mom and Dad are content. You’re not spending as much money now, so we aren’t tired,"
Xue Wenhui said with a smile.
"You just focus on your studies and making us proud. That’s more important than anything. Whoa, did you buy a waterlon? Must’ve been expensive, huh? Eating this stuff this ti of year is a real luxury."
Zhao Jincheng smiled, took off his jacket, and walked over to the living room coffee table. He took a bite of the waterlon; it was icy-cold and dripping with juice.
Sweeter than honey!
Just as they were talking, Zhao Ke returned ho from school. The boy wasn’t smiling at all. After pushing the door open, he stopped just inside and glanced behind him.
"Hello, sir and ma’am. I’m one of Zhao Ke’s classmates. I’m sorry to intrude, I hope I’m not causing any trouble."
A pretty young girl in a school uniform walked in with a smile, carrying a heavy bag.
Who else could it be but Tian Yaru!
Zhao Jincheng and his wife were stunned for a mont, then their faces lit up with pleasant surprise as they rushed to greet her.
"Oh, welco, welco! Xiaoke, don’t just stand there gawking, let your classmate in!"
"Just coming over to visit is enough, you didn’t have to bring anything! Hurry inside, it’s warm in here."
Xue Wenhui enthusiastically welcod Tian Yaru into the living room.
"What’s with you, child? Your classmate is here, why the long face!"
Behind her, Zhao Jincheng shot his son a look of disapproval.
"She’s not here to see !"
Zhao Ke grumbled, clearly annoyed. He had obviously been forced to bring her.
"Not here to see you?"
Before Zhao Jincheng could even process his confusion, he saw Tian Yaru in the living room, walking gracefully up to his older son and asking in a crisp, clear voice:
"Brother Rui, aren’t you going to welco ?"
’Welco? Welco my ass!’
Zhao Rui grumpily turned, grabbed his phone from the table, and called Tian Muhao to tell him that Tian Yaru was at their house.
"That girl... she just doesn’t listen. Zhao Rui, I’m sorry to trouble you."
Tian Muhua said helplessly over the phone.
"Don’t worry about it, sir. My parents really like her, she’s very sweet. I just wanted to let you know. I’ll take her ho after dinner."
"Mm, okay. Co visit us when you have ti!"
After hanging up, Zhao Rui saw his parents staring at him in unison with astonished expressions and couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
"Mom, Dad, rember how I did so tutoring over the sumr break? She was my student. She’s also Zhao Ke’s classmate!"
At these words, Zhao Jincheng and his wife exchanged a look. When they glanced back at their younger son, they instantly understood why he wasn’t exactly thrilled about his female classmate coming over.
It turned out that—classmate or not—she was here to see his older brother.
Well then...
But since she was already here, they had to be good hosts.
It didn’t matter which son she was here to see; she was here to see one of their boys, after all.
Zhao Jincheng and his wife hurried back to the kitchen to whip up a few more dishes.
The young girl was a sweet talker and wasn’t shy in the slightest. Before long, she had the old couple utterly chard, so much so that they practically wished they could raise her as their own daughter.
"Bro, I really don’t want her to beco my sister-in-law!"
In the kitchen, Zhao Ke found Zhao Rui washing dishes and said with an annoyed look on his face.
"What are you talking about? I don’t have any ideas like that. Besides, she just sees as an older brother. You, on the other hand... don’t tell you like her, do you?"
"No way! She’s so... nonchalant. I’m not into that."
"Don’t overthink it. Just keep things simple and make a new friend. Our family is just as good as anyone else’s. You don’t need to feel insecure about anything."
Zhao Rui said with a smile.
"Oh. I get it."
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