Return to Youth

"C-come on..."

Wang Jun opened his mouth wide and suddenly began to stammer.

"Honey?"

"How did you become so young?!"

Responding to Zhang Yao, Wang Jun had just gotten up to wash his hands and eat when he froze in utter shock.

He could not help rubbing his eyes, hesitation filling his voice.

"You heartless man, you don't even recognize your own wife?"

Zhang Yao flared up. She stepped forward, grabbed Wang Jun by the ear, and spoke viciously.

"I don't know what happened either. Pan'er did it all."

Zhang Yao shrugged her fair shoulders, indicating that she had no idea and that he should ask his precious son.

"Honey, I was wrong!"

The familiar gesture, with just the right amount of force, made Wang Jun's tense body relax.

That was right. The person before him was his wife!

"It's just that you changed so much all at once that I didn't dare recognize you."

"Honey, you're as beautiful and captivating now as when I first met you."

Wang Jun shamelessly showered Zhang Yao with praise.

Zhang Yao's face reddened, and she released Wang Jun's ear.

She looked like a young girl experiencing first love, full of shy embarrassment.

"Really?"

Zhang Yao felt sweeter than honey inside, but she was still a little nervous. Her autumn-water eyes stared intently at Wang Jun.

"Of course it's true!"

"I, Wang, never lie!"

Wang Jun patted his chest and swore solemnly.

"Then, Dad, where did you hide your Private Stash?"

Watching the couple openly flaunt their affection, Wang Pan wore a resentful expression. Just as he heard Wang Jun's words, he poked his head out from behind Zhang Yao and asked curiously.

"I hid it in... You brat, you're setting your dad up!"

Wang Jun had looked smug, but halfway through his sentence, he suddenly sensed a burst of Killing Intent and glared fiercely at Wang Pan.

"Honey, listen to my explanation!"

Wang Jun changed faces so quickly it was astonishing. Just a moment ago, he had been glaring viciously at Wang Pan.

But the next instant, when he turned to face Zhang Yao, his face was full of a fawning, ingratiating smile.

"Enough. You're already grown men, so stop fooling around. Go wash your hands and eat."

Zhang Yao shook her head. They had been married for so long—who didn't know the other's temperament?

"Got it, honey. Love you!"

Wang Jun went to wash his hands with a grin, feeling delighted beyond measure.

Before leaving, he threw Wang Pan a look that said, You know what you're doing, kid.

Wang Jun had benefited the most from this!

However, Wang Jun did not ask how Wang Pan had managed to make Zhang Yao regain her youth so suddenly.

Wang Jun was curious too, but just as he had told Wang Pan earlier—

The fewer people who knew about Wang Pan, the safer Wang Pan would be.

Sometimes, once a secret was known by others, it was no longer a secret.

In this world, where everyone had a chance to become a Simulator, you never knew what methods others might possess!

Halfway through their meal, Wang Xiangxiang's video call came through.

Wang Xiangxiang had also enrolled and become a student at Chu State University. Once Wang Xiangxiang reached the Martial General Realm, she would be able to graduate.

Of course, if a New Student failed to reach the Martial General Realm within three years, they would be forcibly expelled.

Wang Xiangxiang had spent the entire morning busying herself with all the enrollment procedures for new students, cleaning her dorm room, and organizing her luggage.

Without even having time to eat, Wang Xiangxiang called home to let her family know she was safe.

"Ta-da! Your little cutie has made her dazzling entrance!"

Wang Xiangxiang's playful, adorable voice came from the phone.

"Xiangxiang, how is Chu State University?"

"Have you met your classmates?"

"Have you eaten yet?"

Zhang Yao's tone was full of concern as she bombarded Wang Xiangxiang with questions.

"Mom?"

"Why do you look younger?"

Looking at the beautiful young woman on her phone, Wang Xiangxiang was instantly dumbfounded. She exited the video screen and checked again, making sure she had not called the wrong contact.

Then she began shouting in surprise.

In Wang Xiangxiang's eyes, Zhang Yao looked no older than twenty-six or twenty-seven. But this morning, Wang Xiangxiang clearly remembered that her Mother had not looked like this.

After receiving an explanation, Wang Xiangxiang's eyes lit up as she hurriedly said, "Mom, hurry and let me talk to my brother!"

"Brother~"

Without another word, Wang Xiangxiang began acting cute. That one trembling "brother" nearly sent Wang Pan to an early grave.

"Speak properly. What's with that cutesy voice?"

Wang Pan shuddered and told Wang Xiangxiang to behave herself.

"I'm your little sister. You wouldn't just ignore me, would you?"

Wang Xiangxiang reined it in a little. Biting her lip, she put on a pitiful little expression that made people want to protect her.

"Xiangxiang, just say what you want to say. Finish up so I can eat."

Wang Pan felt like his head had grown a size bigger.

"Xiangxiang also wants to be able to regain her youth like Mom when she gets old in the future."

Wang Xiangxiang's eyes shone brightly. Likewise, she did not ask how Wang Pan had done it.

"No problem!"

Wang Pan agreed readily, then changed his tone. "But..."

"But what?"

Wang Xiangxiang was full of question marks. Still, hearing her brother's promise made her happy, and she revealed her pair of tiny pointed canine teeth.

"How are you going to reward me, Xiangxiang?"

Wang Pan revealed his true colors. Like a fox that had caught a chicken, his eyes were smiling.

"Huh?"

"I need to give you a reward too?"

Wang Xiangxiang scrunched up her little face, pondering what she could offer as a reward.

"Of course you do. That way, whenever there's something good, your brother will think of you first!"

Seeing Wang Xiangxiang's miserable expression, Wang Pan could not help moving the phone aside and snickering.

"Well? Have you thought of a reward for me yet?"

Wang Pan shoveled two big mouthfuls of rice into his mouth. If he did not eat soon, the dishes would go cold.

"I can't think of anything."

Wang Xiangxiang lowered her little head, looking dejected.

"Hmm... Since you're my little sister, how about this? Your brother will take a loss—just give me a kiss!"

Wang Pan spoke with righteous solemnity as he pointed a finger at his cheek.

"Stinky brother!"

Wang Xiangxiang's ears immediately reddened as she recalled kissing Wang Pan on the cheek last night.

"I'm not stinky. Didn't you kiss me last night? Don't you know whether I'm stinky or not?"

"Are you agreeing or not, Xiangxiang? If you don't, I'm going back to eating."

Wang Pan smiled broadly. The little girl was still too thin-skinned.

"Annoying, stinky brother! You're not allowed to say that!"

Wang Xiangxiang flew into a rage out of embarrassment, though her voice became much quieter.

It seemed she was afraid Zhang Yao and Wang Jun would hear her.

"Mwah!"

Wang Xiangxiang's eyes darted around. Then she brought her lips close to the camera and gave it a loud kiss.

Then she said smugly, "I kissed you already. Stinky brother, you're not allowed to go back on your word, or I won't talk to you anymore!"

"That doesn't count. You didn't kiss me."

Wang Pan shook his head.

"That's not my problem. You never said how I had to kiss you."

"Bleh, bleh, bleh! I haven't had lunch yet. I'm going to eat!"

Wang Xiangxiang stuck out her tongue, ended the call with a cheerful smile, and happily rolled around on her bed.

"Why does Brother always like making me kiss him? Doesn't he know I'm not a child anymore? Even if we're siblings, it's still so embarrassing."

Wang Xiangxiang turned her little mind over and began pondering deeply.

On the other side, staring at the screen that had gone dark, Wang Pan could only smile helplessly.

Wang Jun viciously shoveled a huge mouthful of rice into his mouth.

He sulked alone, feeling that once his precious daughter had left home, she had become impossible to keep track of.

She had made a video call home and did not even ask about him before hanging up. What, did she only have eyes for her Mom and brother, with no room for her old Dad?

Wang Jun had happily assumed that after Wang Xiangxiang finished talking with Wang Pan, she would take the phone and let him see his precious daughter. But Wang Xiangxiang had hung up far too quickly!