Going Home
Some tricky tasks always seem to be resolved unexpectedly smoothly.
Some projects that seemed hopeless suddenly took a turn for the better.
The once stern boss has become amiable.
Some key promotion opportunities seemed to be pushed in front of him by an invisible hand.
Although it's still tough, my position is steadily rising, and the responsibilities I bear and the corresponding income are also increasing.
That same year, his mother, Tanaka Fuko, became pregnant again, adding a new member to the family—his younger sister, Tanaka Tsukishin.
Having both a son and a daughter is not a particularly strong pursuit for me.
But for ordinary people like the Tanaka couple, it was undoubtedly a great happiness.
My younger sister, Yuexin, perfectly inherited her mother's gentle features and her father's bright eyes, like a sweet candy.
It quickly became the softest treasure at the center of the entire family.
Thinking of her younger sister, Tanaka Yukishin's lips involuntarily curved upwards, and her cold and stern eyes softened instantly.
That little girl is the life of the party in the family; she always says the most surprising things.
About the sun:
One summer evening, Yuexin pointed to the orange-red sunset on the horizon and asked in her childish voice:
"Onii-chan, who put the sun up there?"
Tanaka Yukishin suppressed a laugh and teased her seriously, "It was your brother who hung it up."
Yuexin immediately widened her round eyes, her little face filled with seriousness.
"Onii-chan is amazing! Um... then when you hang out in the morning, remember to call me! Let's hang out in the sun together!"
After saying that, he nodded seriously, as if he had agreed to an important task, and then went to sleep obediently, satisfied.
About the fan:
One hot and humid day, Tanaka Yukishin used a folding fan to fan her younger sister.
The tiny crescent Yuexin squinted contentedly.
When he felt he had done enough and was about to leave, his younger sister immediately objected and shouted towards the kitchen:
"Mommy! Mommy! Onii-chan... he took the wind away!"
That aggrieved yet self-righteous tone made it seem as if her brother had stolen some extremely precious treasure.
The busy mother and Tanaka Yukishin exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.
"Friend":
Yuexin, who had just begun to learn to speak, became fascinated by the word "friend".
During meals, she would point to the dishes on her plate and give instructions in a serious manner.
"Mom, please let me have my tofu friend!"
I want that carrot friend!
When Tanaka Yukishin first heard it, she almost spat out her food.
"Friends = Delicious food"?
You're the lightning-fast person of the new era, aren't you?
Those innocent and carefree conversations, those illogical yet imaginative childlike remarks, and those clumsy yet incredibly sincere expressions of dependence, were like the warmest sunshine, illuminating his originally ordinary life.
He absolutely adores this little sister.
Thoughts wander, and time returns to the present.
The last time I left home was in early April, when the cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom; now it's already mid-July.
Outside, summer vacation should have already started by this time.
I wonder what Yuexin is doing now?
Is it playing with the neighbor's friends?
Or perhaps... you've made new friends?
What will Yuexin's expression be when she sees him appear?
I'm really curious.
He even sent a message to his mother before leaving Fukuoka, giving her many instructions and reminders.
"Don't tell Yuexin I'm going back! It's a complete secret! I want to give her a big surprise!"
Thinking of this, countless expressions of his sister's reaction to his sudden appearance flashed through his mind.
Will she scream with surprise and pounce on me?
Still frozen in place, rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming?
Or perhaps he's happily jumping around, rambling incoherently?
Either reaction filled him with anticipation.
Tanaka Yukiko smiled as she thought about it.
The middle-aged woman sitting next to him glanced at him curiously.
What happy things are these young people thinking about?
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Tanaka Yukishin then realized she had laughed out loud. "I was just thinking about my cute little sister at home. When she was little, she would say some very innocent and adorable things."
"That's wonderful," the woman smiled gently. "My son used to say such innocent and funny things when he was little too."
The train's announcement system played, indicating that it was about to arrive at Tokyo Station.
Tanaka Yukishin put her thoughts aside and checked her belongings.
I only had a light backpack, since most of my luggage was left in Fukuoka.
Chapter 138 137 Returning Home
The night, like thick ink, heavily covered the earth.
9:18 PM.
Tanaka Yukishin paid the taxi fare, picked up her slightly worn but still neat backpack, and stepped out of the car.
A cool night breeze immediately brushed against my cheeks, carrying the unique scent of grass and trees of a summer night and the faint sounds of city life in the distance.
He took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky, which was tinged with a dark red by the city lights, where a few sparse stars stubbornly twinkled.
The streetlights cast long, swaying shadows at his feet, moving with his steps down the quiet street.
Most of the houses on both sides had their lights off, with only a few windows letting out a warm, yellowish glow, like fireflies floating in the darkness.
As I walked past the familiar alleyway, the bright sign of the convenience store on the corner seemed a bit glaring.
Tanaka Yukishin's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. She gently shook her head, her whisper standing out clearly in the silence.
"Honestly, I didn't even notice the time!"
His tone carried a hint of frustration, but also a sense of eagerness to get home.
He subconsciously quickened his pace, the crisp sound of his leather shoes on the cement road echoing a few times in the empty alley before being swallowed by the night.
By now, her younger sister, Tanaka Tsukishin, must have already arrived home.
The carefully planned "surprise" trip home has completely fallen through.
Tanaka Yukishin could almost picture that scene.
As usual, his mother, Tanaka Fuko, tidied his room—a habit she maintained even when he was away from home for months at a time.
The windows were bright and clean, and the bedding smelled soft and warm from being sun-dried.
On the dining table, there were always a few dishes he loved to eat when he was a child.
How could any of this escape the sharp eyes of her younger sister?
"She'll find out if she just asks."
Tanaka Yukishin thought helplessly.
The younger sister's curiosity and attention to her older brother inevitably led her to prematurely reveal to Lu Qiyi's father the idea of giving her a surprise.
Finally, the familiar outline of the gate appeared on the horizon.
Inside the high walls, warm light streamed through the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, clearly illuminating the shadows of the neatly trimmed shrubs in the courtyard.
Under the light, shadowy figures could be vaguely seen moving about.
The slender and lively figure must be the younger sister, while the other two composed figures are undoubtedly their father, Tanaka Shuichi, and mother, Tanaka Fuko.
Tanaka Yukishin stopped a few meters in front of the door.
He took a deep breath; it wasn't a case of "feeling apprehensive about returning home."
Rather, it was a subconscious thought, originating from the depths of one's heart.
He wanted his family to see the best version of himself.
I saw Tanaka Yukishin, who was doing very well, or even better, at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School.
During his months at school, thanks to the replenishment of his [Dragon Bloodline] and the nourishment from [Chef's Fortune]'s cooking, his body underwent subtle changes.
The boy's originally slightly lean body has now developed a layer of well-defined muscles, making him more upright and robust.
And she also has a lover, so her life is very comfortable.
He raised his hand and carefully tidied his hair, which had been slightly ruffled by the night wind, and smoothed out the fine wrinkles on his shirt collar and lapel.
His movements were calm and focused, as if he were performing an important ritual.
Only after confirming that he was in impeccable condition did he take a step forward.
Just as he reached out, preparing to slip his hand through the gap in the iron gate bars and lift the heavy metal bolt.
A faint yet distinct sense of being watched, like a cold snake's tongue, suddenly licked the back of his neck!
Tanaka Yukishin's movements froze instantly!
His outstretched arm hung in mid-air, his eyes suddenly sharpened like a hawk's, and his previously relaxed muscles tensed instantly, entering a state of absolute alert.
Mental Scan & Life Radar! Activated!
The thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
Without any deliberate guidance, his immense spiritual power surged outwards from him like an invisible tide!
150 meters!
This is the current limit of his mental perception.
Since his [Dragon Bloodline] was further supplemented and adapted at the Advanced Nurturing High School, his mental strength has continued to grow, from 70 meters before entering the school, to 100 meters during swimming lessons, and now to a stable range of 150 meters.
The life force within his perception range was like a dot on a map, clearly reflected in his consciousness.
The warmth of family life within the walls, the neighbor's dog lazily napping, and the distracted mind of the convenience store clerk in the distance...
Neither!
That source, deliberately concealed and coldly scrutinizing, is...
Found it!
The moment she locked onto her target, Tanaka Yukishin's figure vanished from the spot like a cheetah poised to pounce!
Without the slightest hesitation, and without alerting the unsuspecting family members inside the walls.
He darted around the flowerbed in front of his house like lightning, and sped away along the narrow alley!
It moved so fast that it left only a faint afterimage in the night.
5 seconds.
Just five seconds later, Tanaka Yukishin appeared like a ghost in front of a burly man wearing a black tight-fitting T-shirt and with a build as robust as a professional wrestler.
The burly man was crouching in the shadow of a house's wall, in a tricky position, but his view was just right to cover the front door of Tanaka Yukishin's house.