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Zhao Cheng's face darkened at her words as memories from long ago came back to him.

The thing was, Zhao Xiaoxiang was telling the truth—if you ignored their ages.

When they'd gone stargazing in the park, Zhao Cheng had been ten and Zhao Xiaoxiang eight. Her nickname was Xiang'er, and back then, when they'd gone to the park to cool off with the adults on summer evenings, he really had called her Xiang'er every other word.

As for marrying her, Zhao Cheng had been ten then too, while Zhao Xiaoxiang was still eight. The two of them had watched a movie about a family whose members each went on to build their own lives as time passed.

There was a short bit about a brother and sister who went their separate ways when they grew up.

After watching it, Zhao Xiaoxiang had shut herself away and pestered Zhao Cheng to think of a solution.

But Zhao Cheng had been only a little kid back then. What could he possibly do?!

So Zhao Xiaoxiang came up with an idea. In the movie, the brother had married another girl, and that was why they'd been separated. All Zhao Cheng had to do was marry her when they grew up.

Zhao Cheng had felt something was off, but he was too young to know what. And with Zhao Xiaoxiang pestering him, he'd ended up agreeing in a daze—and even signed a written promise.

Afterward, Zhao Xiaoxiang still didn't think that was secure enough. She made Zhao Cheng find their parents and swear that if he ever changed his mind, they could beat him up.

As it turned out, before Zhao Cheng had even had the chance to change his mind, he'd already gotten a beating.

That whole operation was simply beyond words.

When they were little, Zhao Cheng might have been the older brother, but he'd been rather slow-witted, nowhere near as sharp as Zhao Xiaoxiang, who'd been wise beyond her years.

Over the past couple of years, Zhao Xiaoxiang had apparently watched some "questionable" stuff, because she brought up Zhao Cheng's embarrassing past whenever she got the chance.

At moments like this one, Zhao Cheng felt that their parents had been far too lax. Why give a kid that young a phone? Why let her watch whatever she wanted every night after evening study hall?

Was doing practice problems no fun anymore, or were textbooks not interesting enough?!

There was absolutely no need for this so-called happy education.

Of course, Zhao Cheng wasn't really angry about it. He treasured the love he shared with his family.

In this life, he hadn't possessed anyone. He'd been reincarnated, then awakened his memories. He wasn't a different person.

His experiences over the past decade or so weren't like watching an immersive movie. They were real, lived experiences.

So he just felt that girls changed a lot as they grew up, and that once a little sister grew up, she didn't stay by her brother's side.

A few years ago, his little sister had been so adorable, trailing after him and calling him "big brother" every other word.

As Zhao Xiaoxiang got a little older, "big brother" became "bro." Then she started junior high, and even "bro" had devolved into "Zhao Cheng." It was so real.

"What do you want to eat?"

Zhao Cheng asked.

"Century egg and lean pork congee."

Zhao Xiaoxiang answered without a hint of hesitation.

Zhao Cheng shook his head. "That's too far. Pick something else."

"Zhao Cheng, your ideological awareness is lacking, comrade. Look at those lovestruck guys out there. One word from a girl, and they'll run halfway across town to buy her whatever she wants. But you hear it's too far and tell me to pick something else."

Zhao Xiaoxiang ground her teeth.

Zhao Cheng was speechless. "I've only got half a flatbread left. Want it? If not, I'm eating it."

"Half a flatbread it is!"

"Someone, quick! Feed the young master his flatbread!"

Zhao Xiaoxiang stretched, but didn't move a muscle.

Zhao Cheng held his ground and shook his head. He tore off the part he'd bitten into, then handed her the rest.

Unlike the senior high division, Qingyuan Junior High School let out at eight.

As Zhao Xiaoxiang ate the flatbread, Zhao Cheng picked up the remote and switched to the educational channel.

At her age in his previous life, he'd liked watching anime. But once he was in his twenties, he'd started enjoying educational programs he'd never cared for before.

At this hour, the educational channel was showing Approaching Sword Dao. This episode was called The Mystery of Ancient Sword Casting.

In his previous life, it went without saying that the more modern the technology, the better. Advances in craftsmanship and materials meant that ancient weapons, no matter how legendary, might not measure up to a decent modern kitchen knife.

But this world was different. Some ancient swords had been infused with the blood of powerful sword cultivators. What was more, while the swords were being forged, the masters continually communed with the blades taking shape in the furnace through their spirits. Only swords forged this way could develop a "spirit."

And that wasn't all. Even the materials underwent a subtle transformation during the process, becoming tougher, sharper, and even "immortal."

Take the enormous sword once used by Confucius, now kept at Qufu Museum. A thousand years later, it was merely a divine weapon gathering dust—it hadn't rusted.

Good maintenance was part of the reason, but the weapon's material had a great deal to do with it too.

After all, with the weapons-forging techniques of the Spring and Autumn period, it should have been rusted to bits, no matter how well it had been maintained.

Zhao Xiaoxiang had long since outgrown fighting Zhao Cheng for the remote. She simply nibbled at her flatbread, quietly watching with him.

When she wasn't talking, Zhao Xiaoxiang was undoubtedly a demure, beautiful young girl.

That was why her classmates and relatives all thought highly of her. She was a quiet, sunny beauty, courteous and well-read.

Zhao Cheng's parents had been praised by their friends and relatives more than once for having such a wonderful daughter.

It was only at home that Zhao Xiaoxiang showed her true colors.

"Zhao Cheng, I've got a bit of inside information. Senior Huang'er's going to remake Shang Tragedy, and they're holding auditions at our school."

"Interested? It's a chance to meet a gorgeous beauty up close. If you get picked, you'll even get to act alongside her."

Zhao Xiaoxiang said mysteriously, her eyes flickering.

"Not interested."

"Too much trouble."

Zhao Cheng said.

"So you don't like older girls."

Zhao Xiaoxiang said to herself.

"Looks like you're into little girls, Zhao Cheng. You're really asking for trouble."

"???"

Zhao Cheng's face darkened another shade.

"Zhao Xiaoxiang, quit watching weird stuff."

"Zhao Cheng, want a junior? I've got Senior Qingmeng's contact information!"

"Just say the word, and I'll get it for you."

Zhao Xiaoxiang ignored Zhao Cheng and kept talking.

"Get to the point. What do you need my help with?"

Zhao Cheng asked.

"It's nothing major. Some friends and I are going camping at Xiang Mountain this weekend. Mom and Dad won't let me go alone, so I wanted to bring you along."

Zhao Xiaoxiang revealed what she was after.

Zhao Cheng thought it over briefly, then agreed.

"Wait, you really don't want Senior Qingmeng's contact information?"

Zhao Xiaoxiang brought the conversation back around.

"No."

Zhao Cheng said.

The so-called contact information could be real or fake, but it was probably fake. In his previous life, he'd even added Meiyangyang on QQ.

Besides, even if it were real, it would be completely meaningless to him.

At that, Zhao Xiaoxiang's expression suddenly turned solemn. "Zhao Cheng, you don't like seniors, and you don't like juniors. Could it be..."

"Could it be that the coming-out incident half a year ago hit you so hard that you started liking boys?!"

Zhao Cheng's face darkened even further.

Someone tell him—where had the sweet, well-behaved little angel gone?

After chatting for a while, Zhao Cheng went back to his room and began practicing the breathing method, focusing only on the rhythm of his breath, without visualization.

Twenty minutes later, Zhao Cheng lay down and fell asleep at once.

In the past, using this method, he could sleep straight through until dawn and barely ever dreamed. The next morning, he'd wake up feeling refreshed.

This time, though, as he slept, Zhao Cheng suddenly felt something about himself changing.

He woke at once, then discovered that the Panel was changing!