Chapter 29

Low-key yet flamboyant, restrained yet domineering.

Ignoring the assorted looks and scrutiny from those around them, Qin Yi and Qin Rong calmly walked up to the black BMW, opened the doors, and got in.

"How were your classes today?" Qin Dingbang asked with an indulgent smile from the driver's seat.

"They were fine! What can you tell from the first day of school? It's about the same as S City!" Qin Yi waved his hand carelessly, then said to Qin Dingbang, "Uncle, you didn't have to come pick us up. We could've taken a taxi home ourselves."

"It wasn't any trouble. I was passing by anyway. I'd just finished discussing business nearby, and seeing that it was about time for you to get out of school, I turned around to pick you up. You came out soon after, so I didn't wait long." As he spoke, Qin Dingbang slowly started the car and headed toward the Qin family villa.

"Then thanks, Uncle." Qin Yi said with a grin.

"Are your classmates easy to get along with?" Qin Dingbang asked warmly as he looked at their delicate faces reflected in the rearview mirror.

"They're fine! There's a girl named Yang Mingmi who's pretty cute." Out of habit from his previous life, Qin Yi praised the girl he had just met. Unexpectedly, Qin Dingbang immediately revealed a knowing smile.

"That girl is very pretty?"

"She is pretty." Qin Yi recalled Yang Mingmi's appearance. Curved brows, big eyes, fair and clean skin, and a well-proportioned figure. Though she was still young, her curves were already lovely and shapely, full of youthful vitality.

"But when you're in high school, you still need to study hard! Only when your own strength grows can you choose what you want. Otherwise, you'll always have to bow to reality." Qin Dingbang said meaningfully.

"Uncle, we've only known each other for one day." You're thinking too much. Qin Yi shook his head with a dark expression, turned to look out the window, and said nothing more.

"Hehe, that's true. It's only been one day. No rush." Qin Dingbang agreed. His gaze shifted to the silent Qin Rong beside him. After considering it, he still asked, "Qin Rong, what do you think of the school?"

"It's fine." Qin Rong nodded, his response still neither warm nor cold.

"...That's good." Qin Dingbang fell silent for a moment before speaking awkwardly. Ever since his last conversation with Qin Rong, Qin Dingbang had found it difficult to face this quiet, calm young man. At least for now, he could not do so naturally.

Because it was rush hour, it took them nearly an hour to get home. By the time they arrived, Qin Zhenguo had already cooked dinner, while Tang Manru stood at the gate wearing a coat.

"Mom, why are you waiting outside?" The moment Qin Yi saw Tang Manru, he opened the car door, got out, and threw himself into her arms. "It's still a little chilly outside at night."

"I know. Isn't that why I'm wearing a coat?" Tang Manru casually stroked Qin Yi's head and said gently, "It was your first day of school today. I was just a little worried."

Worried that they would not adapt, worried that they would not get along with their classmates, worried that they might get lost on their way home after school...

Parents always had all kinds of worries about their children.

Then she looked at Qin Dingbang, who had gotten out of the car, and smiled as she nodded.

"I finished discussing business and happened to be passing by, so I picked up Xiao Rong and Xiao Yi on the way back," Qin Dingbang said lightly as he looked at Tang Manru holding Qin Yi with gentle affection.

"Then thank you, Brother-in-law. Since you're already here, come in and have dinner with us!" Tang Manru invited politely.

"...No, my family is waiting for me at home." Qin Dingbang shook his head. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the house, but he did not see that person. His eyes flickered before dimming.

"The food is already ready. Have a bite before you leave!" Tang Manru continued to urge him warmly. Whatever this man might have done in the past, time had passed. Now, Qin Dingbang was only Qin Zhenguo's older brother. That relationship alone was enough.

"I really can't. Cheng Yue and the child are waiting for me at home! I'll leave first, then. I'll come see you another day." Without giving Tang Manru a chance to stop him, he ducked into the car and drove away...

"He came all this way, and he can't spare one meal?" Tang Manru muttered in confusion as she watched Qin Dingbang leave.

"Mom, maybe Uncle really has something to do! Let's hurry inside. I'm starving." Qin Yi could not be bothered to care what Qin Dingbang was thinking and dragged Tang Manru toward the house.

"Hey, slow down." Tang Manru was pulled along so uncomfortably that she patted Qin Yi's shoulder, pulled her arm free from his hand, then helped Qin Yi and Qin Rong take off their backpacks and set them aside.

Meanwhile, the hungry Qin Yi had already dashed into the bathroom to wash his hands before obediently sitting at the dining table. He stared at the steaming dishes and swallowed.

Tonight's meal included sweet-and-sour ribs, Kung Pao chicken, celery with lily bulbs, stir-fried pork with noodle jelly, fried eggplant sandwiches, and egg-and-tomato soup. They were basically all dishes Qin Yi liked. Once everyone was seated, Qin Yi could no longer hold back. He picked up his chopsticks and put a rib into his bowl.

"Mmm! So delicious. Dad's cooking really is the best." As he ate, Qin Yi spared no effort in flattering his chef father. Qin Yi was not picky about food, but his tongue was genuinely discerning. He could tell what ingredients had been used, how the heat had been controlled, and who had cooked it with one bite. Today's sweet-and-sour ribs were cooked just right—flavorful without being greasy. One bite was enough to tell they were made by his father.

"You brat, you really know how to talk!" Qin Zhenguo narrowed his eyes in satisfaction at Qin Yi's praise, though his words were as sweet as honey when he complimented Tang Manru. "How could my cooking possibly be as good as your mother's?"

"They're both good, both good." Qin Yi, who had always believed that having food to eat was enough, nodded perfunctorily while picking up another bite of stir-fried pork with noodle jelly and placing it in his bowl.

"Eat slowly. There's more in the pot! No one's fighting you for it." Tang Manru laughed at Qin Yi's ravenous appearance and placed another rib in his bowl. Then she gave one to Qin Rong as well before teasing him with a smile.

"Mm-hmm..."

The meal was exceptionally satisfying. Qin Yi was so full that he nearly could not move as he sprawled on the sofa. Xinwen Lianbo was playing on television, and Qin Yi absentmindedly watched those news stories that had already become memories appear before him once again. He found it quite interesting.

"Move around after eating. It'll help your digestion." After helping Tang Manru wash the dishes, Qin Rong returned to the living room and saw Qin Yi grunting like a lazy pig. A flash of affection passed through his eyes. He immediately walked over and advised him.

"I can't. I can't move." Qin Yi shook his head and whined.

"That won't do either." Qin Rong frowned, reached out, and pulled up the motionless Qin Yi. "Come take a walk in the garden with me."

At seven or eight in the evening in September, the air was already slightly cool. The sun slowly sank, no longer illuminating the scenery in the courtyard clearly. Looking at the small garden surrounded by shadows and breathing in the fresh air carrying the scent of flowers and grass, Qin Yi stretched lazily in enjoyment.

"That Nie Haotian from today was..." After hesitating for a while, Qin Rong looked at Qin Yi, who was swaying his hips and backside ahead of him, and asked.

"Nie Haotian?" Qin Yi raised his brows in surprise. He really had not expected Qin Rong to care so much. After all, those things had never happened to him. Qin Yi had only mentioned them casually, yet Qin Rong had taken them to heart.

"The kid who caused your rebirth?" Though Qin Rong asked it as a question, his expression was utterly certain.

"Yeah." Qin Yi nodded carelessly. "That's him. I didn't expect to run into him this early in this life. Enemies really do meet on narrow roads."

"Yeah." Enemies really did meet on narrow roads. Nie Haotian's arrogant face flashed through Qin Rong's mind, and he gave a cold laugh.

"But this time, I won't let him off so easily. He dared to steal my girl and hurt me so badly. Hmph!" Qin Yi wrinkled his nose as he spoke, smiling with a sinister look.

"Of course. But you should still be careful. There's something off about this Nie Haotian." Qin Rong looked at Qin Yi's determined expression without any intention of stopping him. In truth, he was the one who most wanted to teach Nie Haotian a lesson. But since Qin Yi was interested, he could let him play around with it himself. Still, by nature, Qin Rong carefully warned him.

"Something off?" Qin Yi turned to look at Qin Rong. "You mean he's a cultivator too?"

"That can't be determined yet." Qin Rong carefully recalled every detail of meeting Nie Haotian. His vicious, unruly aura and his gloomy, patient scheming made it difficult to believe he was an ordinary person. "It seems he has his own secrets as well. I've already asked someone to investigate him. We'll know his background in a few days."

"What background could he have?" If he really had someone backing him, he wouldn't have ended up stealing my girlfriend and living off her in my previous life. Qin Yi curled his lips and thought carelessly.

"It's better to be cautious." Qin Rong knew exactly what Qin Yi was thinking. But it was in his nature to remind him again and again. He only had one younger brother, so he had to take good care of him.

"By the way, how is your Dragon-Controlling Art progressing?" Qin Rong suddenly thought of it.

"Huh?" Qin Yi froze for a moment before realizing what Qin Rong was asking.

"Don't tell me you haven't practiced it?" No one understood a younger brother better than an older brother. One look at Qin Yi's expression was enough for Qin Rong to understand. He said helplessly, "How can you be so careless? Since you've embarked on this path, there's no telling whether you'll encounter people like this in the future. It's better to work hard and make yourself stronger."

"Yeah, yeah! I know that too." Qin Yi nodded repeatedly and said guiltily, "But Andre said that even if I don't cultivate the Dragon-Controlling Art, I can still increase my strength through the transmission of Faith Power."

"...That still isn't truly your own. You should work hard." Qin Rong looked helplessly at someone with his head hanging low, practically wishing he could silently draw circles on the ground. He sighed. "Forget it. Starting today, cultivate with me."

"Huh?" Qin Yi looked at Qin Rong with an almost tragic expression, his mouth twitching miserably—

No way!

Author's note: Darlings, do you still want more???

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Chapter 29: Unexplained

Chapter 29

In this world, there was always this or that dissatisfaction and unfairness. Some people were born with golden spoons in their mouths, loved by their parents and treated warmly by their siblings. Such people could live freely and purely. Others, however, had to scheme desperately just to afford three meals the next day. Thus, whenever Nie Haotian saw Qin Yi, bouncing around in blissful health like an idiot, anger naturally rose within him.

This feeling had nothing to do with right or wrong. It was simply jealousy.

"Ring, ring, ring..."

"Oh my god! Class is finally over." Almost the moment the bell rang, Qin Yi swiftly put down his pen, stretched lazily, and shouted. His brazen movement drew continuous attention from the other students in the classroom.