Forty is the age to strike out!

As dinner drew to a close, the doorbell rang.

"That must be my eldest." Auntie Yang put down her chopsticks. "That boy took his sweet time."

Xu Ran got up to answer the door.

A boy of fifteen or sixteen stood outside.

His Eastsea Academy upper division uniform was immaculate. He was handsome, with a touch of arrogance in his expression.

It was Xu Xiaoyan's older brother, Xu Xiaoyu.

"Hello, Auntie Xu," Xu Xiaoyu greeted her politely.

Xu Ran stepped aside. "Perfect timing, Xiaoyu. Come in and join us for dinner."

Xu Xiaoyu changed his shoes and entered.

"Thank you, Auntie!" he said as he headed toward the dining room.

"Mom, Xiaoyan."

Xu Xiaoyu entered the dining room, his gaze sweeping over everyone at the table.

There were two extra people today. They must be Auntie Xu's children.

Xu Xiaoyu glanced at Na'er. Hmm, a pretty little girl.

Then his gaze moved to Lu Guan, who was holding a bowl and drinking soup.

Xu Xiaoyu stopped dead in his tracks.

He knew that face all too well!

Just two hours ago, on the grounds of Eastsea Academy's junior division!

He had been jogging there with Ouyang Zixin.

And he had witnessed that great battle!

He had seen dark crimson battle mist blanket the sky with his own eyes.

A monster barely over nine years old had revealed a terrifying six-armed demonic body, wielding five different ancient weapons and pummeling that gifted girl who commanded multiple elements!

In the end, it had even drawn out the Spirit Pagoda's Deputy Pagoda Master, Leng Yaozhu, who had personally stepped into the fray!

Xu Xiaoyu's mind went blank.

"Xiaoyu, why are you standing there? Say hello. This is your Auntie Xu's boy, Lu Guan. He's younger than you," Auntie Yang said.

"Younger than me?" Xu Xiaoyu's legs went weak. Compared to him, Xu Xiaoyu was the little brother!

He raised a hand and pointed at Lu Guan, his finger trembling uncontrollably.

"You... you..."

Xu Xiaoyu's tongue tied itself in knots. He couldn't get out a single complete sentence.

The dining room instantly fell silent.

Everyone stared at Xu Xiaoyu in puzzlement.

"What's gotten into you, brother?" Xu Xiaoyan bit her chopsticks, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

Xu Xiaoyu couldn't hear his sister at all.

His mind was filled with the terrifying image of that six-armed demonic figure on the academy grounds.

A powerhouse!

Such a terrifying powerhouse was actually Mom's best friend's son.

It took a long while for Xu Xiaoyu to finally compose himself, and dinner came to an end.

On the way home, Xu Xiaoyu looked at his mother, Ms. Yang, and said solemnly, "Mom, the future of the Xu family rests on you."

Forty is the age to strike out!

You have to keep that deep bond with Auntie Xu going strong!

Once the holidays officially began, Lu Guan lived in utter comfort.

A record:

Monday, even the little girl calling couldn't make me wake; I stole a glance at her tiny shape, soft, sweet, and quiet~

Tuesday, I took the little girl shopping; she bumped into my arms, and joy quietly overflowed~

Then Wednesday came, bringing an uninvited guest~

The top floor of the Spirit Pagoda's Eastsea City branch.

"Gu Yue, take a few days off as well," Leng Yaozhu said, leaning back in her chair.

Having her schedule match Na'er's would make it easier for them to train together afterward.

"Yes, Master." Gu Yue lowered her head slightly. "I'll go visit my senior sister. Getting to know her will help us get along in the future."

Leng Yaozhu waved a hand, dismissing her.

The office door closed.

Leng Yaozhu picked up her teacup and sighed softly.

She knew perfectly well why Gu Yue had volunteered to get closer to Na'er.

It was all for that boy, Lu Guan.

Leng Yaozhu gazed at the clouds outside the window, her thoughts drifting far away.

She still made a call, telling Na'er to get along with Gu Yue.

She only hoped those two extraordinarily gifted girls wouldn't fight over a man's affection and end up turning against each other.

She had already tasted more than enough of that bitterness in her own youth.

The Lu family home, Eastsea City.

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Wearing fluffy slippers and clutching a bag of chips, Na'er scampered over to open the door.

The door opened.

The smile on Na'er's face vanished instantly.

Gu Yue stood outside in casual clothes, holding two boxes of exquisite pastries.

"What are you doing at our house?!" Na'er bristled at once, blocking the doorway like a cat guarding its food and refusing to budge.

Rather than getting angry, Gu Yue took half a step back.

She lowered her head slightly and worried the hem of her clothes between her fingertips. Her voice was soft and faint, even carrying a hint of hurt.

"Why would you say that, senior sister? Do you dislike your junior sister?"

Na'er froze.

Gu Yue lifted her face, a sheen of moisture gathering in her eyes. "Could I have said something improper and made you despise me? Master told me to get along with you. If you find me so unwelcome, I'll simply go back. But if Master asks, I won't know what to tell her..."

Na'er was utterly dumbfounded by those words.

"?"

What kind of evil trick was that old Gu Yue pulling now?!

Na'er's scalp prickled, and goosebumps rose all over her.

"Y-you stop using Master to pressure me!" Na'er stammered in protest.

Gu Yue sniffled, her voice growing even softer. "You're right to scold me, senior sister. But Master told me to get along with you, so naturally, I have no reason to leave."

Leng Yaozhu had already called to inform Na'er. Na'er truly regretted accepting her role as senior sister.

Gu Yue entered the foyer with her head lowered. As she changed her shoes, the corners of her lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.

You little brat. You think I can't handle you?

Lounging on the sofa, Lu Guan took in the entire scene.

"Since you're here, let's go out for a bit." Lu Guan stood and stretched. "I'm hungry anyway. I'll take you both out for something good."

Eastsea City's snack street bustled with voices.

Lu Guan walked ahead, with Na'er and Gu Yue following behind on either side.

On the surface, the two were all harmony, but undercurrents surged beneath it.

"Senior sister, walk on this side. Watch out for cars." Gu Yue reached out and took Na'er's arm.

Na'er shook her off as though she had been shocked. "I don't need you fussing over me!"

"Are you still angry with me, senior sister?" Gu Yue looked ready to burst into tears again.

Grinding her teeth, Na'er could only force out a smile uglier than crying. "No! I'm! Not!"

Lu Guan couldn't be bothered with those two drama queens and headed straight for a shop on the corner.

The Stewed Beef Pot Shop.

The rich aroma of meat drifted through the air with the steam, making mouths water.

"Uncle Li, three pots of beef and twelve flatbreads!" Lu Guan found an empty table, sat down, and called into the shop.

"Coming right up!" Uncle Li was a man in his fifties with a friendly face. He deftly carried out three clay pots.

He set the pots on the table and lifted their lids. Steam billowed out, revealing beef stewed until tender in a rich broth.

Na'er and Gu Yue forgot all about their squabbling and picked up their chopsticks to dig in.

"Delicious!" Na'er's cheeks bulged with food.

Though Gu Yue ate daintily, her chopsticks were no slower.

Lu Guan picked up a flatbread and was just about to tear it up and soak it in the broth.

"You can't do this, you can't..."

A sudden commotion broke out up ahead.

"You can't do this! You can't do this! This is how I make my living!"