Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from the living room.
Luo Feng's father, Luo Hongguo, and his mother, Gong Xinlan, appeared in the doorway almost at the same time.
"Xiao Feng!"
Gong Xinlan's eyes instantly reddened, and her voice choked as she looked her son up and down.
As if she needed to make sure he was unharmed.
His father, Luo Hongguo, said nothing, but his calloused hands trembled slightly.
His tightly pressed lips and the concern he could hardly hide in his eyes
betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
It had been three months.
Using secluded cultivation as an excuse, Luo Feng had barely come home.
They weren't fools. News traveled fast in the Warrior Residential Area.
They had long since heard the rumors that Luo Feng's strength had plummeted and that he might lose his Fighter status.
Every time they heard them, their hearts ached as though pierced by needles.
But they hadn't dared ask, afraid of putting even more pressure on their son.
They could only bury their worries deep in their hearts and pretend everything was normal.
Whenever they spoke with him, they only reminded him to take care of himself and told him everything was fine at home.
Now, seeing their son suddenly return, and he seemed a little different?
"I'm glad you're back."
Luo Hongguo finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse.
He stepped forward, intending to pat his son's shoulder, but lowered his hand halfway.
"You must be hungry. Your mom's cooking. She bought your favorite ribs today."
"That's right, ribs! Mom made you some soup with them!"
Gong Xinlan hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron, hiding the moisture at the corners of her eyes as she forced a smile.
"Come inside. Why are you standing there? Xiao Hua's upstairs. I'll go call him down."
"Dad, Mom."
Seeing how carefully his parents treated him, afraid of touching a sore spot, Luo Feng felt his nose sting again.
Had he been the only one to endure those three months of torment?
The mental pressure his family had endured was probably no less than his own.
He stepped forward and gently hugged his mother, then gave his father's shoulder a firm pat.
"I'm fine, really. I'm sorry I made you worry."
The hug and pat on the shoulder left both Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan stunned for a moment.
"Silly child, there's no need to be so polite with your parents."
Gong Xinlan wiped the corners of her eyes, smiling through her tears.
"Go wash your hands and get ready to eat. Old Luo, go bring out the soup."
"Ah, all right."
Luo Hongguo answered and turned toward the kitchen, his retreating figure seeming a little more at ease.
Watching his parents bustle about, Luo Feng felt a warm current surge through his heart.
He went up to the second floor and stopped outside his younger brother Luo Hua's room.
The door was ajar, and the crisp tapping of a keyboard came from inside.
He knocked, then pushed the door open.
The room wasn't large, but it was very tidy.
A computer sat on the desk, its screen displaying complex stock market candlestick charts and data tables.
Luo Hua was staring intently at the screen, his fingers dancing rapidly over the keyboard.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and he hadn't noticed anyone come in.
"A Hua."
Luo Feng called out to him.
Only then did Luo Hua abruptly come back to himself. He turned, and when he saw Luo Feng, a delighted smile immediately spread across his face.
"Brother! You're back!"
His movements were a little hasty, and he even knocked over the glass of water at the edge of the desk.
Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Luo Feng sprang forward.
He caught the glass before it hit the floor, without spilling a single drop.
The swift, precise movement stunned Luo Hua for a moment.
"Brother, you..."
Luo Hua looked at Luo Feng, his eyes full of worry, as though he wanted to say something but couldn't.
He knew more than his parents about the Fighter circles and the rumors concerning his older brother.
He had heard more, and it had worried him even more.
Luo Feng set the glass down properly. Seeing the heaviness and concern in his younger brother's eyes, he felt both touched and guilty.
He smiled, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Studying stocks? How's the market been lately?"
At the mention of it, Luo Hua's eyes brightened, but they quickly dimmed again.
Luo Hua's expression turned unusually serious, even carrying the determination of someone burning his boats.
"Brother, you don't have to worry!"
Luo Hua's voice wasn't loud, but his words were resolute.
"Even if you really become an ordinary person, it doesn't matter! This family still has me!"
He took a deep breath, as if to encourage himself and also to prove something to his older brother.
"That startup capital you gave me, I made a few trades this month and got a fifty percent return!"
"The principal isn't especially large, but as long as you give me time, I can earn more!"
"Even if we really have to move out of here."
"One day, I'll definitely be able to bring our family back! I'll buy an even bigger house!"
Luo Hua spoke with some excitement, his cheeks slightly flushed.
He knew what he was saying might be a little naive.
Luo Feng listened to his younger brother and saw the worry and stubbornness, mixed with a trace of youthful innocence, in his eyes. He was deeply shaken.
He hadn't expected that, when he was at his lowest,
this younger brother, whom he had always protected, had silently taken on such pressure and responsibility.
A fifty percent return was no easy feat.
His younger brother's talent for finance probably far exceeded his imagination.
Who would have thought the little Luo Family could produce two great generals!
Luo Feng couldn't help marveling inwardly.
Then Luo Feng told Luo Hua that he had recovered and become even stronger.
"W-what?"
Learning that his older brother had gone from a cripple back to a Fighter, Luo Hua's eyes widened into perfect circles, and his mouth fell slightly open.
He had recovered? He was stronger than before?
How was that possible?
The information he had found, as well as the experts he had consulted,
all said a case like this was the first of its kind in the history of Fighter circles.
There was simply no way to explain it.
He looked at his older brother. Luo Feng's gaze was calm and confident, with no hint that he was joking or trying to comfort him.
Then he thought back to how his brother had caught the glass as fast as lightning.
The tremendous surprise swept away all of Luo Hua's worries and mental preparations like a tsunami.
For a moment, he couldn't react at all. His mind went completely blank.
"R-really?"
After a long while, Luo Hua finally found his voice and asked hoarsely.
"Absolutely true."
Luo Feng nodded firmly and patted his younger brother's shoulder.
Luo Hua blinked.
The next second, wild joy surged through him, and his voice changed pitch with excitement.
"That's great! Brother! That's great! I knew it! I knew you could do it!"
The brothers embraced, and Luo Feng could feel his younger brother's body trembling slightly.
Warmth filled his heart, and at the same time, his resolve to grow stronger became even firmer.
This was the family he wanted to protect.
Downstairs, their mother Gong Xinlan called out.
"Xiao Feng, Xiao Hua, come down and eat!"
"Coming!"
Luo Feng answered, releasing his younger brother with a smile.
"Let's go eat first. Don't keep Mom and Dad waiting. We can talk about the details after dinner."
"Yeah!"
Luo Hua nodded vigorously, the gloom on his face swept away.
In its place was a radiant smile and the ease of someone freed from a heavy burden.
The aroma of food filled the dining room.
Their parents had already set out the bowls and chopsticks.