Qin Yusen didn’t work too late that evening. When he arrived home around 8 PM, he was surprised to find Gu Yingying waiting for him.

“You don’t have to wait for me anymore,” he said gently. “If you’re hungry, eat first. You’re my only family now, and I want you to live freely—do whatever you want, whenever you want.”

The Qin family had never been one for strict rules. Even the name Qin Yusen was one he had chosen for himself later in life. He no longer remembered what he had been called as a child, but it didn’t matter. Now, he had his one and only family.

“Brother, I wasn’t even hungry! If I were, I definitely would’ve eaten first,” Gu Yingying said with a cheerful wave of her hand.

She and Qin Yusen sat down together at the dining table.

As always, dinner was an extravagant feast. Gu Yingying wasn’t one of those girls who only picked at their food—she happily grabbed her chopsticks and started eating her favorite dishes, chatting about her test results as she ate.

Qin Yusen listened while eating, occasionally distracted by her report. He didn’t think her grades were too bad.

“If you’re not satisfied with them, I can hire a tutor for you over the break.”

Qin Yusen had never attended a traditional school. He had skipped grades and advanced quickly, so he found it a bit odd that his sister was worried about something like this.

“Hmm… We’ll see when the time comes,” Gu Yingying said. “But our teacher mentioned that there’s a parent-teacher meeting in three days. Are you going to go?”

That was the real reason she had brought it up.

Qin Yusen raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. He had never imagined himself attending a parent-teacher meeting as a parent. Deep down, he really wanted to go—but he had to consider his sister’s feelings first.

“Do you want me to go?”

He tried to sound casual, but there was a hint of anticipation in his expression. Around Gu Yingying, Qin Yusen found it hard to hide his true emotions. If she had been his opponent in a negotiation, he would have lost completely.

“Of course! I want my brother to attend my parent-teacher meeting… but my grades are kind of embarrassing,” Gu Yingying admitted, sticking out her tongue playfully. She really did feel a little ashamed.

“Not at all,” Qin Yusen reassured her. “I’ll make the arrangements. It’s in three days, right? I’ll be there.”

Having family—being someone’s family—was still a new feeling for him. And now, he was about to attend a parent-teacher meeting for his little sister. The thought filled him with warmth. He smiled gently, realizing that he should take this opportunity to learn more about Yingying’s school life.

“Mm-hmm! Thanks, Brother~” Gu Yingying beamed, nodding happily as she continued eating. With that, the decision was set.

After dinner, when Qin Yusen heard about her plan to treat her classmates to an afternoon snack, he arranged for the kitchen staff to prepare rose tea to go along with it.

At 9:30 p.m., after saying goodnight to her brother, Gu Yingying finally returned to her room.

Fresh out of the shower and dressed in her pajamas, she curled up with Bastet, her beloved black cat.

“Did you visit the other cats today? How are they doing?” she asked, stroking his soft fur.

Bastet had been out for most of the day, and now, freshly bathed, he smelled of fragrant soap. Everyone in the villa knew that this particular black cat had an extreme case of cleanliness—he hated being dirty.

“They’re doing well. The vets at the pet shop are giving them the best care, and some humans are even willing to adopt them,” Bastet replied.

He had spent the day at the pet shop, watching humans fawn over the cats, trying to win their favor. It reminded him of when he was younger. Even back then, he was already quite intelligent—comparable to a ten-year-old human child. But Gu Yingying had always treated him like a baby, constantly holding him in her arms and making all sorts of ridiculous, childish cat toys just to entertain him.

Looking back now, she never treated him like a divine beast. She treated him like a pet.

“That’s great to hear! When my break starts, I’ll take you there again,” Gu Yingying said, stroking his fur. “By the way, if you go out during the day and come across any stray cats, you can take them straight to the shop owner. I gave them my number, so if any stray needs help, they’ll take them in without hesitation.”

She trusted the shop owner completely. He was a kind person who genuinely cared about animals. Plus, he regularly posted updates on WeChat about the stray cats they rescued, so even without visiting in person, she could still keep up with how they were doing.

“Mm.” Bastet didn’t feel like talking. He was tired. Curling up in Gu Yingying’s arms, he closed his eyes, looking utterly exhausted.

Gu Yingying, on the other hand, wasn’t sleepy at all. Seeing that Bastet wasn’t in the mood to chat, she pulled out her magic mirror. She thought about the man she had seen last time—her brother. If… if only she could see him again.

Staring into the mirror, her heart filled with anticipation. And then—just like that—the mirror began to change. The reflection swirled and distorted, and in the next moment, she found herself looking at a man lying in a hospital bed.

This time was different.

The last time she had seen Zhao Zehan through the mirror, she had only seen his face. That was why she had believed his words—believed he was just playing a character. But now, as she took in the hospital bed, the sterile white sheets, the medical equipment around him—she would have to be an idiot not to realize what was happening.

Just as she was processing this, the man in the mirror suddenly opened his eyes.

His light brown gaze snapped to hers, sharp as a blade, cutting through the distance between them as if he could see her through the glass.

“Who are you? Is it you?”

In the hospital, Zhao Zehan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep rarely came to him at night. The wounds on his legs and face throbbed relentlessly, the pain intensifying as the darkness settled in.

For an ordinary person, such agony would be unbearable. But this wasn’t just anyone—this was Zhao Zehan. Or rather, Zhao Xizhi, the infamous warlord of the Supreme God’s space. He had endured countless missions, countless trials. Pain? That was nothing new.

He had once lost both legs in a mission and still managed to turn the tide, eliminating his enemies in a ruthless counterattack. That alone was proof of how terrifyingly strong he was.

So this pain—while agonizing—was not something he couldn’t endure.

For days, his curiosity about Gu Yingying’s identity had been gnawing at him, but he hadn’t been able to track her down. Just as he was beginning to let it go, he suddenly felt it—a presence watching him.

Was it the Supreme God? Or… was it that girl who had called herself his sister?

His words had been simple, but they carried a message—he had a hunch about who was on the other side.

Gu Yingying, seeing his guarded expression, felt her thoughts spiral into chaos. She had always known she was in a novel’s world, a setting far more dramatic than reality. But looking at Zhao Xizhi now, she couldn’t help but wonder—was he some kind of underworld boss?

How else could someone end up this battered and still exude such an air of danger?

“You… you lied to me! You’re obviously in the hospital! Are you hurt? Is it serious? What’s going on?”

What started as an accusation laced with disappointment quickly turned into genuine concern. The worry in her voice traveled straight into Zhao Zehan’s mind, and the moment he heard that familiar tone, he knew—it was her. The girl who called herself his sister. Gu Yingying.

She seemed truly worried about him. But Zhao Zehan was certain—he had never known anyone named Gu Yingying.

He had no idea who his biological parents were. He had figured out he wasn’t their real son when his adoptive parents had a child of their own. That was when he understood—he wasn’t truly part of that family.

After that, he had thrown himself into his studies, getting into medical school without ever bothering to search for his real parents. But fate had other plans. A car accident had sent him into the Supreme God’s space, and now that he was back, he wasn’t interested in chasing down his past.

No—he doubted this world was even real.

For all he knew, this place was just another construct of the Supreme God, another false reality. If he destroyed it, if he tore it all down, then surely—surely—he could return to the space where he belonged.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Zehan’s voice was calm, but his mind was racing.

This Gu Yingying… she could see more now. At first, it seemed like she had only caught glimpses of his face. But now? Now she had seen the hospital bed, the blankets. Probably his upper body too.

That meant he needed a new plan.

“Really?” Gu Yingying was skeptical. She frowned and added, “Your whole face is wrapped up like that, and you’re telling me you’re fine?”

This so-called brother of hers… he didn’t seem like the easiest person to approach. And he was so scary! The way he looked at her—sharp and predatory, like a wolf sizing up its prey. Gu Yingying couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like if she met him in real life.

Zhao Zehan hadn’t expected Gu Yingying to completely disregard the unspoken rules of adult conversation. The way adults operated was simple—if someone didn’t want to talk about something, the polite thing to do was to let it go. But Gu Yingying? She was relentless, prying without hesitation. It was almost… innocent. Like a child with no concept of deceit.

“You don’t need to worry. I really am fine,” Zhao Zehan replied flatly. “The bandages are because of a burn.”

Technically true. The marks left by the fire were burns, after all. He hadn’t even looked at his current face yet, but in the end, it was just a body. A temporary shell. It didn’t matter to him.

Right now, his focus was elsewhere—he was working on a fighter jet design. Once he submitted it, he’d have money. Maybe even government protection.

That was what he had learned in the Supreme God’s space.

“Burned? That must hurt a lot! Where are you right now? Can I come see you? Do you have someone taking care of you?”

The moment Gu Yingying heard he had been burned, her heart clenched with worry. She wanted nothing more than to rush over and take care of him. This bond of blood, this inexplicable connection, was something deeply ingrained in her. She frowned, already considering whether she should start making medicine to treat burns and scars.

Zhao Zehan found this girl—who wielded an unknown and clearly powerful artifact—a little foolish. But he still wasn’t sure what her true intentions were, and for now, he wasn’t ready to expose himself.

“There’s no need. I have people looking after me. You don’t have to come,” he said, his voice measured. Then, after a brief pause, he added, “But I do want to ask—why do you keep calling me your brother? I don’t have a sister. I don’t even know you.”

He could tell that her concern was genuine, but no matter how much he searched his memories, he couldn’t recall ever knowing someone named Gu Yingying.

At his question, Gu Yingying suddenly froze.

Oh. Right.

She knew he was her brother. But… he didn’t know she was his sister.

How was she supposed to explain that?

For a moment, she was at a complete loss. She realized that from an outsider’s perspective, it probably seemed strange—her certainty, her insistence. But what she didn’t realize was that her very act of “watching” him like this was already something beyond the realm of ordinary.

Zhao Zehan, freshly returned from the Supreme God Space, was still full of calculations, trying to get information out of Gu Yingying. If it were anyone else, they’d probably be scared to death by now, thinking they’d encountered a ghost…

Gu Yingying thought for a long moment before finally speaking.

“I just know. You are my biological brother, and I am your biological sister. If you don’t believe me, we can meet in person. Once we do a DNA test, you’ll have no choice but to believe me~”

She couldn’t explain how she knew about their connection, but she still desperately wanted to see him—especially since he seemed to be injured.

Lying in his hospital bed, Zhao Zehan’s face was completely wrapped in bandages, leaving only his sharp eyes exposed. His expression was unreadable. Beneath the covers, though, his entire body was tense, instinctively ready for action. If not for his injured legs, he would have already shifted into a defensive stance, prepared for battle.

“Oh? Is that so?” he murmured, casually fishing for more information. “Then… where are you right now?”

He was testing her, convinced that this girl was naïve and easy to manipulate.

“Me? I’m…”

As Gu Yingying spoke, the magic mirror suddenly spun once again. The swirling reflection shifted, and the next thing she saw was her own face staring back at her.

It seemed the connection with her brother had been cut off.

“Ugh, seriously? Mirror, oh mirror, can’t you just let me finish? Every time I try to say my location, you cut me off!” she huffed.

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Zhao Zehan also noticed the sudden silence. He lay in bed, deep in thought, his light brown eyes dark and unreadable.

The person spying on him through some kind of mirror was a young girl named Gu Yingying. And she claimed to be his biological sister.

Did he even have a biological sister? Zhao Zehan had no idea. He had learned at a young age—through whispers in the neighborhood—that he wasn’t his adoptive parents’ real son. But he had never cared. Maybe it was just in his nature to feel detached, but the idea of searching for his biological parents had never interested him. And now? He hadn’t been looking for them, yet a supposed biological sister had appeared out of nowhere?

It could be a trap. He wasn’t about to trust it so easily. His mind worked quickly, adjusting his plans.

Unaware of her brother’s thoughts, Gu Yingying huffed at the magic mirror one last time before curling up in bed with Bastet. One way or another, she would meet her brother someday.

Besides, now that he knew her name, all she had to do next time was tell him her school. He would definitely come looking for her.

Gu Yingying had a restful night and woke up early the next morning. After having breakfast with Qin Yusen, he drove her to school.

What she didn’t expect was to see Gu Xuezhen standing at the school gate.

Gu Xuezhen seemed to be waiting for someone. Curious, Gu Yingying walked over and greeted her.

“Xuezhen? Are you waiting for someone?”

In reality, Gu Xuezhen had already noticed the Qin family’s car the moment it appeared. She had deliberately come early today just to see Gu Yingying—to check how she was doing.

“I’m waiting for you,” she admitted awkwardly.

As soon as she spoke, memories of the past came rushing in—how she had intentionally refused to let the driver pick up Gu Yingying in an effort to push her away. A wave of embarrassment surged through her, and her face grew uncomfortably warm.

Gu Yingying’s face lit up with a bright smile, blooming like a little cherry blossom.

“You were waiting for me? That makes me so happy! Is something wrong?”

As she spoke, she noticed that Gu Xuezhen didn’t look too well—her face was flushed. Concerned, she reached out with her soft little hand and gently touched Xuezhen’s cheek.

“Xuezhen, are you running a fever? Your face is so hot!”

Already feeling ashamed of herself, Gu Xuezhen’s ears turned even redder at Gu Yingying’s question. Without a word, she grabbed Yingying’s hand and pulled her away, leaving Yingying completely baffled as she was dragged along.

They walked into the school, and just as they passed by the small garden, Xuezhen suddenly stopped. Yingying, caught off guard, nearly crashed into her but was quickly steadied by Xuezhen.

“You’re so clumsy. How do you even manage to bump into people just by walking?” Xuezhen huffed, half complaining, though the heat in her face had finally subsided. Looking at Yingying’s soft and innocent expression, she could only sigh helplessly.

“Really? Oh… sorry~” Yingying pouted slightly, feeling a little wronged at being called clumsy, but still apologized since she had almost run into Xuezhen.

Faced with such an adorably earnest response, Xuezhen didn’t know what to say anymore. She had planned a whole speech, but now the words wouldn’t come out. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

“Alright, I’m not blaming you. I know it’s a bit late, but… I still want to apologize.”

“Gu Yingying, ever since I returned to the Gu family, I’ve been targeting you—refusing to let the kitchen cook your favorite meals, making you give up your room, not allowing the driver to pick you up. It was all because I was petty. I was jealous that you had taken away the sixteen years that should have been mine. I thought you were the enemy, the daughter of that couple. But… I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you that way. You were innocent—just like me, another victim. I sincerely apologize.”

Gu Xuezhen looked straight into Gu Yingying’s eyes, her beautiful phoenix-shaped eyes filled with nothing but sincerity. She held Yingying’s hands tightly, genuinely wanting to protect this girl. She wanted to be friends with her, and she didn’t want the mistakes of the past to cause Yingying even a sliver of sadness.

Gu Yingying was completely stunned. She hadn’t expected Xuezhen to say that. Her mind went blank.

She had always liked this heroine—otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so invested in this novel before she transmigrated. She had only dropped it because Gu Xiao had taken her away and raised her. From the heroine’s perspective, Xuezhen had resented her, pushed her out of the Gu family, and unknowingly hurt her while seeking revenge on the adoptive parents who had mistreated her.

In the end, it was all just… an unfortunate twist of fate.

Gu Xuezhen felt a bit nervous. She was afraid that the girl in front of her wouldn’t forgive her. But more than that, she knew just how soft-hearted Gu Yingying was.

She really… really wanted to be friends with her. The kind of Bastet friends who could trust each other completely.

“I—I accept your apology,” Gu Yingying finally reacted after a long pause. She quickly spoke up, and then, like a flower blooming in spring, her face lit up with a radiant smile. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes curved into crescent moons.

“Xuezhen, I know you were against me before, but that was because you felt insecure. And besides, you never really did anything too extreme to me. You are the eldest daughter of the Gu family, so let’s just leave the past behind. From now on, you’re my friend, Xuezhen. Okay?”

No one understood Gu Xuezhen’s longing for love and fierce protectiveness better than Gu Yingying, who had read her story. Growing up in such a distorted family, Xuezhen lacked love more than anyone else. At the same time, she doubted any love that came her way. But if someone truly won her heart, Gu Xuezhen would become the most loyal, dependable friend in the world.

“…Okay.” Xuezhen nodded, her eyes inexplicably tinged with red. She hadn’t expected that such an apology—one she had struggled to say—would be accepted so easily.

Then, she suddenly remembered the real reason she had come to find Gu Yingying.

“Mom and Dad heard that the school is holding a parent-teacher meeting soon. They were worried about your situation and asked me to see if you wanted them to attend. Even though you’ve left the Gu family, they still raised you,” Gu Xuezhen said, her voice calm but conflicted. “Yingying, I know it was harsh of them to kick you out, and I’m not trying to make excuses for them. Everything they did was for me. I have no right to persuade you either way—you can do whatever you want.”

Ah, so it was about the parent-teacher meeting…

Gu Yingying still remembered how much this body had once been adored by the Gu couple. She smiled sweetly and politely declined.

“Thank Mom and Dad for me. Next time we meet, I’ll probably have to call them Uncle and Auntie. Let them know I’ve found my biological brother, and I’m really happy~ My brother will be attending the meeting with me, so they don’t have to worry. He’ll always protect and take care of me.”

The moment she mentioned Qin Yusen, an unmistakable glow of happiness spread across Gu Yingying’s face. That feeling of being doted on was genuine—so real that anyone could see it at a glance.

“Mm, that’s good. If anything happens, come find me in my class, okay?” Gu Xuezhen nodded, but she still couldn’t help but remind her, a trace of concern lingering in her eyes. She had a nagging feeling that Gu Yingying might get bullied.

This little fool—wearing her heart on her sleeve for everyone without even considering whether they’re worth it.

Neither of them mentioned Gu Xiao, as if he didn’t exist. He was currently on a business trip abroad and wouldn’t be back for months.

As class was about to start, the two parted ways and returned to their respective classrooms. Another day of hard work awaited them!

Perhaps it was the promise of Gu Yingying’s pastries, but everyone was particularly enthusiastic about their studies today. After lunch, the anticipation for the afternoon grew—after all, her pastries were scheduled to arrive at 2 PM, right in time for their break.

At exactly 2 PM, several cars slowly pulled up at the school gates. Everything had already been arranged with Gu Yingying’s homeroom teacher—inside the cars were 100 servings of Happy Lotus pastries and 100 servings of rose tea, all elegantly packaged in specially designed boxes and ready to be delivered to the school.

“Alright, I know you’ve all been eagerly waiting for the treats from Gu Yingying! Now, let’s hand them out…”

The beautifully crafted boxes were placed on the podium, creating an impressive display. Under the eager gazes of the students, the treats were distributed one by one. With 58 students in the class, everyone—including Gu Yingying, the generous host—received a portion.

The remaining treats were sent to the principal and other faculty members, with special attention given to the teachers who had previously taught Gu Yingying. Each of them received two portions—one for themselves and one to take home to their children.

=^_^=