Chapter 285: The Brothers Yearning for Growth

Inside the inner courtyard of the Hua residence, a tense exchange unfolded.

Yang Sui’an and Hua Bailin shoved Xiao Liu into a room, slamming the door shut behind them. They flanked him, their expressions sharp and unyielding. Hua Bailin cut straight to the point, his voice steely.

“Xiao Liu, you’ve been sticking close to our eldest sister, haven’t you?”

Xiao Liu hesitated, unsure of their motives, but eventually gave a cautious nod.

“Then explain something,” Hua Bailin demanded, his tone growing harsher. “Why does our eldest sister smell like medicine? Has she been hurt?”

Xiao Liu’s thoughts raced. Sister Hua was tough as nails—she wouldn’t breathe a word about her injuries at home. She knew better.

Even if she confessed, what good would it do?

She’d only end up comforting everyone else instead of being comforted herself.

But Hua Bailin needed to know. They both did. This wasn’t just about protecting her pride. It was about ensuring she wasn’t suffering in silence anymore. She could have stayed safe within the walls of the Hua residence, untouchable, but for the sake of the family, she’d willingly thrown herself into danger.

Xiao Liu clenched his jaw. The truth had to come out. Without saying a word, he began unbuttoning his robe.

“Xiao Liu, what are you doing?” Hua Bailin’s voice faltered, suspicion and realization dawning all at once. He fell silent, his eyes locked on Xiao Liu.

As Xiao Liu tugged down his middle garment, the proof was undeniable. A stark pink scar marred his arm, its presence loud and damning.

Here’s a rephrased, casual, detailed, and direct version with a sharper tone:

"There are three more wounds like this. Eldest Sister's injuries? They're far worse than mine." Xiao Liu locked eyes with the stunned pair, his voice calm but cutting as he slowly tied his robe back together. "You’re wondering if we ran into trouble on our trip? Damn right, we did. We got ambushed at the docks—local thugs thought they could trap us. Hundreds of them came at us. And you know what? Eldest Sister didn’t back down. Not one step."

"When did she... when did Eldest Sister learn martial arts?" Hua Bailin stammered, the question almost more for himself than anyone else. He couldn’t remember a time she’d trained, but then again, his eldest sister always seemed capable of things that left him in the dust.

Yang Sui’an, a few years older and clearly sharper, pushed further. "Did she cross someone’s line? Stir up someone’s business? And more importantly—did you deal with it?"

Xiao Liu smirked, his words dripping with sarcasm. "You two live with her and still forget how jaw-dropping Sister Hua is? Let me spell it out—men outside notice. They aren’t blind. It’s no mystery why some would get stupid over her."

Silence.

The two brothers hadn’t thought about it from that angle. Xiao Liu’s bluntness hit them like a brick, leaving them torn between amusement and a swelling pride. Their sister wasn’t just impressive—she was extraordinary.

It was in that moment Xiao Liu realized how much the journey had hardened him. Just a month ago, he was no different from Bai Lin, caught up in the petty politics of the capital.

Now? He saw everything differently.

He looked at Bai Lin and thought, Too soft, too naive. That’ll get him killed. He itched to knock some sense into him.

"Look," Xiao Liu said flatly, "Sister Hua doesn’t want you two knowing the full story. So act dumb. Don’t ask. Don’t dig."

They nodded in unison. "Got it."

"I’m heading out. She should be back soon." With that, Xiao Liu left, his steps steady and unhurried, leaving the brothers with a lot to think about—and even more to admire.

Hua Bailin watched Xiao Liu step over the threshold, and in that moment, something shifted. Just hours ago, they had been side by side, locked in a fierce contest over a sandbox game, laughing and wrestling on the same bed. But now? Now it felt like Xiao Liu had surged ahead, leaving him stranded in the dust.

Hua Bailin wasn’t the only one feeling the sting of being left behind. Yang Sui’an stood nearby, fists clenched behind his back, his expression tense. Finally, he broke the silence, voicing something that had been gnawing at him for a long time. “I’ve decided. I’m going on a journey.”

“A journey?” Hua Bailin blinked as realization crashed over him like a tidal wave. That’s it—that’s what had transformed Xiao Liu.

Their eldest sister’s words echoed in his mind: Traveling ten thousand miles is worth more than reading ten thousand books.

Xiao Liu was living proof of that truth.

Hua Bailin straightened, his voice firm and resolute. “Cousin, take me with you.”

Yang Sui’an didn’t even hesitate to shut him down. “Traveling isn’t the same as lounging around in the capital—”

“I don’t care!” Hua Bailin cut him off, his tone sharp and unrelenting. “If you won’t take me, I’ll go alone. I refuse to stay here, stagnating. I don’t want to be coddled by our eldest sister in this cushy, sheltered capital, only to be useless when something real happens!”

The fire in Hua Bailin’s voice made Yang Sui’an pause. He couldn’t argue against the raw truth in those words. Both of them wanted to shoulder some of the weight that their eldest sister carried, but instead, they were just deadweight.

How could they talk about helping her when they hadn’t even helped themselves?

Yang Sui’an sighed heavily. “But you’re still too young—”

“Young doesn’t mean incompetent,” Hua Bailin snapped back without missing a beat. “And anyway, isn’t that why I have you? You’re my cousin. You’d never let anything bad happen to me.”

Yang Sui’an opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss. In the face of such unwavering determination, what was left to say?

Yang Sui’an couldn’t hold back his irritation when his younger cousin started twisting words. With a sharp flick to the forehead, he snapped, “Stop arguing with me. You’ll need your eldest sister’s approval, no matter what you say.”

But Hua Bailin was unshaken. “Eldest sister will agree,” he said confidently.

He knew her too well. She always believed that seeing the world was more valuable than burying one’s nose in books. She’d never stand in the way of something he was dead set on. If anything, she’d cover for him like she always had.

Their conversation was cut short by a faint noise outside. They exchanged a glance and quickly headed out. There, they spotted their eldest sister walking side by side with Mr. Lu, their voices low and intimate.

Hua Bailin muttered under his breath, “Looks like I already have a brother-in-law.”

Yang Sui’an gave him a firm shove forward. “Go on, greet her. Eldest sister’s here.”

Their sister didn’t miss a beat as she approached. “Why are you two still up? I told you I was heading to Shi Zai restaurant for some business and would be back after dinner. No need to wait.”

Leaning lazily against the doorframe, Shao Yao groaned dramatically, “Like I’d dare go to bed early. If I did, Yan Ge would have kicked me out of the house.”

Gu Yanxi ignored her antics, turning his attention to Ah Zhi, whose face was pale and drawn with fatigue. “You look exhausted. Go rest—we can manage on our own.”

Ah Zhi brushed off the concern with a faint smile. “It’s not that late yet. I’ll head to the study for a bit.” She reached out to pat Shao Yao’s head, then gestured for the steward lingering nearby to follow her.

Once settled in the study, Ah Zhi cut straight to the point. “What’s the matter?”

The steward, bowing respectfully, responded, “The fourth branch knows you’re back. As soon as you left earlier, they sent word asking if you’d have time to visit tomorrow.”

Her voice was crisp. “If I’m home, I’ll go. Send someone to confirm with them.”

“Yes, miss,” the steward said before retreating.

Fu Dong brought over a pot of tea, her movements steady and unhurried. Hua Zhi picked up her cup, the steam curling in lazy tendrils. She blew on it lightly before speaking, her tone sharp and to the point. “How’s Li De holding up? Is he capable of handling the responsibilities?”

Steward Xu offered a practiced smile, calm and confident. “He’s been trained before, so with a little guidance, he picks up new tasks quickly. Sure, he’s short on experience, but that’s no issue. Give him a year or two of managing things, and he’ll have it all down.”

“Fine,” Hua Zhi said briskly. “For now, though, you’ll need to keep a close eye on him. Hand things over gradually.”

Steward Xu nodded. “Understood.”

Without missing a beat, Hua Zhi moved on. “I need a shop near Zhuangyuan Street. Big. Two floors, preferably. You know the area well—do you know of anything that fits the bill?”

Xu paused, considering. “Does it have to be that exact area?”

“It does,” Hua Zhi replied curtly. “Fu Dong will be managing it, and it’s better if it’s close by.”

At the mention of her name, Fu Dong glanced up at her mistress, warmth swelling in her chest. She didn’t say a word about the countless offers she’d been getting lately—people waving money in her face, promising her comfort, even marriage. They thought they could buy her loyalty, as if she were for sale.

They didn’t understand. Her mistress had given her something no amount of wealth could replace: a home.

In this home, there were people she cared for deeply—Yingchun, Baoxia, and Nianqiu. Quietly, over time, she’d come to see her mistress as more than an employer. Hua Zhi was the heart of this family, and to Fu Dong, family meant everything.

And family? That was something she would never betray.

———TN: Guess what?!

Bet you didn’t see this coming—I’m dropping a new chapter! Shocking, right?

For the final day of 2024, I figured I’d share a few chapters with you. Not a whole lot, though—don’t get too excited—I’m still in the middle of prepping for New Year’s Eve.

Anyway, here’s to an amazing and prosperous 2025!