88: Chapter 88 Returning to Kyoto, My Younger Brother Chu Jie!

Kyoto, inside the Second Ring Road, Jiefang Road, a large courtyard house.

Chu Xiao stood before the vermilion lacquered gates, looking at the plaque above and the trumpet vine spreading from inside the courtyard walls.

Scenes of memories flashed through his mind.

This was the place where he had the most childhood memories, and it was once his home!!!

Since his mother died during childbirth, Chu Xiao had become withdrawn. Every time he was at home, he would think of her. Later, he grew distant from his father and chose to transfer schools to Jianghai City to live with his grandfather.

In the past, he was unwilling to return to this home. Every time he came back, he felt extremely suffocated, as every little detail of living with his mother lingered in his mind.

That pain of longing made him feel as if he were suffocating, falling into a deep-sea abyss.

After many years.

He had finally returned.

To this home!

Seeing Chu Xiao's sentimental and nostalgic look, the old man Chu Jianghe felt a stir in his heart. He had been secretly observing Chu Xiao, wanting to confirm whether this was truly his grandson.

Now, he suddenly began to believe that this person was indeed his grandson, Chu Xiao.

But how could his own grandson have become so powerful, even able to bring him back from the dead? His strength was terrifying and unpredictable; even he couldn't see through it in the slightest.

Just then.

The sound of a child crying suddenly came from inside the courtyard.

"Waaa... You're mean, you're mean! I'm not playing with you anymore..."

"Hmph, I'm your elder sister. What's wrong with hitting you!"

"I'm going to tell Mom you hit me! You're a bad sister, I won't acknowledge you! Get out of my house!"

"A bad sister is still your sister. If you dare to cry again, believe it or not, I'll hang you up and beat you—eight hundred times a day!"

"I... I... I won't cry anymore, I won't cry... Waaa..."

In the courtyard.

A little fat boy wearing a red bellyband covered his mouth with his chubby, lotus-root-like hands. Tears flowed freely as if he had suffered a great injustice.

This little fat boy was named Chu Jie, Chu Xiao's half-brother.

And the person hitting him was none other than Chu Lingyin!!!

Chu Lingyin crossed her arms over her chest, acting like she was the boss of the world. A hint of majesty even appeared on her youthful face as she said, "Hmph, from now on, you have to call me 'Sister' when you see me! If you don't listen, I'll flick your little pee-pee!"

Outside the door.

Hearing this, Chu Xiao was instantly stunned.

Good heavens!

What kind of wild words are these!

My sister, Chu Lingyin, can't you be a bit more ladylike?

Chu Xiao slowly turned his head to glance at the old man, Chu Jianghe. His eyes seemed to say, 'Old man, is this the fine granddaughter you raised?'

Old man Chu Jianghe coughed and said, "What are you looking at me for? You've only been back for a few days! Chu Lingyin has already learned bad habits from you!"

That was a flawless way to shift the blame.

Chu Xiao grinned, patted the bronze rings on the door, and shouted, "Lingyin, open the door! Grandfather and I are here to pick you up!"

Hearing this voice, Chu Lingyin's eyes instantly lit up. Tears shimmered in her dark eyes as she rushed to the door, pulled the bolt, and threw herself into Chu Xiao's arms, crying loudly.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was the one who had been wronged!

In the courtyard, the little fat boy Chu Jie saw this and immediately shrunk his neck. He thought to himself, 'Oh no, this bad sister's help has arrived.' He was so scared that he hurriedly ran into the house.

Chu Xiao rubbed Chu Lingyin's head and smiled. "Silly girl, why are you crying? Who bullied you?"

"Big brother, no one bullied me. I just missed you so much." Chu Lingyin shook her head, then hugged the old man Chu Jianghe beside them, looking aggrieved. "Grand~pa~~"

Old man Chu Jianghe also felt a strange sourness in his heart. Having died once, he had experienced death and understood the preciousness of family even more. He couldn't help but let old tears flow down his face.

They walked into the courtyard.

Looking at the simple, ancient furniture and the grapevine laden with grapes, Chu Xiao was filled with emotion. He vaguely remembered that over ten years ago, when he was still a child, he and his mother had planted this grapevine together.

Now, in the blink of an eye, the grapevine had grown large and was covered with clusters of fruit. A few clusters had already successfully changed color, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

Chu Xiao walked over and stood under the grapevine, his heart full of memories. He reached out to pick one to taste. He remembered the grapes from the first year were very sour. His mother had said that the older the grapevine, the sweeter the fruit it would bear. It was normal for it to be sour in the first year, but it would get sweeter and larger in the future.

"Don't touch my grapes!"

The little fat boy Chu Jie rushed over with a plastic Golden Cudgel, looking both scared and fierce. He roared, "Who are you? How dare you steal my grapes!"

His grapes?

Chu Xiao couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Do you know who I am?"

The little fat boy Chu Jie raised the plastic Golden Cudgel high and shouted, "I don't care who you are! No one can touch my grapes! Otherwise, I'll... I'll..."

Before he could finish, Chu Lingyin went up and gave him a slap, then twisted his ear, saying, "You're getting ahead of yourself! This is Big Brother! You dare to hit Big Brother?"

Big Brother?

The little fat boy Chu Jie was stunned. This wasn't the first time he had heard this term. He covered his face, looking aggrieved, with tears welling in his eyes. It looked quite comical.

"You're bullying me! Everyone is bullying me! Waaa..."

"I'm going to tell Mom! I'm going to tell Dad! Waaa..."

While wiping his tears, he plopped down on the ground and began to throw a tantrum, rolling around until he was covered in dust.

Seeing this, Chu Lingyin rolled up her sleeves and said fiercely, "Fine! You still dare to roll on the ground, don't you? What did I teach you! If Step-mom won't discipline you, I will!"

As she spoke, she rushed forward and suddenly sat on top of the little fat boy Chu Jie, raising her hand to deliver a roundhouse slap.

The little fat boy Chu Jie was so scared he stopped crying immediately and pleaded, "Sister, I was wrong! I won't do it again! Don't hit me!"

"Alright, alright. How can a girl always be hitting people? He is your younger brother, after all!" Old man Chu Jianghe finally couldn't take it anymore and quickly stepped in to mediate.

Actually, Chu Xiao felt a bit embarrassed. All this time, he had thought Chu Lingyin would be the poor child mistreated by her step-mother and bullied by her younger brother.

Who would have thought she was practically a Living King Yama...

He just felt sorry for this younger brother!

When he made a mistake, he really got smacked!

"Lingyin, that's enough. Here, taste this grape and see if it's sweet." Chu Xiao plucked a deep purple grape and stuffed it into Chu Lingyin's mouth.

Chu Lingyin's eyes lit up instantly. She covered her mouth and said in surprise, "Wow! So sweet!"

Chu Xiao was also delighted. He hurriedly picked another one and put it in his mouth. Instantly, the corners of his mouth twitched from the sourness, and his eyes squinted.

Chu Lingyin blinked and intentionally asked, "Big brother, is it sweet?"

Chu Xiao: "Sweet! Really sweet!"

"I want some too! I want some too! Waaa... If you don't give me any, I'll cry!" The little fat boy Chu Jie stared with wide eyes, drooling from greed.

Chu Xiao picked one and said, "Call me 'Big Brother' and I'll give you one!"

The little fat boy Chu Jie hesitated for 0.001 seconds and called out expectantly, "Big Brother!"

"Mhm! Good boy!" Chu Xiao smiled and placed the grape in his hand, then pretended as if nothing was wrong.

Chu Lingyin, on the other hand, wore a harmless smile.

A few seconds later.

The little fat boy Chu Jie was moved to tears by the sourness.

"What crappy grapes! I'm never eating them again."