54: Chapter 54: Farewell! Let's go check out the martial arts school run by Su Wu!

At six in the morning, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, the lights in the kitchen of the Su Family's ancestral home were already on.

Su Han, wearing an apron, stood before the stove, skillfully flipping a spatula. The aroma of frying eggs filled the entire kitchen.

"Brother, why did you get up so early?" Xiao Nuan rubbed her eyes as she walked into the kitchen. Seeing Su Han's busy back, her eyes widened in surprise.

Su Han turned back and smiled. "I'm making you a proper breakfast. How can the food in the school cafeteria be as good as home cooking?"

Xiao Nuan felt a sting in her nose and quickly lowered her head to hide her reddening eyes. Ever since her brother joined the army, he had changed completely.

He had become... so gentle and considerate.

"Go wash up, it'll be ready soon." Su Han placed the golden-brown fried eggs onto a plate. "I also cooked your favorite preserved egg and lean meat porridge."

Twenty minutes later, the siblings sat at the small stone table in the courtyard for breakfast.

The morning light filtered through the branches and leaves of the old locust tree, casting dappled shadows on the tabletop.

"Brother, the eggs you fried are even better than the ones Eldest Aunt makes." Xiao Nuan took small sips of her porridge, her eyes bright and sparkling.

Su Han placed the last fried egg into her bowl. "Eat more, you're at the age where you're still growing."

"But..." Xiao Nuan looked hesitantly at the egg in her bowl, "Brother, you haven't even eaten much yourself..."

"I eat this every day in the military; I'm long tired of it." Su Han waved his hand, then suddenly remembered something. "Right, have you finished packing your things?"

Xiao Nuan nodded. "I packed everything last night. Textbooks, homework, and a change of clothes—I've got them all."

Xiao Nuan was currently in her first year of middle school, and it was a boarding school. This time, she only had a three-day break.

Of course, she could also apply to live at home.

However, the Su Family's house rules were strict. Xiao Nuan was already twelve years old—a little adult—and she practiced martial arts, so she wouldn't be bullied at school.

The Su Family was accustomed to cultivating independence in their clansmen.

Therefore, unless there were special circumstances, everyone boarded at school.

This allowed them to learn independence while also giving them more time to study at school.

After finishing breakfast, Xiao Nuan went back to her room for a final check.

Su Han went to the garage and drove out Su Bowen's black Volkswagen sedan.

Although the car was a bit old, it was well-maintained. It was what Su Bowen usually used for business in town.

With the Su Family's financial status, buying luxury cars would be no problem at all.

But the elders were used to a simple life and were sentimental; they didn't care about things like cars at all.

As long as it could run, it was fine.

"Third Uncle, be careful on the road," Su Bowen stood at the door and urged. "Xiao Nuan's school is in the east of the city; the morning rush hour might have traffic jams."

"Don't worry, Uncle," Su Han put the luggage into the trunk. "I'll drive slowly."

Xiao Nuan ran out with her backpack. After saying goodbye to her uncle and several elders one by one, she hopped into the car.

Today she was wearing her blue and white school uniform with her hair tied in a high ponytail, looking exceptionally spirited.

The car slowly drove out of the village, heading toward the county seat along the rural highway. Xiao Nuan leaned against the window, watching the familiar scenery outside flash past.

"Brother, your driving skills are really good." Xiao Nuan turned her head, looking at Su Han's skillful handling of the steering wheel with admiration. "Steadier than the driving school instructors."

The corners of Su Han's mouth curled up slightly. "I learned it in the military. When you take your driver's license test later, Brother will teach you."

"Really?" Xiao Nuan clapped her hands excitedly. "Then it's a deal!"

After the car entered the county seat, the traffic on the road gradually increased.

Su Han slowed down, glancing at his sister through the rearview mirror from time to time.

"Xiao Nuan, are you used to school yet?" he asked softly.

"I'm used to it."

Xiao Nuan finished speaking with a smile, but then her gaze dimmed slightly.

"It's just that on weekends, other classmates have their moms and dads picking them up and dropping them off. I always take the bus back by myself."

Su Han looked at the lonely Xiao Nuan, and his heart couldn't help but ache slightly.

Their parents had both passed away.

Although Su Bowen's family treated them like their own children,

they had the Su Family's businesses to manage.

Moreover, the Su Family didn't like to be ostentatious, so naturally, there were no nannies or drivers.

Besides, Xiao Nuan was sensible now; in their eyes, taking a bus back was a very normal thing.

But Xiao Nuan was still a child after all, and it was only natural for a child to miss her parents.

Su Han reached out and squeezed Xiao Nuan's hand, saying softly, "Xiao Nuan, in the future when you have time, you can call Brother. Once Brother returns to the military and is promoted to an officer, I'll be allowed to have a cell phone. When that time comes, I'll send you the number."

"Really?" Xiao Nuan's eyes lit up, but then she hesitated again. "But... isn't the military management very strict?"

"Your brother is someone with special privileges now." Su Han winked. "As a first-class merit winner, I still have this small convenience."

"However, the phone and SIM card must be the ones provided by the military. I can't bring this current temporary phone and number into the base."

Xiao Nuan laughed happily, revealing two cute little dimples. "Then it's a deal! No backing out!"

"Of course." Su Han reached out and rubbed her head. "But you have to promise me to study hard."

"I ranked third in the whole class in this monthly exam!" Xiao Nuan puffed out her chest proudly. "The teacher said I can get into the honors class next semester!"

"That impressive?" Su Han feigned surprise. "As expected of my sister!"

The siblings chatted and laughed as the car entered the urban area.

Passing through a crossroad, Xiao Nuan suddenly pointed to the roadside. "Brother, stop for a moment! The red bean buns at that bun shop are delicious!"

Su Han pulled over and bought two large bags of steaming hot buns, stuffing them into Xiao Nuan's hands. "Take these and share them with your roommates. You have to know how to share to make friends."

Holding the buns, Xiao Nuan's eyes turned red again. "Brother... you never used to do things like this before..."

Su Han's heart tightened, and just as he was thinking of how to explain, Xiao Nuan already broke into a smile through her tears. "But I like the way Brother is now!"

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped steadily at the entrance of the County First Middle School.

It was the peak time for school. Students wearing identical uniforms were walking into the campus in groups of three or five.

Before getting out of the car, Xiao Nuan suddenly threw herself into Su Han's arms and gave him a tight hug. "Brother, you have to take good care of yourself."

Her voice was muffled, "I'll wait for you to come pick me up when you're on leave."

Su Han gently patted his sister's back. "I will. Call Brother if anything happens."

Watching Xiao Nuan's small figure carrying her backpack and holding the buns as she walked into the campus until she disappeared into the crowd, Su Han finally started the car.

In the rearview mirror, he saw his sister standing at the school gate waving until she was out of sight at the turn.

Seeing that it was still early, Su Han thought of Su Wu, who had already left home last night to return to the martial arts hall in the provincial capital, and immediately stepped on the gas.

He would go take a look!

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