26: A surprise tomorrow!

“You bastard!!”

A muffled roar, tinged with tears, came from his sister in his arms. Her fists repeatedly pounded his back, but there was no strength behind them.

“I thought you died! I thought someone beat you to death!”

“I saw the stones on the ground were shattered! And there was blood! I called you and you didn’t answer! I sent messages and you didn’t reply!”

“Do you know how scared I was?!”

Lin Yu raised his hand and patted his sister’s back.

It was a gesture he used to do most often, but now it felt a little unfamiliar.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re lying! You must not be fine! Did you go borrow money again? Did those people come looking for you again?” Lin Yao looked up, her red eyes filled with tears. She grabbed Lin Yu’s arm, checking him up and down.

“No, really no.” Lin Yu let her inspect him.

After confirming that Lin Yu truly had no injuries, Lin Yao’s strength seemed to drain away. She let go of his arm but still clutched the corner of his clothes tightly, as if he would disappear if she let go.

“Brother, come home with me.”

Her voice was very soft, laced with a plea.

“Let’s go home, okay? For the money we owe, Father Lin and Mother Lin will find a way. We’ll pay it back as a family!”

“We’ll never be separated again!”

Lin Yao pulled Lin Yu’s hand with unwavering determination, ready to drag him out.

“Don’t stay in this cursed place anymore! This isn’t fit for humans!”

Lin Yu didn’t move.

He looked at his sister’s tear-streaked face and spoke calmly.

“Yao Yao, the money issue, I’ve already resolved it.”

Lin Yao’s movements stopped. She looked at Lin Yu in disbelief.

“Resolved it? How did you resolve it? Where did you borrow from again? Are you…?”

She thought of the brand-new banknotes, but the rest of her words wouldn’t come out.

“It’s not what you think.” Lin Yu interrupted her, “Trust me, everything is over, and everything is getting better.”

“I don’t believe it!” Lin Yao shook her head vigorously, “Unless you come home with me! You’re coming with me right now!”

Lin Yu looked at her stubborn expression and no longer refused.

A trace of joy appeared on Lin Yao’s face, and she pulled him, ready to leave.

But she took one step and then stopped again.

She leaned close to Lin Yu, sniffed hard, then wrinkled her nose in distaste.

“Brother, how long has it been since you showered?”

The sudden shift in focus made Lin Yu pause for a moment.

“And these clothes! What are these things? Take them off quickly! Change into something else!”

Lin Yao let go of his hand and began rummaging through the container, acting as if she was about to conduct a thorough spring cleaning.

“Look at this place, it’s as messy as a dog’s kennel! No, you can’t go home like this! You’ll scare Father Lin and Mother Lin to death!”

As she mumbled, she pulled out all of Lin Yu’s tattered clothes and threw them on the ground.

“These! All of them, I don’t want them!”

“And this! Throw it away too!”

Lin Yu watched his sister, like a busy little bee, directing everything in his small “cage,” and smiled indulgently.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Hearing Lin Yu’s reply, Lin Yao paused.

She turned around and saw the long-lost, heartfelt smile on Lin Yu’s face, and her eyes welled up again.

She quickly walked in front of Lin Yu and stood on her tiptoes.

She gently pressed her forehead against Lin Yu’s forehead.

“Brother, I missed you so much.”

Her voice was very low, with a thick nasal tone.

Lin Yu didn’t speak, only raised his hand and ruffled her hair.

A few seconds later, Lin Yao stepped back, haphazardly wiped the tears from her face, and regained her energetic demeanor.

“You wait for me here! I’ll go home first and give Father Lin and Mother Lin a heads-up! Otherwise, if you suddenly go back, Mother Lin’s heart won’t be able to take it!”

“Also! You must take a shower! Clean yourself up! When I come to pick you up tomorrow, I want to see a brand new you!”

She waved a fist at Lin Yu.

“I’ll bring new clothes tomorrow!”

With that, she turned and ran, as quick and spirited as when she arrived.

“Tomorrow… I’ll pick you up to go home!”

As she reached the doorway, she turned back and shouted again.

Lin Yu stood still, watching her figure disappear into the sunset, and responded loudly.

“Okay!”

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed in through the open iron door, painting everything inside the container with a warm golden hue.

Lin Yu stood there, the faint fragrance and vitality his sister, Lin Yao, had left behind still lingering in the air.

“Tomorrow… I’ll pick you up to go home!”

These words echoed repeatedly in his ears.

Home.

Such a distant, yet such a heavy word.

Lin Yao’s words also stirred Lin Yu’s memories.

Over the years, it wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of his parents.

How could he not miss them?

It was just that he couldn’t go back.

He knew very well that in his state at the time, going back would only bring a greater burden and pain to that already not-so-wealthy family.

He had never blamed his parents.

They had already worried themselves sick over him, and they had done well enough.

But they had their limitations.

They were ordinary people, unable to understand what an epic profession was, much less believe that their son was embarking on a path unprecedented and destined to be difficult.

In their eyes, giving up the College Entrance Examination, breaking ties with his family, and hiding in an abandoned container to create a pile of useless trash cards was idleness, self-degradation.

They didn’t believe in the path Lin Yu was taking.

Fortunately… Lin Yu exhaled softly.

He had already forged his own path!

Five years in exchange for a future of infinite possibilities.

This deal was not a loss.

Now, he had the ability to control his own destiny and change his parents’ lives.

Even… he might be able to change this world.

Of course, those were all matters for the future.

He quietly sat down on the only relatively intact chair in the container, and thinking of returning home tomorrow, a hint of apprehension arose in his heart.

This feeling was very unfamiliar.

It was like a wanderer who had been away from home for many years, feeling timid as he approached his hometown… On the other side.

Lin Yao hummed a little tune, her steps so light she almost seemed to float.

She rushed home at top speed, took out her key, and opened the door.

“I’m home!”

In the living room, Father Lin and Mother Lin were sitting at the dining table, facing several dishes that were almost untouched, and the atmosphere was a bit heavy.

Seeing her daughter return, Mother Lin immediately stood up.

“Yao Yao, where did you run off to?”

“Mom! Dad!”

Lin Yao fluttered like a happy butterfly to the dining table, an irrepressible smile on her face.

Father Lin looked at his daughter’s beaming expression and exchanged a glance with his wife.

“A surprise? What surprise?”

“It’s a secret for now!” Lin Yao winked mysteriously, “Anyway, you’ll find out tomorrow! I guarantee it’ll shock you!”

Mother Lin looked at her daughter and asked tentatively, “Is it… related to your professional awakening?”

“No!” Lin Yao shook her head like a rattle, “It’s a hundred times more important than that!”

Father Lin pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke.

“This surprise… is it a person?”

His question was extremely skillful.

In his mind, for a girl her age to have such a big reaction, what else could it be besides being in love?