The instructor looked at the young man before him, admiration in his eyes.


    Han ShuYi has made remarkable progresstely. His reactions and movements were swift and precise. There wasn''t much left for him to teach at this rate.


    It was the first time the instructor ever felt that earning money had been so easy.


    Han ShuYi was panting, sweat dripping from his forehead onto the ground. But he straightened his back again, assuming a fighting stance as he spoke.


    "Instructor, let''s continue."


    "There''s no need to push yourself this hard. Take a break."


    "I want to learn more. Self-defense techniques aren''t enough for me!"


    Han ShuYi''s words suddenly reminded the instructor of the boy''s first words on their first day.


    Perhaps what Han ShuYi wanted to learn wasn''t just self-defense. He was after moves that could kill!


    With that realization, the instructor''s expression became serious.


    "Han ShuYi, do you understand what you''re saying? There are things you shouldn''t learn!"


    "I just want to keep getting stronger! For that goal, I''m willing to give up anything!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Han ShuYi charged forward, throwing wild punches at the instructor, forcing him to step back under the intensity of the attack.


    Suddenly, the instructor''s eyes sharpened, and in a swift movement, he grabbed Han ShuYi''s hand and mmed him to the ground. His fist hovered, poised to strike Han ShuYi''s face.


    Instinctively, Han ShuYi closed his eyes, bracing for the impact, but the pain never came.


    Slowly, he opened his eyes, only to see the instructor had let him go.


    The instructor''s expression was now solemn, the smile from before long gone.


    "Han ShuYi, do you really want to learn?"


    "I do. I must learn."


    "Then let''s talk about it once you''ve mastered the basics of self-defense!"


    Saying so, the instructor turned and left.


    Han ShuYi remained lying on the ground, gasping for breath. His face grimaced, baring his teeth with a somewhat ferocious expression.


    ...


    Li Yue returned home as usual, but the house was empty, leaving her alone.


    She set her backpack down and sat on the sofa, reaching out to gently caress the hairband on her wrist.


    It was a gift from Han ShuYi, and she treasured it very much.


    Wearing the hairband on her wrist, it felt as if Han ShuYi was beside her.


    It was the first time she had ever felt someone else''s care, something she had never experienced from anyone else.


    She had no regrets about calling off her engagement with HuMing.


    Thinking of this, her mind wandered to how close HuMing had recently be to Ye QiuXue.


    She couldn''t quite know when their rtionship had gotten so close.


    When she was with HuMing, he had been chasing after SuLiu relentlessly, everyone at school knew how much he liked her. As his former fiancée, she had watched it with a pang of jealousy.


    But at the time, she didn''t have the confidence to win HuMing''s heart, so she let him go and do as he pleased.


    Now that she thought about it, she realized how timid she had been.


    But luckily, she met Han ShuYi.


    Without him, she would have spent her entire life trapped in that darkness, afraid to face anyone!


    At this moment, Li Yue was already fantasizing about her future with Han ShuYi.


    However, her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the door opened, breaking the silence.


    Lee Tian walked in from outside, casting a simple nce at her before heading directly upstairs.


    Sitting on the sofa, Li Yue seemed to have grown ustomed to this scene.


    But quickly, Lee Tian stopped in his tracks and turned to ask her.


    "Yue''er, how are things going with Han ShuYi? Have you been keeping him happytely?"


    "Huh? ShuYi and I have been doing well."


    "That''s good. You must keep a close eye on Han ShuYi; he''s of utmost importance!"


    "Dad, my rtionship with ShuYi isn''t just about business!"


    For the first time, Li Yue wanted to argue back. She didn''t want her rtionship to carry so much weight.


    Lee Tian was momentarily taken aback but then chuckled.


    "You''re right. Dad said too much. Just make sure you stay with ShuYi, alright?"


    "Okay."


    Seeing that Li Yue had no more to say, Lee Tian turned and headed upstairs. As he walked away, he absentmindedly stroked the ring on his finger, lost in thought.


    "Why isn''t Mom back yet?" Li Yue murmured under her breath.


    ...


    The weekend arrived, bringing a rare break.


    HuMing nned to sleep until noon, but early in the morning, Han YunXi was already knocking on his door!


    "Brother, wake up! The sun''s about to shine on your butt!"


    The girl''s voice echoed persistently from outside, leaving HuMing no choice but to open his eyes hopelessly.


    Han YunXi should be thankful he didn''t have a temper when waking up, or else he''d seriously kill someone!


    While Han YunXi was at HuMing''s door shouting for him, Kang Xin somehow appeared behind her silently and gently patted YunXi''s shoulder.


    Startled, Han YunXi shuddered and quickly spun around. Only after seeing it was Kang Xin did she breathe a sigh of relief.


    "It''s you, Kang Xin. I thought someone was sneaking up on me! But seriously, how do you walk without making any sound? You scared me half to death!"


    Han YunXi patted her chest, though there wasn''t much to pat in the first ce.


    Kang Xin remained calm, standing in ce, and exined.


    "Young Master is usually still sleeping at this hour. He doesn''t like being woken up on weekends unless he wakes up himself."


    "Huh? What should I do now that I''ve already called out? My brother isn''t going toe out and kill me, right?"


    Just as she finished speaking, the door swung open to reveal HuMing with a messy bedhead. His eyes were bleary as he stared at the two girls.


    "What''s all this shouting early in the morning? Don''t you know a student''s weekend is precious?"


    "Come on, it''s already ten o''clock! Stop sleeping and teach me how to y basketball!"


    "Basketball? Who told you I could y?"


    "Last time, someone mentioned you were really good at ser, scoring three goals! So, I figured you must be good at basketball too!"


    Han YunXi said with a straight face; her reasoning left HuMing momentarily stunned.


    ''Just because one can y ser means one can also y basketball? Who the hell said that? Step forward, I promised not to kill you!''


    Han YunXi fixed her gaze on HuMing; she already knew he couldn''t y basketball. During a sspetition organizedst time, HuMing had participated but ended up losing their team with over ten points lead.


    She had heard HuMing signed up for basketball, so she nned to practice with him. After all, he was her brother, and she didn''t want him to embarrass himself again!


    "YunXi, HuMing, what are you two doing?"


    A voice came from nearby, and Han ShuYi appeared in their line of sight, dressed in sportswear.


    "Oh, I just wanted Brother HuMing to y basketball with me. Brother ShuYi, do you want to join us?"


    Han YunXi knew that her two brothers didn''t quite get along. If their rtionship could improve a little, that would be great!


    "Of course! But it looks like HuMing isn''t very interested."


    Han ShuYi was well aware of HuMing''s skill level in basketball. Thest time HuMing embarrassed himself, it was he who had stepped in to turn the game around, which was also the first time he started to step on HuMing.


    "Can I just y in my dreams?"


    HuMing raised his hand in surrender, but Han YunXi quickly pushed it back down.


    "No!"