Chương 44: Determination

When Lin Che opened the door, the last rays of the setting sun were streaming into the house through the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire room in a warm orange-red hue.

His shadow was stretched long, casting a slanted shadow behind him, covering the little leather shoes that were lying crookedly to the side—the shoes still had some mud on them, it seemed the little girl had been playing wildly at school today.

"I'm back," he said softly, casually placing the heavy shopping bags on the shelf beside him.

"Brother Lin Che!" Xiao Ye, like a cheerful little bird, rushed out of the living room and threw herself into his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, "Sister said I can eat cream bread when you come back!"

Lin Che chuckled and ruffled her fluffy hair, his tone full of affection: "So eager? Bread isn't going to grow legs and run away."

A cheerful voice came from the kitchen: "I always keep my word~" She came out carrying a paper bag, winking playfully at Xiaoye, "But hasn't someone forgotten something?"

Xiaoye immediately let go of Lin Che and cheered as she rushed towards Su Yuqing: "Sister is the best!"

"Go wash your hands first, you little dirty cat." Su Yuqing held the paper bag high, nimbly dodging her sister's outstretched dirty hand.

"Otherwise, you won't get anything to eat."

Watching Xiaoye run excitedly towards the bathroom, Su Yuqing turned to Lin Che and asked, "Why are you so late? Did you buy everything?"

Lin Che bent down to change his shoes, and replied, "Something came up on the way and I was delayed, but I've bought everything I needed."

Su Yuqing's eyes immediately lit up, like a kitten spotting its prey, and she couldn't contain her curiosity as she leaned forward: "Let me see what you bought~"

"Don't rush." Lin Che gently pressed down her restless hand.

"I have something to tell you." He pulled Su Yuqing to the living room, and the two sat down side by side on the soft sofa.

He recounted his experiences from that afternoon in detail, from Luo Bingli's lonely figure on the playground to his conversation with the junior high school homeroom teacher, and then to the chance encounter near the shopping mall.

"... So, that's what her family situation is like." After hearing this, Su Yuqing's smile gradually faded, and a hint of sadness appeared in her eyes.

"No wonder she never mentions her family to me."

Lin Che nodded: "Her homeroom teacher also said that every time her father came home, she would run away from home instead."

"This..." Su Yuqing bit her lower lip, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes, "Should I go ask her?"

"Not for now." Lin Che shook his head.

"Given her personality, asking directly will probably only make her more defensive and even shut her heart off more tightly."

Su Yuqing's fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping the hem of her skirt: "What should we do? We can't just leave it like this, can we?"

"Take it slow." Lin Che sighed, glancing at the darkening sky outside the window.

"These things can't be rushed. I feel she's very sensitive and can easily become defensive."

Seeing the worried look on the girl's face, Lin Che's heart softened. He suddenly pulled a beautifully packaged box of chocolates out of his shopping bag as if by magic.

"Here, your favorite matcha flavor."

"Huh?!" Su Yuqing's eyes widened, her face filled with surprise.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't buy it for me?"

"That was a lie." Lin Che chuckled and pinched her nose.

"So easily fooled?" As he spoke, he took out several bags of snacks from the bag—all of which were Su Yuqing's favorites, and the portions were generous.

"You're so annoying!" Su Yuqing pretended to hit him, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. She couldn't wait to tear open a bag of potato chips and started eating them with a crunching sound, like a satisfied little hamster.

Just then, Su Wanyi's gentle voice came from the kitchen: "Children, dinner's ready!"

"Coming!" Su Yuqing responded reflexively, stuffing another potato chip into her mouth, her cheeks bulging.

The kitchen door was pushed open completely, and Su Wanyi stood there wearing an apron with a bear pattern, her face bearing her usual gentle smile. But for some reason, that smile seemed to lower the temperature around her by several degrees in Su Yuqing's eyes.

"Yuqing," Su Wanyi spoke, her voice so gentle it was almost frightening, "why did you eat snacks before dinner? And why did you give the cream bread to Xiaoye?"

Su Yuqing froze instantly, her face filled with terror, like a little mouse caught red-handed.

"Could it be that you feel..." Su Wanyi walked slowly closer, the straps of her apron swaying gently with her steps, "Is Mom's cooking... not good?"

"How... how could that be!" Su Yuqing's voice suddenly rose, waving her hands repeatedly, "Mom's cooking is the best! I... I just..."

Her gaze darted around frantically, finally turning to Lin Che for help, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears, conveying a clear plea for help.

Lin Che wisely chose to remain silent, quietly taking half a step back and sitting on the edge of the sofa. He realized with a profound understanding that his usually gentle and kind stepmother also had such a terrifying side.

"I'm sorry! I was wrong!" Seeing that she couldn't get help, Su Yuqing rushed to the kitchen.

"I'll wash my hands and eat right now!"

Su Wanyi then resumed her usual gentle smile, turned to Lin Che, and softened her tone: "Xiao Che, come and eat too."

"Okay, okay." Lin Che nodded in response, secretly glad that he hadn't eaten any snacks earlier and had successfully avoided a disaster.

At the dining table, Xiaoye was frowning, struggling with the broccoli in her bowl with her chopsticks, and occasionally glancing at the refrigerator, seemingly still thinking about her cream bread.

Lin Chen scooped up a bowl of rice, sat down, and asked with a smile, "How was school today? Are you settling in?"

"It's so much fun!" Xiaoye immediately raised her hand, excitedly answering, "The teacher taught us to draw..."

"My brother had a stomachache today and missed the whole class," Su Yuqing suddenly interjected, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Right, brother?"

Three concerned yet questioning gazes instantly focused on him, causing Lin Che's chopsticks to freeze in mid-air, and he almost spat out the rice in his mouth.

This girl is definitely getting revenge for not helping me earlier!

"Ah, this..." His ears started to burn, "It's just a little... a little uncomfortable."

"Did you drink too many iced drinks?" Su Wanyi asked with concern, her eyes full of worry.

"I……"

"Did you eat something that upset your stomach?" Lin Chen put down his chopsticks, his tone becoming more serious.

"Should we go to the hospital?"

"No need! No need!" Lin Che quickly came up with a solution, his mind racing.

"It's just... I ran too hard in PE class, and I'm a little out of breath..."

Su Yuqing was trying so hard not to laugh that her shoulders were shaking. When her parents weren't looking, she made a face at him and mouthed "Serves you right."

"Young people need to take care of their health," Lin Chen shook his head, picked up a piece of fish for his son, and said earnestly, "Make sure you eat plenty of protein."

"Hmm..." Lin Che lowered his head to eat his rice, and gently stepped on Su Yuqing's foot under the table. Although the force was not great, it made the other party let out a painful scream.

"What's wrong?" Su Wanyi looked up at her daughter in confusion.

"N-nothing!" Su Yuqing forced a smile, rubbing her calf as she said, "I bit my tongue..."

After dinner, Lin Che returned to his room and gently closed the door, as if to shut out the noise outside. Outside the window, night had completely fallen, and twinkling lights in the distance outlined the city's silhouette.

"System," he whispered to himself, "I have a question."

"Please speak," a cold, mechanical voice immediately rang out.

"Since the contracted spirit can detect the dimensional infiltration of the entire city, you can certainly do the same, right?"

The system's response, "Of course," seemed to carry a hint of unquestionable arrogance.

"From today onwards, whenever a virtual infiltration occurs, regardless of its scale, inform me immediately."

The system's response, "[The host's intention is]", carried an inquisitive tone, as if assessing the motivation behind the instruction.

Lin Che walked to the window, pressed his palm against the cold glass, and gazed at the flickering lights in the distance: "Even if she doesn't accept my help right now, I can still support her in my own way."

His voice was soft, yet exceptionally firm, every word brimming with power: "If the infiltration of the illusory realm were to occur less frequently... she would at least have more time for herself."