Chapter 46: Quarrel

Early the next morning, Xu Lin got up from the sofa. He felt that his treatment was not even comparable to that of the cat downstairs at Auntie's house.

At least the cat had a warm nest. Nevertheless, today, Chu Qingchan was coming over, and he needed to tidy up as she was moving.

After washing up in the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror and realised he didn't look as skinny as when he first crossed over. He had gained a bit of muscle.

Then he opened the system and found that his physique had actually increased to 4.6. What did this mean? His physique had increased by 0.3 in just one night.

Considering he jogged to school and back and exercised before bed, it took him a whole week to increase by 0.3.

The reason seemed to be related to yesterday's battle. Or was it related to the Lingxi (spiritual exchange) breathing technique? Or perhaps both.

If it was related to the breathing technique, he would increase the time for it every day. If he still needed to fight, then would he really have to find that master?

"No, no, that's not fighting; that's just getting beaten up."

He knew his own strength well, unless he could find the last three chapters of the Xu family's self-defense technique.

Yes, his family's self-defence martial art, passed down a hundred years ago, was missing three chapters. Originally, it had nine chapters, but now only the first six remain.

But even with just six, not many people had learned it. However, once he mastered it, he could really feel its practicality in self-defence.

By the sixth chapter, he even began to transition from defence to offence, but it abruptly stopped afterwards. So now he was at level 2 of the Xu family's self-defense technique.

No matter how much he trained, he wouldn't surpass level 2 because he needed the following chapters to progress further.

"She said she would come find me in the morning, but I have to go to school now." 

After about ten minutes, Xu Lin changed into his blue and white school uniform and ran downstairs towards Ji Yun's apartment building. However, as soon as he reached downstairs, instead of a pretty girl, he was met by a familiar short-haired middle-aged man with a big belly.

At this moment, coming down from the unit building in a hurry, Xu Lin's heart skipped a beat. Could something have happened to Ji Yun?

"Uncle Ji, good morning."

"Xiao Xu? Good morning."

He greeted him, and the man stopped, giving him a forced smile.

"Where is Class Monitor Ji?"

"She hasn't woken up yet. She studied late last night. I left early for something."

After saying that, he walked directly towards his car, got in, revved the engine, and sped off with a roar.

"Is this the visit from the 'Aunt'?"

Although he said that aloud, he couldn't help but worry about Ji Yun. Could something have happened to her family?

He stood there for over ten minutes before he finally saw Ji Yun leisurely coming down. Xu Lin hurriedly went to meet her.

Ji Yun looked up, then quickly lowered her head and walked past him, avoiding him and continuing forward.

Although it was just a moment, he could see the corners of her eyes were red, obviously from crying. Something must have happened.

Realising he had followed her, he suddenly understood. She wasn't riding her bicycle; walking at this hour meant she would be late.

You know, in the year and a half of high school, she had never been late or absent.

"Ji Yun!"

"Xu Lin, let me walk alone, okay?" Her voice was slightly hoarse but still so gentle, making people feel sorry for her.

"Ji Yun, what happened?"

"Nothing... I just want to be alone; don't bother me."

"Sigh..." 

Xu Lin didn't reply; he just silently watched her, walking alongside her.

The two of them spent ten minutes like this, walking out of the neighbourhood and onto the main road. She ignored the red light and walked straight across.

"Ji Yun! What are you doing?" Xu Lin grabbed her, but she shook him off.

"Let go of me!"

"No." Xu Lin frowned, gripping her wrist tightly.

"Let go!" Ji Yun shouted unexpectedly!

"No." Xu Lin looked at her calmly.

"Let go!"

"No!"

With Xu Lin's shout, he lunged forward, pulling her into his arms and crashing onto the ground heavily! Then a shed tricycle swiftly passed by, stirring up a gust of wind!

"Xu Lin!"

"I'm fine; did you get hurt?" Despite the hard impact on the ground, he gritted his teeth to endure the pain.

"No, I'm fine..." Ji Yun pressed against his chest, her breathing becoming more and more rapid, finally turning into sobs.

"Xu Lin... Xu Lin... I'm... sorry, I shouldn't have shouted at you."

"Don't cry, don't cry."

He extended his index finger, delicately wiping away the two tears that fell, afraid of rubbing her already teary eyes.

"Okay, okay, everyone is watching, aren't they?"

"Then why don't you let go of me?" She raised her head, and seeing people around waiting for the traffic lights staring, she shyly buried her head back into his embrace.

"Then tell me what happened."

"It's about my family."

"Um, I saw your father coming down just now."

"Um, he had a quarrel with my mother."

"Is that so? Actually, it's normal for couples to argue. After all, who can go through life without any arguments?"

Although she said so, he knew it must not be an ordinary conflict, but he was an outsider, so he couldn't inquire too much unless Ji Yun told him herself.

"I know." Ji Yun nodded, and Xu Lin stood up slowly, but as he lowered his head, he noticed her pulling her hand back.

He quickly grabbed her hand and lifted it, rolling up her sleeve directly, and Ji Yun didn't even react.

Then Xu Lin saw two purplish marks on her fair forearm.

"What happened?" Xu Lin's tone suddenly turned cold, and Ji Yun pursed her lips.

"I bumped into something myself."

"Tell the truth." Xulin stared straight at her, his whole demeanour angry and with a hint of worry.

She didn't feel afraid but rather a bit sweet inside and said softly, "It really was me who bumped into something, but it was when... I was trying to break up a fight."

"Sigh... It's really your family's matter, and as an outsider, I naturally can't intervene. But as your friend, I have to tell you, Take care of yourself."

"Even if you try to mediate, some things can't be resolved. Your parents need to talk it out themselves. If it really doesn't work, that's when you, as their daughter, need to step in."

"I know, but I don't want to see the people I love the most fighting like that in front of me."

"Um, if one day my parents have conflicts, I don't know what to do either. Parental issues actually inflict the greatest harm on children."

"So, Ji Yun, you shouldn't act recklessly like this. If something happens, who else can help solve your parents' problems?"

"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me and brought them onto you."

"Ah, you little rascal. You're still so gentle at this time. First, acknowledge your mistakes; I'll take you to see the injury."

"No, it'll be late for school if we don't go."

"It's already late."

Xu Lin raised the watch with a crack he accidentally made, and it was already 6:15 on it; they wouldn't make it even if they ran. 

"Let's go to the school infirmary and get some medicine."

"We'll go together. There's a small clinic nearby. Even if you don't need to see a doctor, I do."

"You just said it's nothing serious?"

"I said that, but you actually believed me. Silly girl, oh, it hurts so much! Come on, let's go!"

"Don't call me a silly girl; my grades are better than yours."

"Even then, you're still a silly girl!"