Chapter 113: The Arena of Shura (Part 1)

Chen Zhaojun was, of course, not serious about having a second child. Liang Meijuan's words were born out of frustration; at over 40 years old, having another baby was risky, and they simply didn't have the energy to raise another. 

Chen Hansheng, unaware that his mother had jokingly declared she'd "abandon" him, made his way to Sichuan and Chongqing, feeling as if nothing had changed despite the distance. 

Pushing open the familiar wooden gate, he found only little Ning sitting on a small stool in the courtyard doing her homework. A scruffy dog and a lazy cat lay listlessly at her feet. 

Upon seeing Chen Hansheng, Ning was no longer afraid of him. She ran over and greeted him, tilting her head upward, "Big Brother." 

Chen Hansheng smiled and took out some candy. "Where's Grandma and Sister?" 

"Grandma went to Uncle's house, and Sister went to chop firewood." 

Ning didn't rush to eat the candy but instead carefully divided it into portions. Curious, Chen Hansheng asked why. 

"One for Grandma, one for Sister, one for you, and one for Ning." 

Chen Hansheng patted her on the head. "You can have mine." 

"Thank you, Brother." Ning expressed her gratitude and then, lowering her voice, said, "Sister dreamed about you last night." 

"How do you know?" Chen Hansheng asked with a chuckle. 

"I sleep with Sister. I heard her talking in her sleep." Ning's big eyes blinked as she answered. 

As they spoke, Shen Youchu returned, carrying a massive bundle of firewood. She was tall, but the load was so heavy that her back bent under its weight. 

Suppressing the surge of tenderness in his heart, Chen Hansheng frowned and said, "Can't you carry less? You're so dumb." 

Shen Youchu was initially happy to see him, her delicate face lighting up with joy and her peach blossom eyes sparkling. But being scolded dampened her excitement, and her expression became a bit downcast. 

Pretending not to notice her disappointment, Chen Hansheng walked over to help her unload the firewood. "I asked you a question—why carry so much?" 

"Because when I go to school, Grandma can't carry it," Shen Youchu explained softly, lowering her head. Worried that he might continue scolding her, she added cautiously, "I won't carry this much next time. Please don't be mad." 

Realizing he'd misunderstood, Chen Hansheng learned that Shen Youchu had been stockpiling firewood so her grandmother wouldn't have to carry it after she left for Jianye. 

"Ahem," Chen Hansheng coughed awkwardly, avoiding an apology. Instead, he asked gruffly, "Still need more?" 

"Yes, but I'll cook for you first," Shen Youchu said timidly as she headed toward the kitchen. 

"I've already eaten. Let's go chop together," Chen Hansheng replied. 

Shen Youchu hesitated, clearly reluctant to let him work. 

"Let's go," he urged again, prompting her to follow hurriedly. 

Chopping firewood is a skill, and although Chen Hansheng wasn't completely clueless, he wasn't adept at it either. Ultimately, Shen Youchu chopped while he carried the bundles. After three trips, they finally filled the storage shed. 

By the time Grandma returned that evening, she silently watched the two young people bustling about in the courtyard. She moved slowly, slicing a bit of preserved meat to make dinner. 

Seeing meat on the table, Chen Hansheng assumed it was because of the money he'd left behind. It struck him how simple it could be to improve the life of a struggling family. 

For Shen Youchu's family—a college student, a young child about to start school, and an elderly grandmother with no means of income—making ends meet wasn't easy. If not for Chen Hansheng stepping in, Shen Youchu likely would've had to scrimp and save from her part-time jobs to afford her sister's education. 

### ... 

The next day, Chen Hansheng and Shen Youchu left Liangshan, but upon arriving in Chengdu, they didn't head to the train station. Instead, they went to the airport. 

It wasn't until they reached the boarding gate that Shen Youchu realized they were flying. She gently tugged at Chen Hansheng's sleeve. "Can we take the train instead?" 

Understanding her concerns, Chen Hansheng reassured her, "I bought the ticket in advance. It costs about the same as a sleeper train. Don't worry." 

This was true, but Shen Youchu felt more anxious than excited about her first flight. As the plane took off, her face turned pale, and she clung tightly to Chen Hansheng's hand, trembling even after the flight stabilized. 

"Next time, let's not fly," she whispered, tears welling up in her peach blossom eyes and rolling down her cheeks. 

"Alright, but you have to kiss me if you don't want to fly again," Chen Hansheng teased. 

In a public setting, this clearly flustered Shen Youchu. She turned to gaze out the window, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. 

After some time, Chen Hansheng wiggled his fingers. "Let go. I need to go to the bathroom." 

"Oh, oh…" Shen Youchu loosened her grip hesitantly, but as the plane jolted, she instinctively grabbed his hand again, her eyes filled with dependence. 

Chen Hansheng sighed. "Forget it. I'll just pee my pants." 

### ... 

After a two-and-a-half-hour flight, they landed at Jianye's Lukou Airport. Chen Hansheng dropped Shen Youchu off at her dorm before immediately rushing back to Gangcheng without so much as a nap. 

Although Xiao Rongyu found his "visiting relatives" excuse odd, she was relieved he made it back in time. Together, they joined her father, Xiao Hongwei, on the ride to school. 

Wang Zibo and a few others were there too, chatting animatedly. Xiao Rongyu nudged Chen Hansheng. "What do you think? Do you think the school has changed much in a year?" 

"Probably the same as before," Chen Hansheng replied dismissively. 

"Sure, you sound like you've already seen it," Xiao Rongyu retorted, pouting. 

Chen Hansheng's shoulders tensed momentarily; after all, he *had* just come from there. 

Their schools were close to each other, so Xiao Hongwei dropped off the other students first, leaving Eastern University and the Financial College for last. 

"Why is this road so crowded?" Xiao Hongwei muttered. 

Chen Hansheng glanced outside. Since the two schools were adjacent, the street was teeming with students carrying luggage. Street vendors lined the sidewalks, making the traffic crawl. 

"It's the start of the semester…" 

Halfway through his sentence, Chen Hansheng stopped abruptly. He had spotted a familiar figure. 

It was Shen Youchu! 

She stood on the roadside, wearing her dark blue down jacket. 

"Why is she here?" Chen Hansheng's mind went blank. 

"Hey, that girl up ahead—her jacket looks just like yours," Xiao Hongwei remarked casually, noticing her. 

"Really?" Xiao Rongyu raised her head to look out the window. 

Chen Hansheng's heart tightened.