"Oh, Brother, why did you come?" Shen Xingying exclaimed in surprise, having just exited the school gates and about to run home quickly, when she suddenly saw her brother's figure.
She bounced over to Shen Xingyan, not hiding her joy.
Yesterday, upon learning about the giant rat's attack on her brother on his way home, she had felt a pang of worry, even though those feelings had been suppressed by the subsequent joy of his finding. In the morning, as she was getting ready for school, that thought suddenly returned, and she instinctively began to feel scared. She wanted to wake her brother to have him walk her, but after some hesitation, she gave up on the idea. Understanding how hard he worked in the Star Source world, she didn't want to bother him for such a reason.
The neighborhood they lived in was close to the border, and there were few people there, let alone schoolchildren like Shen Xingying—there were very few of them. Walking along the quiet road, she still felt a certain amount of fear, afraid that some Disaster would suddenly jump out from the surrounding bushes. So she walked, constantly looking over her shoulder, and only after arriving at school did she finally calm down.
When it was time to go home, she had already decided to run the whole way to leave her fear behind. But before she could even start running, she saw her brother waiting for her at the gates, just like the other parents. That warm feeling instantly filled her with joy, and her fear completely disappeared.
"I came to meet you," Shen Xingyan said with a gentle smile, looking at his sister's radiant face and stroking her head affectionately. "For the time being, I can't let you walk to and from school alone."
Although Shen Xingyan didn't explain the reason, Shen Xingying perfectly understood what he meant. The brother and sister exchanged smiles, silently understanding each other.
"You already have it hard," Shen Xingying said with sympathy. "You work on the field all day, and now you have to worry about me, too."
Hearing her reasonable words, Shen Xingyan felt warmth in his heart and reassured her with a smile: "Special circumstances require a special approach. Besides, walking you to and from school won't take much time. And when we have money, we'll move closer to the school, and I'll feel more at ease."
As he said this, Shen Xingyan was already thinking about how to move after the harvest and thought, "It turns out, for a 'rich' person to pretend to be poor isn't easy either!"
Shen Xingying nodded energetically. Moving closer to the school would be a wonderful solution—not only because of the proximity but also because of the safety. There were far more people in that area than on the outskirts, and people, as herd animals, always felt safer in a large group.
The truth was, housing in that area was very expensive, and with their current funds, it seemed unattainable. But since her brother had said it was possible, it meant he would find a way to make it happen—such deep trust in her brother had formed over many years!
The brother and sister walked home, chatting casually as before. Along the way, Shen Xingying proudly recounted her achievements at school today.
Shen Xingyan listened with a smile, praising his sister from time to time for her successes. This scene—two people walking side-by-side, smiling and chatting—looked especially warm and unusual in this harsh border region.
Upon returning home, Shen Xingyan briefly went to the Star Source world to summon his thirteenth skeleton, then returned and began preparing dinner. While cooking, he took out a vial of Physique Potion from his Star Card and added it to his sister's dinner.
Now, as his sister's body was still forming, such a potion was especially effective for a growing child.
"It's a great thing, just a shame it's expensive," Shen Xingyan thought dreamily. "When we have more money, I'll give my sister this potion every day instead of water!"
When they sat down to dinner, Shen Xingying didn't notice anything unusual. The 10 ml dose was too small, and the Physique Potion was a colorless and tasteless liquid, just like water, which made it perfect for a stealthy application. This way, Shen Xingyan's care was successfully implemented.
After dinner, Shen Xingying talked with her brother for a little while longer, then returned to her room for her evening exercises. She felt that her body was full of energy and that her workout was easier than usual. But she didn't know it was because of the potion, thinking she had just had a good dinner.
Hearing the sounds of exercise from his sister's room, Shen Xingyan nodded with satisfaction. With things developing this way, his sister had a good chance of reaching her maximum attributes by the time of her Awakening. And with the help of the potion strengthening her foundation, it would be much easier for her to develop after the Awakening than it had been for him.
Returning to his own room, Shen Xingyan took out the vial of Physique Potion and accurately measured out 2 ml, which he drank. The instructions for the potion clearly stated that its effect was enhanced during workouts. His workout was set to last about two hours, and this dose would be just enough for the potion to show its maximum effect.
With preparations complete, Shen Xingyan began performing the exercises from the technique they were taught in school. The two attribute points he had gained today made him even more passionate about real-world training. The feeling that effort brought results gave him a sense of confidence!
In a little over two hours, Shen Xingyan stopped when he heard his alarm.
"The potion's effect is impressive! After two hours of training, I still feel like my body is full of energy. I would have felt tired by now. It seems the money was well spent."
Pleased with this, Shen Xingyan quietly headed to the kitchen, marveling at the potion's power.
Passing by his sister's room, he heard no sounds—it seemed she was already asleep. The potion she had taken would continue to work even in her sleep, especially considering she was in a period of active growth.
After grabbing a snack in the kitchen, Shen Xingyan returned to his room. Seeing that the cooldown time for entering the Star Source world had expired, he took out his Star Card without hesitation and mentally activated the connection.