Chapter Four: Han Bingruo

“Knock, knock, knock…” A few knocks sounded at the door.

“Brother, go answer it!” Han Bingran said as she pushed Han Bingyan out of the bathroom. Just as he stepped out, Han Bingyan suddenly remembered he was still wearing women’s clothing, but it was already too late.

He shook his head helplessly at his sister, who was peeking out from the bathroom, then walked to the door and opened it.

“Oh, Ran, you’re here. Where’s your brother?” Han Qianyun seemed a bit surprised to find “Han Bingran” in Bingyan’s room, but also somewhat relieved. Perhaps the siblings’ relationship was not as strained as she’d thought.

Han Bingyan let out a small “uh.” If his cross-dressing were discovered, who knew what rumors would spread in the family compound by tomorrow?

No, he absolutely couldn’t let anyone else find out.

Having made up his mind, Han Bingyan decided to impersonate his sister. “Oh, my brother went out. Aunt Yun, if there’s something you need, I can pass the message along,” he replied, imitating his sister’s voice, adopting a childish tone. With their young age, their voices did indeed sound quite similar.

Han Qianyun suspected nothing and said, “It’s like this: your brother is already eight, so he’s reached school age. Your mother and I have decided to send Bingyan to school. We were worried he might feel lonely, so we thought you could go with him. I know you’re only six, but that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“School? Can I really go?” Han Bingyan wanted to ask about himself, but Aunt Yun clearly misunderstood and smiled, “Of course you can. Ran is very smart and already quite skilled; you won’t be bullied!”

“Oh.” “Han Bingran” replied, “I’ll let my brother know. I’m sure he’ll be very happy!”

“Remember, once you’re at school, take good care of your brother. He… well, never mind. That’s all, dear. I’ll go now.”

After Han Qianyun left, Han Bingyan stood at the door in a daze for a while. Suddenly, a hand patted his shoulder—he turned to see his sister.

“About going to school?”

“I heard everything. Of course we’re going! We’ve been stuck at home for so long and never gone out. This time I’ll really turn things upside down—no, I mean, make the most of it!”

The next day, in the Han family’s living room.

Han Bingyan, Han Bingran, and a few other children of similar age were already waiting. Not far from Bingyan, three meters away, Han Xianyu stood. From the moment he’d entered, Bingyan’s gaze hadn’t left his mother. Perhaps sensing his stare, Han Xianyu looked over and gave him a faint smile.

Perhaps it was the first time she’d ever smiled at her son. The guilt in her heart was hard to express, and she blamed herself deeply for not having fulfilled a mother’s duty before.

But soon she felt a harsher gaze—her mother, Han Liang, was glaring at her fiercely.

If Han Xianyu still had feelings for Bingyan, Han Liang had none at all. As head of the Han family, she still resented past events, and Bingyan was the stain on their lineage.

What Han family woman could be discarded so easily? In her eyes, Bingyan was not her grandson but an outsider who could not be driven away.

Han Liang cleared her throat and spoke, “Several years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you are all old enough to start school. I hope that in this new environment, you will behave yourselves and not disgrace the Han family.”

She turned her gaze to Han Bingyan, then to another boy of similar height standing nearby, her look equally meaningful.

“That’s Han Bingruo from the branch family, just returned from afar. Things haven’t been easy for him either. I heard he was born with blocked meridians and can’t practice martial arts…” Han Bingran whispered in Bingyan’s ear, trailing off and glancing at her brother, as if afraid she’d touched a sore spot.

Bingyan appeared unconcerned—he was used to it. But after his sister’s introduction, he found himself feeling a certain kinship with Han Bingruo. Perhaps it was because they were both outcasts in their own ways.

Imagine—he, a child of the main family, shunned and bullied for being unable to practice martial arts. As a branch family member, Bingruo’s situation must be even worse.

Han Liang, the most powerful person in the Han family, spoke for a long time before finally declaring the meeting over. The group began heading off toward the school, dispersing in small clusters.

Only Han Bingruo was left alone. Bingyan hurried forward and caught up with him. “Let’s go together!”

Bingruo turned to see an ordinary-looking boy with striking features, accompanied by a beautiful little girl. He was startled, but then ignored them and turned to leave.

“Hey, how can you be so rude?” Bingran protested angrily.

“I treat everyone this way,” came the cold, indifferent reply without so much as a backward glance.

“You…” Bingran’s cheeks flushed with anger, and she was about to retort when Bingyan quickly held her back. He knew his sister’s temperament—she never tolerated the slightest affront.

“Um… My name is Han Bingyan. You can call me Bingyan. May I call you Bingruo?” He was tentative—this was his first time reaching out to make a friend.

But Bingruo, walking ahead, acted as if he hadn’t heard and didn’t slow his pace.

“I heard from my sister—you were born with blocked meridians and can’t practice martial arts!” Bingyan called out. This time, Bingruo stopped, turned, and looked at him coldly.

“Actually… me too!” Bingyan’s young face broke into a smile. “I’m also a martial arts good-for-nothing with blocked meridians…”

For a moment, Bingruo was taken aback. After hearing that Bingyan shared his fate, the hostility in his eyes softened.

“So… since we’re the same, could we be friends?”

“And who is she?” Bingruo looked at Bingran.

“She’s my sister, Han Bingran,” Bingyan explained. “But her meridians are normal.”

Bingruo cast her a contemptuous glance. “A normal one? Since when does a normal Han family child walk with those born with blocked meridians?”

In the Han family, martial arts determined one’s status.

“That’s not true!” Bingran retorted crisply.

Bingyan hurriedly interjected, “Let’s not mind all that. Our situations are similar, our backgrounds too. We should be friends…”

Hearing this, Bingruo fell silent, and the air around them grew quiet. Finally, he reached out his hand. “Alright, as you wish.”

“Me too! Me too!” Bingran, unwilling to be left out, chimed in loudly.

Three small hands joined together. As for what the future would bring, none of them could foresee.