"Let me take off my jacket first, wait a second," Shen Xiao said calmly.
He turned and stepped out of Lu Han's room for a moment.
In that brief window, he quietly pulled ten bottles of Defense-Enhancing Potions from his system space and downed them all at once.
The potions could stack up to ten times, granting him extraordinary physical defense for an hour.
He also drank a stamina recovery potion just in case.
Don't blame me for cheating, you didn't say potions weren't allowed, right?
Shen Xiao thought as he stepped back into the room.
"Don't say I'm bullying you, I'll give you the first three hits for free!"
"Deal!"
Lu Han shouted excitedly.
Thud!
Lu Han swung a punch with all his might.
He was slightly impressed that Shen Xiao didn't dodge at all.
However, after the blow landed, Lu Han didn't immediately follow up.
His hand was trembling behind his back.
It hurts!
It felt like he had punched a steel plate.
Is this the power of an ability user?
He's just standing there, but my hand feels like it's about to break, Lu Han thought.
But he refused to back down.
This was for his sister.
He wanted to see if Shen Xiao had guts, or if he was just a rich guy who would cry after being hit back.
Thud!
Thud!
Lu Han forced two more punches even though his hand had gone completely numb.
"My turn," Shen Xiao said, loosening his knuckles.
Shen Xiao didn't actually hit hard.
Lu Han hadn't awakened yet, if he were serious, the boy would end up in the hospital.
He just wanted to play around a bit to convince Lu Han that he was capable of protecting Qingyue.
...
Half an hour later in the kitchen, Lu Qingyue's right eyelid kept twitching.
She felt like something was wrong.
Is Lu Han being disrespectful to Shen Xiao?
She thought anxiously.
As the mediator, she felt bad leaving her guest alone with her stubborn brother.
She hoped they could become close friends and not feel awkward around each other.
She decided to check on them in the living room.
However, only Lao Jiang was there, sleeping lazily in front of the fireplace.
Strange noises were actually coming from Lu Han's room.
"Lu Han? Have you seen Brother Shen Xiao?"
Qingyue called out, approaching the bedroom door.
"Wait, stop! My sister is coming! Stop! Stop!" Lu Han screamed in panic.
Thud!
Lu Han's words were a second too late, Shen Xiao's fist landed anyway.
Lu Han ignored the pain and immediately held the door shut so his sister couldn't enter.
"Lu Han! What's wrong with your face? Why is it so bruised?"
Qingyue asked in shock as the door cracked open slightly.
"It's nothing, Sis! You're seeing things! I'm changing clothes, don't come in yet!"
As soon as the door slammed shut again, Lu Han whispered frantically, "Shen Xiao! Where's that healing potion you promised? Give it to me now!"
Shen Xiao handed over a bottle of instant healing potion.
Lu Han downed it in one gulp.
A warm current flowed through his body, and the bruises on his face vanished within seconds.
He was relieved Shen Xiao hadn't lied about the potion.
But he was also annoyed!
Shen Xiao had been fighting all this time and his clothes weren't even wrinkled.
While he would have looked like a pig's head if not for the medicine.
"Remember, that last one didn't count! I only made a sound because it was an emergency!" Lu Han protested.
"Don't worry, I have amnesia. I won't tell your sister," Shen Xiao replied calmly.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Han's favorability, Fate Ticket +50!]
This innocent kid... he really believes me.
Shen Xiao thought, stifling a laugh.
...
Outside, Lu Qingyue paced anxiously.
She was sure she had seen her brother's face bruised like a panda.
When the door finally opened, she immediately inspected Lu Han's face thoroughly.
"Wait, I saw bruises on your face just now," Qingyue said, confused to see her brother's skin was perfectly smooth again.
"No way! You must be hallucinating, Sis. Who would dare beat me into a pig's head? I've been in here the whole time," Lu Han denied.
Shen Xiao chimed in with a straight face, "Maybe you're just too tired, Qingyue. Lack of rest can cause hallucinations."
"You need to take better care of yourself."
"Maybe... I guess I'll go to sleep early tonight," Qingyue murmured.
"If there's nothing else, hurry back to the kitchen and cook! I'm hungry!" Lu Han yelled.
Qingyue got annoyed and pinched her brother's ear.
"How dare you shout at your sister?"
However, remembering the food on the stove, she quickly ran back to the kitchen.
...
Shen Xiao patted Lu Han's head.
"You've got guts. I thought you'd cry and tell on me to your sister."
"Don't joke around! Who do you think I am!" Lu Han challenged, though his hand still stung a bit.
"I admit your strength is... decent. But your character... I still have to test it further!"
Ding!
[Gained Lu Han's favorability, Fate Ticket +50!]
Lu Han looked at Shen Xiao again.
"I've always felt you were approaching my sister with ulterior motives. But thinking about it... she doesn't have anything."
"She's poor, physically weak, and her talent is only E-level. I don't know what you could possibly want from her."
Ding!
[Gained Lu Han's favorability, Fate Ticket +50!]
"Well, anyway, I'll still be watching you!"
"If you want to marry my sister, you have to go through me first!"
Shen Xiao patted Lu Han's head again.
This hypocritical kid... his favorability kept rising.But his mouth was still as stubborn as ever.
"Don't touch my head! I won't be able to grow tall!" Lu Han protested.