I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 60: Not One for Smiling

“You’re not going?” The Eldest Young Lady narrowed her eyes, staring at her younger brother. She enunciated each word carefully: “I went through all the trouble, pulling every string, to bring Senior Sister Zhang here for you, and you’re telling me you won’t go? I’ll give you one chance to reconsider!”

“I’m not going!” The Seventh Young Master shrank back slightly but still held firm in his refusal.

“Zhao! Jing! Fan!” The Eldest Young Lady clenched her fists. “Don’t make me start my visit by beating you up!”

The familiar tone and cadence seemed to spark some painful memories for the Seventh Young Master. His defiant voice softened. “Zheng Fa stays up late every night, bringing piles of books back to draw those talisman diagrams for me…”

The Eldest Young Lady’s expression froze, her anger visibly subsiding as she processed his reasoning.

The Seventh Young Master continued, “He works so hard. If I stop learning from him now, won’t he feel like all his effort was wasted? He might even think I look down on him. How could I be so ungrateful?”

“That’s your reason?”

He nodded, his tone slightly resentful. “If not for how hard he’s working, I would’ve run off long ago. You think a little rattan stick could stop me?”

The Eldest Young Lady stared at her brother. Her anger melted into a rare smile. “Ten years apart, and I was worried you’d turned out wrong. But it seems you’re more thoughtful than I gave you credit for.”

“I’m not dumb. I know who’s good to me.” The Seventh Young Master snorted, proud of the compliment. “So let Zheng Fa teach me! I think I’ve been making good progress. I don’t need that Senior Sister Zhang.”

Her tone softened. “His efforts aside, this isn’t about pride or stubbornness. Learning from Senior Sister Zhang would be much better for you!”

“No!”

“Zhao Jingfan! Do you really think you’ve grown up enough to disobey me?” Frustration creeping back, the Eldest Young Lady glanced around, grabbed the rattan stick Zheng Fa had left behind, and raised it menacingly.

“You can beat me until I’m stuck in bed for three months again, and I still won’t go!” the Seventh Young Master declared, stiffening his neck.

Seeing his resolve, she struck his arm lightly with the rattan.

“Ow!” The Seventh Young Master yelped in an exaggerated tone.

“Cut the act!” She rolled her eyes. “You’ve always been like this—howling before the stick even lands. Not a single mark, but your voice goes hoarse.”

“See? I knew you wouldn’t actually hit me hard!” he grinned sheepishly.

“You...” She tossed the rattan aside with a sigh. “This isn’t up to you. Your participation in the Immortal Talent Conference depends on this. If you can’t pass and enter Qingmu Sect, I’ll have to use my attendant spot to bring you instead. That would mean taking the spot Mother promised to Zheng Fa. Do you understand?”

The Seventh Young Master fell silent, her words sinking in.

“If you study diligently under Senior Sister Zhang, you might enter Qingmu Sect on your own merits. It would be best for everyone.”

After a long pause, he nodded reluctantly. Just as the Eldest Young Lady began to smile in relief, he added, “But I need to talk to Zheng Fa first, so he doesn’t misunderstand!”

“...”

As they walked toward Zheng Fa’s courtyard, the Eldest Young Lady frowned slightly. “Ever since I returned, all I hear is Zheng Fa this, Zheng Fa that. It’s like there’s no one else in the estate. Mother talks about him, and now you do too. What’s so special about him?”

The Seventh Young Master scratched his head, thinking hard. After a long pause, he finally said, “He’s really smart. He started studying talismans here, and in half a month, he’s learned what took me years.”

The Eldest Young Lady nodded. “What else?”

“He’s got talent in martial arts too. Mother gave him the Linghe Body to practice, saying no mortal could master it, but he did.”

She remained expressionless. “That’s it? That’s why you care so much?”

“He doesn’t act like a servant—he’s not particularly deferential—but he’s been good to me.” The Seventh Young Master hesitated before continuing. “Mother’s schemed against him and even scared him for my sake. He’s smart enough to see through it, but he’s never taken it out on me. He stays up late drawing talisman diagrams and teaching me secret techniques...” He turned to his sister with a broad grin. “Sister, don’t worry. Your brother isn’t stupid anymore.”

The Eldest Young Lady sighed. “You’ve always been extreme—either adoring someone or hating them. How many times has that landed you in trouble? How could I not worry?”

He opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it.

“What kind of person Zheng Fa is isn’t for you to decide. I’ll judge for myself,” she said firmly. “Whether he’s good or bad to you, remember that he’s just a servant of the Zhao family.”

“Sister?”

“The Zhao family may seem grand, but compared to Qingmu Sect, what are we? Compared to the Hundred Immortals Alliance, or the entire cultivation world?” She turned to her brother. “His talent might be exceptional here, but what about the geniuses of the cultivation world? He’s nothing compared to Senior Sister Zhang.”

The Seventh Young Master stared at her, speechless.

“The cultivation world is vast. You might find that Zheng Fa is nothing special at all,” she said softly. “Just like how I once thought I was extraordinary...” Her voice trailed off, and she fell silent.

Seeing her discomfort, he pressed his lips together, unwilling to argue further.

She changed the subject. “You can stay close to Zheng Fa, but don’t let loyalty blind you to an opportunity like Senior Sister Zhang’s guidance. Do you understand?”

He was still unconvinced. “Zheng Fa has the favor of a Nascent Soul cultivator! Learning from him is just as good as learning from Senior Sister Zhang!”

The Eldest Young Lady laughed coldly. “Senior Sister Zhang’s master is a Nascent Soul cultivator. She’s the most renowned talisman prodigy in the Hundred Immortals Alliance. Do you really think Zheng Fa can compare to her? She’s the heavens, and he’s the earth. Understand?”

Even the Seventh Young Master, despite his loyalty, couldn’t argue further.

“She’s a bit aloof,” the Eldest Young Lady added, “but don’t take it personally. She’s here because of our family’s past ties with her elders. She’s not one for idle chatter and only cares about talismans and mathematics.”

“Sister...”

“What?”

“Does she wear a green Daoist robe?”

“How do you know?”

“Does she have big eyes and a straight nose?”

Her confusion deepened. “Have you seen her?”

“Does she have a small dimple on her left cheek when she smiles?”

“I... never noticed,” the Eldest Young Lady admitted. “She doesn’t smile much. I’ve rarely seen it.”

“I just saw her smiling,” the Seventh Young Master said, pointing ahead.

Following his finger, the Eldest Young Lady looked toward the courtyard.

Through the open gate, she saw Senior Sister Zhang in the main hall, pen in hand. Her face was lit with a radiant smile, her dimple unmistakable, as she spoke to a young man sitting across from her.

Yes, it was Zheng Fa.

And yes, her smile was sweet—sweet enough to make anyone watching forget her reputation as one who rarely smiled.

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