Chapter 012 Each with Their Own Thoughts_2

"Oh, Xiao Mo is back too?"

He had a cigarette in his mouth and looked surprised as his eyes fixed on the tall, slender figure in the living room.

Bai Qiuwu was also surprised, thinking to herself, didn't Mingye say that Elder Brother would come back in a couple of days? How come he's home already?

Upon hearing the voice, Ke Xiaomo turned his head toward Ke Youqing and said, "Dad, I came back early because I had some things to take care of." He then glanced at Bai Qiuwu, "Why did you come back so late?"

"Went out with friends." Bai Qiuwu replied, "Brother, are you staying here the entire summer vacation?"

"Yeah, I don't have much going on this summer; just staying at home," Ke Xiaomo said, "But what about you? You're going to be in senior year next semester, feeling the pressure?"

"Not really, just keeping a normal mindset," Bai Qiuwu said.

Sitting on the couch and munching on chips, Ke Mingye spoke up: "She goes out to have fun every day, doesn't even need to review, and still always in the top ten of our grade, Elder Brother, you don't have to worry about her."

"What about you?" Ke Xiaomo said, looking at Ke Mingye, "I heard your grades have dropped dramatically recently. Don't mess up and end up unable to get into a first-tier university."

Ke Mingye chuckled: "Then I'll definitely follow your lead, scoring over six hundred points, not going for a 985 university, but instead heading to Xi'an to attend an ordinary first-tier university, you nearly drove Mom and Dad mad."

Though he said this, he knew that Ke Xiaomo did so to attend a university closer to Shadow Sail Mountain, making it easier to connect with the Ninja Sect.

Bai Zini popped her head over the back of the sofa and shouted, "Dad, emergency! The TV membership is about to expire, recharge it quickly!"

"Got it, I'll recharge it soon, just keep watching for now."

Ke Youqing said in annoyance, still with a cigarette in his mouth, as he walked upstairs.

Bai Qiuwu closed the door, her eyes constantly on Bai Zini.

She was watching a movie with Bai Ziling, Ke Yongzhu, Ke Xiaomo, and Ke Mingye—the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It was the usual scene, Bai Zini loved sticking next to Ke Mingye, who had been her playmate since childhood, apart from Bai Ziling.

Does Zi Ling know that Xiao Ni is a Magic Girl? Bai Qiuwu thought. And what about Mingye? Maybe I should talk to them about it, but what if they don't know?

With that thought, she fixed her gaze on Ke Mingye. As usual, while everyone else watched the movie, he was engrossed in his phone, yawning from time to time.

Highly unlikely, Bai Qiuwu shook her head.

Taking a sip of boiled water, Ke Xiaomo looked at her, "Why are you standing at the door? Why not join us for the movie?"

"You guys go ahead; I'll join you after my shower."

Bai Qiuwu said, stripping off her sneakers and slipping on sandals, she moved toward the staircase.

"Why come, don't you have school tomorrow!"

Bai Wenna had just come downstairs, grumbling, "A bunch of little brats, always hiding behind your Elder Brother, thinking you don't have to sleep because Xiao Mo is home?"

Bai Qiuwu brushed past her, responding helplessly: "Alright, Mom, Elder Brother is back, and we are happy about it. What's wrong with staying up a bit late?"

Bai Wenna glared at her: "You still talk back, especially you and Mingye who are high school students. You should sleep when it's time to sleep, don't think you don't have to study just because summer vacation is coming soon!"

Bai Qiuwu smiled, choosing not to retort further.

Walking up the stairs, an idea suddenly struck her: What if she used Eyes of Golden Flame to scan every single person in the house?

Would it be like the moment she looked at Magical Girl Ash, as if her entire worldview was turned upside down?

With that thought, she stopped her steps and silently stood in the shadow on the stairway, turning to look at the side profiles of her family.

It was evident, Ke Mingye had no interest in the movie and was already thinking of sneaking out, but Bai Zini blocked him, chattering about something;

Ke Yongzhu and Elder Brother Ke Xiaomo were discussing his school tyrant tales; Bai Ziling was silent, her red pupils quietly reflecting the movie's screen.

Despite everyone growing up, every person was still the same as in her memories.

Like every year and each summer vacation to date, everyone gathered in front of the TV, sitting on the sofa, inseparable, without any barriers, just sharing joy and laughter.

Even in a chaotic era, it was an ordinary, happy family. For Bai Qiuwu, returning home after fighting fiercely outside always felt like returning to a tranquil harbor.

She didn't want to break the status quo.

At that thought, Bai Qiuwu silently dismissed the idea of discussing the matter of Bai Zini with her parents, or her other siblings.

After all, she too harbored her own secrets. Since she didn't wish to reveal her own identity to her family, Bai Zini surely felt the same.

Why bother then? Bai Zini was no longer a child, she knew what she was doing.

Just like me two years ago, I thought I was invincible after gaining immense power beyond ordinary humans and could not help wanting to do something.

"We are all the same..."

Bai Qiuwu murmured to herself, her gaze lingering on Bai Zini for a second before she moved towards the stairs.

At that moment, Ke Mingye, seated on the sofa, stealthily glanced at her retreating figure, then quickly averted his gaze.

"Look, look, I really can't stay awake..." he said languidly, his eyelids almost closing.

"Come on, bro, just stay up with me for this one last part! We'll watch the last part tomorrow." Bai Zini pulled on his shoulder again, her eyes fixed on the TV, pleading with her mouth.

Ke Mingye shrugged, thinking to himself that compared to her throwing tantrums in front of him, the so-called "Cinderella" parasol held to his neck might be a bit more persuasive.

If he hadn't seen the other side of Bai Zini, where she would call him brother only when she needed something, he might actually believe that her sister was just clingy.

Perhaps, Bai Zini was just using him, an ordinary human, as a tool to conceal her identity at home.

Thinking about it, he truly was a prime example of a tool among tools.

"Wait for your elder sister to finish her bath, she'll come and watch with you. I'm out…"

Having said that, Ke Mingye had already risen from the sofa.

In fact, it wasn't that he didn't have time to watch a movie with them, but he realized that tonight, his second brother Ke Xiaomo was often quietly observing him.

The reason was unclear, but it seemed like he had become suspicious of him.

But why? As Ke Mingye walked up the stairs, he thought to himself: I shouldn't have given away any clues, and I tried my best to act like the original owner of this body.

Could a Ninja read minds, knowing that his brother had been replaced by me? Even more absurdly, does he think I'm the calamity dragon?

Please, open your eyes and look—the dragon you're looking for is sitting right next to you. It's that bratty sixth grader, you know?

Ke Mingye was filled with doubts, knowing it would be better to keep his distance from Ke Xiaomo for now, and to be careful when alone.

According to the system, a Ninja could merge into shadows, so he had to always beware of the shadows in the room, lest his second brother was hiding in the shadows, secretly watching him.

"It's really like dealing with a ghost..."

Ke Mingye got goosebumps, silently complaining to himself as he stepped onto the second-floor, took a few steps into his room, and locked the door.

He propped one hand on his neck and lay on the bed, checking the date on his phone; today was June 18. He then looked up the vacation dates for several schools.

Ke Yongzhu's elementary school still had three more days before summer vacation;

Bai Ziling and Bai Zini's middle school had one more day;

Ke Mingye's high school, where he and Bai Qiuwu studied, had two more days;

His second brother's university had already ended for the summer and he had returned home early today;

As for his eldest brother, it might take another two days for him to return. So far, his eldest brother "Ke Yinzhi" was the only one whose details Ke Mingye did not yet fully understand.

No matter what, this summer vacation was bound to be lively...

Ke Mingye looked at the ceiling spotted with a few gamboge stains, thinking to himself.

First, he needed to locate other players in the city and establish a quiet connection with them, to arrange a time to play some instances together, and quickly elevate his levels and powers;

Second, he had to make sure his "player" identity did not get exposed at home, because otherwise... any random family member would be able to mince him up and feed him to the pigs.