By the time Xu Fang closed the last book on his desk, the golden hues of sunset had faded into the dim purples of dusk. His brain felt like mush, and his eyes were dry from the endless reading. He slumped back in his chair, massaging his temples and muttering curses under his breath.
Just as he was about to give himself a well-deserved break, a maid appeared by his side, bowing politely.
"Young Master, dinner is ready," she said softly.
Xu Fang groaned inwardly. He was in no mood to interact with people right now. Still, he couldn't exactly skip dinner—not without raising suspicion and trouble. He can deal with suspicionbut he was reluctant to dealt with trouble. So, with great reluctance, he dragged himself out of his chair and followed the maid to the dining room.
When he arrived, the room was already lively with chatter. The Xu siblings—those who were currently home—were gathered around the long dining table, each with their own plate of delicious-looking food. Xu Fang's stomach growled involuntarily.
He sat down at his designated spot and began eating in silence, hoping to avoid any unnecessary conversations.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side.
"Hey, Fifth," his eldest brother, Xu Ming, called out, his tone casual but curious. "Why didn't you train with your martial arts mentor today?
Xu Fang froze mid-bite. His brain scrambled to process the question. Martial arts mentor?
Why the hell does this body have a martial arts mentor?! I thought I was supposed to be a dandy who just played around! What is this hidden expectation?
He wanted to cry, but true to his personality, he kept his expression calm and composed.
"Oh, I was in the library," Xu Fang replied, feigning nonchalance. "Studying."
There was a moment of stunned silence at the table.
Xu Ming's chopsticks clattered to the table as he stared at his younger brother in disbelief. "Studying?" he repeated, as if the word was foreign to him.
"Yes," Xu Fang said, forcing himself to nod. "I've decided to prepare for the academy."
The next thing he knew, Xu Ming was crying. Literal tears were streaming down the eldest brother's face as he clutched his chest dramatically.
"My little brother has finally come to his senses!" Xu Ming declared, his voice choked with emotion. "I knew you had potential! I never gave up on you, and now look—you're becoming a man of culture and intellect!"
Xu Fang stared at him, utterly speechless.
Meanwhile, his eldest sister, Xu Mei, chimed in with a warm smile. "That's good to hear, Fifth Brother. But don't forget to keep up with your martial arts training as well. It's important to learn self-defense, even if you're focused on academics."
Her tone was kind, but her words made Xu Fang feel like someone had just punched him in the gut.
Why… why do I have to learn martial arts too? he thought miserably.
Still, there was something about Xu Mei's gentle encouragement that tugged at his heartstrings. In his previous life, he'd never experienced this kind of familial support. His family had been distant, indifferent to his successes or failures. But here, in this new world, his siblings genuinely seemed to care about him.
For a brief moment, Xu Fang felt a warmth in his chest.
Maybe this isn't so bad after all, he thought, allowing himself a rare moment of optimism.
But then Xu Mei shattered that illusion with her next words.
"In fact," she said with a determined glint in her eye, "I'll take over your martial arts training myself starting tomorrow."
Xu Fang nearly dropped his chopsticks.
"…What?" he said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's settled," Xu Mei continued, completely ignoring his stunned expression. "You've been neglecting your physical training for too long, and I won't let you slack off anymore. Starting tomorrow, we'll train together every morning. I'll make sure you're up to standard before you leave for the academy."
Xu Fang wanted to cry.
His mind raced as he recalled Xu Mei's reputation. In this body's memories, she was a hard-core tomboy who had achieved the rank of a first-rate martial artist. She was strict, disciplined, and relentless when it came to training.
Why?! he screamed inwardly. Why does this keep happening to me? I just want to be a shut-in! Is that too much to ask?!
By the time dinner ended, Xu Fang was emotionally drained. He barely managed to drag himself back to his room, his mind replaying Xu Mei's words over and over again.
As he collapsed onto his bed, he let out a long, defeated sigh.
"It's official," he muttered to himself. "This world hates me."
Tomorrow promised to be another grueling day, and Xu Fang could already imagine the torture he'd endure under Xu Mei's watchful eye.
For now, all he could do was bury his face in his pillow and hope that some miracle would save him from his fate.
But deep down, he knew there was no escape.