Chūn Lěng Fēng had survived ET.... well not really. He had survived the Chūn Clan. He had survived Violet.
Nothing had prepared him for Chinese church aunties.
The service had ended nearly twenty minutes ago. The church hall was lively.
People chatted. Children ran around. Someone was carrying trays of food. Someone else was pouring tea.
The smell alone nearly made Chūn Lěng Fēng ascend. He stood frozen.
"..."
"..."
"Why are there so many dishes?"
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked at him.
"Because people eat."
"No, but.. this is a lot."
"That's because you're looking at the aunties."
The warning came too late. One church auntie spotted him.. Then another.. Then another.. Like sharks sensing blood.
"Oh?"
"Whose child is this?"
"He's handsome."
"He looks thin."
"Has he eaten?"
Chūn Lěng Fēng blinked.
"...Me?"
Three minutes later— A mountain of food appeared before him.
Rice.
Chicken.
Beef.
Vegetables.
Soup.
Fruit.
Dessert.
The table looked like a small festival.
Yè Yī quietly ate. Qiū Huà Bǐ quietly ate. Violet quietly drank tea.
Nobody helped him. They knew... It was over.
An auntie placed another drumstick into his bowl.
"Eat more."
"..."
His eyes widened.
"For me?"
"Of course."
Another auntie arrived.
"Take this too."
Another drumstick.. Then another.
Then a piece of pork.
Then another bowl of soup.
Qiū Huà Bǐ watched.
"We've lost him."
Yè Yī nodded.
"Completely."
Across the table— Chūn Lěng Fēng was having a spiritual experience. Nobody asked him about his Arm. Nobody questioned his background. Nobody looked afraid. They just kept feeding him.
An elderly church member smiled.
"Young people should eat well."
"..."
Something in Chūn Lěng Fēng's expression softened.. just a little.
Then he immediately resumed eating, because emotions were temporary, chicken was now.
One Hour Later, The Quartet finally escaped.
Not because the church wanted them to leave... but because the aunties were already discussing inviting them next week.... particularly Chūn Lěng Fēng, who had somehow eaten enough food for four people.
The walk home was peaceful mostly...
Until Chūn Lěng Fēng spoke.
"Church people are nice."
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked sideways.
"Because of the sermon?"
"No."
"Because of the fellowship?"
"No."
"Because of God?"
"No."
"..."
"..."
"The food."
Qiū Huà Bǐ nodded.
"There it is."
Back at the Yè Residence. The moment they entered— Violet stopped.
Everyone nearly walked into her.
"From tomorrow onward."
The others looked over.
"No training."
Silence.
Qiū Huà Bǐ blinked.
"...Really?"
A smile was threatening to form on his lips.
"Really."
Yè Yī visibly approved, though only Violet noticed.
"Two weeks."
She looked at both university students.
"Your exams are approaching."
Yè Yī nodded.
Qiū Huà Bǐ groaned.
"There it is.. The real enemy.. Study."
Yè Yī turns to him.
"You're saying that like we're about to enter a battlefield."
Violet looked at him.
"Aren't you?"
"...Fair point."
The mood changed immediately. The reality of upcoming exams settled over the house.
Books.
Notes.
Assignments.
Deadlines.
Review sessions.
A threat greater than ET... for now— at least according to Qiū Huà Bǐ.
That evening, the ancestral residence became unusually quiet.
Yè Yī sat beneath a window with several textbooks open. Qiū Huà Bǐ occupied the opposite side of the room.
Laptop were open. Notes scattered everywhere.
Even Violet was reading something.. though nobody knew what.
For nearly twenty minutes— Nobody spoke.
Then—
"Are you two dying?"
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked up.
Chūn Lěng Fēng was standing in the doorway.
He looked concerned. 'Genuinely concerned' because neither Yè Yī nor Qiū Huà Bǐ had moved.
"Studying."
"Oh."
Silence.
Another minute passed.
Then—
"What are you studying?"
"Engineering."
"Oh."
Five seconds later—
"Why?"
Qiū Huà Bǐ stared.
"To pass."
"Oh."
Another pause.
Then—
"What happens if you fail?"
"Bad things."
"Oh."
Chūn Lěng Fēng nodded seriously then wandered away, only to return thirty seconds later.
"Can I help?"
"No."
"Okay."
He left again... then returned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
Left again, returned again.
Yè Yī finally looked up.
"...What are you doing?"
Chūn Lěng Fēng thought about it, then answered honestly.
"I have absolutely nothing to do."
The room fell silent.
Qiū Huà Bǐ slowly closed his eyes.
For some reason— that answer felt incredibly tragic.
Outside, evening settled over the ancestral residence.
Inside, two students prepared for exams.
One Time & Space wielder quietly watched over them while one extremely loud newcomer wandered around the house trying to find entertainment.
For the first time in months— There were no battles. No ET attacks. No conspiracies. No life-threatening situations. Just ordinary days.
The calm before the next storm.