Early the next morning, Wei Fan woke up unusually early. The sunlight streamed through the window, and for a moment, he was disoriented. Then he remembered – starting today, he would be living alone. "Lili" would be leaving to cultivate with their master, and he would have to fend for himself.
He stretched lazily and got out of bed. Might as well make some breakfast, he thought. Even though he was known throughout the sect as the laziest disciple, Wei Fan could actually cook quite well. Over the years of living alone in the sect, he had learned to take care of himself. Laundry, cooking, cleaning – he could do it all. It wasn't that he was incapable; he just preferred not to exert himself when he didn't have to.
He went to the small kitchen area and started preparing a simple meal. While he cooked, his mind wandered to "Lili". She had been like a little sister to him all these years, always pestering him, always getting him into trouble, but also always there. He would miss her constant nagging.
After finishing breakfast, Wei Fan sat down at the table to eat. He noticed "Lili" was still curled up on her bed, apparently fast asleep. He smiled slightly. Let her sleep, he thought. It would be her last morning here anyway.
But "Lili" wasn't actually asleep. She had woken up earlier and seen Wei Fan already awake and making breakfast. This was so unusual that she couldn't believe her eyes. Wei Fan, awake before noon? It was practically a miracle! She kept her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, but peeked through her lashes to watch him.
Wei Fan finished his breakfast and stood up. As he passed by her bed, he noticed her eyelids flickering. The little faker! She was pretending to sleep!
A mischievous grin spread across Wei Fan's face. He walked over to her bed, reached down, and grabbed her by the back of her pants. Before she could react, he had lifted her up and was carrying her toward the door.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" "Lili" shrieked, kicking her legs in the air.
Wei Fan ignored her struggles. He carried her to the door, set her down outside, and then went back inside to grab her already-packed luggage. He tossed it out after her.
"You little brat!" Wei Fan said, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. "I've taken care of you for years, and this is how you repay me? I even made you breakfast, and you pretend to be asleep? If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'm not your big brother!"
"But Brother Wei!" "Lili" protested, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
Wei Fan slammed the door shut.
"Lili" stood outside, stunned. She couldn't believe it. Wei Fan had actually kicked her out. Sure, he was lazy and sometimes irritable, but he had never been truly mean to her. She knew he was just acting tough, but seeing the closed door in front of her, she felt a pang of genuine panic.
"Brother Wei? Brother Wei, open the door!" she called, knocking. No response.
She waited a moment, then sighed. Fine. If he wanted to be like that, she would go find their master. She picked up her luggage and trudged off toward the main hall, muttering under her breath about unreasonable senior brothers.
Inside the room, Wei Fan watched her go from the window. He saw her small figure disappearing down the path, carrying her luggage. A strange feeling settled in his chest. He looked back at the breakfast table, set for two, and suddenly felt the weight of the empty room around him.
He sat down heavily on his bed. From now on, it would just be him. Eating alone, sleeping alone, living alone. He had gotten so used to her presence that he hadn't realized how much he would miss it.
When she had been standing outside the door just now, he had seen the hurt and confusion in her eyes. She hadn't expected him to actually kick her out. He hadn't expected it either, really. It had just happened.
But it was for the best, he told himself. Once she left to cultivate with their master, she would grow stronger and stronger. Her future was bright. She would become a powerful cultivator, respected and admired by all. She didn't need a lazy, good-for-nothing senior brother holding her back.
"I hope you take care of yourself, little sister," Wei Fan murmured to himself. "If anyone bullies you now, there won't be any big brother to protect you."
He looked at the breakfast he had made. He wasn't hungry anymore. He cleared the table and put the food away, moving slowly, deliberately.
"Well," he said to no one, "might as well go back to sleep. Even if the sky falls, it won't stop me from sleeping."
He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. But sleep didn't come easily. He kept thinking about "Lili", about the years they had spent together, about all the times she had annoyed him and all the times she had made him laugh.
Just as he was finally starting to drift off, he heard footsteps outside. He didn't need to open the door to know who it was. Those light, quick footsteps were unmistakable.
"Lili" was back.
He heard her stop outside his door. There was a moment of silence, then a soft knock.
"Brother Wei?" her voice came through the door, small and hesitant.
Wei Fan didn't answer. He kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
"Brother Wei, I'm sorry," she said. "I was wrong to call you strange. Please open the door."
Still, Wei Fan didn't move. But his heart was softening despite himself.
"Lili" waited, then spoke again, her voice even softer. "I brought something for you. Something important. Please, just open the door."
Wei Fan's curiosity got the better of him. What could she have brought? He stretched and let out a loud yawn, making it sound like he had just woken up.
"Who's there?" he called out groggily.
"It's me, Brother Wei. Please open the door."
Wei Fan got up and opened the door. "Lili" stood there, her head bowed. She looked up at him with those big, expressive eyes, full of apology and hope.
"I'm sorry, Brother Wei. I was wrong. Please don't be angry anymore."
Wei Fan looked at her for a long moment. Then he sighed and stepped aside. "Come in."
"Lili" stepped inside, clutching something in her pocket. Wei Fan closed the door behind her, wondering what she had brought that was so important.