Chapter 20: Rebirth or Time Travel

"Chirp!" Uncle Zhong calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip. With his eyes closed, he seemed to savor the lingering taste of the tea, and after a long moment, he chuckled, his cloudy eyes widening, "Ah? Young master, what are you saying?"

"Betrayal? Who is betraying whom?" He set the teacup down with exaggerated seriousness, spittle flying as he spoke. "I've served the old master all my life, loyal and devoted—look at my name, it's just 'Loyal'..."

Once he started talking, he rattled on like a machine gun, never stopping, and his words often made little sense. Yet this time, he wrapped it up with a summary: "As I see it, Miss Jiang is still your best choice, young master. As for Miss Zhao and the second young lady, they're all better off scrapped."

Having finished, he continued to cross his legs and sip his tea.

During this, Xiao Kaitian noticed that whenever Uncle Zhong beat his chest in exasperation, his combat power soared to about 1.08.

Still, he got the information he wanted. He now had a grasp of Uncle Zhong's character and personality. With that in mind, he pushed his teacup forward, "I understand what you mean, Uncle Zhong." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his private doctor emerge, and thus had no intention of lingering: "I'll go see my sister now."

The teacup he pushed forward was already empty, with only the faintest wisp of heat left swirling above it. Compared to oblivious, rambling Uncle Zhong, Sun Zhongyi smiled.

"Young master, you finally have some flavor now."

With those words, he poured himself another cup of tea and tasted it, ignoring Uncle Zhong's puzzled gaze.

Xiao Kaitian cared little for his past. The flashy affairs of history couldn't affect his current plans; it was simply for the sake of caution that he probed into his history. In theory, since he realized the Xiao Kaitian of this world was his true self, it was necessary to accept all that came with it. This was why he actively explored his past.

More importantly, he wasn't strong enough yet. Especially after meeting martial artists like Ogiwara Rin, he immediately understood that there were people in this world far stronger than him. Without adequate preparation, it would be unwise to confront them head-on.

Before entering Jiang Churan's room, he'd mentally prepared.

According to the information, Jiang Churan was not like the confused Uncle Zhong or the ambitious, shrewd Sun Zhongyi. Uncle Zhong could be brushed aside with a claim of amnesia; Sun Zhongyi could be managed as long as one's ability sufficed. But Jiang Churan?

A sister who'd watched him grow up, who knew everything about him—how to deal with such a person?

Yet not meeting her wasn't an option. At least, before the Ogiwara Trading Company incident, "Xiao Kaitian" had come specifically to see Jiang Churan.

With thoughts swirling, Xiao Kaitian raised his brows slightly, then pushed open the door.

The room was small; in this island country, homes were always designed to be compact and refined, maximizing utility. Considering Jiang Churan's background, the decor was Western-style rather than traditional Japanese, with a bed in addition to the table, chairs, and wardrobe.

Half-lying, half-sitting on the bed was a woman. The quilt draped to her waist was patterned in blue and grass-green. She wore a khaki turtleneck sweater, her neatly parted shoulder-length hair combed to perfection. With her head turned, she gazed dazedly out through the frosted glass window, lost in thought.

Beneath the curtain of hair, her delicate nose and the trembling lashes on her left side showed; her round chin still carried a trace of baby fat. Hearing the movement, she turned and smiled gently at Xiao Kaitian.

Even one such as Xiao Kaitian, who had met countless people across the central universe, couldn't help but catch his breath. According to his understanding of this world, the woman before him was exceedingly beautiful. Recognizing this, he offered a warm smile—after all, she was his sister.

But Jiang Churan's next words froze his smile.

"Did you reincarnate, or cross over?"

Her voice was soft and sweet as she voiced her suspicion.

The corner of Xiao Kaitian's mouth twitched; as expected, Jiang Churan's perception was extraordinary.

Naturally, having watched Xiao Kaitian grow up, she couldn't fail to notice his changes. She wasn't a fool—in fact, she was highly intelligent.

Though she’d been kidnapped by Ogiwara Trading Company, and lost consciousness for a time, that didn’t mean she was unaware of Xiao Kaitian’s arrival and his subsequent uproar at the company. In a haze, she sensed it all.

Upon waking, her first concern was this: Xiao Kaitian had changed. She was waiting for his answer.

"I lost my memory," Xiao Kaitian coughed, clearing his throat and offering an answer.

"Heh hmm!" Jiang Churan gave him a thoroughly fake smile, her features scrunched together. Her hands gripped the quilt tightly; though she appeared calm, her inner vigilance had not abated. "Do you think I believe you?" she chose to lay her cards on the table.

Xiao Kaitian didn't reply. He pulled a chair over and sat.

What awaited him was Jiang Churan's shimmering, watery gaze.

"Fine, I am different," under her piercing stare, Xiao Kaitian turned his head away. This feeling of submission was hard to bear—the constraints of this world were suffocating. Wouldn’t straightforward justice be simpler? "But it's not what you think. I am Xiao Kaitian, sister, do you understand?"

He tossed the question back. With that single word, "sister," it was now Jiang Churan's turn to fall silent.

The two, one sitting with hands at his sides, the other clutching the edge of the quilt, said nothing.

All that remained was the dull thudding from the courtyard outside.

"I can trust you..."

"I can explain..."

They spoke almost simultaneously, then both fell quiet.

"You go first," after some thought, Xiao Kaitian relinquished the initiative. The girl before him was family, and posed no threat—his intuition told him so.

Jiang Churan pursed her lips, evidently surprised at his words. She lifted her gaze, as if re-confirming his identity, "Are you really Kaitian?"

"Absolutely," Xiao Kaitian promised, his word always good.

Perhaps it was the starlight in his eyes that convinced Jiang Churan. Meeting his sincere and fervent gaze, the tension and wariness in her body slowly melted away. "Do you realize, no matter how you've changed, you really shouldn't be like this."

"Tell me, sister."

A simple, ordinary phrase, yet it seemed to give her tremendous courage. She looked up at Xiao Kaitian again, as if weighing his trustworthiness, and finally voiced her thoughts.

As Xiao Kaitian’s "child bride," Jiang Churan had been raised under the Xiao family’s special care. She had no regrets; without their adoption, she would have been a minor, overlooked figure in her own family.

The Xiao family had nurtured her talents, and more importantly, had never forced her against her will.

In her subconscious, Jiang Churan already saw herself as Xiao Kaitian’s wife and the future mistress of the Xiao family.

Even the appearance of Zhao Qixi didn’t bother her; it was merely a matter of status.

But all this ended with the fall of the family patriarch, Xiao Zhengxin.

Along with that, Xiao Kaitian's career collapsed, his finances shattered, and he was forced to seek refuge with her.

She had been confident in providing that refuge. After all, the original Xiao Kaitian was little besides the designated heir, while she held ten percent of the family's shares.

After the Xiao family’s troubles, she acted. Xiao Zhenglü’s intentions were easy to discern, and after contact, she quickly reached a balance with him.

Xiao Kaitian could go bankrupt, surrender the family’s power, his shares as heir need not be contested, and she could hand over her portion as well. The only condition: ensure Xiao Kaitian’s safety for the rest of his life. This fit both her and Xiao Zhenglü’s mindset.

Xiao Zhenglü wanted legitimate succession; she wanted to preserve Xiao Kaitian’s life.

But after the Ogiwara Trading Company incident, everything changed.

Xiao Kaitian was not only no longer foolish, he had become a formidable presence. This fact was little known now, but in the future, it was uncertain whether the Zhenglü branch would discover it.

What was once dispensable in Zhenglü’s eyes suddenly became a potential threat. What countermeasures would he take then? She shuddered.

It was her greatest fear. The full power of a family far exceeded any individual’s imagination.

She could die, but she didn’t want him to die. He was the sole reason for her existence.

"Sister," Xiao Kaitian had heard enough, and understood the context. Smiling, he pulled out a cigarette, but under Jiang Churan’s stern gaze, merely fiddled with it in his hand. "It’s not so serious."

"You…" Jiang Churan was frustrated. She’d spelled it all out, regardless of whether Xiao Kaitian was reborn or transmigrated—she hoped he understood.

"Don’t worry. You’re my sister," Xiao Kaitian smiled and stood, walking over to Jiang Churan. Ignoring her flushed cheeks, he gently pulled the quilt up for her. "Family doesn’t need to be troubled."

"…" Jiang Churan was utterly flustered.

"It’s alright," Xiao Kaitian pressed down the corner of the quilt. This was a detail he’d learned since coming to this world; sure enough, Jiang Churan’s face reddened even more. Hesitantly, she asked, "Are you confident?"

"I am," Xiao Kaitian nodded. "Shall we talk about father’s cause of death?"

At this, Jiang Churan’s expression tightened. She bit her lip, making her final internal struggle.

No matter whether Xiao Kaitian was reborn or transmigrated, no matter what he’d been through, just because he stood before her now, smiling and calling her "sister," she would fulfill both the wife’s and sister’s roles.

Deep down, she didn’t want Xiao Kaitian to be "normal." Normal meant that one day, he would have to face Xiao Zhenglü’s tactics—something she dreaded.

But before her, the youth smiled like a spring breeze. How could she, who loved and protected him, refuse?

As for whether her feelings were love or kinship, she couldn’t tell.

"Have you decided?" she bowed her head, her voice choked.

"I have," Xiao Kaitian, too, had struggled internally in this short span. He wanted to lay everything bare, but after probing Jiang Churan with his divine sense, he realized that this woman possessed no potential for higher dimensions. His heart settled.

He did not belong to this world, and could not take Jiang Churan with him. There were things he could not let her worry about.

But what should reassure her, he would handle thoroughly.

"I’m not sure about the details," Jiang Churan said slowly, tugging at the quilt where Xiao Kaitian had placed his hands, her fingers twisting the edge into a knot. "I was abroad for a time, but over half a year ago, father called me."

"He wasn’t very clear, but he told me to be careful, especially about you. So I took heed."

"Our Xiao family is still considered one of the major houses of Han and Tang. Father wouldn’t say such things without reason, but he was vague then. I kept it in mind, but didn’t look into it closely."

Her expression darkened. Xiao Kaitian patted her hand. "It's in the past."

"Yes," her voice was thick, perhaps close to tears. Her nostrils flared, and she wiped her face, regaining control. "But father said something strange."

"He said someone came to ask him for 'rice dumplings.' I’ve been wondering what that meant," Jiang Churan bit her lip, lost in memory. "It was out of nowhere. Besides, he said he left something in his office at the Xiao Group. He told me to make sure I looked for it."

That was important information, likely tied to Xiao Zhengxin's death. Xiao Kaitian's expression grew serious. He didn’t know what the 'rice dumpling' referred to, but something left in the Xiao Group...

"If…" he began, his voice hoarse, "if I can reclaim the Xiao Group, can you find what's there, sister?"

Jiang Churan bowed her head in silence. She didn’t want Xiao Kaitian involved, even if he had changed.

"I…" her throat was terribly dry, her words came out odd.

"Trust me." Xiao Kaitian placed his hand over hers. She didn’t pull away.

"Alright!"