Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chen Anran still remembered that the last time he saw his second senior sister, she didn't look like this now.

Back in the sect, Wei Qingyi was a cold and aloof beauty who never hesitated to speak or act. She was so different from how she is now.

The dim lighting made Wei Qingyi's face appear pale, and even her usually bright and piercing eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of dust that couldn't be wiped away.

The only noise in the noodle shop came from a few workers drinking and playing drinking games at the next table, which only made their corner seem quieter.

After a long while, Wei Qingyi finally mustered the courage to speak. Her voice was very low and almost drowned out by the surrounding noise.

"It wasn't intentional that I didn't contact you; I really did lose my phone. Later, I just felt... there wasn't any good news, and I didn't know what to tell you guys."

"No good news?" Chen Anran's face darkened. Sure enough, his second senior sister had been bullied outside!

"If anyone bullies you, tell your junior brother, and I'll go teach him a lesson!"

Wei Qingyi shook her head violently, took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and finally raised her head. Her eyes were red, but the familiar stubbornness in her eyes returned.

"I've already dealt with the people who bullied me."

Chen Anran was taken aback, and then heard Wei Qingyi continue, "I did work as an extra in the film and television city before. Although it was hard work, the income was barely enough. Until two months ago, I took a job as a featured actress, playing a minor female role with a few lines in a low-budget web series."

She paused, a bitter look on her face: "The second male lead in that drama seemed to have some inappropriate feelings for me during filming. He hinted at it several times, but I clearly refused. Later, after work one day, he tried to force me to attend a dinner party. When I struggled, I accidentally used a little spiritual power and kicked him in the groin."

Upon hearing this, Chen Anran was stunned for a moment, then almost burst out laughing. He quickly picked up his water glass to cover it up. He could easily imagine the scene: a cultivator in the early stage of Qi Refining, even with meager spiritual power, kicking someone in a fit of rage would be an unbearable burden for an ordinary person whose body had been weakened by wine and women.

"Well done!" Chen Anran gave a thumbs up, full of approval, and said, "This kind of person deserves a lesson he'll never forget."

Seeing that Chen Anran didn't blame her for being impulsive, but instead supported her, Wei Qingyi's tense nerves relaxed a little, but her brows were still furrowed: "But trouble will follow. This is a society governed by law. If you hurt someone, you have to choose between public or private matters."

Chen Anran understood without Wei Qingyi having to say the rest.

This is why he incurred a large debt.

"Going to the public... I'm afraid of causing trouble for the sect. I can only choose to settle privately." Wei Qingyi sighed, "They're very demanding over there, asking for medical expenses, lost wages, compensation for emotional distress... the amount they're asking for is something I can't even imagine."

Wei Qingyi forced a bitter smile. "After a middleman's 'mediation,' I signed an agreement and received a sum of money. All my savings from over the years were poured into it, but it's still far from enough. So I have no choice but to work like crazy."

Chen Anran's heart clenched. He could imagine what his second senior sister had been going through these past few months—high-intensity work, immense mental pressure, and the loneliness and helplessness of bearing it all alone. Such a proud person, yet she had to force a smile at customers in a convenience store late at night, and had to be subservient to people in a film studio in search of a minor role that might only pay a few dozen yuan.

"How much more is needed?" Chen Anran asked directly.

Two million.

Chen Anran remained silent for a moment. He had spent a lot of what he had earned, and he also needed to keep some for the sect.

Looks like I still need to find a way to earn some more...

He looked at Wei Qingyi and said firmly, "I'll figure out a way to get this money."

"No way!" Wei Qingyi refused decisively. "Anran, this is trouble your senior sister caused herself, how can I let you take the blame?"

Chen Anran stood up, grinned at Wei Qingyi, and said, "Leave it to me."

"But……"

"Alright. Enough talk, Senior Sister, it's decided then." Chen Anran, wanting to change the subject and also wanting to see her Second Senior Sister's living environment, said, "Let's go after we've eaten. I'll take your Junior Brother to visit your residence."

Wei Qingyi was taken aback, then lowered her head again, "I share an apartment with someone, so it's not very convenient for you to come, Junior Brother."

"A man?"

Wei Qingyi immediately looked up, "A woman."

"That works then, let's go."

Wei Qingyi couldn't refuse Chen Anran, so she had no choice but to lead him to her rented place.

As night deepened, they left the relatively bustling streets and turned into a somewhat old residential area. The buildings were densely packed, the corridors narrow, and the motion-activated lights flickered on and off—a stark contrast to the refined residence they had just left.

Wei Qingyi stopped on the fourth floor of a six-story old building, took out her key, and opened the door with some hesitation.

Her roommate wasn't in the living room; she was in her room and seemed to be asleep.

Wei Qingyi didn't seem to want Chen Anran to see her roommate, so she led Chen Anran into her bedroom.

The bedroom was small, with almost no extra space besides a single bed, a simple wardrobe, and a desk piled high with books. But what was striking was that the walls were covered with sticky notes of various colors, filled with times, places, and work details, the handwriting neat yet densely packed, almost suffocating.

【4:30 AM - 7:30 AM Chengnan Seafood Market, handling/sorting】

【AM 8:00-12:00 Oriental Movie Metropolis, Extras (Ancient Costume Street, Group A)】

[1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Speedwind Express East District Station, sorting/scanning]

【PM 6:00-10:00 7-11便利店，收银】

[10:30 PM - 1:00 AM Night Market Stall, Kitchen Helper/Dishwasher]

[1:30-3:30 AM: Study and review]

Chen Anran stared in shock at the schedule on the wall, muttering, "I thought my roommate, who supposedly worked three jobs a day, was invincible, but I never expected..."

Wait... could this be the same person?

Chen Anran immediately dismissed this guess as soon as she thought about it.

How could his senior sister possibly live with an evil cultivator? Besides, the working warrior that the evil cultivator mentioned was not as powerful as his senior sister.

Wei Qingyi followed Chen Anran's gaze to the wall, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face. "There's nothing to see, I just wanted to make sure I didn't get the time wrong."

"Senior sister..." Chen Anran said, coming back to her senses, "How long has it been since you had a good night's sleep? How long has it been since you had a proper meal?"

Wei Qingyi avoided his gaze, walked to the bedside and sat down. She forced a smile, trying not to laugh, and said, "You'll get used to it. Besides, I'm perfectly fine in front of you now, aren't I?"

"You call this good?" Chen Anran pointed at the wall, her voice rising slightly. "Look at what's written here! Going to the seafood market at four in the morning to move things? Washing dishes at a late-night food stall? And squeezing in time to study and review? Second Senior Sister, you're a cultivator, not made of iron!"

His noise startled his roommate next door, who responded with soft turning over and coughing. Wei Qingyi immediately gestured for him to be quiet and said in a low voice, "Keep it down, don't disturb others' rest."