Her brother was still staring at her, his eyes missing nothing. Li Hua laughed awkwardly and cleared her throat, fighting the instinct to construct an elaborate deception. This was her brother—he deserved as much honesty as she could safely offer.
"That's—" her voice emerged as little more than a whisper before she regained control. "Yes, this journey changed me," she admitted, meeting his gaze directly now. "I've learned so much and I'm happier for it. I've seen parts of this world I never imagined existed, even if encountering them was dangerous at times."
She watched as her brother's narrowed eyes gradually relaxed, the scholar's scrutiny softening into the familiar affection that had been her anchor in this incarnation. The shift encouraged her to continue, to share the genuine revelation she had experienced—even if he couldn't know its true source.
