Their mother came out upon hearing the sound. Chang Xuyu smiled. “Mom.”
Their mother frowned and hurriedly took the things from Chang Yanyan’s hands, scolding Chang Xuyu sharply, “What’s wrong with you? Making your little brother carry so much?”
Chang Yanyan glanced at his sister and said quietly, “Mom, I offered to help Sis.”
Chang Xuyu bit her lip and slowly lowered her head.
Hearing this, a flicker of embarrassment crossed the woman’s face. She shot him a look, turned, and set the things on the coffee table. Clearing her throat, she said flatly, “Wash your hands. We’ll eat soon.”
Then she tore open a package of instant noodles. “I didn’t know you were coming. We don’t have enough fresh noodles. I’ll cook you some instant noodles.”
Chang Xuyu responded, “Okay, anything’s fine, Mom.”
Their mother said nothing more and went back into the kitchen.
Chang Yanyan eagerly pulled his sister into the room, showing off the comic books and figurines in his bookcase.
“Sis! Look at my treasures!”
Chang Xuyu sat down and sighed. “So many.”
She saw the comic books in the cabinet—limited editions, complete sets... and even a long-out-of-print series she had loved as a child.
Something stirred in her. She stepped forward and gently touched the comic book.
Chang Yanyan looked at her and asked timidly, “Sis, do you like this one? If you want, I can give it to you!”
The little boy’s eyes sparkled. He clenched his fists, ready to give it up with a pang of regret.
In this world, besides Mom, his sister was the nicest to him. He admired his sister more than anyone.
Chang Xuyu smiled and patted his head. “Thank you, Yanyan. Keep it. I don’t read these anymore.”
Chang Yanyan blinked.
“Sis, I want to be like you when I grow up—study art and become a painter!”
He had seen his sister’s color landscape paintings and sketches. They were simply stunning, lifelike and vivid. She was amazing! He would definitely draw like that someday.
Hearing this, Chang Xuyu was taken aback.
The past came flooding back, too painful to recall.
She stopped smiling, crouched down, and placed her hands on Chang Yanyan’s shoulders. Biting her lip, she said softly, “Yanyan, you need to study hard. You’re Mom and Dad’s only hope.”
“Mom and Dad... they really didn’t like that I studied art.”
As she spoke, a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes.
Chang Yanyan was stunned for a moment, not understanding. Naively, he asked, “Why? Teacher says if you have a dream, you have to work hard to achieve it! I said I want to be a painter, and Teacher said it’s a great dream!”
The little boy raised his head proudly.
Chang Xuyu said nothing.
Dreams?
That was just something to placate children...
Watching Chang Yanyan’s two small canine teeth when he smiled, she didn’t say anything more.
At the dinner table, Chang Xuyu ate her noodles with her head down. Their mother placed two fried eggs from her bowl into Chang Xuyu’s and Chang Yanyan’s bowls, then began eating her own bowl—just noodles and soup.
Chang Xuyu wanted to put the egg back, but the woman frowned and dodged, muttering, “My cholesterol is high. I can’t eat eggs. You eat them. Don’t worry about me.”
Slowly, Chang Xuyu withdrew her hand, took a bite, and chewed carefully.
“How are things with Yi Zhuo lately?” the woman suddenly asked.
Chang Xuyu gritted her teeth and put down her chopsticks.
Under her mother’s expectant gaze, she said slowly, “Mom, I’m going to divorce him.”
But—
“Don’t even think about it!” The woman slammed her bowl and chopsticks on the table, cutting her off coldly.
Chang Yanyan was startled.
Chang Xuyu paused, then slowly looked up, meeting her gaze calmly, as if she had anticipated it.
Author's note:
Typing and editing intermittently while injured, finally—
Goodnight.