After the words left her mouth, Fang Rulian realized how strange they sounded. But given that her “persona” with Fang Zhiyi was that of an unreliable older sister, she didn’t bother to explain.
Fortunately, Fang Zhiyi didn’t press for details.
Once the sun sank below the horizon, the sky darkened rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the lingering glow in the air vanished, and the red clouds at the edge of the sky burned out, leaving behind only cold, dark ashes.
The car was stiflingly hot. Fang Rulian had just started the engine, and since the air conditioning was taking too long to cool down, she simply rolled down the windows and stepped on the gas. A cool breeze rushed into the cabin with a “whoosh.” In the passenger seat, Fang Zhiyi squinted against the wind, her stray hairs messy against her cheeks.
They were already out of the city center. There wasn’t much traffic on the road, and the path was wide. Feeling the wind on her face, Fang Rulian’s mood improved significantly, and she unconsciously began to hum a song.
After a while, she thought she heard Fang Zhiyi mumble something, but she didn’t catch it and asked her to repeat.
“Want to play some music? I’ll put it on for you.” The wind was a bit loud; she could tell Fang Zhiyi was straining her voice to be heard.
Fang Zhiyi had been a quiet child since she was little, perfectly fitting the stereotypical “perfect child” in parents’ eyes. She always spoke politely. Because Fang Rulian’s hearing wasn’t great, she would occasionally fail to hear her and would aggressively tell her to speak up.
Her tone would sound a bit harsh, and the well-behaved, pitiful younger sister would think she was losing her temper. Zhiyi would lower her eyelids, stop talking, and silently turn away while hugging a plush toy.
Without a word, she would just turn her head and sulk. Fang Rulian wouldn’t spoil her and had no intention of coaxing her—at least, her arrogant stance wouldn’t last more than two minutes before she would scurry over to make amends. She’d wipe away the girl’s tears and force her cheeks upward into a smile.
But that was all when they were very young.
As they grew older, Fang Zhiyi became even less fond of talking. As her features sharpened and her round face became more defined, her cold temperament became more apparent, and she kept her emotions hidden deeper.
Entering adolescence, even someone as sensible as Fang Zhiyi had a rebellious phase. During that time, she was irritable and sensitive, often snapping back at Mu Yunshu and Fang Hong. The elders were at a loss on how to handle it, so it was easier for Fang Rulian, as the sister, to step in and educate her.
Fang Rulian’s method of education was simple and crude, believing that “sparing the rod spoils the child.” However, since Zhiyi was physically delicate, Rulian couldn’t bring herself to actually use a rod. She would simply use her physical advantage to pin her down and say coldly, “Go apologize to Mom. Go apologize to Aunt Mu.”
Fang Zhiyi couldn’t break free. She would stare at her with resentful eyes as two streaks of silent tears fell, her mouth pouting as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Yet, Fang Rulian’s heart was as cold as stone. She would grip both of Zhiyi’s wrists, grab a book with her other hand, and slam it against the wall, her face icy: “Go apologize to Aunt Mu. Go apologize to Mom.”
Thinking back now, Fang Rulian really was an incompetent sister in every respect.
Fortunately, Fang Zhiyi’s rebellious phase was short, and she was fundamentally a good kid.
With her hands on the steering wheel, Rulian stared at the wide road ahead. In her peripheral vision, she saw the girl’s hand operating the center console screen.
The windows rolled up, sealing out the violent sound of the wind. A slow, low intro filtered through the speakers.
It was Eason Chan’s “Under Mount Fuji.”
Fang Rulian realized that the few lines she had been humming earlier were exactly from this song.
【Everyone only has those two hands; even an embrace is hard for you to possess. To possess, you must first understand how to accept loss.】
The cold air from the AC vents wrapped around her arms, while the piano music flowing from the speakers was as warm as the sunset. Fang Zhiyi kept her eyes downcast, her gaze shifting several times before she finally couldn’t help but look up, her eyes landing heavily on the person beside her.
【Who can claim Mount Fuji as their own based on love alone?】
The streetlights flickered on one by one, like rows of prayer lanterns, melting the blurry street into a hazy yellow.
Someone was singing:
【If you still feel it’s not enough, I’ll give you this old windbreaker to break the spell.】
The music faded out.
In the gap before the next song, Fang Rulian suddenly remembered something: “Fang Zhiyi, that book you gave me—do you need it urgently?”
She really didn’t know where she had put it. It was possible she had taken it back to school and forgotten it there; she would check when she went back.
“I’m not in a hurry.” Fang Zhiyi withdrew her gaze, her hands clasped together on her lap. Her drooping hair half-veiled her smiling eyes. “A classmate gave me another copy. It’s fine if you can’t find it.”
Fang Rulian: “Alright then, I’ll look for it at school.”
They arrived home in twenty minutes. Dinner was already prepared.
Fang Rulian was starving. She tossed the car keys aside and went to the bathroom to wash her hands. Behind her, Fang Hong’s loud voice rang out: “What took you so long? We thought you’d had an accident, given it was your first time driving into the city.”
Mu Yunshu laughed nearby: “Xiao Lian’s driving skills are great, how could that happen? Come… put your backpack away later. Wash your hands and eat.”
Fang Zhiyi nodded slightly. Her gaze landed on the table full of dishes, and a faint smile rippled across her usually cold features.
…
After Dinner.
Fang Rulian sat on the balcony to catch the breeze, her legs crossed as she watched the cars passing by on the road.
The glass door behind her slid open. Rulian turned around; it was Fang Zhiyi.
She generously offered half of the chair. “Sit.”
Fang Zhiyi shook her head gently. Passing by her, the girl leaned against the concrete railing of the balcony. The wind blew from the side, and as Zhiyi turned her head, her shoulder-length hair brushed against her shoulders rhythmically.
“Will I see you next week, Sister?”
Fang Rulian was sunk deep into the chair, her lower back resting against the curve of the wooden backrest, her legs stretched out casually in front of her. “I might not come back. I need to find an internship, so I’ll probably be quite busy.”
She tilted her head to look at Zhiyi: “Why? Is something up?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, I have something. Come here.” Fang Rulian looked up at her and chuckled. “Sit down, give me your hand.”
Fang Zhiyi had showered and changed into a pure white T-shirt, which made her look even thinner. After sitting down beside Rulian, she extended her hand, and something cool was pressed against her wrist.
It was a black electronic watch. The metal body had a rugged matte texture. Resting on her slender wrist bone, it surprisingly didn’t look out of place.
“Should I put it on for you?”
Fang Zhiyi looked at her and nodded slowly.
Fang Rulian smiled softly, looking down as she fiddled with the watch. Soon, the strap was buckled around that slender wrist. “Do you like it? I saw it at the mall the other day and thought it suited you.”
“I like it.” The watch was very cool, but the temperature where her sister accidentally touched her was very hot.
The girl’s skin was cool, while Fang Rulian’s palm was burning. She didn’t dare stay too long; she let go as soon as the watch was on. “Fang Zhiyi, is your sister good to you?”
Fang Zhiyi naturally noticed her avoidance. Even though they were sitting on the same small chair, their shoulders weren’t touching, and her sister’s body was leaning in the opposite direction.
Her sister was avoiding her… not the avoidance between family members, but “avoidance” in another sense.
“Yes,” she answered softly, looking at her.
“I’ll be even better in the future.” Noticing the faint fragrance coming from beside her, Fang Rulian simply stood up and turned to lean against a further section of the railing.
Fang Rulian lowered her head. In the dim light, her expression was firm, as if she were making a solemn vow.
“I will be a good sister from now on, Fang Zhiyi.”