“When you were seven, you secretly took that blue-and-white porcelain brush washer from Dad’s study, the one he treated like a priceless Qing Dynasty treasure. You dropped it and chipped the side. You were so scared you almost cried on the spot, so I helped you hide the broken pieces in the deepest box under my bed. I even took all the pocket money I’d saved for ages to Old Wang, the antique restorer at the corner, and begged him to fix it.”
“Even though he glued it back crooked, at least it could stand again. Later, when Dad noticed it had been ‘moved’ and started asking questions, I stepped in and took the blame, saying I had knocked it over by accident. Dad punished me by making me copy the entire Three Character Classic by hand, my fingers nearly fell off. You hid behind the door, crying your eyes out, and secretly stuffed candy into my pocket.”
“And then there was middle school. You had a crush and wrote a love letter to that girl with the ponytail in the next class. She pinned it on the school bulletin board. Even though your name was blacked out, the teacher recognized your handwriting. Dad got called in and was ready to beat you when he came home. I was the one who grabbed his legs, crying and shouting that I wrote it as a prank to imitate your handwriting. In the end, I got banned from watching TV for a month and had to write a three-thousand-word self-reflection.”
Jiang Yining spoke calmly, her tone steady. These memories, softened by time and filled with the innocence of childhood and the quiet bond between siblings, now felt as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.
Jiang Yunting’s fingers trembled violently as he held his cigarette. Ash fell in soft flakes.
Those secrets, buried deep, known only to him and his sister, secrets he had believed were gone forever with her death, were now being revealed one by one, with perfect clarity.
He turned sharply, his eyes already red.
Without a word, he opened his arms and pulled Jiang Yining into a tight, desperate embrace, as if afraid she might disappear again. Eight years of suppressed fear, longing, and grief broke free in that single moment.
“Sis… Big Sister…”
His voice cracked as he broke down completely.
This man, who had built a career and started a family of his own, cried like a child who had finally found his way home after being lost for years. His tears soaked into Jiang Yining’s shoulder, hot and unstoppable.
His words came out in fragments, broken by sobs.
“Do you… do you even know… all these years… how scared I was? I was scared Mom wouldn’t make it… scared Dad would collapse… scared this family would fall apart… It’s all because of you… all because of you…”
The pain, the fear, the forced strength he had carried as the only son, and the crushing burden of eight long years finally found release in her embrace.
He cried without restraint, his shoulders shaking violently.
Inside the living room, Mother Jiang and Mu Qing stood quietly by the door, watching the two siblings clinging to each other on the balcony. Tears streamed down their faces as well.
Mu Qing gently squeezed her mother-in-law’s hand in silent comfort.
Mother Jiang, however, smiled through her tears.
Her family, the missing piece that had left everything incomplete, had finally been restored in the most miraculous way.
…
Dinner that night was filled with warmth and relief, like a family that had weathered a storm and survived together.
After the meal, Jiang Yunting took his wife and son back to their own apartment in another building within the same complex. Before leaving, both he and Mu Qing gave Jiang Yining a quiet, meaningful nod, countless unspoken emotions passing between them.
…
Life at home quickly turned into a period of complete indulgence for Jiang Yining.
She slept until she woke up naturally, ate until she was full, and spent her days wandering around the neighborhood, getting familiar with her surroundings.
With the help of the apps her brother had taught her to use, she explored everything with curiosity, mobile payments, food delivery, and short videos. To her, it all felt new and fascinating, like a country girl stepping into the city for the first time.
Her occasional blunders often made little Chenhao burst into laughter and left Jiang Yunting doubled over as well.
…
But the good days did not last long.
As Mother Jiang watched her daughter sink deeper into a lazy, overly comfortable routine, the soft glow of maternal affection quickly gave way to growing concern.
One bright morning, she strode into the room and yanked the blanket right off Jiang Yining.
“Get up and pack your things.”
“Your second cousin, Jiang Yunming, is getting married in S City next month. The whole family is going. Since you’re doing nothing anyway, go over early and help out. There’s plenty to prepare for a wedding. Watching you lie around all day is making my head spin.”
“Mom, I’ve only been back a few days and you’re already tired of me?” Jiang Yining groaned, clutching at the edge of the blanket.
“Yes, I am,” Mother Jiang replied without hesitation, hands on her hips, completely authoritative.
“I’ve already booked your flight for this afternoon. When you get to S City, find your eldest cousin, Jiang Yunyan. He’ll take care of you. And don’t rush back after the wedding either. Stay a bit longer and see if you can find a job. Don’t just sit at home growing mold.”
Her tone made it clear there was no room for negotiation.
…
Fate, it seemed, was impossible to resist.
That very afternoon, Jiang Yining slipped her brand-new phone into her pocket, the latest flagship model gifted by Jiang Yunting, finally putting an end to her embarrassing habit of “borrowing” devices, and slung a simple bag over her shoulder.
Once again, she set off, this time toward S City.
When the plane landed at S City International Airport and she stepped out through the jet bridge, the overwhelming scale of the bustling metropolis made her eyes widen in awe.