Qi Feng laughed softly, not telling her that her tears twisted his heart in pain. In the past, he suspected he might have inherited a heart disease that flared up with her suffering. But at this moment, he felt no discomfort, which could only mean she was not crying.
“Second Brother, tell me!” She tilted her head back. “I will protect you.”
“This sentence, when she was very small, before she could even walk steadily, she leaned against the bedhead, looking at his face after a nightmare, saying firmly, ‘Second Brother, I will protect you.’
She had indeed done so, protecting him so he could sleep peacefully, no longer attacked by fear and darkness.
Qi Feng smiled, with gentleness rising from memories, ‘I know you have always been protecting me.’
‘That’s right!’ Ru Feng proudly puffed out her chest, ‘Now, I’m not just your sister; I’ve added another identity, so you can’t hide anything from me anymore.’
‘New identity?’ Qi Feng murmured.
‘Yes!’ Ru Feng nodded. ‘Fiancée, meaning an unmarried wife. Got it?’
Qi Feng’s eyes brightened, staring at her unblinkingly. Ru Feng continued, ‘They all say a wife is the leader, so from now on, I’ll be your leader, and you must listen to me, understand?’
Qi Feng listened quietly, his eyes flowing with gentleness. Ru Feng raised her head, meeting his gaze, and suddenly all language disappeared.
Her heart began to beat irregularly. She stretched out her hand to cover his eyes, exclaiming, ‘Oh my, Second Brother, now I finally understand why you used to be so confident!’
Who wouldn’t be intoxicated by such a gaze?
She patted her racing heart, sat back in her seat, and scorned herself, ‘Look, Si Tu Ru Feng, you weak-willed guy, can’t even resist your brother’s charm!'”
To cover her momentary panic, she glared at him, “Speak quickly.”
Qi Feng was bewildered by her glare but quickly organized his thoughts. Yes, she was his wind; what could he not tell her? Even darkness wouldn’t be abandoned by her, right? She had said she would protect him. His hand quietly clenched into a fist, resting on his leg, still warm from her palm.
“I saw Qiu Chi today,” he began, looking at her with slightly furrowed brows. “His phone was very special; I looked at it twice.”
Ru Feng suddenly understood, looking down at her own phone. “Then this afternoon, I saw your phone was the same as his,” Qi Feng continued, trying to explain his unease. “I’m very unhappy.”
His expression darkened further. “You opened a cake shop, and I didn’t know. You moved, and I didn’t know either.” He asked her, “Does Qiu Chi know?”
Ru Feng swallowed, seeming hesitant. “Yes.”
Qi Feng lowered his head, attempting a smile but finding he couldn’t. “Wind, I’m unhappy. Very unhappy. You said you’re my sister, my fiancée. You should be my closest person. But why do other men know all these things about you, and I don’t?”
He looked directly at her with raw vulnerability. “Wind, do you treat me as your second brother, as your fiancé?”
If no one can surpass him, then so be it—be his sister and wife.
Rejection
Ru Feng almost stumbled back, silent as she did. It felt like a bolt from the blue, leaving her unable to think.
“Ru Feng!” Qi Feng called her as he got out of the car. She ignored him, quickening her steps into the cake shop. Qi Feng stood still, his trench coat blending into the night. He couldn’t comprehend why a sister couldn’t be a wife. Shouldn’t the one you spend your life with be the person you love most?
Ru Feng’s expression was terrible. Qiu Mama anxiously paced around her, asking questions, but she remained silent, as if lost. She sat there until the moon hung over the willow branches, then slightly moved.
“Xiao Feng?” Qiu Mama hurried over. Ru Feng pushed her away and forced a smile. “Mom, I’m tired. Let’s sleep.” Without waiting for a response, she burrowed into bed and closed her eyes. Qiu Mama sighed and walked away, unable to understand these young people.
When everything quieted, Ru Feng opened her eyes, gripping the blanket tightly. She had always known her importance in her second brother’s world, but she never realized he saw her not just as his precious sister but also as a lifelong partner.
Her second brother’s sleepless nights made her anxious and heartbroken, as she wanted to accompany him through those long, dark hours. He was her most beloved brother, but how could she see him as a lover? A lover and a brother were ultimately different.
Ru Feng took out her phone and found a text from Qi Feng: “Feng’er, I don’t know what I did wrong, but I don’t want you to be sad. If I’m wrong, tell me.” Her fingers trembled, but she pressed the power-off button.
Of course, he was wrong. She was a sister, not a lover. But how could she explain ethics and kinship to someone detached from social norms? She wanted to convey that love and familial affection were distinct. For her second brother, there was no such distinction; all his emotions revolved around her. How could she teach him to distinguish between love and kinship when he invested all his feelings in her?
This night was exceptionally long. Ru Feng experienced insomnia for the first time and, as dawn broke, she realized how difficult it was. Had her second brother been living like this year after year? She wiped her tear-streaked face.
She wondered if her second brother was entangled in nightmares, struggling futilely in his dreams. She pulled the blanket over her eyes and let her tears flow silently.
The next day, she woke up early and wiped down the cake shop before opening the door. When she did, she was stunned to see Qi Feng standing in the misty air, frost hanging on his eyelashes.
“Feng’er!” His eyes brightened when he saw her.
“You… didn’t go back last night?” A mix of anger and heartache surged within her. Ru Feng almost gritted her teeth, “You stayed out here and froze all night?”
Qi Feng looked at her in confusion, “Feng’er?”
Ru Feng glared at him, “You stood here freezing all night?” Her voice grew louder.
His expression softened, the joy in his eyes brightening, “Feng’er?” he said with a grin.
She walked over, her footsteps heavy.
“Feng’er!” Qi Feng stepped forward, wanting to hug her.
Ru Feng grabbed his hand, “Don’t hug, don’t call me that.” She was very angry, especially since his hand was ice cold in hers.
Qi Feng fell silent, allowing her to lead him into the shop. “Sit!”
“
With one command from Ru Feng, Qi Feng moved. Despite his naivety, he knew not to provoke her at that moment. Ru Feng brought him a cup of hot water. “Drink,” she said. Qi Feng took a sip, but just as he was about to speak, Ru Feng looked at him. “Don’t talk to me; I don’t want to talk right now.”
Qi Feng closed his mouth and drank the water slowly. As the warmth moved down his throat, his lips regained some color. Ru Feng, holding her anger, rushed upstairs.
“Xiao Feng, what are you doing?” Qiu Mama was awakened by the noise.
“Nothing!” Ru Feng replied, carrying a basin of water downstairs and placing it on the floor with a “bang.” “Wash your face!”
Qi Feng glanced at her and chose to remain silent, squatting down. The water was slightly warm, and as he soaked his hands, he slowly regained sensation. A shadow fell beside him—Ru Feng was squatting too, adding hot water to raise the temperature. Neither spoke, but the scene felt extraordinarily warm.
As Qiu Mama came downstairs and saw them, she lightened her footsteps.
“What happened?” she asked.
Ru Feng turned to her and said, “Mom, could you please cook some porridge?”
Qiu Mama glanced at Qi Feng, who was intently staring at Ru Feng’s side profile, seemingly unaware of their conversation. She nodded, “Okay!” and turned to the kitchen.
“
She filled a basin with water, and Rufeng squeezed Qifeng’s hand before pulling him up and wiping him dry with a towel.
“Bring the water upstairs,” she said.
