“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.
