Chapter 35: If No One Else Cares for You, Your Brother Will

Chapter 35: If Others Won't Look After You, Your Brother Will

Before heading back, Bai Li took the time to finish her painting of the seagulls at the Colorful Stone Beach. She left it at the library’s front desk for Chen Miao to pick up. Since she wouldn't be able to make it to Chen Miao’s birthday, she felt the gift should at least arrive; she didn't bother with polite excuses, simply sending a quick text message to apologize.

August 27th.

Chengzi, Xiaobai, and the others came by once more. Everyone knew the little sister from Jiangcheng was leaving, but no one spoke a word about the impending parting. They had all bought gifts for Bai Li and suggested they take her to the pub one last time.

Bai Li hesitated. Though tempted, she looked at Fang Ye, whose injuries were still healing, and ultimately shook her head. "Maybe we shouldn't."

Fang Ye stood up, grabbed a loose jacket to cover the bandages on his body, and reached out to ruffle her hair. His lips curled into a sharp, lopsided grin. "Let’s go. If you want to go, we’ll go. I’ll buy you pear juice."

Bai Li felt uneasy. She reached out to grab his hand. "Brother, your wounds haven't healed yet. Let's not go, okay? I don't want the pear juice anymore."

Fang Ye didn't say another word. He reached over her hair and effortlessly draped his arm over her shoulders, ushering her toward the door.

Before she could even react, she was already outside. Fang Ye kept his arm around her shoulders, as if leaning on her for support, or perhaps just in the casual, brotherly way of friends.

In any case... she was enveloped in his body heat.

They were incredibly close.

Every time Bai Li looked up, she could see the sharp line of the young man’s jaw and his striking, deep-set features. Her heart fluttered, and she had to consciously control her breathing to keep her pulse steady. A slow-burning emotion boiled within her, heating her face until it flushed red.

The residents on both sides of the street had planted plenty of flowers; the scent of night-blooming jasmine drifted into her nose. Through the dark, dim night, Bai Li looked up at the full moon. She felt strange, as if she had developed an inexplicable illness that made her heart race and her face grow hot whenever she was in contact with Fang Ye.

Along the way, her panicked heartbeat rose and fell with the rhythm of their footsteps.

When they reached the pub, everyone filed inside.

Only then did Fang Ye quietly release her shoulder and reach out to open the door for her. "Go on in."

Bai Li held her breath, hurried inside, and found a stool to sit on.

Fang Ye watched her thin, small figure as if she were fleeing from something. He arched a brow in confusion, then sat down beside her without a word. For the rest of the evening, Bai Li clutched her pear juice, burying her head in the glass, not daring to look at Fang Ye. Several times, when he tried to pass her something, she kept her eyes glued to her drink.

She couldn't explain it; she was afraid of that eye contact, and even more afraid of someone noticing the crimson flush on her cheeks. Soon, she discovered another problem: as long as she didn't look at Fang Ye, these complicated symptoms improved significantly.

The light in the pub was dim, and the softest music was playing. Fang Ye’s gaze swept over Bai Li with a hint of inquiry and scrutiny, but he didn't ask why the young girl was frowning at her pear juice; he simply assumed she was reluctant to finish the taste of it. After all, she had loved drinking pear juice since she was a child.

It was Chengzi who broke the silence. He had already drunk quite a bit and his face was flushed. He held up his glass, leaned over, and gently tapped it against Bai Li’s juice cup, smiling with genuine warmth.

"Little sister, Brother Chengzi wishes you progress in your studies. Aim to get into a top-tier university so you can make us proud. I promise, as long as you bring your admission letter back to Lingjiang, every one of us will have a big red envelope for you."

He used the word "back" to Lingjiang, rather than "come" to Lingjiang. In an instant, he defined this place as Bai Li’s home; they truly considered this little sister one of their own.

Bai Li was no longer as lost as she had been at the start. She took a sip of her pear juice, feeling warmth in her heart. "Thank you, Brother Chengzi. But if I get into a second-tier university, do I still get a red envelope?"

Chengzi nodded repeatedly. "Of course! A bigger one, even, because it means our little sister put in 100 percent of her effort."

Bai Li nodded earnestly. "I will definitely study hard."

Everyone laughed.

Xiaobai stood up as well. He pulled a red envelope from his pocket and tucked it under Bai Li’s cup. "You don't need to wait for the second-tier university; here is a red envelope now. Little sister, Brother Xiaobai hopes you reach the top of the gold list in your national exams."

Bai Li was stunned. She hadn't expected there to actually be red envelopes.

Though they said that, she felt embarrassed to actually accept them and turned to look at Fang Ye.

Fang Ye gave a slight nod, signaling for her to take them without worry.

Only then did Bai Li gently tap her cup against Xiaobai’s. "Thank you, Brother Xiaobai."

She soon realized that everyone present had prepared a red envelope for her, neatly lined up in front of her—there were more than she had ever received during the Lunar New Year. Even though she knew these people were kind to her, she hadn't expected such warmth at the final moment of parting. Each gold-foiled envelope felt like a farewell, replacing the word "goodbye" with countless auspicious blessings.

She sniffled, wanting to cry but unable to.

After the gathering, Bai Li stood at the entrance of the pub, taking a long, deep look at every face and the lively scene inside, wanting to etch the memory into her mind forever.

As she grew older, she understood that separation was something everyone had to experience. She was fortunate enough to have run away during her most confused days and met so many people who cared for her.

When the festivities finally faded and they returned home, Fang Ye went to the kitchen to pour a cup of hot milk for Bai Li, insisting she finish it before going upstairs to sleep. It was a habit he had developed over this time; he always felt the girl was too thin—unnaturally thin—and he worried if anyone in that godforsaken place of Jiangcheng was even making sure she ate properly.

Thinking of this, he said, "Finish it. Don't leave any. You're as skinny as a little monkey."

Bai Li wasn't a picky eater; she drank the milk when it was given to her, and she found that she slept better whenever she drank a cup of hot milk before bed. As for being thin, Bai Li knew it herself. She had been slightly malnourished before, and when one’s mood is suppressed, one eats less.

But now...

Bai Li blinked, her voice carrying the soft, delicate lilt unique to girls from Jiangcheng. "Brother, I’ve gained five pounds. Since coming to Lingjiang, I’ve gained five pounds."

Fang Ye turned to look her over. "Hmm. Can't tell."

The girl still had those sharp, pointed cheeks with not an ounce of flesh on them, and her round eyes were big and bright. Even if he couldn't see where she had gained any weight, there was finally a glimmer of light in her eyes.

Fang Ye curled his lips in an almost imperceptible smile.

That was fine, then... At least he hadn't let her health deteriorate over the past two months.

Bai Li didn't know what he was thinking, and she didn't argue. There was no scale in the house, so she couldn't prove she had gained weight. She obediently drank the last of the milk, only to hear Fang Ye say, "In the future, if you want anything in Lingjiang, tell me. And if you’re ever bullied, tell me, too."

It was a very normal instruction.

She tightened her grip on the cup and whispered, "Mm, I know."

But she knew she wouldn't actually tell him. Her brother had it hard enough; she couldn't burden him with her troubles all the time.

Fang Ye, still not fully at ease, walked over to her and stopped. He took the cup from her hands, leaned down, and looked her in the eyes, his expression filled with earnestness and gravity.

"Little Bai Li, don't just say polite things. You need to truly understand: in this world, if others won't look after you, your brother will."