The late summer air of Liangcheng had softened, the sunlight no longer burning, but carrying that gentle golden warmth that hinted autumn was just around the corner.
When Si Yao dragged her small suitcase out of the train station, her eyes searched the crowd and instantly lit up. Lin Qing Yun was standing there, waving with both hands, her smile radiant like always.
"Jie!"
The girl rushed forward, the suitcase rattling noisily behind her, and in the next second she was wrapped in Qing Yun's arms. Qing Yun stroked her younger sister's hair, inhaling the faint scent of shampoo mixed with the heat of travel.
"You've gotten thinner again," Qing Yun muttered softly, pretending to scold but her heart aching at the same time.
Si Yao laughed, her bright eyes full of pride. "That's what happens when you prepare for international competitions. Brains burn calories faster, you know?"
Qing Yun chuckled, pinching her sister's cheek before taking the suitcase handle. "Brains can burn calories, but your body still needs proper food. Come on, let's go home. I cooked all your favorites."
At Home
Back at the modest apartment, Si Yao looked around with sparkling eyes. The air smelled of simmering broth and stir-fried vegetables. The little dining table was filled with simple but colorful dishes: braised pork belly, stir-fried greens, a bowl of steamed eggs just the way she liked, and even a pot of fragrant red bean soup, still steaming.
"Wow, jie, you cooked all this?"
"Of course." Qing Yun placed the chopsticks in her hand. "You've been working so hard. At least for this one week, you don't have to think about numbers, equations, or algorithms. Just eat and rest."
Si Yao sat down eagerly, but before she could dig in, Qing Yun automatically reached across the table and ladled soup into her bowl first. The gesture was so natural that neither of them thought twice.
As Si Yao tasted the soup, her eyes curved in delight. "Mmm! This tastes exactly like when I was little!"
Flashback
The words stirred memories in Qing Yun's mind. She saw a much smaller Si Yao, perhaps six or seven, sitting at the same table. Their mother had stormed out after another fight with her stepfather. The house was a mess—broken dishes, shouted words still hanging in the air. Si Yao had curled up under the table, her tiny shoulders trembling.
Qing Yun had coaxed her out, wiping her tears with the corner of her sleeve. She remembered boiling red beans with too much sugar, because she didn't know how to cook properly yet. The soup had been cloyingly sweet, almost undrinkable, but Si Yao had finished it, spoonful after spoonful.
"Jie, it's delicious," she had said back then, with the same smile.
That night, Qing Yun had made a promise to herself: she would be the sun her little sister could rely on, no matter how dark the sky above them became.
Present
Qing Yun blinked, pulling herself back to the present. Si Yao was still sipping her soup with that same expression, though now she was nearly grown.
"Eat slowly," Qing Yun reminded her. "You'll choke if you rush."
Si Yao grinned. "You sound exactly like Mama."
The words made Qing Yun pause for just a second. Then she smiled lightly and said, "Then Mama would be happy if she heard that."
Evening Walk
After dinner, the two of them went for a walk in the small park near their apartment. Children were chasing each other with paper lanterns, while elderly couples practiced slow tai chi under the street lamps. The cicadas had grown quieter with the season, leaving only the faint rustle of leaves.
Si Yao looped her arm through her sister's. "Jie, do you ever regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Giving up… everything. University. Your own dream. You always tell me to chase mine, but you…"
Qing Yun looked up at the night sky. The stars were faint, hidden by the city lights, but the moon was bright. She smiled, not answering directly. "What's important is that you don't regret. As long as you can fly further than I did, then nothing I gave up is wasted."
Si Yao pressed her lips together, wanting to argue but also knowing her sister's stubbornness. Finally she leaned her head against Qing Yun's shoulder and whispered, "Jie, I'll definitely make you proud."
Flashback Again
Qing Yun remembered another night years ago. Their mother had finally left for good, packing a bag without a word. Si Yao, only ten at the time, had clung to Qing Yun's arm, refusing to go with her.
"Jie, I'll stay with you," she had said firmly, tears streaking her cheeks.
Qing Yun had hugged her tight, swallowing her own tears. That was the night she decided to drop her college acceptance letter into the trash bin. A degree, a future—it all seemed meaningless compared to the trembling little girl who needed her.
Back Home
When they returned to the apartment, Qing Yun found Si Yao already sprawled on the couch, hugging a pillow. "Jie, I'm stuffed. But can we watch that silly old drama again? The one with the over-the-top villains?"
Qing Yun laughed, turning on the television. "You're still addicted to this?"
"It's our tradition," Si Yao replied cheekily.
So they sat together, giggling at the melodramatic plotlines, throwing in their own sarcastic commentary. For that evening, time seemed to pause. The burdens, the debts, the endless responsibilities—all of it faded, leaving only two sisters in their own warm little world.
That night, after Si Yao had fallen asleep, Qing Yun stood by the window, watching the quiet city lights.
Her heart ached with both joy and unease. This week was precious—golden, fleeting, like autumn sunshine. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: she would protect Si Yao's smile for as long as she could, even if it meant sacrificing everything else.
Qing Yun turned back to look at her sleeping sister. She smiled softly, whispering almost to herself—
"Good night, Yao Yao."