Lin Zhixia had attended seven weddings in total, and each time she received wedding candies, red eggs, and red sugar steamed buns.

Lin Zhixia knew that her brother liked red sugar steamed buns. She recalled the past scene precisely: “On the fourth day of Chinese New Year in 2002, the afternoon when Cousin got married, you, brother, ate three red sugar steamed buns by yourself…”

Lin Zeqiu immediately put on a stern face: “I don’t like them anymore. They have no texture, no flavor. You’re staying home to rest these days, aren’t you? Which friend’s uncle is getting married that you absolutely must attend?”

Lin Zeqiu’s tone was quite serious, which triggered Lin Zhixia’s rebellious nature.

Lin Zhixia argued confidently: “My friend is Jiang Yubai, and I’ve already promised him. I know his uncle, and I want to see his aunt. What’s wrong with that? Is it not allowed?”

“Not allowed!” Lin Zeqiu said harshly. “Who permitted you to be so close to their family?”

Lin Zhixia responded with conviction: “I permitted myself! I’m a university student. I can discern right from wrong.”

Lin Zeqiu remembered his high school student status and couldn’t help feeling frustrated, depressed, and ashamed. His sister would only turn fifteen in September this year, while he was already eighteen, yet he was still a grade below her.

Even though Lin Zhixia hurt his pride so deeply, he still couldn’t break his habit of caring for her. During the half year Lin Zhixia had been studying in Beijing, Lin Zeqiu worried daily about her comfort there.

Most frustrating was that Lin Zhixia rarely spoke to Lin Zeqiu.

On several occasions, Lin Zeqiu deliberately waited by the telephone, anticipating Lin Zhixia’s call. When he received her call, he even used his gentlest tone: “Hello, Lin Zhixia, are you looking for me?”

Each time, Lin Zhixia would answer: “I miss Mom so much. Where is Mom? I want Mom.”

Mom, Mom, all day long it was just Mom!

She was already fourteen years old! Still a Mom-clinger!

With memories vivid in his mind, Lin Zeqiu’s expression changed unpredictably. He clenched his fist and knocked on the doorframe: “There will be all sorts of strangers at the wedding. How can you, a young girl, go without an adult accompanying you? If you absolutely must go, you must go with me.”

But Lin Zhixia said: “Let me ask Jiang Yubai first.”

Lin Zeqiu issued an ultimatum: “If he doesn’t agree, then don’t go.”

Lin Zeqiu deeply hoped that Jiang Yubai would reject Lin Zhixia’s request. Unfortunately, Jiang Yubai disappointed Lin Zeqiu once again. Jiang Yubai told Lin Zhixia that as long as she was happy, she could bring anyone to the wedding. She shouldn’t feel constrained; it was just like coming for a meal.

Jiang Yubai’s words made Lin Zhixia very happy. She couldn’t help but remark: “He trusts me, the purest trust between friends.”

Lin Zeqiu was too upset to speak.

That night, Lin Zeqiu sat on the sofa reading a copy of the “Morning Daily.” As Lin Zhixia passed in front of him, she suddenly bent down and read word by word: “News report: World-renowned musician Jiang Shaoqi will soon hold a wedding with his fiancée in our city…”

Lin Zhixia raised one hand and placed it on Lin Zeqiu’s shoulder: “Jiang Yubai’s uncle’s wedding news is in the newspaper.”

Lin Zeqiu closed the newspaper: “His uncle is Jiang Shaoqi? The violinist?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhixia frankly replied, “It’s Jiang Shaoqi, the youngest first violin in history, winner of countless awards, who has performed solo at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Vienna Golden Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He’s also an honorary member of the Chinese Musicians Association.”

Lin Zeqiu asked: “Doesn’t our family have a DVD of his violin solo?”

“That’s right,” Lin Zhixia said, opening the small drawer of the TV cabinet, “This DVD was given to me by Jiang Yubai.”

Lin Zeqiu had listened to that DVD before and had quite liked it, but now he felt nothing. He put down the newspaper, returned to his bedroom, turned on the desk lamp, and buried himself in his studies.

Lin Zhixia brought a chair and placed it beside Lin Zeqiu. She said: “Brother, this winter break is crucial, it’s your sprint phase for the college entrance exam. Whenever I have time, I’ll come to study with you.”

“I’m fine, go about your business,” Lin Zeqiu replied dismissively.

Lin Zhixia asked about his class ranking, but he avoided answering. She guessed: “Have you fallen out of the top ten in your class?”

Lin Zeqiu said softly: “Mind your own business.”

He held his pen and started working on a set of science mock exam papers from the joint test. The novel question types on the paper stumped him. He concentrated hard but still had no clue.

Lin Zhixia wrote out equations on the draft paper, but Lin Zeqiu urged, “Go back to your room and sleep. I don’t need your help.”

“Why?” Lin Zhixia asked in surprise. “You’re about to take the college entrance exam. Why are you still being petty with me?”

Lin Zeqiu made up an excuse: “The more you talk, the more annoyed I get. Let me have some peace.”

Lin Zhixia fell silent.

Lin Zeqiu pushed her chair: “Go quickly, don’t just sit here stupidly.”

The chair wobbled slightly. Lin Zhixia frowned and said seriously: “Everyone in my dormitory praises me for being gentle and patient. Under my guidance, everyone’s grades have steadily improved. Lin Zeqiu, only you receive my tutoring and still act fiercely toward me. I don’t want to argue with you, nor do I want to waste time. If you find me annoying, I won’t say another word to you for the entire winter break. My patience has limits.”

When she was younger and Lin Zeqiu angered her, Lin Zhixia would puff up and say: If you keep this up, I’m going to get angry!

But now, Lin Zhixia seemed to have grown up. She dared to say: My patience has limits.

Lin Zeqiu didn’t react immediately. He was stunned by Lin Zhixia. The room was quiet for a few seconds before he asked: “Why are you getting so angry?”

“Learned it from you,” Lin Zhixia said furiously.

Lin Zeqiu didn’t respond. The desk lamp cast a soft light as he lowered his head toward the light and carefully read the questions.

Lin Zhixia handed him a draft paper. Following the method on the paper, he finally solved that difficult physics problem. He breathed a sigh of relief, then opened a notebook and diligently summarized his problem-solving approach.

The window was cracked open, allowing cool air to flow into the room. Outside, moonlight filtered through tree shadows, sending in dim, hazy light. The night wasn’t quiet; Lin Zhixia could hear neighbors talking, the sound of spatulas stir-frying, and the scratching of her brother’s pen.

She propped her chin on her hands and muttered: “Your thoughts are so hard to guess. Brother’s heart, a needle at the bottom of the sea.”

Lin Zeqiu’s writing hand paused.

He began to lecture his sister: “If you don’t listen to your brother, trouble is right before your eyes. Stop talking back to me. No matter what, I’m older than you.”

Lin Zhixia hit him where it hurt: “Brother is eighteen, I’m fourteen. Brother is in twelfth grade, I’m a college freshman.”

Lin Zeqiu glanced at her: “Get out, don’t make me chase you away.”

Lin Zhixia pushed back her chair and ran away with “tap-tap-tap” footsteps.

The night breeze blew in, making the curtains flutter, and Lin Zeqiu’s mind was unsettled. He recalled their conversation, regretting his terrible attitude and poorly expressed words, which had once again created conflict with Lin Zhixia.

He walked to Lin Zhixia’s bedroom door, gently pushed it open, only to find she was already asleep. The faint light from the living room spilled into the bedroom. She was tightly hugging her plush penguin, lying quietly on the bed, as if she had never left this home.

*

On the morning of January 17, 2010, Jiang Yubai called Lin Zhixia, asking when she would set out so he could send a car to pick her up.

But Lin Zhixia declined Jiang Yubai’s offer.

Because Lin Zhixia was bringing her brother to the wedding, if her brother criticized Jiang Yubai in the car, wouldn’t that put the driver in an awkward position?

After thorough consideration, Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu took a bus to their destination. As Lin Zhixia expected, throughout the journey, Lin Zeqiu had almost nothing good to say about Jiang Yubai.

Lin Zeqiu also asked her: “When you were in Beijing, did that guy ever bother you?”

Lin Zhixia firmly stated: “No.”

Lin Zeqiu said: “I don’t believe you.”

Lin Zhixia laughed: “You only believe what you want to believe.”

She pulled out an exquisite wedding invitation from her backpack. With the invitation in her left hand and her brother’s wrist in her right, she dragged him toward an extremely luxurious five-star hotel.

The hotel’s exterior was grand and majestic, with an imposing presence. A fountain stood in the plaza beside the entrance, with clear water rising and falling, and a few pink roses floating on the surface, indicating today’s wedding theme.

The entire hotel had been booked by the Jiang family. Apart from the bride and groom’s friends, relatives, and staff, the hotel was not accepting any other guests. All guests had personal escorts, the parking lot was filled with various luxury cars, and several burly security guards stood at the hotel entrance.

This was the first time in Lin Zhixia’s life that she had seen such a grand setup.

She tightly held her brother’s hand and handed the wedding invitation to a staff member dressed in a suit.

The staff member immediately said: “Hello.”

Lin Zhixia admitted: “My brother doesn’t have an invitation, but I’ve already spoken with Jiang Yubai.”

The staff member smiled: “Yes, we received the notification.”

Under his guidance, Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu entered the hotel and arrived at the grand hall for the wedding banquet—or more precisely, it wasn’t a wedding hall at all, but a dreamlike fairyland, a mysterious kingdom entirely created from roses, beyond Lin Zhixia’s imagination.

At the entrance to the hall was a wide, long path made of glass, with pink roses blooming beneath the glass. Several tree-shaped copper lamps standing six meters tall, adorned with roses, lined the path. Looking further ahead, one could see an indoor artificial waterfall, designed with exceptional ingenuity. Half of it was enclosed in glass panels, surrounded by artificial mountains, silver lamps, crystals, and rose bushes.

The clear water extended from the base of the waterfall, shaped into a shallow stream about four meters wide, flowing throughout the interior of the hall. The hall’s floor was of two types—completely transparent glass panels and polished lightweight white boards. The ceiling was black, with chandelier-like flower vines hanging everywhere, the intersecting lights creating an exquisitely beautiful effect.

Lin Zhixia stood dumbfounded at the entrance, unable to utter a word. Lin Zeqiu’s reaction was identical; the siblings seemed frozen in place, as if time had stopped before their eyes.

In Lin Zhixia’s clothing pocket were two red envelopes. Each envelope contained one hundred yuan, her sincerely prepared gift money.