Cheng Lele’s life seemed to have returned to its proper track. At home, she spent hours on the phone with friends, watched idol dramas with her mom, and studied under her little brother’s guidance. The entire winter break passed peacefully and quietly.

Only, her mom’s sweater was never given away. She seemed somewhat cold toward her little brother. It wasn’t the kind of deliberate distancing that creates separation, but rather some difficult-to-cross barrier that made her care more restrained. During the New Year, her godmother called her mom. Mom spoke very politely, but the more polite she was, the more distant it felt. Her godmother also called her separately. In front of her mom, she didn’t dare act too affectionate and had to be mindful of boundaries—afraid that being too distant would cause misunderstanding on the other side, and being too close would hurt her mom. Back and forth like this, her godmother probably understood what they meant and stopped calling as often.

Mom seemed to have drawn the battle lines between “the two families” too clearly, like the Chu-Han divide.

Once, Cheng Lele tried to communicate with Ye Xiaomei about this matter.

Ye Xiaomei carefully studied Cheng Lele’s face. She only said “silly child.”

Cheng Lele didn’t know if she herself was too foolish, or if her mom just couldn’t let go.

When school started, Chen An’s competition results came out. He won the gold medal and was selected for the national training team.

The school hung a red banner with white characters for him at the main entrance. Cheng Lele marveled at how amazing her little brother was. Last time when he took first place in the provincial team, she had already celebrated to the extreme. Now that her little brother had won a national gold medal, how grand would she have to make it?

It was troubling.

But Cheng Lele was truly happy, even happier than Chen An himself. Whenever the two of them went out to do anything, she would point at him and spare no effort in bragging to people.

When eating noodles, she’d chat with the owner’s wife: “Auntie, this person is the national first place in math olympiad. With him eating noodles at your place, don’t you feel your humble little restaurant is graced with radiance?”

When watching movies, she’d chat with the ticket seller: “Miss, do you have any discount tickets for people who are first place nationally in math olympiad?”

When watching competitions, she’d chat with the old man at the entrance: “Uncle, have you ever seen a gold medal? The person next to me is a national champion.”

Chen An found it embarrassing and would grab her by the collar to drag her away each time.

Cheng Lele would wave her two paws: “Aiya aiya, the champion is hitting someone! Come quick and look, the champion is hitting someone…” She’d shout all the way, and Chen An would let go of her hand and rub his forehead.

Sometimes he had absolutely no way to deal with Cheng Lele. He could only stand beside her wearing a doting, helpless smile that carried a hint of pride.

This day, Cheng Lele finally figured out how to celebrate. Clutching the gold medal, she found Zhong Ming and had him take her to a reliable tattoo shop. The master drew a sketch on her left arm based on the medal’s design. Zhong Ming, cigarette dangling from his mouth, said: “So sibling affection is played this intensely now? I’m really out of touch.”

Cheng Lele said: “Your sibling bond is thin as paper. If you’re envious of us, just say it directly.”

Zhong Ming said: “When Chen An comes to kill me later, can you guarantee I won’t die?”

“No, he’ll be busy killing me first.”

“Then why are you still getting it?”

Cheng Lele said fearlessly: “Act first, report later. Whatever.”

“You two siblings really play the same game.”

Coming out after getting the tattoo, her arm hurt with a burning sensation. Zhong Ming took Cheng Lele to drink milk tea.

Cheng Lele had gained back a little weight recently. Her face didn’t look so sharp anymore. She hugged a cup of milk tea and slurped up the pearls.

“How did your brother have such a kind heart to let you out today?”

“He had something to do and went back to the provincial capital.”

“What thing?”

Cheng Lele shook her head, half the cup of milk tea already in her stomach.

“Your business—your little brother knows every detail. His business—you know nothing when asked.”

Cheng Lele glared at him: “You can’t eat the grapes so you say they’re sour. Why are you trying to sow discord between us siblings? Besides, what do you mean ‘know nothing when asked’?”

Zhong Ming shook the cup in his hand, the green lemon tumbling up and down.

“Then let me ask you, did you know your little brother doesn’t want to accept the recommendation to Tsinghua or Peking University, and wants to go to Z University?”

Cheng Lele thought it was something serious. She relaxed her shoulders and said: “Of course I know.”

“Then do you know why he wants to go to Z University?”

“Z University has a finance professor he likes, seems to be called Zhuang something Ming.”

“Professor Zhuang is quite famous.” Zhong Ming paused. “But he doesn’t teach undergraduate courses. If he finished at Tsinghua or Peking University, getting recommended to Z University for graduate school would be more than enough. Everyone says undergraduate is what really matters. Doesn’t he think it’s a waste doing it this way? Taixi is a small county town—it doesn’t produce even one Tsinghua or Peking University student in over a decade.”

Cheng Lele didn’t really understand the twists and turns of academia. She only said: “If little brother does it this way, he definitely has his reasons. It’s not like he’d do it for you.”

Zhong Ming bit his straw and said: “Your heart is really big. Fine then, fools have their blessings.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing, just complimenting you.” Zhong Ming stood up. “Let’s go. While your little brother isn’t here, Brother Zhong will take you around properly.”

In the end, they didn’t get to go around.

That day, something was off with the weather. The previous days had all been blue skies and white clouds, and the weather forecast hadn’t mentioned rain, but in the blink of an eye, massive dark clouds gathered overhead. Lightning struck frighteningly, and thunder shook so loudly people didn’t dare speak.

Zhong Ming said: “Maybe someone is crying out for justice. Right now the streets are full of wronged spirits. Let’s not go out.”

“Really? Is that true?” Cheng Lele got goosebumps.

Zhong Ming said: “Why do you believe everything? The flowers on my balcony—no one’s there to move them. I need to go back and move them.” He stuffed Cheng Lele into a taxi. “You hurry home, don’t get caught in the rain.”

By the time she got home, raindrops were smacking against the glass windows with pattering sounds, making people’s hearts anxious.

Cheng Lele didn’t even eat her meal properly. Zhong Ming’s words circled in her mind for a long time. She vaguely felt something was wrong, but couldn’t organize her thoughts for the moment.