Brother! This is the adoption certificate. I don't want your sister-in-law!

The next morning, before it was fully light, Su Xiao knocked on Su Wan Ning's door.

"Wan Ning, get up. We're going to visit Mom and Dad today."

There was a moment of silence inside, then a very soft "hmm" came from inside.

Su Xiao stood outside the door, listening to the rustling sounds inside, without saying anything.

He turned and went to the kitchen to pick up the things he had prepared the night before.

A bunch of white chrysanthemums, a few sticks of incense, and a bottle of wine that my father loves to drink.

When Su Wan Ning came out, she had changed into a black outfit, her hair was neatly tied up, and her face was expressionless.

She glanced at what Su Xiao was holding, said nothing, and bent down to change her shoes.

The two of them went downstairs one after the other.

There weren't many people on the bus.

Su Wanning sat down by the car window, turning her face towards the outside.

Su Xiao sat next to her, about a fist's distance away.

The scenery outside the car window gradually changed from the city to the suburbs; the buildings became shorter, the trees became more numerous, and the fields along the roadside stretched out in patches.

Su Wan Ning looked out the window without saying a word.

When we arrived at the cemetery, the sky was somewhat overcast.

The suburban public cemetery is located on a gentle slope, with rows of tombstones neatly arranged.

The wind blew down the hillside, carrying the scent of grass and earth.

Su Xiao walked in front, and Su Wan Ning followed behind.

The tombstones for my parents are newly erected. The two people in the photo are smiling gently. My father is wearing a faded shirt, and my mother is holding his arm. It is the same photo as the one in the funeral hall.

Su Xiao squatted down, placed the white chrysanthemums in front of the monument, lit the incense and placed it in the incense burner, and then opened the wine and poured it into the soil in front of the monument.

He squatted there and remained silent for a long time.

Su Wanning stood behind him, looking at the two photos on the tombstone, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Su Xiao stood up, dusted off his knees, and then spoke to the tombstone.

His voice wasn't loud.

It's as if it's being said to one's parents, and also as if it's being said to oneself.

"Dad, Mom, don't worry."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I'll take care of Wan Ning. I'll study hard, earn money to support the family, and I won't let her suffer any injustice."

Su Wan Ning's tears suddenly stopped.

She stared blankly at his retreating figure.

He stood there, his back to her, his shoulders straight.

She heard every word he said.

I will take care of Wan Ning and won't let her suffer any grievances.

He didn't know she was adopted.

He knows nothing.

But he stood there, facing the tombstone, and firmly said those words.

Su Wan Ning lowered her head, and tears fell.

This time she couldn't help but sniff.

The sound was very soft, but Su Xiao heard it.

He turned around and saw her standing with her head down, her shoulders trembling slightly, her face covered in tears, but he didn't raise his hand to wipe them away.

Su Xiao opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

He simply pulled a pack of tissues from his pocket, took one out, and handed it over.

Su Wan Ning hesitated for a moment, then took the tissue and wiped her face.

The two stood in front of the tombstone, the wind making the white chrysanthemum petals tremble slightly.

……

There were more people on the bus back than on the way there.

Su Xiao and Su Wan Ning sat in the last row, and she was still by the window.

The sky outside the car window grew even darker, with low-hanging clouds that looked like it was about to rain at any moment.

Su Wan Ning looked out the window, her eyes still red.

She heard Su Xiao's voice beside her, very soft, with a hint of hesitation: "Wan Ning... can I lean on your shoulder for a moment?"

Su Wan Ning turned her head and saw that Su Xiao was also looking out the window, her face turned towards her.

But his eyes...

His eyes were also red, with a thin layer of water in the eye sockets.

She froze for a moment.

She thought he wouldn't cry.

From the time he was in the mourning hall until now, she has not seen him shed a single tear.

She thought he was heartless and didn't care.

But his eyes were red, just like hers.

After a few seconds of silence, Su Wan Ning nodded very softly, without making a sound.

Su Xiao turned her head and gently rested it on her shoulder.

Her shoulders stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

Su Xiao leaned on her shoulder, and her breathing soon became steady, as if she had fallen asleep.

But when Su Wan Ning turned her head, she saw that his eyelashes were wet and there was a faint, not-yet-dried tear stain under his eye socket.

So he can cry too.

It turns out he wasn't as strong as he thought.

The bus was swaying along, and the clouds outside the window were getting thicker and thicker.

Su Wanning didn't move, letting him lean against her.

When I got off the bus, the sky was completely overcast, and the air smelled of rain.

Su Xiao looked up at the sky, then turned back to look at Su Wan Ning: "You go back first, I'll go to the nearby market to buy some food, the fridge is empty."

Su Wan Ning looked up at the dark clouds overhead, then looked down, opened her backpack, took out a sky-blue folding umbrella, and handed it over.

Su Xiao was taken aback: "You gave me the umbrella, what are you going to do now?"

Su Wan Ning turned her face away, her voice icy: "I have another one in my bag."

Su Xiao glanced at her, then took the umbrella without further hesitation and nodded, "Okay, I'll be right back. You go home first, don't linger outside."

Su Wan Ning hummed in agreement and turned to walk home.

……

That evening, Su Xiao had already prepared dinner.

Three dishes and a soup, that's quite a feast.

After everything was ready, he walked to Su Wan Ning's room door and knocked three times.

"Wan Ning, come out for dinner."

There was no movement inside.

He knocked twice more: "Wan Ning?"

Several seconds later, a hoarse voice came from inside, as if something had blocked the throat.

"understood."

Su Xiao frowned; something was off about the voice.

He pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside. Su Wan Ning was sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, her face slightly flushed.

"What's wrong with you?"

Su Xiao quickly went inside.

Su Wan Ning turned her head away from him, her voice hoarse and impatient: "It's nothing, get out."

Su Xiao ignored her.

He approached, bent down, and reached out to touch her forehead.

The moment Su Wan Ning was touched by his hand, she froze and shrank back.

When her brother was little, he would touch her forehead or pat her shoulder, and she would never think much of it. But things are different now.

His palm was pressed against her forehead, warm and with rough calluses. She suddenly felt a burning sensation on that skin, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Don't touch me."

Her voice was muffled and nasal as she reached out to block his hand, but with little strength.

But when her fingers touched his wrist, she pulled them back as if she had been burned.

"I'm fine. Go out and stay away from me, don't infect me."

Su Xiao withdrew her hand, but her brows furrowed even more: "You have such a high fever and you still say you're fine? Did you get caught in the rain?"

"no."

"You're obviously lying; you didn't have any extra umbrellas at all."

Feeling embarrassed that her lie had been exposed, Su Wan Ning buried her face in the blanket and said in a muffled voice, "Get out."

Su Xiao glanced at her but didn't say anything more.

He turned and walked out, then came back a while later, holding a glass of warm water in one hand and a few fever-reducing pills in the other.

"You're such a grown man, why don't you say you're sick?"

He placed the water glass and medicine on the bedside table, then turned around and went to the kitchen to make a bowl of porridge, which he then brought over and placed on the small table next to her bed.

Finally, he bent down and pulled a thick quilt from the closet, unfolded it, and covered her with it.

The whole set of movements was fluid and graceful, like that of an adult who was used to doing manual labor.

Su Wan Ning nestled in the blankets, only her eyes peeking out as she watched him bustling back and forth.

His movements were slow, but he did each step very carefully.

When I placed the porridge by the bedside, I tested the temperature of the bowl with the back of my hand to make sure it wasn't too hot before putting it down.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, finally only managing to utter a few words.

"Didn't we break off all contact? Why are you still bothering me?"

Su Xiao was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh. Break up? What do you mean by breaking up between the two siblings?

Su Xiao guessed that he and his sister had a fight in their past life and had broken off their friendship.

Having been reborn, how could he possibly take such a thing to heart, and foolishly abide by the agreement to break off all ties?

"You break off your friendship, and I'll take care of you. Is there a conflict between the two?"

Su Xiao asked with a smile.

"You...you broke your promise! We clearly agreed that whoever responds first is a dog!" Su Wan Ning said, sounding exasperated.

"Okay, okay, I'm a puppy, alright? Want me to bark a few times for you? Woof woof woof."

Su Xiao smiled and teased her, then said, "You should lie down and eat the porridge while it's hot. Take your medicine later, don't take it on an empty stomach. If your fever hasn't gone down, remember to tell me, and I'll take you to the hospital."

He turned and left.

Su Wan Ning watched his retreating figure, her lips moved slightly, and she muttered something.

"Can't be burned to death..."

But the sound was so soft that probably only she could hear it.