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

Su Xiao was overjoyed.

Indeed, only a real salary can move people.

Su Xiao immediately drafted a new contract.

Salary 1,500, two positions.

Second-hand mobile phone inspector and store manager.

Luo Jiang read the contract from beginning to end. When he signed it, he held the pen very steadily, writing each stroke as if he were filling out an application to join the Party.

Su Xiao folded one of the contracts and stuffed it into her bag. Looking at Luo Jiang's serious expression, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

It's not that there aren't oxen and horses willing to work in this world; it's just a matter of whether they're given enough fodder.

He said, "As you can see, I'm still a high school student. Because I have to go to school, I don't have much time to come here. Please keep an eye on things and recruit the rest of the people while you're at it."

Luo Jiang nodded immediately, his eyes filled with a determination that suggested he was ready to join the Party.

"Okay, boss."

Su Xiao patted the spare key from the store into his hand and then patted the back of his hand.

"Once everyone is recruited, the store will open."

It was already dark when we came out of the technology street.

A row of streetlights lit up, casting the orange glow of the sycamore trees' shadows onto the wall.

Su Xiao walked slowly on her way home, her mind filled with Su Wan Ning's cold face.

How to coax him?

Should I buy a piggy bank?

I've used it once.

Buying snacks?

Too perfunctory.

Apologize?

Even if you talk yourself hoarse, it might not be of any use.

As he was pondering this, he suddenly slowed down as he passed by the shop windows in the shopping district.

Behind the glass was a row of watches, their silver straps gleaming softly under the spotlight.

Su Xiao pushed open the door and entered. The sales assistant greeted him, her gaze sweeping over his school uniform before she asked with a smile, "Sir, what kind of watch are you looking for? Is it a gift for your girlfriend?"

He said, "I'm giving this to my sister."

The sales assistant said "oh" and led him to the counter to introduce several models.

"We have sporty digital watches, small quartz watches, and several fashion watches with rhinestones. Which one do you like?"

Su Xiao looked at them one by one, finally stopping at the most expensive one.

The dial is light blue, and the strap is a silver metal chain, simple and clean.

Two hundred and ninety-nine.

He touched the bank card in his pocket, thought for two seconds, and tapped the glass counter.

"This is it."

Then he added, "Make it look nice for me."

As I walked out of the mall carrying the small, packed paper bag, the night breeze rushed towards me.

Su Xiao stood on the steps at the entrance of the mall and looked up at the sky.

Instead of going straight home, he took a detour and went to his own building.

Looking up, I saw the living room lights were on, and a warm yellow light shone through the curtains.

Su Wanning is at home.

He did not go upstairs.

He walked to the electrical control box outside the building, looked at the row of switches labeled with the apartment numbers, and took a deep breath.

"Little sister, I'm sorry. In order to ease the tension between us, I have no choice but to take this step."

He then struggled to stand on tiptoe and raise his arms high before finally managing to place his hand on the power switch in his house.

Meanwhile, Su Wanning was sitting on the sofa watching TV, exuding an air of impatience.

I flipped the remote control over and over in my hand, pressing buttons repeatedly, switching through seven or eight channels, and finally stopping on a variety show.

The people on TV were laughing so hard they could hardly breathe. A guest wearing glasses was pranked and fell into the pool, and the entire audience stood up and applauded.

Su Wan Ning stared at the screen expressionlessly, her eyes gleaming coldly.

Is it funny?

She didn't get the joke at all.

It was already completely dark outside the balcony.

She picked up her phone and glanced at it. There were no messages from Su Xiao, no missed calls, and her QQ profile picture was grayed out.

He doesn't come home for dinner or even send a message, asking who he's with, what he's doing, or what time he'll be back...

I had no idea!

She put her phone down again.

You've only been better for a few days, and you can't keep up the act anymore?

A while ago, he bought her a piggy bank, called her "Little Lemon," proactively reported his study progress, and came home on time every day. She thought he had really changed.

I told my aunt the other day that he's been behaving well lately.

What now?

She grew angrier the more she thought about it, and tapped her fingers twice on the sofa armrest.

I'm furious!

The food on the table has been reheated twice.

The garlic broccoli was a little wilted, and a thin layer of oil had formed on the surface of the pork rib soup.

Su Wanning glanced at the dishes on the table, stood up, and prepared to put them in the refrigerator.

I can't wait any longer!

He'll heat it up and eat it himself later.

The living room lights went out just as my hand touched the plate.

It wasn't a flickering power outage; it was a sudden, clean, and decisive slashing, where all the light was instantly pulled away.

The TV screen went dark, the refrigerator stopped humming, and the whole house felt like it had been swallowed whole.

Darkness surged in from all directions, so thick it was almost tangible.

Su Wanning froze on the spot.

Fear is like a cold hand slowly climbing up from the soles of your feet, over your calves, over your back, and over your throat.

She is most afraid of the dark.

When the power went out when I was little, my dad would go downstairs to check the circuit breaker, my mom would light candles, and Su Xiao would sit next to her and say, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your brother is here."

Then Dad died, then Mom died...

Every time she went to sleep, she would lock herself in her room, turn on a nightlight, and pull the blanket over her head.

But today, the living room is so big, and the streetlights coming in through the window are so pale and white that they distort the shadows of the furniture. The curtains are swaying gently in the wind, and with each sway, it looks like someone is standing behind them.

She touched her phone, her fingers trembling. The light from the unlocked screen shone on her face, revealing the tears still welling up in her eyes.

She opened QQ and found the contact she was following closely.

"Sour Little Lemon: The power's out, when are you coming back?"

She regretted it a little the moment she sent it.

I wanted to undo it, but my finger hovered above the screen without pressing it.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

The key was inserted into the lock, the lock cylinder turned with a click, and the door was pushed open.

The light from the phone screen shone in from the doorway, casting a pale glow on Su Xiao's face, highlighting her features.

He stood panting at the door, his eyes immediately finding Su Wanning huddled next to the sofa.

He rushed over, threw his phone on the coffee table, and pulled her into his arms.

"Why is the power out? Wan Ning, are you scared? It's okay, don't be afraid, I'm here, I'm back, don't be scared."

His voice was urgent, but his movements were very gentle.

With one arm around her shoulder and the other gently patting the back of her head, he was soothing a child having a nightmare.

Su Wan Ning was pressed against his chest, her cheek against his school uniform jacket, and she could hear the thumping of his heartbeat.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your brother is back."

Su Xiao held her tightly, her voice gentle as water.

The fear that Su Wan Ning had been holding back hadn't completely dissipated, and her body was still trembling slightly.

But she didn't push him away.

Her fingers slowly rose and gently grasped the back of his shirt.

It was a tiny piece of fabric, held between my fingers as if afraid it would run away.

My brother is back, I'm not afraid anymore...