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

The next morning, Su Xiao was awakened by the clattering of pots and pans coming from the kitchen.

He rolled over in bed, buried his face in the pillow, and sniffed sleepily.

The air smelled of fried eggs.

He opened his eyes and looked around.

Pink bed sheets, neatly folded plush toys, and a piggy bank on the desk.

Oh, I'm in my sister's bed.

The room was empty; the blankets were already folded, and the pillows were patted soft and fluffy.

He yawned, got out of bed, stepped barefoot onto the floor, and opened the bedroom door.

In the kitchen, the morning light streamed in through the window, gilding the entire stove with a golden edge.

Su Wan Ning, wearing a floral apron and with her ponytail tied high, was frying eggs with a spatula.

The oil sizzled in the pan, and she gently pressed the edge of the egg white with a spatula, her movements practiced and composed.

She must have heard the door open, because she turned her head and glanced at him.

His hair was a mess, like a bird's nest, and his eyes weren't fully open. He looked like he'd just been picked up from a garbage dump.

She rolled her eyes, her expression a mixture of disdain and helplessness: "What are you standing there for? Go brush your teeth. I've already squeezed out the toothpaste and prepared the water for you to wash your face. Don't dawdle."

Su Xiao leaned against the door frame, looking at the figure in the kitchen bathed in the morning light, when she suddenly felt something gently bump against her chest.

It felt like my whole heart was like a piece of butter thrown into hot water, slowly, slowly melting away.

……

Over the weekend, Su Wanning said she wanted to visit her parents.

Su Xiao hailed a taxi, and the two arrived at a public cemetery in the suburbs.

The taxi stopped at the door, and Su Xiao was carrying a bag of sliced ​​watermelon.

When we were little, my brother and I both loved to eat watermelon. During the hottest days of summer, Dad would bring half a watermelon from the market when he came home from get off work. He would carry it in a plastic bag and shout as soon as he entered the door, "Come and eat watermelon!"

Mom cut the watermelon into small triangular pieces, arranging the red flesh and green rind on a white porcelain plate, giving each person a few pieces.

Dad always takes the smallest piece, and so does Mom, even though they say they don't like sweets.

Later, when Su Xiao grew up, she realized that it wasn't that she didn't like to eat it, but that she couldn't bear to eat it.

He pulled out the weeds in front of the grave and wiped the dust off the tombstone with a rag.

Su Wanning squatted down beside the grave, took out watermelon slices one by one from the bag, and arranged them neatly in front of the grave.

A cool breeze blew up from the foot of the mountain, causing Su Wan Ning's bangs to sway gently.

Su Xiao threw the last handful of weeds into the nearby trash can, patted the dirt off her hands, and stood still in front of the tombstone.

He looked at the two names engraved on the tombstone, his voice soft, as if he were chatting with his family: "Dad, Mom, Wan Ning and I have come to see you. Don't worry, we're doing well now. Wan Ning got first place again in her midterms, and I passed too, even though it was only chemistry, but at least I passed."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Everything at home is great. There are vegetables in the fridge, someone mops the floor, and Wan Ning's cooking is even better than before."

Su Wanning stood next to him, their shoulders touching.

She didn't cry, and there were no tears in her eyes; she just quietly looked at the tombstone.

A breeze blew by, and she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, pursed her lips, and spoke softly but steadily: "Mom and Dad, don't worry. I will live a good life with my brother."

After saying that, she reached out and took Su Xiao's arm.

Her head rested gently on his shoulder, her ponytail swaying softly in the wind.

Su Xiao paused for a moment, looked down at the head resting on her shoulder, and a relieved smile slowly appeared on her lips.

……

After getting out of the taxi, Su Xiao planned to go to the market to buy some groceries.

Su Wanning had been running around all morning, and her face was already showing signs of fatigue. It was time for her to go back and rest.

He told Su Wanning to go home first, and then walked towards the market.

After walking a few steps, I caught a glimpse of a figure standing next to a utility pole in front of me.

His expression froze instantly, and his feet instinctively turned backward.

The figure had already caught up, its small leather shoes clicking loudly on the sidewalk, when a hand reached out from behind and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

"Su Xiao, what do you mean? Are you pretending not to know me?!"

The girl's voice was clear and crisp, yet tinged with anger. It was quite loud, and several middle-aged women carrying groceries on the street turned to look at her.

Su Xiao turned around helplessly.

Wu Mengmeng wore pigtails, a JK uniform and a pleated skirt, with white stockings on her feet. She looked like she had been cut out of an anime magazine.

To be honest, she is quite cute.

But Su Xiao wasn't in the mood to appreciate it today.

"How come I run into you everywhere I go? It's so unlucky."

Wu Mengmeng was furious. She bared her teeth, stood on tiptoe, and reached out to pinch his face, but he dodged her by stepping back.

He didn't argue with her any longer, put his hands in his pockets, and said in a cold tone, "Why aren't you going back yet? Don't blame me for not reminding you, your hotel lease is about to expire, and I won't be renewing it for you."

Wu Mengmeng's expression changed in an instant; just a moment ago she was baring her teeth and brandishing claws, but the next second she put on a pitiful look.

She sighed and said, "My mom really went too far this time. She even dropped me out of school, just trying to force me to go to Shanghai. But I'm not the kind of woman who gives up easily. If she won't let me go to school, I'll find a job myself and support myself!"

Su Xiao gave her a look as if she were an idiot.

Wu Mengmeng was immediately enraged by that look, and her voice rose by half an octave.

"What kind of look is that? Are you looking down on me? Let me tell you, I'm no worse than you guys. What you guys can do, I can do too. Like carrying bricks on a construction site, working as a sorting clerk..."

She patted her non-existent biceps, protesting, but her voice trailed off, clearly indicating that even she didn't quite believe she could do any physical labor.

Su Xiao sighed, her tone softening, but she still advised her, "Stop making a fuss, go with your mother."

Wu Mengmeng pouted and said, "No way."

Suddenly, she crossed her arms, tilted her head, and rolled her eyes. As if she had just thought of something, her eyes lit up, and she took half a step forward.

"Su Xiao, can you do me a favor?"

Her voice suddenly became sweet and cloying, so sweet it could be drawn out like silk.

"cannot."

Su Xiao answered decisively, each word sounding as if it had just been taken out of the refrigerator: "I've already done more than enough by not helping your mother take you back."

Wu Mengmeng was furious, her cheeks puffed out.

She took two steps back, tossed her pigtails behind her, turned and walked away, loudly announcing, "If you don't help me, I'm going to find those blond-haired young punks!"

Su Xiao closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and reached out to grab Wu Mengmeng's arm as she took her third step.

"Tell me, tell me, what do you want me to help you with?"

Wu Mengmeng turned around, a sly smile on her face.

That expression clearly said, "I knew you'd soften up."

She immediately leaned closer, gently shaking his sleeve with her fingers, and said, "I'm not asking you for anything, just to lend me some money."

Su Xiao's eyes widened.

"Didn't you say you wanted to be self-reliant?"

Wu Mengmeng immediately covered her stomach with both hands, pouted, and looked at him pitifully.

She said, "I haven't had a proper meal for several days. People need to eat to survive, so I need to be able to find a job."

Su Xiao was speechless when she saw her pitiful yet self-righteous appearance.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out two crumpled red bills.

Wu Mengmeng took the money, counted it, and jumped up and down with joy, her pigtails almost hitting the face of a passing uncle.

She folded the money and stuffed it into her pocket, then looked up at Su Xiao with bright eyes and said, "Consider this money as your betrothal gift. You won't need to give me any more when we get married."

"roll!"

"Fine, I'll get out!"

Wu Mengmeng wasn't angry at all; she took the money and ran off happily.

She ran several steps away, then turned back and waved at him, her smile both radiant and irritating.

Su Xiao stood at the entrance of the vegetable market, watching her skipping figure disappear into the crowd. Her lips twitched, but she couldn't help but laugh out loud.