The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

The corridor outside the hospital was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant.

Xu Nian sat on a bench in the corridor, staring blankly at the closed door of the clinic.

His eyes were red-rimmed, and his sleeves were stained with the tears he had just wiped away.

"Brother...I'm sorry..."

"I...I broke the cake..."

For the first time in his life, someone prepared a birthday gift for him.

On this day that Xu Nian desperately wanted to erase from his life, someone would prepare a feast to celebrate for him.

Even after escaping danger, the first thing he said was to blame himself for breaking the cake.

The door to the consultation room was pushed open.

Xu Nian quickly wiped her eyes, not wanting Xu Xi to see her tears.

"elder brother..."

Xu Xi lowered her head and slowly walked out of the consultation room.

Her long hair was cut off, and a white gauze was wrapped around the back of her head.

The handprint on his face had not yet faded, and half of his face was still red and swollen.

"Does it still hurt?"

Xu Nian gently stroked her cheek, her eyes filled with heartache.

Xu Xi nodded and hugged Xu Nian tightly.

"Brother...I'm so scared."

"I almost thought... I thought I would never see my brother again."

Xu Nian hugged Xu Xi tightly, unwilling to let go for even a moment.

He had never been as terrified as he was today since he was abandoned by his parents.

If Xu Xi had met with misfortune on her way to prepare a birthday cake for herself, Xu Nian would probably never forgive herself.

He didn't know how to comfort the girl who was indirectly hurt because of him, so he could only gently pat her back and let her tears fall drop by drop onto his shoulder.

Xu Nian secretly vowed that she would never let Xu Xi suffer any more harm.

The evening breeze gently caressed the willows along the street, and the willows drooped their green vines softly.

Crickets perched upside down on the treetops puffed out their cheeks, their calls echoing the sweltering heat of the summer night.

The streetlights under the trees cast a dim yellow light, bringing a glimmer of light to this dark street.

"Xiaoxi, how did you earn your money?"

Xu Nian supported Xu Xi's thigh as they slowly walked home.

"It's...it's the clothing store where my brother took me to buy clothes last time..."

Xu Xi leaned on his shoulder, wrapped her arms around his neck, and slowly recounted her experience as a fashion model.

She took out Xu Nian's phone from her pocket, opened the online store on Taobao, and showed Xu Nian the photos she had taken one by one.

Xu Nian looked at those beautiful photos, but felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

It's not because Xu Xi was able to earn money independently that she lost control of herself.

Instead, the cuteness that should have belonged to her alone is now being displayed to the public.

It has a sour, indescribable feeling.

Xu Xi also noticed the change in Xu Nian's expression, and her voice grew softer and softer until it was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.

The two remained silent.

After a long while, Xu Nian revealed a relieved smile.

Xu Xi is not his possession; she is an independent individual.

I shouldn't feel uncomfortable about Xu Xi appearing in the public eye.

Moreover, she can earn clean money using her own skills.

This should be a happy thing.

"Xiaoxi is amazing. She can earn more money than her brother in less time than he does at work."

He praised it from the bottom of his heart.

Hearing her brother praise her, Xu Xi breathed a sigh of relief and tightened her grip on Xu Nian's neck.

"Why did you think of buying clothes for your brother?"

"Because...because my brother made Xiaoxi wear clean clothes, Xiaoxi also wants my brother to wear decent clothes."

Xu Nian burst into laughter.

Laughter echoed through the quiet streets, and the willows swayed gently.

The croaking of frogs by the pond continued unabated, as if they felt that Xu Nian's laughter had disrupted their harmony, and they all increased the frequency of their croaking.

Xu Nian walked to a bench and gently placed Xu Xi on it.

He squatted down and spoke to Xu Xi.

"Little Creek, your brother is a rough man."

"The rough work I do every day easily gets my clothes dirty."

"So, no matter how decent the clothes are, they will quickly get dirty and torn when I wear them."

"These clothes are so expensive, and they are a token of your affection. I would be reluctant to wear them."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xi lowered her head in shame.

She only thought about buying a decent dress, without considering that her brother would never have the chance to wear it.

"But I'm really happy, really."

Xu Nian looked into Xu Xi's eyes and said earnestly.

Scenes from the past flashed before Xu Nian's eyes.

When I was a child, my father was rarely home, and my mother worked long hours to support the family.

Xiao Xu Nian was left alone at home and often went hungry.

Celebrating a birthday is an impossible dream for him.

He envied other children, showing off the gifts he received for his birthday and comparing the size of their cakes.

His only birthday that was ever remembered was spent in a cold, rainy night with a broken cake and abandonment.

After that, Xu Nian tried hard to forget this day that had filled him with pain.

However, every time this day comes, he feels endless bewilderment.

However, today, the word "birthday" carries a sweet connotation in Xu Nian's memory.

Someone told him that his birthday was worth remembering.

It's not a day for licking your wounds alone; it deserves a sweet cake and a lovely gift.

Xu Nian's eyes welled up with tears, and she didn't even notice a few drops falling.

It's like a piece of chocolate falling into a glass of bitter melon juice.

It slowly melts away the bitterness, making it no longer a forbidden drink that one dares not touch.

"This is the first birthday present my brother has ever received, and I will cherish it."

"If one day, Xiaoxi becomes successful and becomes a respectable person."

"Your brother will wear it and accompany you to entertain the guests at the victory celebration."

Xu Xi hugged Xu Nian and gave her a sweet smile.

This was the first time Xu Nian had seen her so happy; her eyes were curved at the corners, and her gaze was filled with a blissful smile.

Those smiling eyes are so beautiful.

Her youthful appearance and innocent eyes sparkled under the streetlights.

Xu Nian couldn't help but wish that time could stand still at this moment, and that this smile could last forever.

"Brother, why are you crying?"

Xu Nian quickly turned her back and wiped the corner of her eye with her arm.

"The wind is too strong, and sand got into my eyes."

Since meeting Xu Xi, Xu Nian has found herself becoming much more sentimental.

Tears that had been shed to the point of exhaustion from life's hardships would unexpectedly well up again.

Xu Xi smiled slightly and buried her head in Xu Nian's arms.

Happy birthday, brother.

As soon as he finished speaking, the clock struck midnight in the distance.

Xu Nian turned her head and looked at the clock tower at the intersection in the distance.

The hour hand points to the top symbol.

On the last moment of his coming-of-age day, he received a blessing from the person he cared about most.

"Thank you, Little Creek."