Brother Yangyang took Zhao Meimei to eat beef noodles.
The two sat facing each other, Brother Yangyang consciously picked the cilantro and scallions from Zhao Meimei’s bowl into his own, and tossed a few pieces of stewed beef from his bowl into Zhao Meimei’s.
Zhao Meimei, being in the prime of her growth phase, had quite an appetite. She cleaned her bowl of beef noodles and then drank the soup with the bowl in her hands.
Over the past year, Zhao Meimei ate heartily and grew quite a bit. When they walked side by side on the street, Brother Yangyang suddenly realized that Zhao Meimei had unknowingly grown into a tall, slim figure, looking almost as tall as some of the shorter girls in their school.
As Brother Yangyang kept looking at her, his gaze softened, his eyes shimmering like ripples on water. The longing he hadn’t had time to experience yesterday surged forth in that moment.
Brother Yangyang woke up first in the morning. When he opened his eyes, Zhao Meimei was still fast asleep.
She clung to Brother Yangyang like a baby koala, her little face rosy in slumber, her small lips smacking a couple of times, grinding teeth, even letting out a little fart — she put on quite the show in the early morning.
At first, Brother Yangyang was so amused that he couldn’t help but laugh, his chest shaking like a drum. As he laughed, his gaze fell on Zhao Meimei’s slender eyebrows and eyes, followed her slowly rising little nose, down to her unconsciously slightly pouting lips. Suddenly, a strange feeling of warmth welled up in his heart.
Once, she was the little girl who followed behind him, calling him brother. In the blink of an eye, she had grown up so much, giving him that feeling of having a daughter in her burgeoning years, making him unable to resist cupping Zhao Meimei’s face like a cherished treasure, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
Half an hour after waking up, Brother Yangyang lay there, staring motionlessly at Zhao Meimei’s sleeping face, reminiscing about everything they had been through since childhood. Every little memory easily stirred his heart and filled him with endless joy and emotion.
The winter air in the north was dry and cold. Brother Yangyang held Zhao Meimei’s hand, just like when they were kids, tucking them into his down jacket pocket as they strolled slowly along the street.
Brother Yangyang took Zhao Meimei to a couple of well-known scenic spots in the provincial city. They played all day, bought a bunch of snacks and toys. Zhao Meimei laughed from morning till evening, her eyes crinkling with joy as if she had used up the whole year’s happiness in one day.
Before returning to the hotel, Brother Yangyang led Zhao Meimei into a well-known cake shop.
Zhao Meimei, feeling a bit hungry, naturally wandered over to the bread section and picked a meat floss one and a chocolate cream bun.
After she made her selection, Brother Yangyang hugged her shoulder and moved over to the cake section, pointing at the tempting birthday cakes in the glass cabinet, asking, "Which one do you like?"
Zhao Meimei turned her head abruptly, looking at Brother Yangyang in surprise, her bright eyes shining with joy under the soft lights, "Brother, you’re buying me a cake?"
Brother Yangyang gave her a faint smile, "I didn’t get to come back and celebrate your birthday this year, so I’m making it up to you tonight."
Zhao Meimei’s heart trembled with excitement, though she managed to keep her face calm, "Thank you, Brother."
Brother Yangyang reached out and ruffled her hair, "Pick one, choose your favorite."
Zhao Meimei leaned forward to look, picking a cake sprinkled with white chocolate shavings, neatly topped with a layer of fresh big strawberries.
Brother Yangyang carried the cake, hailed a taxi with Zhao Meimei back to the hotel, and they laid the cake on the bed.
Brother Yangyang lit the candles with a lighter provided by the hotel, smiling as he sang a birthday song for Zhao Meimei, who made her wish.
Zhao Meimei clasped her hands under her chin seriously making her wish, and when she blew out the candles and looked up, she met eyes with Brother Yangyang, both smiling warmly at each other, their hearts filled with a cozy sense of joy and happiness.
When going to bed, Brother Yangyang asked Zhao Meimei, "How many wishes did you make just now?"
Zhao Meimei giggled, holding out three fingers.
Brother Yangyang laughed out loud.
Zhao Meimei always made three or four wishes since she was a child, believing that in a whole year, there would naturally be many wishes. If one didn’t come true, there would still be two backups. This was how Zhao Meimei always thought and did.
Brother Yangyang didn’t ask what Zhao Meimei’s wishes were, as wishes are meant to be secret anticipations; saying them out loud would ruin their magic.
Zhao Meimei pursed her lips, smiling contentedly to herself, silently savoring the three wishes she made:
1. I hope Brother Yangyang doesn’t find a new sister-in-law for me.
3. Still the same as above.
Early the next morning, Brother Yangyang called a client, setting a meeting time. Not comfortable leaving Zhao Meimei alone in the hotel, he took her along to run errands.
At the agreed coffee shop, Brother Yangyang ordered Zhao Meimei a juice and two servings of nuts, letting her sit and eat while he sat at a nearby table with his client, waiting for the client to check the goods and settle the payment.
Brother Yangyang sat next to the client, both facing the computer, explaining things carefully while the client nodded in agreement from time to time.
From afar, Zhao Meimei watched, her gaze glued to Brother Yangyang’s face, staring dreamily.
When Brother Yangyang spoke, his lips didn’t move much. When something interesting came up, he would just slightly grin, a reserved smile.
He wore a business casual suit, looking sharp and formal, with bright, expressive eyes, his expressions and gestures full of appealing confidence and allure.
Zhao Meimei propped her chin, her mouth half-open, watching, feeling her Brother Yangyang was both handsome and unfamiliar, completely different from the person who sang her a birthday song last night and played under the covers with her.
Zhao Meimei smacked her lips, silently exclaiming in her heart how incredibly handsome he was.
Zhao Meimei, unusually well-behaved, matured, sat quietly in her seat, finishing the nuts, sipping on her juice, turning to gaze at Brother Yangyang intently, feeling she could watch him without ever getting bored.
Brother Yangyang conversed and negotiated with the client for over an hour. The client, satisfied, put away his computer, handed Brother Yangyang a thick envelope, shook his hand, and bid farewell with a smile.
Brother Yangyang tucked the envelope into his bag, saw the client out, and as he passed Zhao Meimei, while the client walked ahead, he quickly pinched her cheek, mouthing, "Wait for me."
Zhao Meimei nodded in agreement, turning to watch Brother Yangyang’s departing figure.
Brother Yangyang walked upright, his casual pants taut around his hips, his strong, long thighs looking incredibly fine.
Zhao Meimei’s eyes trailed after Brother Yangyang as he walked out the door and came back in.
Brother Yangyang plopped down across from Zhao Meimei, grabbed her half-finished juice, took a gulp, smacked his lips, furrowed his brow, and glared at Zhao Meimei, "Why’s it so warm? Did you blow bubbles in it again?"
Zhao Meimei chuckled.
Brother Yangyang complained, "So gross, you made me drink a belly full of your saliva." After complaining, he didn’t really mind and continued to finish the remaining two sips.