Jiang Yan was the little darling of her grandmother's house, but even little darlings can be shy.
Especially early this morning, Jiang Yan was still lounging in bed when Song Li'an came into the room, innocently carrying sugar haws for her.
Thinking it was Lu Yuliang, Jiang Yan mumbled something and wrapped herself in the blanket, saying drowsily, "Mom, I'm not having breakfast..."
Song Li'an looked around helplessly, with a pleading look in his clear eyes as he held a box of candied fruit haws. But Song's Mother was talking to grandma and didn't notice him for the moment.
When Lu Yuliang came in, she habitually pulled off Jiang Yan's blanket, "Get up quick, your little brother's come to play with you."
Jiang Yan opened her eyes wide in a daze, and the next moment, Lu Yuliang was forcibly dressing her. Little kids are like that, they can't resist adults.
Jiang Yan decided she would talk to her mom later about not having her blanket pulled off when others are around. But for now, she couldn't say anything, so she just sat on her little stool, sulking.
It was a little stool that grandpa had custom-woven for her by hand.
Song Li'an stood there awkwardly for a while with the box of candied haws, then went up to Jiang Yan and held out the box.
Jiang Yan had been in a huff, but she took it mutely, puzzled, "What's this?"
Opening it, she found all sorts of candied fruit haws - strawberry, banana, grape, kiwi, and hawthorn with brown sugar and tangerine. They were strung on short bamboo skewers, and her sullenness melted away like a fluffy cloud.
The little girl looked up with softened eyes, her voice like dissolved fruit candy, "Are these for me to eat?"
Song Li'an nodded earnestly.
Jiang Yan pulled him down to squat with her, putting the box on the ground as they ate the candied haws together.
Song Li'an was a child very attuned to emotions. He could sense from Jiang Yan's little gestures that she was unhappy, so he made this comforting gesture, even though he was ten months younger than her.
Song's Mother had come today to go shopping for clothes with Lu Yuliang, mainly to buy Song Li'an an outfit for the New Year.
But if she took Song Li'an out alone, he would definitely resist - not talking, not getting in the car, not trying on clothes, just like before.
So Song's Mother thought maybe it would go better if Jiang Yan came along.
Sure enough, before he knew it, Song Li'an had been happily dragged into the car by Jiang Yan. The two little friends sat in the back, Jiang Yan even teaching Song Li'an a foot-tapping dance.
Until Lu Yuliang scolded them, "No kicking your feet in Auntie's car!"
Song's Mother hurriedly glanced in the rearview mirror to see Jiang Yan mischievously sticking out her tongue, while Song Li'an obediently turned around, acting perfectly innocent as if nothing had happened.
Ever since his illness, they hadn't dared to speak harshly in front of the little one, thinking it might scare him. But it didn't.
Song Li'an was just like any normal little kid, dodging reprimands along with his sister. The painful experiences of seeking medical treatment, carefully administering medicine, him being unresponsive to the outside world as if he could leave at any moment - it all seemed to have drifted away.
Oh right, she should say "brother" - Jiang Yan was influencing her!
Song's Mother turned her mind back to driving, feeling an inner sense of relief.
...
They said it was to buy Song Li'an a New Year's outfit, but once in the clothing store, no one could resist.
While Lu Yuliang was trying on a red coat, the salesclerk was still recommending styles to Song's Mother.
Originally Song Li'an would have just crouched behind everyone, but now he was running back and forth between the clothing racks with Jiang Yan.
The salesclerk noticed Jiang Yan and smiled, making a sales pitch, "Are they brother and sister? Then you could consider our sibling sets, one outfit each..."
After running around, a tired Song Li'an suddenly grabbed his mother's clothes.