A Brother’s Resolve

I instinctively recoiled, clutching my chest. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled Chen Si Yi’s tickling technique, my body breaking out in a cold sweat.

Seeing my timid reaction, Chen Si Yi merely offered a wry smile. Then, under my bewildered gaze, she extended her right hand, holding it out before me.

“What is this?”

“This is proof that we’ve made up, you know,” Chen Si Yi replied. “Didn’t we always shake hands after every argument when we were little?”

It seemed there was indeed such a custom. Prompted by Chen Si Yi’s words, memories from the depths of my mind began to surge forth.

Though Chen Si Yi and I had been inseparable siblings since childhood, we occasionally bickered over trivial matters. The exact reasons for our arguments, however, had long faded from my memory.

Yet, within half a day of every quarrel, I would invariably swallow my pride and extend my hand to Chen Si Yi, making peace and returning to our former closeness.

I never expected that after all these years, it would be Chen Si Yi who reached out to me first. A pang of shame struck me, as I realized the cold war’s inception was, in retrospect, entirely my fault.

I had deliberately distanced myself from Si Yi for reasons I couldn’t disclose to outsiders. This choice had gradually thinned the bond between us siblings over the past few years. While it wasn’t my intention, I had undoubtedly failed as an older brother.

After all, Si Yi now simply called me by my name, no longer addressing me as ‘Brother.’

Staring at my sister’s fair, slender hand, I sighed, my fingers twitching. Still, I lacked the courage to clasp hers tightly.

“…Lin Yan?”

Seeing my prolonged hesitation, Si Yi softly called my name.

“Huh? No, I’m sorry, I was just spacing out.”

Hearing her familiar voice, I snapped back to reality, hastily raising my head, yet still avoiding her gaze.

“Si Yi, I’m sorry,” I said remorsefully. “It was all my fault in the past. I didn’t consider your feelings, and—”

Indeed, if I wondered why Chen Si Yi suddenly stopped interacting with me after high school, then she must have been equally puzzled by why I had abruptly distanced myself from her a few years prior.

This was a past I found difficult to speak of. Although a faint stirring had existed since childhood, I had always managed to control it with reason. However, after entering junior high, this stirring became increasingly difficult to suppress.

Especially when Chen Si Yi would embrace me, or sit innocently in my lap, playfully pouting, that stirring would almost consume my rationality.

Yes, as an older brother, I had committed the most unforgivable error: I had reacted to Chen Si Yi.

Upon this realization, a wave of guilt washed over me, and the stirring within became even harder to control. To avoid falling into the trap of hormones, and to protect the innocent Si Yi, I ultimately resolved to forcibly create what I believed was a safe distance between us, despite the internal struggle. This ultimately led to our current cold war.

Therefore, even if my sister disliked me, even if I was punished by being turned into a little girl, it was a fate I deserved.

“That’s not true at all.”

Even though I had anticipated Si Yi’s response, her unusually gentle words still took me by surprise.

“I’ve never disliked you, Brother. Even if I was a little bit angry sometimes, I’ve truly never disliked you.”

Chen Si Yi gazed at me steadily. The rare word ‘Brother’ emerged from her lips twice, catching me by surprise. Then, a sudden softness enveloped me. Chen Si Yi stepped forward, pulling me into her embrace.

“It’s alright, Brother. Your sister here is magnanimous; I’m letting bygones be bygones,” Chen Si Yi whispered, her lips brushing my ear. She chuckled softly. “From now on, let’s get along well, and live happily together as siblings!”

As siblings, she said. A flicker of regret passed through my heart at my sister’s words, but it was quickly followed by a sigh of relief. All in all, being able to continue living with my sister like this was already quite wonderful.

Future matters were for the future. Even if I needed to weep, I would wait until after Chen Si Yi’s wedding. For now, I needed to protect this sibling bond, to stand by her side as her brother, until I personally handed her over to a man I trusted in the future.

Having made this decision, I cast aside my reservations and opened my arms, embracing my sister.

However, to my surprise, this decision was overturned less than a day later.