Two Little Fish (The End)

Set off!

I had just woken up naturally when Su knocked on the door. He opened the door a crack, and we shouldered our bags and set off on our journey back to another home.

"Wait a minute, I wrote a letter to my parents."

"I wrote one too."

The furnishings in the living room also silenced us. A sense of freedom and exhilaration I had never experienced before surged within me. I folded the two letters and placed them on the coffee table, confident that my mother would see them when she got up early.

Two square white letters floated lightly against the dark brown table. I took one last look at the home that had raised us.

With lightning speed, Su Yu controlled the angle of the door to a point where it wouldn't creak, then stepped out first and took my bag from my hand.

My light steps as I went downstairs accompanied my soaring spirit. The neighborhood was quiet, and the occasional elderly people who went out early to buy groceries didn't even notice us.

After we hailed the taxi, Su Yu stood beside me. The dawn light shone from behind him, and we looked like we were eloping. He was the knight, and I was the princess.

The high-end four-wheel drive vehicle that the knight had ordered quickly took us to the high-speed rail station. This was the liveliest spot during Blues hour, with most people dragging suitcases or carrying bags twice their own height.

They also continued on their way to their destination.

We joined their ranks, embarking on our journey amidst the tremendous screeching of wheels against the ground.

"Let me take you to eat first."

He put on his older brother's airs again, insisting that I fill my stomach first, and that I drink a whole bottle of hot milk, have a boiled egg, and two steamed buns with braised pork in front of him before he would feel at ease taking me to the waiting area for the train.

The hall was packed with all sorts of people. Since there were no spots left for continuous shooting on the first floor, Su Yu took me to the second floor.

It's normal to feel dizzy after breakfast, especially since I was full of food. I ended up falling asleep leaning against Su Yu.

When I opened my eyes again, Su Yu was carrying two large bags in her left hand and dragging me downstairs to wait for the bus with her right.

I followed behind him, just like when we were little. Su Yu often said that I had grown taller but not as smart. He liked me to act a little childish in front of him, and I knew that.

He carefully selected two separate seats by the aisle; I sat inside, and he sat outside. The train started moving, and as the outside world transformed from towering buildings to vast, fertile fields, we truly left home behind our parents' backs.

Do you regret it?

I stared through all the fleeting images, and as we entered the tunnel, Su Yu's face suddenly appeared on the window.

I said I have no regrets, that you and I are destined for each other.

The darkness before me was shattered by the sudden burst of sunlight. My destiny and the dazzling sun grasped my hand together, telling me not to be afraid.

I felt the urge to urinate, so I got up and went to the toilet.

Just as the torrent was flowing rapidly, I remembered something important that I had forgotten about.

Su Yu lowered his head in his seat, looking like he was about to fall asleep. I adjusted his position so he could lie on my shoulder, and then used my free hand to check the valuable gift in his small bag.

The familiar touch put me at ease. Yu Guangzhong and Su Yu were still fast asleep, and I couldn't help but open the ring box.

The clutter in my bag couldn't diminish the ring's brilliance, and I couldn't resist feeling its coolness.

"For me?"

Immersed in the beautiful scene of the proposal, or rather, the moment the ring was given, the ring's owner abruptly shattered my idyllic daydream.

There were no pastel-colored balloons or blue and white silk ribbons yet, nor were there any relatives, friends, or plush toys. Su Yu saw it, but instead of pretending not to notice, she did so.

He took it out and examined the gold ring carefully, then compared it to the silver ring he was wearing on his hand.

Should I go back to sleep now?

"elder brother……"

I took off the ring and put it on his right ring finger, then casually tossed the old one into my bag.

He didn't agree, but quickly snatched it back and put it on the ring finger of his left hand.

"You're just going to throw your past self into your bag like that? I'm not as heartless as you."

He opened his arms contentedly, looked at the rings, then at me, and clenched his fists to clink the two rings together. The crisp sound was like a newborn's first laugh. I enveloped his hands; Su Yu held my past and future, and I held mine in return.

We arrived home just in time, and after a leisurely meal at a restaurant downstairs, we strolled back inside.

The flowers are in bloom, not as vibrant as in scenic areas, but just as pleasing to the eye.

I lay down comfortably on the sofa. This unplanned return trip had taken a lot of our energy. Su Yu lay on top of me and fell asleep in no time.

I carried him into the room, covered him with a blanket, and adjusted the temperature. Then I quietly returned to the living room and wandered around aimlessly.

My phone vibrated; it was my mom calling.

Have you had lunch yet?

"I've eaten, I've eaten."

They left without even saying goodbye. These two little brats have really grown up; they're even playing the runaway game now.

We've read what you wrote, so we're just letting you know.

"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad."

Thanks my ass. It's good that you're gone; out of sight, out of mind for your dad and me. I'm hanging up now, I'm going to take a nap. You guys got up early this morning, so you should sleep too, don't be tired.

"Okay, Mom, I love you."

: cheesy

Time was transformed into waves by a few words, and the calm after the commotion reminded me of what Su Yu and I thought about this day when we were still in high school.

——

“I’ll just kneel down on the ground! Now that I’m taller than you, I can handle the pain.”

“No way, I’m your brother, they’ll definitely talk to me first.”

"Don't say anything. I'll stand in front of you. If they hit you, I'll protect you."

...

There was no bloodshed or loud arguments. My parents' reaction was calmer and gentler than we expected. I don't know if they were completely heartbroken or if they were still in a daze.

My brother yelled at me, asking me to pour him a glass of water.

Su Yu picked up his phone and found a video in his photo album, which was recording content from another phone.

This is the view from the home security camera.

The door was pushed open, and some men and women walked in. I looked closely and saw that they were my relatives.

"Let's see who dares to say they're targeting me, Qian Xiuning! They should be together forever!"

The quiet and harmonious atmosphere was shattered by my mother's shout. The noise was so loud that I couldn't hear what the others were muttering, but my mother's words were crystal clear.

Some people were dejected, while others laughed at her.

"I'm their mother! How could I be happy if you talked about my children to their faces!"

"Su Yongzhi, you come here and say something. Are you just going to let them bully you like this?"

Dad put his big thermos on the table, and a corner of our letter peeked out from Mom's pocket.

"I don't want to fall out with you either. We, as parents, have no objections, but you're standing here pointing fingers and making comments. What kind of behavior is this..."

No one spoke; the older siblings, who were of the same generation, comforted their mother.

The video abruptly ends when the mother covers her face and goes back to her room after seeing the group off.

In the afternoon, I went to work at the coffee shop as usual, feeling a mix of emotions.

The golden retriever asked me if the little boy from a few days ago had sent me any strange invitations, and I nodded.

He said that the boy later approached him wanting to engage in group sex, but he refused.

After changing his clothes, he practiced his smiling skills and sent Su Yu a handsome selfie.

Life returned to normalcy, and we went through countless springs, summers, autumns, and winters in our lives.

The first snow arrived just in time for Christmas. Although the school wasn't closed, we still took a three-day break for ourselves.

Last Christmas, Su Yu and I had a minor disagreement, but now he's walking beside me wrapped in a coat. The snow on the road no longer soaks my shoes and socks, because Su Yu, worried I'd catch a cold, took me to a warm place.

This alleyway, named "Oak Town," has been decorated to resemble the Christmas atmosphere familiar to foreign children on television, with red and green lights hanging high and a tall and magnificent Christmas tree.

We held hands in our pockets, stopped at each stall, chatted and laughed before moving on.

As the hymns resounded and laughter filled the streets and alleys, we were surrounded by a rich atmosphere of joy that no school could ever provide.

I offered to book the hotel myself, and Su Yu asked with interest, "You're not going to suddenly conjure up 999 roses during a candlelight dinner and then kneel down to propose to me, are you?"

He saw through Plan A.

Fortunately, I had other plans.

The alley wasn't long, so we just strolled around and soaked up the Christmas atmosphere before heading to the shore meadow I'd been looking forward to. It opened its arms to let the wind pass through its body, yet tightly embraced the cold air, trying to warm nature.

The Shoreside Grassland Restaurant is outdoors, but not completely exposed; it is covered by a thick layer of glass.

The shop was mostly filled with couples who were celebrating the same holiday as us. They sat in the back room, listening to the melodious sound of violins.

Walking inside and seeing our seats, Su Yu was very satisfied.

There were indeed two candlesticks and a vase on the openwork glass table, with knives and forks neatly arranged, and the cushions on the soft chair were embroidered with large cat heads with round eyes.

I pulled out the chair next to Su Yu, and he sat down, suspecting that I was really going to pull that stunt.

When the waiter came over, I unusually didn't use the group-buying set meal, but instead ordered desserts, main dishes, and some snacks according to the guide I had prepared.

The waiter understood what was going on with this combination and smiled at me.

An extra surprise was the fireworks. Facing the vast grassland and the rippling lake, the colorful office buildings shone like stars in the night sky. As the fireworks burst into the air, Su Yu and the scenery behind her complemented each other beautifully.

This time there were no tears or unbearable pain; we sat at the same table, drinking together in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

"Should we... call Mom and Dad?" Coming back to his senses, Su Yu suggested, though he wasn't sure if it would be a good idea.

I pressed the call button, and it rang three or five times without anyone answering. Just as I was about to give up in despair, I suddenly heard my mother's firm voice, along with the faint sound of her cracking sunflower seeds.

"Three with one..."

"Hey, you two, playing cards? What's up?"

"I thought you really didn't want us anymore," Su Yu complained to her mother, sounding aggrieved.

"Who doesn't want whom? You two heartless bastards."

"Mom, Yu Yu and I are celebrating Christmas!"

There were no warm conversations or greetings, because Mom talked about everything from what Western holidays we celebrate to now that we should be planning to take the civil service exam, the civil service exam, or the postgraduate entrance exam.

Well, there are two more octopuses this Christmas.

After hanging up the phone, we breathed a sigh of relief. Both adults were in good spirits, so the two of us kids could live our lives in peace.

That night, my mother transferred a large sum of money to each of us, saying that since we weren't getting married, we wouldn't need the money we had saved. She said she would transfer it to us in several installments so we could save it carefully in case we got a minor or major illness.

Anyway, you two have your own place now. I don't understand the video your brother made, but Aunt Wang's grandson said your brother can drive a Mercedes when he comes back for the New Year, so I'm not worried about it.

However, this isn't the real deal. If you ask me, you guys still have to take the exam...

I transferred the money back to my brother, Su Yu accepted it, saying that I had already saved quite a bit with him, and if we ever separated, he would pocket it.

His playful nature seems to extend beyond just the bedroom. I made a solemn vow to him that as long as I have breath, I will love him.

As long as Su Yu still loves Su Yu, Su Yu will not leave Su Yu.

If Su Yu doesn't love Su Yu, then Su Yu loves Su Yu.

When it was almost time, I asked Su Yu to use my phone to open an app called "Music Box". He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

—Dear Mr. Su Yu…

The store's loudspeaker blared, and at the same time, Su Yu's lowered pupils reflected the small music box on the screen that she had painstakingly created.

Two small fish spin along with the record.

—Being your younger brother is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me…

On a small beach next to the blue ripples, a man and a woman are feeding two small fish.

I hope you are safe, healthy, and have a smooth and worry-free life.

The fish swam and swam, they parted and then reunited.

—Your loving younger brother, Su Yu.

The image on the screen stopped rotating, and when Su looked up, there was a music box on the table with the same design as the one on her phone.