Chapter 116: Reunion (2)
The sound of suitcase wheels rolling on the floor was like a homecoming song.
It was Zhu Qing and Fang Fang who brought their younger brother home and back into Cheng Xinglang's life.
The figure before me was both strange and familiar, with glimpses of my childhood innocence still visible in his eyes and brows.
Even though the two brothers tried to ease the complex emotions of their reunion with lighthearted jokes, they could not calm down for a long time.
My younger brother has grown up.
He changed his surname, but stubbornly kept the name "Xingyu".
Now, his name is Lu Xingyu.
But for Cheng Xinglang, no matter what they are called, the innate bond between them will never change.
This reunion, which I had rehearsed countless times in my dreams, left me bewildered and unsure how to react when it actually happened.
Memories surged through her mind; Lu Xingyu's journey had not been easy either.
Forced to leave home at the age of six, he first spent several days in a ward of an international medical organization before being adopted by a kind couple. Upon arriving in a foreign country, Xiao Xingyu suffered from a persistent high fever. His adoptive father carried him to various hospitals, while his mother stayed by his bedside night after night, wiping his body repeatedly with warm towels. Under their meticulous care, his health gradually improved.
When they heard the child recount his ordeal, the couple hugged him tightly and wept. Their first reaction wasn't doubt or shock, but heartache—just how much pain had the child endured?
Six-year-old Xingyu doesn't yet understand what a distance of thousands of kilometers means.
He just wanted to go home, crying and begging his adoptive parents to take him to find his family. Until one day, his adoptive parents, with tears in their eyes, told him that the serial killer had died in a car accident, but his father, mother, and brother were all gone.
Lu Xingyu couldn't remember how she got through those days.
He only knew that many nights, he would sneak out of his house and wander the deserted, silent streets, unable to find his way home, his eyes blurred with tears.
He misses his mother, father, and brother.
Those joyful memories of living together as a family of four are hidden in my heart, and my longing for them never ceases.
Cheng Xinglang listened quietly. He knew that his younger brother was braver than anyone else.
That night, through the crack in the wardrobe, Lu Xingyu witnessed everything as well. But over the years, what he repeatedly recalled was not the bloody scene, but the eyes of his brother as he struggled to look at him. When his adoptive parents choked back tears and told him that his brother had also not survived, a seed took root and sprouted in his heart. He wanted to become a doctor to heal those as helpless as his brother.
Now, Lu Xingyu has grown up healthy and safe, and has truly donned a white coat, saving lives around the world. Yesterday, as soon as his plane landed, he called his adoptive parents to let them know he was safe, only to learn from them that his brother was still alive. Without hesitation, he immediately booked a ticket back to Hong Kong.
This time, the destination was crystal clear: to go home.
The trauma of his childhood is the deepest scar in his heart, and in recent years he has not even dared to look at any related reports.
On the return flight, Lu Xingyu couldn't describe her feelings. Everything felt so unreal until now, when her brother was truly standing in front of her.
Suddenly, Lu Xingyu took a step forward and hugged her brother tightly.
Cheng Xinglang's hand landed heavily on his younger brother's shoulder, his fingertips trembling slightly.
"Meteor shower." Fangfang tiptoed and whispered in Qingzai's ear.
“It’s Lu Xingyu.” Zhu Qing chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Silly Fangfang.”
"Silly Qingzai," Shengfang said earnestly, "it's a meteor shower where you can make a wish when you see it and it will come true."
The uncle and nephew stood aside, watching this scene unfold.
The brothers' eyes were clearly moist, yet they restrained themselves, even their stubbornness was identical.
Clang—
The clinking of bottles and jars broke the moment of tenderness.
Cheng Xinglang looked down at the bulging plastic bag in his younger brother's hand: "What's this?"
This is a container for the seasonings the little boy bought. This young master, when he went out, not only carried jingling coins in his hand, but also large bills. The variety of seasonings he bought was so complete, it could practically open a professional restaurant in Dr. Cheng's house.
Just now downstairs, the child brazenly shoved a heavy plastic bag into Lu Xingyu's hands, making her carry it all the way.
“Brother,” Lu Xingyu pointed at Fangfang, “he bosses me around.”
Shengfang tilted her little head innocently, her face full of naivety.
Why is he complaining?
Cheng Xinglang put his arm around his younger brother's shoulder and said with a smile, "He's an elder, so I have to listen to him."
Lu Xingyu looked at Sheng Fang with a puzzled expression.
Fangfang showed her adorable little teeth, as if she were telling him—
You have to listen to me too.
...
On this day, Lu Xingyu finally stepped into her home.
He wasn't in a hurry to tour the house. Because for him, what mattered was never the house, but his family.
Lu Xingyu met her brother's girlfriend.
She is a madam at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, and they met and fell in love while working together. Their tacit understanding is self-evident, and the smiles in their eyes reveal their genuine joy at their reunion.
He also met his brother's future uncle.
I heard that this little kid is also one of the police officers at Yau Ma Tei Police Station. He is four and a half years old, but he speaks like an adult with a lot of eloquence. His little voice is still very childish, which makes me look confused.
The uncle and nephew are not a fraud gang.
For the older brother, they were special.
Four dishes and a soup were laid out on the table, all prepared by Cheng Xinglang himself. He rarely cooked, except for one New Year's Eve reunion dinner at the old house in He Wentian, without fail. But perhaps cooking also requires talent; the dishes before him looked quite presentable.
Lu Xingyu held his chopsticks, the aroma of white rice wafting past his nose. The taste of home was no longer a distant, ethereal memory. As he ate, savoring the warmth before him, the hard-won happiness seemed almost unreal.
Lu Xingyu tasted the sweet and sour pork ribs.
No child can resist the sweet and sour taste; when they were young, the two brothers' chopsticks were always locked in a battle above the plate.
“I’ve tried many times.” Lu Xingyu’s throat tightened. “I can’t make it taste like home. No matter what I do, it just doesn’t look right.”
Cheng Xinglang placed another piece of spare rib on his plate: "Does it look like it now?"
The familiar taste made Lu Xingyu feel as if she had returned to her childhood.
"When did you secretly learn this?" he asked curiously. "Did your father teach you?"
"I figured it out through research," Cheng Xinglang said proudly to Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang. "Right? He wasn't as smart as me when he was little."
Lu Xingyu stopped using her chopsticks and met Fang Fang's sincere big eyes.
Zhu Qing also looked up and met his questioning gaze.
“Really?” The uncle and nephew nodded firmly. “He says that every day.”
The younger brother squinted his eyes: "Hey—"
While the older brother pretended not to hear and silently ate his rice, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
Cheng Xinglang never bowed his head, and even during those difficult days, he did not believe that God would leave him with nothing.
And now, fate has finally given him a positive answer.
...
This family reunion dinner consisted of just a few simple home-style dishes, prepared in advance, and certainly not a lavish meal.
But Cheng Xinglang and Lu Xingyu ate earnestly. For the first time in eighteen years, they sat at the same table, and they were careful not to disturb this beautiful dream.
After dinner, Zhu Qing quietly took Fangfang's little hand.
She knew that both brothers needed time alone.
Zhu Qing had long understood this feeling, just like when her mother had just woken up in the Berlin hospital; it was a moment of reunion that belonged only to the mother and daughter.
"We're going back now," Zhu Qing said.
Cheng Xinglang instinctively picked up his car keys, but she gently pressed his wrist down.
"I drove here today." She shook her car keys in her hand.
"I'll see you downstairs," Cheng Xinglang insisted.
Just as he was about to close the door, he suddenly turned around, gestured with his chin toward the kitchen, and said, "Xingyu, wash the dishes."
Lu Xingyu stood there, stunned, looking down at her hands and then at the mess in the kitchen.
After not seeing each other for many years, he still had to wash the dishes on the first day of their reunion? His brother was just as unceremonious as when they were kids.
The door clicked shut as the lock gently closed.
The streetlights downstairs cast shadows of varying lengths.
Fangfang was having a blast playing the game of stepping on shadows, her chubby little face jiggling with each bounce. The little one was determined that even when she became a powerful adult, she would continue playing this game!
In the night breeze, Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang's whispers brushed past their ears.
He suddenly opened his palm: "Pinch it."
Zhu Qing smiled, gently placing her hand in his palm, their fingers intertwined: "It's not a dream."
I'm not dreaming, my brother really came back.
The long wait has finally paid off, and it was all worth it.
The dim yellow light from the streetlights fell on Cheng Xinglang's sharply defined profile.
He lowered his head and gazed at her. The moonlight clearly outlined every emotion he felt; he made no attempt to hide anything, and beside her, he no longer needed any pretense.
"You've suffered a lot." Zhu Qing squeezed his hand, paused for a moment, and then smiled, "From now on, everything will be sweet."
Cheng Xinglang didn't say anything, but simply pulled her into his arms.
Real breathing, real heartbeat.
He thought that there was no need to dwell on those hardships; the days to come would be sweet.
"Why are you hugging yourselves?" Sheng Fang protested, jumping up and down.
The next second, Shengfang's children experienced the "riding a horse" game on TV for the first time.
He was easily lifted onto Cheng Xinglang's shoulder.
Fangfang wiggled her short legs, grabbed Dr. Cheng's ears with both hands as handles, and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, so tall!"
Zhu Qing had to support the baby's back and stand on tiptoe to ruffle his hair.
The road to the garage wasn't long, but they walked slowly.
A gentle night breeze blew, and Shengfang made a victory sign on Dr. Cheng's broad shoulders, casting her shadow among the three intertwined figures.
Fang Fang in the shadows is no longer the little giant.
It was a huge giant!
...
The younger brother was dawdling, and when Cheng Xinglang returned, he had only just begun to slowly tidy up the kitchen.
The two brothers stood in front of the sink, just like when they were kids playing in the water, one rinsing the dishes and the other drying them, passing them around.
At that time, Cheng Xinglang had to stand on tiptoe, while his younger brother carried a small stool.
And now, they stand side by side.
"It wasn't washed clean."
“Mom was always like that back then,” Lu Xingyu suddenly laughed. “She washed dishes very quickly, but she didn’t get them clean. She always missed the oil at the bottom of the bowls, and in the end, Dad had to redo them.”
“She sneaked away quietly, but her dad pulled her back halfway.” Cheng Xinglang lowered his head and smiled, his gaze lingering on the water droplets dripping from the dishes. The little things in life seemed to take him back to the past. “Back then, the two of us would supervise from the side, and later Mom simply handed over the important task of washing dishes to us.”
The scenes in my memory are incredibly vivid.
The two brothers have grown up and are no longer the little kids who were soaking wet after washing the dishes. Now, the kitchen echoes with the clatter of dishes, the countertops are clean and tidy, and these pots, pans, and colorful condiment bottles give this home the look it should have.
This night was destined to be sleepless for Cheng Xinglang.
He prepared the bedroom next door for his younger brother, but before going to sleep, he came over with his pillow and started making a makeshift bed on the floor without saying a word. It was just like when a child was half asleep and barged into the room, lay down on the floor without explanation, and started acting like a spoiled child.
It was very late at night.
They chatted intermittently about the years they had spent together, tacitly avoiding mentioning the grievances and hardships they had endured, only sharing good news and concealing the bad. During their formative years, the family members they had encountered were kind, and their work had gone smoothly. Those scars remained in their memories, never to be forgotten, but they had scabbed over, and if touched carefully, they no longer hurt.
"My parents would be so happy if they knew."
Lu Xingyu stared at the ceiling.
Cheng Xinglang turned to his side and rested his head on his arm.
Lu Xingyu knew that, in some ways, she had an easier life than her brother.
"Brother," Lu Xingyu's voice was hoarse, "have you been holding on until now? Aren't you exhausted?"
Cheng Xinglang told him that investigating the truth and searching for his younger brother had long become a habit.
Without such a strong conviction, simply living is what one needs to persevere in.
“I just know you’re still alive,” Cheng Xinglang said.
"Unfortunately, I don't know," Lu Xingyu replied softly.
"It's okay." The older brother smiled and said, "You weren't very smart to begin with."
The night grew even deeper.
The fatigue of the long flight finally took hold, and Lu Xingyu's eyelids began to droop. The moment Cheng Xinglang reached out to turn off the light, the person on the bed visibly stiffened.
Cheng Xinglang noticed this, and his eyes darkened.
It turns out that the younger brother is afraid to sleep with the lights off.
With a "snap," the light was switched on again.
Lu Xingyu's eyelids drooped with sleepiness. As the light filled the room again, her tense shoulders relaxed.
He knew he would sleep soundly that night.
Lu Xingyu still had many unspoken words in her heart.
He wanted to say "thank you," because it was this persistence that finally allowed him to find his way home.
But Lu Xingyu knew how her brother would answer.
Cheng Xinglang would probably say—
"No need for thanks, we're practically brothers."
...
This year, Shengfang underwent an allergen test as part of her annual physical examination, following the doctor's advice.
When Fangfang received the report, her eyes lit up like stars.
"You've grown up!" He bounced even more excitedly than a little spring. "Qingzai, mango, mango!"
The report showed that the child was no longer allergic to mangoes.
In other words, he no longer has to settle for the fake mango shaved ice at Temple Street Night Market; from now on, he can eat real mangoes.
On the way home, Zhu Qing deliberately led Fang Fang into a fruit shop and picked out a few large, golden mangoes.
When the uncle and nephew arrived home, they washed their hands and sat down at the dining table, ready to face the challenge.
Are you ready?
The little heads in the flower were nodding incessantly.
Aunt Ping stood to the side, sweating bullets.
What if he gets sick from eating something bad? What if the little prince's little mouth turns into sausage lips?
Aunt Ping even squeezed the cell phone in her apron pocket.
If there is an allergic reaction, should she call an ambulance or have the young lady contact a private doctor?
Zhu Qing took a deep breath: "Let's eat!"
"Should I peel it?" Fangfang poked her chubby cheeks.
"Do you want me to peel it for you?"
"Please." Fangfang suddenly pressed her face against her arm.
This is a trick that Shengfang hasn't used for a long time.
Zhu Qing still couldn't resist his coquettish charm and started peeling a mango for him.
Real mangoes and fake mangoes are just different, that was Fangfang's first reaction when she tasted the delicious mango.
He pursed his lips and ran to look in the mirror every two bites.
"Let it rest, is it swollen?"
No!
All night long, the house was filled with these kinds of "greetings".
Is it swollen now?
Still no.
"Qingzai, Qingzai, go cut the mango."
Do it yourself!
...
After Sheng Peirong regained consciousness, she never visited Sheng Peishan again.
It wasn't that she couldn't bear to, or that she was afraid to face it; she just felt that it wasn't necessary anymore.
Sheng Peirong watched Sheng Peishan grow up. She watched Peishan grow from an infant into a young woman and knew her younger sister's personality better than anyone else. She didn't want to believe that Peishan had cruelly pushed her into the abyss out of jealousy, nor did she want to speculate about her sister's thoughts back then. But even if it was just a moment of willfulness, a single wrong thought, the price was ultimately too heavy.
It wasn't until the prison transferred her sister's visitation request for the fourth time that Sheng Peirong finally agreed to go. Perhaps, this was the last time they should see each other.
The glass partition of the visiting room separated the two people.
Wearing prison clothes, Sheng Peishan raised her hand, pointed to the receiver, and her lips trembled: "Sister..."
My sister only woke up after the final verdict.
While in prison, Sheng Peishan learned of this news by chance when consulting her defense lawyer about the appeal process.
During those years at the Jianuoan Sanatorium, Sheng Peishan would read the newspaper to her sleeping sister every month. She never thought about how she would face her sister if she woke up, and she knew that her sister would never wake up.
But it turns out that miracles really do exist in this world.
"Sister, older sister..."
Have you seen Coco?
Through the cold glass, Sheng Peirong's gaze fell on her younger sister's haggard face.
Her hand never touched the receiver in front of her.
This is how her younger sister, whom she once cherished and doted on, treated her. If Pei-shan had told the truth sooner, the irreparable damage wouldn't have happened. But as for being heartbroken, she was already completely heartbroken. Over the years, Sheng Pei-rong had experienced all sorts of hardships, even walking through the gates of death, and she was no longer moved by people who weren't worth it.
"Sister, how are you feeling? You can walk again now, right?"
“You must have recognized Coco by now… She’s grown up. I saw her halfway up the mountain that day and it felt like I’d seen her before.”
"And my younger brother, how is he?"
In the visiting room, Sheng Peishan's choked voice echoed, filled with tentative, cautious questions. How she longed for the days when sisters could speak their hearts to each other, like a child who had made a mistake and could be forgiven with understanding.
However, she received no response.
Sheng Peirong didn't even want to raise her hand to hold the receiver; she just stared at her quietly, as if she were looking at a stranger.
Sheng Peishan had never seen her sister like this before. Her sister, who was always decisive and efficient in front of others but always sincere to her, was now cold and indifferent.
She knew there was no going back.
Large tears streamed down her face as she poured out her regret, self-blame, and pain to the thickened glass window. She knew that one wrong step led to another, and that she had made a grave mistake, almost ruining her sister's life.
But what's the point of saying all this now?
Finally, Sheng Peishan held up a handwritten piece of paper through the glass.
That was a voluntary declaration of renunciation of property that she had prepared long ago after learning of Sheng Peirong's recovery.
This time, Sheng Peirong finally picked up the receiver.
"Sister, I will contact a lawyer to handle the formal procedures and transfer all the inherited property to your and Coco's names."
"Consider it... compensation."
Sheng Peirong only said one word: "Okay".
Her answer was straightforward and decisive, without any refusal.
This is what Coco deserves.
When family ties are broken, and love and hate are entangled beyond repair, then money is the solution.
Sheng Peirong got up and walked towards the exit.
Sheng Peishan leaned forward and threw herself against the glass, pressing her hands tightly against the cold surface: "Sister—"
She had a vague premonition that this turn might be their last.
Sheng Peirong never looked back.
All the laughter and pain, all the sisterhood, came to an end at this moment.
Inside the black sedan, Sheng Peirong looked out the window.
"Uncle Nian, what are some local specialties in Stanley?" she suddenly asked.
A smile played on Sheng Peirong's lips as she opened the car door, a summer breeze carrying heat rushed towards her.
"Take some back for Coco and Fangfang." She strode forward.
...
Although Lu Xingyu has returned home, eighteen years have passed, and every street and every building in Hong Kong has changed.
He stood on the street, looking at the flashing neon signs, the traffic and the crowds; everything was unfamiliar.
Therefore, in the countless days that followed, his brother, Zhu Qing, and their uncle would always take him through the streets and alleys, as if to make up for the time they had missed.
They took him to the most authentic Hong Kong-style tea restaurant. The turnover rate was very fast, you had to shout to order, and the dishes flew over with a "whoosh" along the edge of the table when they were served. Everyone seemed to be in a great hurry.
The curry fish balls sold on the street, skewered on bamboo sticks, were spicy and chewy. The egg waffles were crispy and fragrant; he found it troublesome to break them apart, so he simply took a big bite. Shengfang then imitated Cheng Xingyu, opening his little mouth wide and taking a big "ooh!"—the egg waffle filled his mouth, making his chubby cheeks puff up even more. The bowl-shaped rice cakes came in many flavors, with a chewy texture and a fragrant taste that lingered on the lips and teeth—a sweet memory.
Those childhood flavors were completely awakened, and when tasted again as an adult, the taste was just as good as it was back then.
As they passed a cart noodle stall, Sheng Fang tugged at her niece's sleeve: "Qingzai, haven't we been here before?"
"Smart baby." Zhu Qing gently rubbed Fang Fang's round face.
"I'm four and a half years old, not a baby anymore!"
"For me, Fangfang will always be there."
Cheng Xinglang greeted the stall owner with a smile.
Fangfang remembers this place. After that motorcycle ride, they sat on a folding stool by the roadside having a late-night snack. That day, as the hustle and bustle subsided, Dr. Cheng said goodbye to them, his figure receding into the distance under the streetlights, all alone. But now, he is surrounded by people.
It was still early, and the stalls were not yet crowded with diners.
The stall owner, an old man, ladled out the soup base and asked with a smile, "Young man, is it bustling today?"
Cheng Xinglang introduced them one by one with a smile.
“I could tell last time!” When introducing Zhu Qing, the old man winked and said to her, “In all these years, I’ve never seen him bring a girl here.”
The young master of the Sheng family looked up and shook his head with a helpless expression.
Even my uncle didn't notice, but he did? What a chatty old man.
Upon learning that the tiny child in front of him was actually his uncle, the old man's expression was one of utter bewilderment, just like most people.
"What?"
Lu Xingyu took the opportunity to squat down and said to Fangfang, "It's not that I'm not smart, you just look like a little liar."
Let Fang Fang jump up.
How dare you talk to an adult like that!
Finally, Cheng Xinglang introduced Lu Xingyu: "My younger brother."
“The two brothers look so alike, you can tell at a glance!” the old man said with a smile.
Laughter filled the air with the rising steam from the rich broth.
They walked through street after street like this.
Whenever Cheng Xinglang met someone he knew, he would introduce them.
Lu Xingyu whispered to Zhu Qing, "How come my brother knows people everywhere he goes?"
"I only found out today too," Zhu Qing said, unable to suppress a laugh.
"Dr. Cheng is cheerful." The younger elder said with admiration, "Good."
When they reached Nathan Road, they met the impeccably dressed broker, Mr. Wong.
The other person stopped abruptly: "Mr. Cheng, what a coincidence?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Manager Wang's gaze swept over the young master of the Sheng family and his niece.
These are two gods of wealth; before he could even greet them, his face was already beaming with a bright smile.
Before Cheng Xinglang could speak, Fangfang puffed out her chest and said in a serious tone, "His younger brother!"
Manager Wang's eyes lit up instantly.
Opportunity always favors the prepared mind!
He immediately began enthusiastically promoting the property: "Mr. Cheng's brother, would you like to see the apartment? There's a discount going on right now!"
I live with my brother.
Agent Wang continued, "Then remember to contact me when your brother gets married!"
Cheng Xinglang smiled and squeezed Zhu Qing's hand: "Thank you for your kind words."
Shengfang tried to pry his hands open, but Cheng Xinglang held on even tighter.
Zhu Qing's eyes crinkled with laughter, and Lu Xingyu couldn't help but laugh out loud as well.
"Come to me for your wedding and buying a house too." Agent Wang smiled and pressed his advantage, turning to Sheng Fang, "The young master too."
Life is tough, and making a living is difficult.
From now on, this family will be enough for him to sell buildings for twenty years.
Manager Wang clenched his fist secretly—
Our future performance depends on you!
————————
[Okay] The story will end in the next chapter.
Happy weekend! Red envelopes are dropping!
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