Chapter 5
After dropping Cheng Ting off at the station, Cheng Xun and Cheng Ying took a taxi back the way they came.
In the car, they sat together in the back seat. Cheng Xun started a game, leaning back lazily and concentrating on controlling his phone. Cheng Ying, bored, leaned closer to him and watched the game he was playing.
Unfortunately, Cheng Ying couldn't understand it, and her second brother ignored her. She turned her head away and stopped looking. She was extremely bored and sighed in frustration.
Just now, when I took my older brother to the station, he would voluntarily give his phone to Cheng Ying, and she played games on it the whole way.
Cheng Ting was more patient with her and better at taking care of her feelings, which was one of the reasons why she liked her older brother more.
Cheng Xun, of course, heard Cheng Ying's dissatisfied sigh. Without even looking up, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Ying picked at her fingers. Facing Cheng Xun, she felt a sense of anger that she dared not express. It was as if a person who was afraid of the strong would back down when faced with a powerful person. She shook her head and said in a muffled voice, "It's nothing."
Cheng Ying turned her head to look out the window, looking sullen. Cheng Xun raised his eyelids to look at her, almost seeing right through her. He took out a cell phone from his pocket, unlocked it, and held it out to Cheng Ying.
Cheng Ying hesitated for a few seconds, looking at the phone. Just as Cheng Xun ran out of patience and was about to take it back, she hurriedly took it from him.
Cheng Ying knew that her second brother had two mobile phones, but she didn't expect him to take both of them with him when he went out. Without thinking much about it, she opened a mini-game and started playing.
Cheng Xun's second cell phone was bought in his third year of junior high school. He was caught playing on his phone during class by his homeroom teacher, who confiscated it on the spot. After being reprimanded, he wrote a self-criticism of several thousand words. Even so, his homeroom teacher only promised to return the phone to him after the high school entrance examination.
Because of this incident, Cheng Xun was severely scolded by his parents. At that time, Cheng Ting was preparing for the college entrance examination. He was already an outstanding student and worked hard. In comparison, Cheng Xun was simply not doing his job properly.
Even now, Cheng Xun still remembers the scene. His parents' angry faces and the barrage of insults that came crashing down on him. He thought his father would be so angry that he would punch and kick him, or at least slap him a few times. Cheng Xun thought this because he remembered that his father would usually get physical whenever he was angry with him, and he was quite angry at the time.
However, to everyone's surprise, Cheng's father did not hit Cheng Xun. He just looked at Cheng Xun with utter disappointment. His eyes were filled with complex emotions, a mixture of disappointment, helplessness, and a little regret, as if he had given up on something he had long held onto.
Cheng Xun understood the look in his eyes at that moment, and clearly realized that he felt hopeless and had given up on himself.
...
Cheng Xun thought that Cheng Ying, who had gotten a phone to play games, would obediently take the car home. However, halfway there, Cheng Ying looked preoccupied again. Cheng Xun couldn't understand what her little head was thinking about all day long.
"Second Brother..." Cheng Ying leaned closer to him again, speaking hesitantly.
Cheng Xun's tone was somewhat impatient: "What do you want now?"
"I want ice cream." Cheng Ying lowered her voice to a whisper. She thought that if it were her older brother sitting here, she wouldn't need to beg for this and worry about being rejected.
"Where do you want to buy it?" Cheng Xun looked at Cheng Ying helplessly. He knew that she had already decided where to buy ice cream before she said that.
Cheng Ying was surprised that her second brother agreed so readily, and her face lit up with joy: "Xiao'ou Park."
Xiou Park is quite close to their neighborhood, only two or three kilometers away. Her parents and eldest brother have all taken her there, but her second brother hasn't. There's an ice cream truck there, and her favorite is chocolate ice cream.
As evening approaches and the sun cools down, Xiou Park becomes more crowded and lively, with people setting up stalls in the open spaces, such as ring toss game stalls and doll coloring stalls.
They got off the bus at the park and went straight to the ice cream truck. There was a group of people around the truck, including adults with children and teenagers.
Cheng Xun glanced at the chaotic crowd and didn't force his way in. He stood leisurely to the side, hoping to wait until the crowd thinned out. Cheng Ying, however, was anxious and wished she could rush into the crowd, but she was penniless and could only rely on her second brother.
Cheng Ying looked up and opened her mouth, trying to persuade her second brother to squeeze in and buy her chocolate ice cream. With her second brother's tall and slender figure, he would have an advantage in the crowd, and the shop owner would definitely hear his request first if he squeezed in.
But before Cheng Ying could say what was on her mind, Cheng Xun grabbed her by the collar and led her to a chair near the RV.
Cheng Xun sat down, propped himself up on the chair with his hands behind him, and said with his head slightly raised, "Let's wait a while before we go buy it. You're not in a hurry to go home, are you?"
Cheng Ying looked at her second brother's usual expressionless face. He was wearing a baseball cap, and his dark eyes were hidden in the shadows, making him appear even more indifferent. Cheng Ying had no choice but to swallow the words she wanted to say. She obediently sat down in the chair and nodded.
As if venting her anger, Cheng Ying sat at the other end of the chair, the furthest away from her second brother. She looked around, intending to take out her phone to kill time, but after searching all her pockets and checking the bench, she couldn't find it.
Cheng Ying panicked instantly, realizing that she had left her second brother's phone in the taxi. The thought of this was like a bolt from the blue. After all, she was just a child who was about to turn ten. Everyone at home except her second brother spoiled her, so she was immediately at a loss when something happened.
A bead of sweat trickled down her cheek from her forehead. Cheng Ying looked up nervously at Cheng Xun, who was fiddling with his phone with one hand while looking down. Afraid of being scolded by her second brother if she told him, she struggled internally and didn't dare to tell him immediately.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire park, and the wind was still somewhat muggy. Seeing that there were fewer people in front of the ice cream truck, Cheng Xun stood up and turned his head to see Cheng Ying huddled on the bench with her head bowed low.
Cheng Xun walked up to Cheng Ying, bent down, and grabbed her braid to make her lift her head. "Come on, what flavor do you want?"
Cheng Ying looked up, and Cheng Xun saw her unfocused eyes, her small face wrinkled, and a few drops of sweat falling to the ground. He almost thought she was crying.
Cheng Xunzhen found children of this age quite troublesome, their enthusiasm fluctuating wildly. He sighed softly and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Second Brother, my phone... I forgot my phone in the car." Cheng Ying sat in her chair, fidgeting nervously with her hands, looking up at Cheng Xun with evasive eyes, and stammered, "I didn't mean to..."
Cheng Xun interrupted her, straightened up, frowned slightly, and said with a hint of anger, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Cheng Ying whispered, "I'm afraid you'll scold me..."
Cheng Xun and Cheng Ying were not close. Cheng Xun simply felt that there was some distance between them. He did not know that his image in his sister's heart was so cold and heartless. He also did not know that his sister was afraid of his expressionless and indifferent face, and was also afraid of his cold personality.
Just now, Cheng Ying could tell from her second brother's slightly darkened expression, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and his cold, deep-set eyes that clearly showed his displeasure. Because of her inner guilt, his expression appeared frighteningly gloomy in Cheng Ying's eyes.
Cheng Ying lowered her head, feeling both ashamed and worried, avoiding looking at her second brother's face.
Upon hearing Cheng Ying's words, Cheng Xun was momentarily stunned, then turned his head away indifferently. He didn't notice Cheng Ying's flustered state after causing trouble, let alone try to comfort her.
Actually, Cheng Xun's tone and attitude were a bit rushed just now not because Cheng Ying left her phone in the car, but because she didn't tell him immediately after discovering it.
Cheng Xun sat back down in his chair without saying a word, holding his phone in one hand. He opened his contacts and dialed another phone. As expected, the driver answered.
He briefly explained the situation to the driver, who was a bit irritable and swore at him. The driver then indicated that the car was heading towards the park and asked him to come back to the place where he had gotten off in fifteen minutes.
...
In the evening, Song Qiuxuan rode her bicycle home from the library. Passing by Xiou Park, she had the idea to buy ice cream, so she parked her bicycle and strolled into the park.
Song Qiuxuan arrived at the ice cream truck and said to the owner, "I'd like a vanilla ice cream."
"Okay."
After Song Qiuxuan scanned the QR code to pay with her phone, she looked around listlessly. She was somewhat surprised when she saw Cheng Xun.
Cheng Xun sat on a bench not far away, wearing a white T-shirt and loose black pants. His simple outfit made him look refreshingly clean. He wore a black baseball cap, and his profile was cold and sharp. He was talking on the phone with his phone to his ear, his face indifferent. He seemed to notice something the other person said, and his expression turned sour. He reluctantly moved the phone away from him.
Song Qiuxuan glanced at him twice, then shifted his gaze to the girl sitting next to him. The girl had a pained expression on her face and kept looking up to observe his expression.
"Your ice cream is ready."
Song Qiuxuan's gaze was drawn back by the shop owner's voice. She stood there holding her ice cream, took a couple of licks, and involuntarily looked in Cheng Xun's direction. Cheng Xun had already hung up the phone by then, and Song Qiuxuan walked over.
Cheng Xun noticed a figure swaying in his direction. He looked up and saw Song Qiuxuan.
Song Qiuxuan met his gaze, smiled slightly, and greeted him in a very cliché way: "Cheng Xun, what a coincidence."
Outside the school, Song Qiuxuan wasn't wearing her school uniform. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt and denim shorts, revealing a pair of straight, shapely, and bright white legs. Her face, with its gentle smile, had delicate and tender features, and she exuded a pure and innocent charm. She stood in the park like a beautiful sight.
Because Song Qiuxuan sat in front of Cheng Xun at school, Cheng Xun was used to seeing her in her school uniform. Although she didn't look bad in her school uniform, Cheng Xun was still a little surprised to see her dressed differently.
"What a coincidence, you're here to buy ice cream too." Cheng Xun's gaze moved upwards, watching Song Qiuxuan take a bite of the ice cream in her hand.
Song Qiuxuan's attention was drawn to the word "also," and she looked curiously at the girl who was in a bad mood.
The moment Cheng Ying and Song Qiuxuan made eye contact, Cheng Ying immediately lowered her head. She was still feeling ashamed, uneasy, and a little angry after seeing Cheng Xun's cold face. Although she was the one who caused the trouble, she still felt that her second brother wouldn't be angry with her.
"Cheng Ying." Cheng Xun was almost amused by her appearance. He didn't scold or yell at her, but the driver instead berated him for being so careless at his age.
Cheng Ying ignored him, turning her head stiffly and sullenly to stare elsewhere.
Upon hearing Cheng Xun's address to the girl, Song Qiuxuan looked at the two people who didn't resemble each other and exclaimed in surprise, "Is this your sister?"
"Hmm." Cheng Xun looked at Cheng Ying like this and felt a little annoyed. His tone was cold and indifferent. He subconsciously reached into his pocket for his cigarette case, wanting to smoke a cigarette, but after glancing at Song Qiuxuan, he ultimately didn't take it out.
Sensing the awkwardness between the brother and sister, Song Qiuxuan took two steps forward, approached the little girl, bent down, and softly asked, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Ying was in the wrong first, and the feeling of being wronged was only a small part of her emotions. She could have just endured it and let it pass. But whenever someone asked her what was wrong, that feeling of being wronged was magnified.
Cheng Ying raised her small face, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to sob.
Song Qiuxuan was stunned, completely unexpected that a single question would make her cry. She was extremely embarrassed and looked at Cheng Xun for help.
However, seeing Cheng Xun's indifferent attitude, Song Qiuxuan could only step in to comfort Cheng Ying herself, saying as gently as possible, "Don't cry."
Song Qiuxuan, who has no younger siblings, was extremely inexperienced in calming a child down. Holding an ice cream in one hand, she took out a tissue from her pocket with the other and was about to hand it to the little girl who was crying so hard when Cheng Xun stopped her.
Cheng Xun stood up, held out his hand to block the tissue, and said, "You don't need to give it to her. You have ice cream on your hands, keep it for yourself."
As he spoke, he squatted down and roughly wiped away the tear stains on Cheng Ying's face with his fingertips. Cheng Ying struggled and turned her face away to prevent him from wiping her, so he pressed her head down with his hand and turned it back to her head, without any gentleness.
Upon hearing this, Song Qiuxuan looked down and saw that it was true. She was so focused on the little girl that she didn't even notice the ice cream melting on her hands. Seeing that Cheng Xun had already wiped away Cheng Ying's tears, she wiped her hands with a tissue.
Cheng Xun asked dryly, "Want some more ice cream?" He wasn't good at sweet-talking people, and this was already his biggest concession.
Cheng Ying, however, didn't appreciate it and stared at the ground without saying a word.
"Fine, don't eat then. Come with me to get your phone." Cheng Xun said irritably, grabbing Cheng Ying's sleeve and pulling her up, but she was glued to the chair and couldn't move an inch.
Song Qiuxuan stood beside the chair, eating her rapidly melting ice cream while watching the brother and sister pull at each other. She didn't know what had happened between them that caused them to be angry with each other, and she had no reason to interfere too much.
"Cheng Ying, do you want to spend the night here?" Cheng Xun frowned, his sharp jawline tightening.
Cheng Ying shook off the hand gripping her wrist, her eyes wide, and said defiantly, "No, Mom and Dad will definitely come looking for me if they find out. You have the weirdest temper in the whole family, and you treat me the worst. I hate you the most. The neighbor is right. You're not as good as my older brother. You're idle all day long and you'll definitely amount to nothing in the future."
That's such childish talk! Song Qiuxuan paused in her ice cream eating, then casually glanced at Cheng Xun's face to observe his reaction. Sure enough, Cheng Xun's expression changed, and he gave a soft snort.
Cheng Ying belatedly realized that she had said the wrong thing, and then belatedly felt fear.
The driver called back. Cheng Xun glanced at the ringing phone, then looked up at Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying shrank back as if burned by his cold gaze.
"Could you watch her for me for a bit? Just for a few minutes," Cheng Xun said, turning to Song Qiuxuan, who was still there.
The phone kept ringing like a death knell, and Cheng Ying couldn't be dragged away for the time being, so she could only ask her to look after it for a while.
"Can."
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