My Youth Began With Him

Jing Zhixin said, ”Sis, love isn’t wrong, and the fault isn’t with you. The Qin family is despicable to use such underhanded tactics to force you two apart back then. The truth is, you were hurt inside too, weren’t you? You’re also still deeply in love with Qin Chu, right?”

”Zhixin…” Huo Mian suddenly didn’t know what to say.

”I’m not just a kid that knows nothing. Also, I know about your breakup with Zhiyuan. The other day, I called him. I knew from his tone that something wasn’t right. Even though he didn’t say it directly, I knew something was wrong between the two of you. Before Mom ended up in the hospital, Qin Chu came to our home. Linking these two incidents together, I thought that maybe you never liked Zhiyuan, Sis. You’re still in love with Qin Chu, and you can’t let go. So, I won’t blame you. Dad is dead, and the dead can’t be brought back to life. All I hope is that Sis, you don’t leave yourself with any more regrets from now on. Love isn’t something you can force. I read in a magazine that love is something that only you know yourself. Zhiyuan might be a good guy, but you don’t love him. I don’t want my sister to spend the rest of her life with a man she doesn’t love. If you still like Qin Chu, then be with him. Even if Mom doesn’t approve it, even if she hates you or screams at you, I won’t. I would understand. Blame should be placed on those responsible, and what the Qin Family did can’t be pinned on Qin Chu. So, I’m going to say this again, I’ll be happy as long as you are happy, Sis.”

By the time Jing Zhixin finished speaking, Huo Mian’s face was already streaked with tears.

She wasn’t a crybaby. After breaking up with Ning Zhiyuan, she hadn’t shed a single tear.

However, what her little brother said shook her to her core.

Her brother was only nineteen years old. How precious was it that he could put himself in her shoes and understand what she had been through.

She suddenly remembered a formerly-popular phrase, ’Most pay attention to how high you fly, but only those who care for you worry about how tired you must be.’

Her brother was such a sweet boy, always encouraging Huo Mian when she was down.

These past years, aside from supporting her little brother financially, Huo Mian felt like she really hadn’t been a good sister.

At the very least, she never cared for or worried about her brother like he did for her, and she never paid attention to what her brother was really thinking about.

”Sis, stop crying. You’re not a kid anymore. Here, wipe your face, you look like a mess.” Jing Zhixin handed her a pack of tissues.

Huo Mian dried her tears, though her breathing hadn’t yet settled.

”Zhixin, I never knew that you understood everything. Thank you for being so understanding.”

”What’s this nonsense? We’re siblings! You and Mom are the two people I love the most in the whole wide world.” Jing Zhixin smiled, revealing a pair of little protruding canine teeth.

Huo Mian’s tears twinkled as they caught the light.

She thought, Uncle Jing, please watch over Zhixin and I. Make it so that we will always be okay, no more disturbances. Neither of us can take any more loss.

It was already 1 PM when they walked out of the public cemetery.

”Don’t you have to go to the library to study?”

”I still have time. Sis, I’m so hungry. Let’s go eat something.”

Huo Mian nodded.

After that, the two took the bus back into the city and found a little restaurant near Jing Zhixin’s university. They ordered two dishes and soup.

Although the meal was simple, they still enjoyed it a lot.

Jing Zhixin was in the second semester of his freshman year. The university wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t bad either. It was technically a second-tier university.

He studied civil engineering and from what she had heard, he planned on becoming an engineer after graduation.

”Sis, when I graduate and find a job, I can support our family alongside you. When that happens, you and Mom won’t need to work so hard anymore.”

”Yeah.” Huo Mian nodded with a smile on her face.

After lunch, Huo Mian bought some fruit for her brother and walked him all the way to his school gates.

”Sis, go home already. Call me if anything comes up,” Jing Zhixin said, waving goodbye at Huo Mian.

When Huo Mian returned to her apartment, she spent the entire afternoon doing a thorough cleaning of the place. As someone in the medical field, she was obsessed with hygiene.

It was nearly 6 PM by the time she finished.

Exhausted, she curled up on the couch, watching TV to pass the time. Right then, her phone rang. Peering at the caller-ID, she saw that it was an unfamiliar number.

”Are you Jing Zhixin’s sister?” the boy on the other end sounded frantic as he asked.

”I am.”

”I’m Jing Zhixin’s roommate. Jing Zhixin was just in a car accident on campus. He is on his way to the First Hospital for emergency care. You should hurry over.”

Upon hearing this, Huo Mian felt her vision swim. She almost fainted.