The sun was warm and golden, shining softly over the Shen family's garden. Birds chirped in the trees, and butterflies fluttered around the blooming flowers. A gentle breeze made the tall grass sway, and the stone path felt warm under tiny feet.
Lian Yue stood near the big stone steps, holding her teddy bear close. She wore a fluffy white dress with tiny blue flowers stitched along the hem, and pink shoes that squeaked with every step. Her cheeks were round and rosy, like soft little peaches, and her wide eyes blinked slowly as she looked out at the garden.
Her braided pigtails bounced as she walked, tied with light blue silk ribbons that matched the flowers on her dress. Everything around her felt big, bright, and strange. The world she once knew was gone, but today the sunshine felt soft and kind.
In the garden, Shen Tinglan stood with two boys, his friends. They were playing together with wooden sticks in their hands, pretending something she didn't quite understand. Tinglan was quiet, not laughing loudly like the others. He simply watched the game, calm and thoughtful.
Lian Yue saw him and took a small step onto the grass.
From where he stood, Tinglan noticed her right away. He paused, the wooden stick still in his hand, and looked at the little girl standing all alone.
She looked so small.
Her dress puffed around her knees, and her arms wrapped tightly around the teddy bear, as if letting go would make it disappear.
So small, he thought. So soft. Like a kitten.
His friends kept playing, their voices rising in cheerful noise, but Tinglan didn't move. When she reached the edge of the garden, her big eyes stared up at him. She didn't speak, just waited quietly.
Tinglan walked over slowly. He didn't smile broadly, but crouched in front of her and looked at her rosy cheeks.
She's not noisy. That's good.She looks like she might fall down any second.
He gently pinched one of her cheeks with his fingers.
"So round," he said softly.
She giggled, her small fingers gripping her bear tighter.
"Can I play?" she asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Tinglan glanced back at his friends, who had finally noticed them. Song Yan, the loud one with messy hair and a missing front tooth, ran up.
"Yue Yue! You're tiny!" he exclaimed with a laugh. "I'm Song Yan!"
Lin Zhou followed, quiet and neat, adjusting the round glasses slipping down his nose. "Hi, Yue Yue," he said politely.
"She can play with us," Tinglan said simply.
Song Yan grinned. "Of course! She's your little sister now, so she's ours too!"
Lian Yue looked up at Tinglan, unsure. "Really?"
Tinglan gave a small nod. "Yes."
He didn't explain more, but to her, it was enough.
They played together under the warm sun. Lian Yue ran after them, her pink shoes squeaking, her teddy bear flopping in her arms. She didn't understand all the rules, but she laughed when they laughed, and clapped her hands when they cheered.
Sometimes she tripped, but Tinglan was always there to help her up. Sometimes she couldn't keep up, and he slowed down to walk beside her.
She's not hard to take care of, he thought. Just needs someone to hold her hand.
As the sky turned golden-orange, they all sat under the old maple tree. A maid brought out a tray of juice and cookies. Lian Yue's cheeks were flushed from running, and grass clung to her dress, but she didn't mind.
Song Yan handed her a bunny-shaped cookie. "Here, for the tiniest hero!"
She giggled and took it carefully.
Tinglan sat beside her, sipping his juice slowly, his eyes calm.
"Brother Tinglan," she whispered. "Thank you."
He glanced at her, then reached out and gently pinched her cheek again.
"Still round," he said.
She laughed, crumbs on her lips.
Maybe having a little sister isn't so bad, he thought quietly.
Later that evening, the sky was soft and pink. Lian Yue sat on her bed, her hair loose around her shoulders. Liu Yuyan gently brushed it with long strokes, humming a lullaby.
"You were happy today," Liu Yuyan said, smiling.
Lian Yue nodded sleepily. "I played with Brother Tinglan."
"He's a good brother," Liu Yuyan said softly, tying her hair with a ribbon. "He watches over you."
Lian Yue yawned, lying down with her teddy bear in her arms.
"Brother Tinglan said... I'm his sister now."
"You are," Liu Yuyan whispered, pulling the blanket over her. "And we're your family."
Lian Yue closed her eyes, her breathing slow and steady.
Today, she wasn't lonely.
She felt safe.