Zhou Xiaoling’s heart twisted at the sound of Lin Zihao calling her “sister.” When he’d been well, he’d hardly given her a second glance. Now, he was calling for her so sweetly, his eyes clear and bright as morning dew—impossible to refuse.

Strangely, she even felt a surge of protectiveness.

He tugged at her hand. “Sister, did you hear me? Stay with me. I don’t like that grumpy brother with the dark face. He’s too mean.”

Zhou Xiaoling couldn’t help but laugh at his description of Zhou Huaian. She nodded. “Alright, I’ll stay. But you have to behave.”

“I will,” Lin Zihao promised quickly.

After dropping Lin Xiaoxiao at school, Zhou Huaian took the bus home.

Li Yunlan met him at the door, holding An’an. “You’re back so late! Have you eaten? There are steamed buns and congee warming on the stove—shall I ask the auntie to heat them up?”

Zhou Huaian didn’t refuse. “Yes, please.”

An’an reached for her father the moment she saw him, but Li Yunlan, noticing the faint smell of disinfectant on Zhou Huaian’s clothes, tried to distract her. “Let Daddy shower and change first, okay?”

But An’an wouldn’t have it. She squirmed, arms outstretched, crying, “Dada! Hold!”

Remembering Lin Xiaoxiao’s warning about hospital germs, Zhou Huaian held back. “Wait for Daddy, sweetheart. I’ll be right down.”

An’an cried until he returned, clean and changed, then reached for him again.

Zhou Huaian took her in his arms. Across the room, Qianqian and Xuanxuan were contentedly munching on thin apple slices by the coffee table, utterly uninterested in his return.

Li Yunlan offered to take her so he could eat properly, but An’an shook her head firmly, clutching Zhou Huaian’s shirt and protesting, “No, no, no!”

He patted her back. “It’s fine, Mom. I can manage.” Then, growing serious, he added, “There’s something I’d like to discuss.”

Li Yunlan sat down nervously, worried he might be thinking of moving out.

“A comrade of mine was injured,” Zhou Huaian began. “You know him—Lin Zihao.”

He’d visited Beijing with Zhou Huaian before and had been to the Zhou home.

“Lin Zihao?” Li Yunlan’s eyes widened. “Is it serious? Oh, and isn’t he Xiaoling’s cousin?”

Zhou Huaian nodded. “It’s fairly serious—a head injury. He’s conscious now, but his mental age has regressed to that of a six- or seven-year-old. I was wondering… if it’s not too much trouble, perhaps he could stay with us for a while. If not, I can arrange something else.”

“Of course he can stay!” Li Yunlan said immediately. “There’s a small room downstairs we can tidy up. No one should be alone outside in winter.” She sighed sadly. “Such a fine young man… His parents would be heartbroken. He doesn’t want them to worry, does he? I understand. Bring him here. He’s family, after all.”

Zhou Huaian nodded gratefully. “Thank you. I’ll bring him home once he’s discharged. It’ll mean more work for everyone.”

“Nonsense,” Li Yunlan waved him off. “A full house is a happy house. I’m happiest when all of you are home.”

An’an, unhappy that her father was paying more attention to Grandma than to her, began babbling insistently and pushing at his arm.

Li Yunlan chuckled and stood up. “Look at this little one—getting jealous! I’ll get out of your way then.”

She went to find the auntie to prepare the spare room, moving a spare bed and fresh bedding inside.

…

At the hospital, Zhou Xiaoling found herself negotiating with a surprisingly cunning Lin Zihao. Despite having a child’s mind, he had his own ideas.

That afternoon, he refused to take his medicine, clutching his stomach and claiming it hurt.

Zhou Xiaoling took out a piece of White Rabbit candy. “How about some candy if you take your medicine?”

Lin Zihao glanced at it and turned away—some part of him still disliked sweets. “My stomach hurts. Can’t take medicine.”

Seeing that didn’t work, Zhou Xiaoling pretended to leave. “Well, if you won’t take it, I’m going.”

Terrified, Lin Zihao jumped out of bed, barefoot, and grabbed her hand. “Sister, don’t go! I’ll take it.”

She looked up at him—taller than her, his hair falling over his forehead, his gaze utterly sincere—and sighed inwardly. Softly, she said, “Get back in bed, take your medicine, and I’ll stay.”

Obediently, he climbed back, swallowed the pills, and opened his mouth wide to show her.

Zhou Xiaoling fought a smile, unwrapped the candy, and popped it into his mouth. “Good boy. But no more tricks next time.”

He nodded, lay down meekly, and let her tuck him in.

Wherever she moved in the room, his eyes followed her, afraid she might disappear if he looked away.

…

When Lin Xiaoxiao returned from school, she went with Zhou Huaian to the hospital to check on Lin Zihao and accompany Zhou Xiaoling home later.

The moment Lin Zihao saw Zhou Huaian enter, he seemed to guess why he’d come. He gripped Zhou Xiaoling’s hand. “Sister, you promised to stay. You can’t go.”

She patted his hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not going.”

Zhou Huaian, still struggling to reconcile this version of Lin Zihao with the one he knew, said flatly, “I’ll stay with you tonight. It’s dark out—ghosts come out. Your sister can’t fight ghosts. I’ll protect you.”

Lin Xiaoxiao stared in amusement as Zhou Huaian spun the tale—and as Lin Zihao actually considered it seriously before nodding. “Okay, you stay. But sister stays too.”

Zhou Huaian kept a stern face. “Sister can’t stay overnight. It’s not proper. If you keep fussing, I’ll leave.”

Lin Zihao agreed, though he looked thoroughly dejected.

As they left the hospital, Zhou Xiaoling fretted. “Do you think my brother will be too harsh with him? He’s just a child now.”

Lin Xiaoxiao thought of the surreal situation and smiled wryly. “A mischievous one, though. Don’t worry—your brother won’t hurt him.”