Chapter 209: I Have an Older Brother — A Really Awesome Older Brother
On the way back to school.
Lin Wan Ning obediently trailed behind Long Aotian, acting like the perfect little sister.
“Brother.”
Long Aotian stopped and looked at Lin Wan Ning, who was calling him, with a gentle smile. “What’s up?”
“It’s nothing, I just feel… like you’re super happy today. You’re even smiling while walking. Last time you said I walk around staring at my phone, so you should also pay more attention, okay? We’re about to cross the street.”
“Sorry about that, I let my little sister worry about me,” Long Aotian chuckled. He really did feel a tiny bit more cheerful today—his voice sounded different, lighter somehow.
“So… are you and Yuying really together now?” Lin Wan Ning’s voice was soft and cautious.
Ling Aotian looked at Lin Wan Ning with her head lowered and her eyes shadowed, and his smile faded gradually.
As memories of her earlier confession to him flashed by, seemingly buried deep in her mind, he could tell that with time and their growing interaction, she seemed to have almost forgotten that moment altogether.
Seeing her like this, Long Aotian nodded and said softly, “Yeah, she’s very important to me.”
“So…”
Lin Wan Ning finally heard the words she wanted, and a faint smile appeared on her cold, beautiful face. “Brother, I respect you.”
“You said that as long as I call you ‘brother,’ you would protect me. I’ve truly kept that in my heart, so… you’re still my brother.”
Long Aotian watched the earnest smile on her face and her bright eyes. He gently tapped her forehead with his index finger. “Always and forever. The biggest benefit of being your brother is—words are meant to be kept.”
“Thanks, Brother,” Lin Wan Ning said, turning to face Long Aotian with a bright smile. “It’s really good to have a brother.”
The ice melted away, the snow lotus bloomed—at this moment, Lin Wan Ning’s happiness was passed directly to Long Aotian.
“Foolish girl, watch your step,” Long Aotian advised with a smile.
“Brother, would you like to hear my story?” she asked, her tone playful.
“Just say it, brother’s listening.” In the original novel, Lin Wan Ning’s past was skimmed over, never detailed. Long Aotian had always wondered what kind of story lurked in that brief mention of her life.
She twirled her fingers behind her back, walking playfully beside Long Aotian: “Where should I start? From when I was little, I guess?”
Her tone was surprisingly relaxed, as if she were recounting a simple story.
“When I was very, very small, my parents split. Dad didn’t want me, and Mom left me at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. She didn’t come back for a long, long time.”
“Actually, Wan Ning was always very cheerful then. Teachers, Grandma, Grandpa—they all said I had a nice voice and would become a singer someday.”
“Without Dad and with Mom gone, I didn’t feel sad. Because Grandma and Grandpa gave me all their love, I was happy back then.”
Her eyes sparkled with pure happiness as she spoke, her expression sincere.
“But when I was seven, my mom came back. She found a new house in the city and took me away from my grandparents.”
“I was still very young then, arriving in a strange city, in a strange ‘home,’ and had to call a stranger ‘dad’…”
Although she still smiled, her smile was different now—Long Aotian could sense it.
He gently stroked her long hair, silent but trying to send her strength with that touch.
“Brother, do you think that man treated me badly?”
“It’s not like that. Once, he was actually pretty nice to me.”
“But then I got a younger brother.”
“I liked my little brother, but that man didn’t believe me—he didn’t believe even my biological mom.”
Hearing this, Lin Wan Ning looked at Long Aotian. “Brother, why do people change so completely in an instant?”
“But inside, I still feel grateful to them. They helped me get into the music academy I loved from when I was little.”
“But sometimes I would secretly feel sad. I’d think—what if I had an older brother? Then I wouldn’t always need protection…”
After a brief pause, she let out a soft laugh. “Fortunately, now I do have a brother.”
That short story, just a few sentences, changed her entire life.
Initially, despite the absence of her parents, Wan Ning was happy; she was joyful.
By the end, she gained a strange dad again, her mom returned, but she lost her happiness, her joy fading away.
The girl who loved to laugh gradually turned cold.
Long Aotian knew that these words could hardly encapsulate her life after seven. Maybe it wasn’t as simple as she described, maybe she just didn’t want to worry herself…
Because, really, it’s impossible to sum up everything in a few sentences…
“You’re very strong.”
Hearing this, Lin Wan Ning pressed her lips and smiled, her smile trembling slightly as tears welled up. The beauty spot at the corner of her eye looked especially gentle beneath her blushing cheeks. “Don’t you think I’m just clinging to you?”
Long Aotian chuckled softly, reaching up to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.
Once wiped away, they were gone—if they hadn’t fallen, she wasn’t truly sad…
“Everyone has unhappy moments. If you can’t get out of them, I’ll pull you out,” he said gently, smoothing her tousled hair with his palm again.
“Don’t dwell on the past. Don’t worry about the future. Don’t make yourself difficult. It’s not your fault. You’re already excellent—you’re amazing. If it were me, I might not be better. You’re already very good.”
“I can’t hold a umbrella open for you in your heart, and I can’t truly empathize, but I can be your loyal listener—help you digest some of the stress and sadness.”
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Long Aotian’s words made Lin Wan Ning’s heart ache, then unexpectedly, a warm wave flooded her, overflowing with all kinds of emotions.
The girl slightly lifted her delicate, cool face, looking at him with a quivering expression—her teary eyes stubbornly refusing to let tears fall. “Brother, can I hug you?”
Long Aotian looked at her shyly smiling face. He stepped closer, gently wrapping her in his arms, his hand softly patting her back.
Feeling the embrace of her brother, breathing in his scent from just a short distance, her heart was comforted.
Lin Wan Ning closed her eyes with a smile, tears slipping down her face, finally soaking into Long Aotian’s clothes—like they never existed.
“As long as you call me ‘brother,’ I will always protect you.”
He gently loosened her from the embrace. “Your dreams will come true—you’ll become the best singer, shining on stage with your youth, Lin Wan Ning.”
“Bro, you seem more confident than me,” she said, her nose red but smiling happily.
“Because I’ve worked hard. Not just once, never giving up. The heavens are fair—you’ve been so diligent, just chasing an old childhood dream. The sky will surely give you a beautiful future.”
“Thanks, Brother, for listening to my mopey words and still sticking by my side.”
“You call me ‘Brother,’ so do you think I care about that?” Long Aotian said mischievously, giving her forehead a light tap. “Some things, some words, only sound better when you say them out loud.”
“So if you’re upset about something, tell me. I’ll be your most loyal listener.”
Lin Wan Ning took a deep breath. Yeah—speaking things out really clears the mind…
It’s great—I have a brother. A really good, wonderful brother.
【Actually, since January 10th, our family’s been busy due to some issues. The vulture’s been exhausted, but luckily it’s all over now. Today, I’ll post two chapters. I’ll make up all the extra chapters I promised to the boss. Please bear with me (begging!).】
【Thanks to the boss for the divine gift and the flower shower, and thanks to everyone for continuously supporting me with your love. Truly grateful.】
