Nie Yunjun braced herself on the banister, descending the stairs slowly, feeling weak in her hands and feet, yet somehow her heart felt as if it were stuffed with cotton, indescribably uncomfortable.
Chu Jinzhao put down the game controller and stood up, silently heading to the kitchen.
On this side, Nie Yunjun sat next to Xiaozhi and took his hand.
"Xiaozhi."
Unlike before, Xiaozhi no longer avoided eye contact; upon hearing his sister's call, he turned his head, his eyes clear and bright, his face beaming with a joyful smile.
"Sister..." he suddenly spoke, uttering these two words.
——
In front of the long kitchen table.
Chu Jinzhao brought over a plate of food, a freshly made beef curry rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg, and a few stalks of green vegetables, the aroma wafting through the air.
"Your wounds haven't healed, better to eat standing up," he said.