Farewell to Summer, a Flickering Bond

The summer days passed swiftly, and before they knew it, the new school term loomed on the horizon. Yesterday, Shen Lang's elder brother and sister had returned from their visit, with Grandpa personally driving them back. Although Grandpa joined them for lunch, he declined their pleas to stay longer. Despite the three siblings' earnest attempts to keep him there, Grandpa brushed them off with a smile and headed back.

It was understandable—both Grandpa and Grandma ran a sizable home appliance store. Although they were not directly involved in day-to-day operations, they still had plenty of matters to oversee. Driving his grandchildren back was something of an exception, as he typically wouldn't make the journey himself. There were, of course, other, unspoken reasons behind his quick departure, rooted in the strained history between Shen Lang's parents.

As Grandpa prepared to leave, Shen Lang discreetly loaded a few carefully prepared packages into the trunk of the car. Although it had been a while since he last saw his grandfather, a rare softening appeared in his normally stoic expression. Grandpa Shen, knowing his grandson well, had observed his reticence grow over the years. Young Shen Lang, who had once shown a bright, carefree smile, now wore a face shaped by experiences that often left him silent and withdrawn.

"Xiao Lang," Grandpa said gently, breaking the silence, "why did you stay at Grandpa's house for just two days this summer? Your brother and sister stayed longer—you could've done the same. Don't you get lonely at home alone? Your grandma, you know, keeps pestering me to bring you back. She's worried about you. Or… is this about that scoundrel, Shen Zui?"

Shen Lang shook his head, then nodded in a thoughtful acknowledgment. "Dad's alone at home, and he seemed a bit lonely. Oh, and these things here—Dad put them together for you and Grandma. By the way, Dad and I have been talking… He's gotten to know a colleague a bit better recently. Would you like to meet her sometime?"

"Ah?" Grandpa blinked, visibly thrown by the suggestion. After a few moments, he sighed and smiled wryly. "We've spent enough time worrying about your mom's situation. We won't interfere here. If your dad finds someone he feels comfortable with, that's all that matters. Eventually, it's their lives to share. As for your brother and sister—they might not quite understand all of this. Try to keep them from getting too wrapped up in things. If it becomes too much, I'll bring you all back to stay at my place."

Shen Lang nodded. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't hold you up any longer; otherwise, you'll reach home too late, and Grandma will blame me. Please tell her I'm sorry and that I'll come visit when I get a chance."

After bidding farewell to Grandpa, the three siblings returned home together. Shen Zheng and Shen Nan regarded their younger brother with a mix of affection and exasperation.

"Come on, little brother, can't you smile a bit more?" Shen Zheng teased. "Someone who didn't know any better might think we're your mortal enemies! After all, we share the same roots, born from the same mother—just at different times, that's all."

Shen Lang, seemingly unfazed, looked at them blankly and simply asked, "Shower?" When they didn't respond, he strode past them into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Shen Zheng and Shen Nan exchanged glances of amused defeat.

"It's hopeless," Shen Zheng sighed. "If we didn't know for sure that we're triplets, I'd seriously start to wonder if he's really our brother. I mean, maybe there was some mix-up back when we were born?"

Leaning against the door frame, Shen Nan gazed at the ceiling with a look of resignation. "Big brother, don't you think your imagination is a bit overactive? Still… I can't deny it feels strange. I mean, all three of us go to the same school, but everyone there knows only you and I are siblings. Hardly anyone seems aware that there are three of us. Sometimes, I don't even know what to say. It's just… well, it's frustrating, to put it mildly."

"Come to think of it," Shen Zheng mused, "have you noticed how, a few years ago, Grandma always gave Dad strict instructions whenever we returned home? She'd make sure he took special care of all three of us. But starting last year, she stopped saying anything about it. Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa, too… they've all been oddly attentive toward him—our little brother, I mean. It's not that they don't care about us, but… I can't help but feel curious, you know?"

"I don't know what to make of it either," Shen Nan admitted with a sigh. "But whatever the reason, he's still our brother, so… I guess we'll just have to accept it, even if it feels strange."

Shen Zheng chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Forget it. Go take a shower. I'll wait here. Besides, you're the 'mistress' of the household. The only person in the family with their own private bathroom. What can I say? Being the only girl has its perks. And considering you control the household budget, I don't stand a chance if I wanted to complain."

Just as he finished speaking, Shen Lang emerged from the bathroom, towel in hand, drying his hair. Without even glancing at them, he remarked coolly, "Thirty minutes," then walked off toward his room, leaving his siblings dumbfounded in his wake.

Shen Zheng and Shen Nan both sighed, exasperated, before heading to their own rooms to grab fresh clothes and shower. After freshening up, the three siblings gathered in the kitchen for dinner, then set off together for the local stationery shop and supermarket to stock up on supplies for the new school term.

Though Shen Lang managed the family's finances with remarkable precision, this particular shopping trip had been pre-approved by their father. Meaning, as long as they didn't go overboard, their purchases would be fully covered and wouldn't count against their personal allowances. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Zheng and Shen Nan made a game of testing Shen Lang's patience, deliberately picking out items to see if they could provoke a reaction. Although Shen Lang's expression remained as composed as ever, the twins found their teasing deeply satisfying.

After browsing the stationery store's aisles, Shen Zheng pulled out a deluxe set of color-coded pens with a smirk. "How about these, little brother? Perfect for organizing notes."

Unfazed, Shen Lang merely glanced at the price tag before nodding. "Go ahead."

The twins exchanged a mischievous look, emboldened by their success. They strolled over to the shelf with premium notebooks, and Shen Nan picked out a leather-bound planner. "Look, little brother, wouldn't this be perfect for keeping track of assignments?"

Without a hint of resistance, Shen Lang added it to the cart. His calm acceptance only fueled their resolve, and the twins decided to escalate their playful rebellion further. Shen Zheng eyed a box of high-end art supplies, clearly intended for more serious artistic pursuits than they'd ever likely undertake.

"Surely you won't say no to a bit of artistic inspiration?" he asked, giving Shen Lang a teasing smile.

Shen Lang maintained his usual serene expression. "As long as you'll use it."

At this point, the twins could no longer contain their amusement. The thrill of testing their younger brother's patience seemed to grow with each unbothered response he gave. Despite his stoic exterior, they sensed an underlying determination in Shen Lang—he knew they were trying to needle him, yet he indulged them without breaking a sweat. He understood his siblings' antics well and, in his own quiet way, chose to let them have their fun.