[R18] Paradox [siblings] – “Paradox [Sister and Brother]” Extra · “Seventh of July” [English]

Do you like rain?

It rained heavily in Qinghe in August, and it rained continuously for two days without stopping.

Tonight it got even worse, with torrential rain mixed with thunder falling on this southern city, catching it off guard and disturbing the tranquility of the city.

The rain fell on the umbrella, crackling like the beat of a drum, and then hit the puddles on the ground along the ribs, causing clusters of jumping water splashes.

But all the chaotic rhythms are not what I am thinking at this moment.

The flashing cursor on the computer screen kept moving back along with the crackling text, and then moved back hard after a few seconds. I deleted several lines of text before it stopped. However, my resentment did not dissipate. At this point, I was still working overtime in the office, and it was raining outside. The most important thing was…

The mobile phone screen placed next to the mouse is the WeChat voice chat interface, with a hand-drawn portrait of a shriveled fish lighting up.

I glanced at it, listened carefully to the quiet sound of turning pages on the Bluetooth headset, and whispered: “You haven’t spoken for five minutes.”

[Huh?] There was a slight nasal sound coming from the other side, and then he asked with a smile: [Aren’t you at work——]

Call me again softly, “Sister?”]

“I can still talk to you even when I’m working.” I’m not usually the type to do this, but today’s timing is different. “Do you know what day it is today?”

He didn’t seem to really understand. He thought for a few seconds before asking me: “What date?”

I wanted to wake up this straight man with a finger, but I thought it was too cheap, so I curled my lips and said, “Today is the day when you should give me a red envelope.” Chinese Valentine’s Day, today is the seventh day of July, you stupid brother, I was working overtime on the night of Chinese Valentine’s Day to catch up on the draft, and you didn’t even have a nice word to say, and you still asked me what day it was?

Still fuming, I heard the WeChat notification and switched back to the chat interface. This person actually sent me a red envelope. When I looked back, I found that the amount on the red envelope was written in three big characters – “168”.The small fire that originally burst out in my heart was extinguished instantly, and I reminded through gritted teeth: “The number is wrong.” Why send 168? Do you think your sister is a rich man who wants to get a good fortune? How can a husband and wife give each other a 168 red envelope?

[Isn’t this number very auspicious?] He hesitated for a while and then asked me, “What about 888?”]

I simply ignored him and remembered that just now my mobile friend circle was full of messages showing affection. Xiao Xiao’s boyfriend bought her ninety-nine roses. Even Ye Shanshan’s inexperienced fiancé knew how to give her a candlelight dinner——

@#%@%, if I am guilty, the law will punish me, not you lemon suppliers.

But I only have one younger brother who is still in school far away across the ocean.

There was a notification in my ear, and he sent another 168 red envelope. I bit my lip and thought about it, he is only 19 years old after all. Isn’t that what a sibling relationship is like? Women always have to be more tolerant. Boys mature later and are not as meticulous and sensitive as girls.Before I could finish my thoughts, another red envelope attack was launched over there, this time it was still 168 – you can’t get along with 168, right? Ling Qingyuan!

I went from feeling resentful at the beginning to feeling helpless at the moment. I finally opened my mouth to respond “he”, but I never thought that Ling Qingyuan would send a red envelope again. This time it was even better, with one less number and 16 yuan. I didn’t even care about sending red envelopes. Alas.

“Okay, okay, thank you for your sincere wish for me to get rich.”

But he laughed softly on the other end of the phone. I don’t know if it was the effect of the electric current, or because he had gradually matured. The laughter seemed deep but not deep, like the silent and open sea on a rainy night, with layers of undercurrents accompanied by the sound of drizzle and sand.

[elder sister.]

I have heard these two words for three years since our reunion.

Even after getting married secretly in Las Vegas, he rarely changed his name except in front of outsiders who didn’t know the truth.But I have never asked him to change his words. It should be said that I like to be called like this by Qingyuan. This constant reminder of my blood relationship gives me more security and allows me to deeply appreciate my dependence on him.Not to mention, when he calls me sister, his aura is always a little weaker than mine, like a well-behaved and docile “boy”.

[You really are…]

“What?”

[Idiot.]

“…Ling Qingyuan, you still dare to call me stupid?! Who can even say that today is–”

[Happy Chinese Valentine’s Day, baby.]

“…”

Baby, baby, you big-headed devil.”I obviously forgot about it, so I gave him a red envelope in exchange for 168, 168, and even a fraction in the end.” I muttered softly.

[Oh.] I heard a long sigh over there, and I could even imagine the nineteen-year-old boy putting his arms on his head and laughing, “That’s why I said my baby is stupid and can’t do the simplest math.”Do you girls care about this sense of ritual?]

???I frowned, looked at the red envelope sent by he again, and tried to analyze his intention using the simplest mathematics.

168+168+168+16=?

My cheeks instantly warmed up.

What am I thinking about? How could my brother, who can clearly remember my aunt’s life, forget this Chinese Valentine’s Day?Falling in love will indeed make people naive. This inexplicable sullenness derived from working overtime is unreasonable in the first place.

Maybe it’s because I miss him so much.

Chinese Valentine’s Day is the once-a-year reunion between the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, but I could only stay alone in the empty office and look out the window at the lights of thousands of houses.

“You teased me again.” I still pretended to complain, but I speeded up my typing, thinking that I could finish overtime quickly and go home to video chat with him, so I was a little distracted by what he said after that.

Time passed silently at 9:30 p.m., and as the last word clicked, I let out a long sigh of relief.

The call time on the mobile phone is still passing by, and it is very quiet on the other end. It is so quiet that I can only hear the sound of rain outside the window.

“I’m done.”

No one answered.

“Yuanyuan?”

[…Huh?Congratulations.] he’s voice is a little sleepy, that’s right. he It’s early morning over there. You got up early to accompany me, and you probably want to take a nap, right?

I thought for a while and said, “I’ll take a taxi back first. Can you sleep for a while before we get up and we video chat? Hmm…is two hours of sleep enough?”

[Okay.]

So decisive.

Are you really sleepy?

“See you later then?”

[Hmm.]

“Bye?”

[Bye.]

“……”

[What’s wrong?] seemed to sense my dissatisfaction.

“I always feel like you can’t wait to catch me. You didn’t even say to be careful on the road today.”

[Be careful on the road.]

“What…”

[Did you hear that?]

I didn’t know what was going on, but because he asked this, I couldn’t help but pay more attention and listen.So the next second, I heard the rustling rain hitting the umbrella, the splashing of water droplets, and the occasional roar of traffic.

“You…went out? Is it raining there too?”

My heart beat faster and I tried not to think about it.

[I…]

[Compared to those empty confession numbers, I am more willing to cross a galaxy for you.]

[It could also be…]

Smiling.

[A Pacific Ocean.]

He’s voice is as warm as rain in this lonely night.

[I’m here, for you.]

I realized something, and my footsteps stopped at the huge glass curtain wall, and my eyes followed the traces of rain.

In the center of the square four floors away, a lonely big umbrella bloomed in the rain.

The umbrella was tilted, and he stood in the rain and looked up at me. It was as clear and cold as the rain at night.

The dim street lamp outlines the outline of he. In my eyes, the background is dark, and only he shines like a star.

The sound is soft and pleasant to the ears.

“I’ll take you home.”

“Happy Chinese Valentine’s Day, baby.”