Chapter 153

Samson Nan, facing her, took a few steps forward and then stood still.

Could this be another illusion?

He could hardly believe what his eyes were seeing.

...

"It's true," she suddenly spoke, as if reading his mind, and looked at him with a smile in her eyes.

"Don't believe me? Try touching it," she said, extending her left hand.

...

Samson Nan swallowed and hesitantly reached out his hand, until his fingertips touched hers and he felt the familiar warmth.

"Little One..."

The tension he had a moment ago instantly relaxed.

He felt like he had lost all his energy and sat down on the ground.

She smiled, squatted down, resting her knees on her hands, leaning closer to his face.

As if she had succeeded in her prank, she carefully examined his expression.

"It seems that big brother still remembers, the places we went together and the things we said," she said with a smile.

"Of course..." he raised his head and said in a slightly annoyed tone. In fact, he planned to give this girl a good scolding before he came.

But now he realized that the peace in front of him had already overwhelmed any emotions he had.

"Cowardly brother could find me..." she said with a slight smile.

"I'm so happy~"

...

He felt helpless and didn't say anything.

"Help me up," he sat on the ground, reaching out his hand, and looked at her like this.

Raina Nan didn't think much and reached out her hand to pull him up.

"!"

Before he could react, Samson Nan pulled her into his arms.

"What are you doing?! Let go of me!" Her face instantly turned red.

There were already a few passersby looking over in their direction.

"I won't let go, who told you to play hide and seek with me~" he laughed, turned his face to look at her flushed cheeks.

"Hmph..."

Unexpectedly, this time she didn't resist anymore.

After a moment of pause, she looked up.

Her beautiful eyes stared at him without blinking.

"Then you better never let go..."

...

Their eyes met, without much hesitation.

"Alright~" he said with a slightly playful tone.

...

"This is what you said~" Raina Nan squinted and smiled.

She seemed satisfied with this answer.

After a while, she stood up and walked towards the direction of the clock tower without looking back.

"Actually, today..." she didn't turn around, just walked and spoke.

"I still have something to tell big brother."

"What?" Samson Nan followed her two steps behind.

"Well..." she pondered for a moment and stuck out her tongue.

"It's not time yet~"

"Huh?"

What kind of suspense is she creating?

She pointed to the distant horizon.

"The sun hasn't fully risen yet~"

"Are you saying you'll only tell me when the sun is fully risen?" he scratched his head, suspicious.

"It's because... it's a very important matter, probably..."

...

"Only today, I have the courage to speak it out."

...

He didn't ask any further.

"Okay~"

He knew, if she said it like that, it must be something important.

...

...

"Don't pull me!"

"I didn't...!"

"Hush!"

Was there a sound coming from the bushes nearby?

Samson Nan looked over, but there was no movement.

Maybe he misheard...

Looking around, he noticed more and more people gathering, many of whom were waiting to go to the church.

...

The slanted sunlight illuminated her profile.

Fair and slightly shining.

"Is it very beautiful?"

She suddenly turned around, facing him.

"Ah, um..."

He paused, his heart racing inexplicably.

"...Beautiful."

After a moment, he finally spit out two words.

"I wasn't talking about myself!"

Seeing that he had been staring at her, she quickly waved her hand and smiled with squinted eyes.

"Take a look~"

Looking around, the sunlight gradually filled the surroundings.

The towering clock tower sparkled under the sunlight.

"Oh, oh..."

Only then did he come to his senses, realizing that she was referring to the scenery around them...

Indeed, he hadn't noticed before when he was running here, but the sunrise at dawn was so beautiful.

"As for me..."

She spoke softly.

"I have something to say to you, big brother."

"Um..."

He became inexplicably nervous, swallowing his throat.

"Does it have to be so serious?"

"Yes, because this is..."

She suddenly stopped walking.

Blushing, she turned to look at him.

"My 'confession'."

...

...

The sun had completely disappeared from the horizon. The sunlight behind her outlined a golden edge around her silhouette.

Facing the backlight, her expression was unclear.

...

"Big brother, you once told me the meaning of our names..."

Her voice was clear and ethereal.

"'Wind' and 'Rain' are always together..."

"It seems like 'big brother' has been by my side since I can remember."

Their shadows were reflected on the ground, like the hands of a sundial, slowly moving with time.

"From childhood..."

"'Big brother' often made me cry and also made me laugh..."

"For a long time, I couldn't understand whether he disliked me... or liked me..."

"At first... the one who always fought with me for the TV remote control at home was him."

"Later, when I went to school... the one who fought for me and got into fights with others was him."

"On the school anniversary day, the one who shouted the loudest in the audience was also him."

"Even though I was prepared to spend Christmas alone, he suddenly appeared in front of me."

...

"Looking back, I realized that every step I took seemed to contain fragments about 'big brother'..."

There was a gentle sparkle in her clear eyes as she slowly looked at him.

"If one day, 'big brother' disappears from my world, maybe I will become a person who can't do anything?... Sometimes, I have this worry~"

She laughed at herself.

"Sometimes I wonder, if I weren't a 'little sister', would he still do all these things for me?"

"But..."

"Why so many 'what ifs'?"

"Even if I'm his 'little sister', so what?"

"Raina..."

Samson Nan felt his eyes getting hot, silently gazing at her.

There was no trace of hesitation in her pupils.

"Big brother..."

Her flushed cheeks turned even redder.

She slightly opened her lips:

"I..."

Thud—thud—

The clock tower behind them chimed.

The resonant sound drowned out her words.

Only he could hear.

...

"Reincarnation" and "Rebirth"

Time seemed to stand still

And so did her words

...

Samson Nan widened his eyes. What kind of emotions were wrapped in that tolling of the bell?

He remained silent.

After a while, he wore a doting smile again.

He extended his pinky finger.

"Well, then it's a deal."

...

...

...

Several days later

...

Beep beep beep~

The sound of a car honking came from downstairs.

Raina Nan put on her slippers and walked to the window, looking downstairs.

Samson Nan was lifting the suitcase onto the car, with their dad helping him.

Their mom was pointing and fussing beside them, but she couldn't hide her anxiety and reluctance.

"Raina Nan, why is she still sleeping? We'll miss the flight if we wait any longer!"

My mom is always like this, her voice gets loud when she's agitated.

"Mom, it's still early for the flight. It's the last day at home, let her sleep a little longer, won't you?"

"But..."

Even though she said that, she still seemed worried, so I said again,

"Alright, alright, don't worry, I'll go up and wake her."

I walked towards her room as I spoke.

"Little One, still sleeping?"

I didn't knock on the door, I just walked into her room.

"Oh, look who's already up."

Rather than saying she just woke up, it's more accurate to say she had already changed her clothes, sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair.

"Heh, my Little One finally looks a bit like a college student."

As I said that, I flicked her hair with my hands.

"Hmph, that's right."

Looking at herself in the mirror, she said softly.

"I'm still considering if I should cut my hair short after going to college..."

"You look good just like this."

Frowning, it seemed like he didn't quite agree.

"Why? Short hair looks refreshing."

"But I like you with long hair."

His voice became lower, saying earnestly.

"Is it not okay?"

"..."

She only felt her ears heating up, combing her hair without looking at him.

"...it's not impossible."

...

Beep beep.

The honking sound came from below.

"We're leaving, the car is waiting downstairs."

"Okay."

She stood up, took two steps, then stopped.

"Little One?"

"..."

She turned back to look at her room, seemed to be thinking about something.

"Do you remember the day when you moved out?"

"Oh... what's wrong?"

"That day, I was sitting at the windowsill too, watching you moving your luggage into the car, and then seeing you off."

"Really?"

Now that I think about it, time really flies.

"But today, it's my turn to send you off."

She said, with a hint of a smile.

"Yeah, it is..."

Samson Nan was silent, looking at the windowsill, lost in thought.

...

...

After a half-hour drive, they arrived at the suburban airport.

"Yu, over here!"

As soon as they got off the car, they saw Bell Tong waving at them.

"Xiaoyu!"

Roxie Lin was standing beside her with her sister.

Roxie Lin and Raina Nan were accepted into the same university. Although they might not be in the same class, at least they would have each other in the unfamiliar city.

"Hmph! You two wait, I'll join you next year!"

Bell Tong seemed determined.

She chose to retake the college entrance exam, so she had to fight for another year.

"Well, you have to work hard then."

Raina Nan laughed and patted her forehead.

"Hmph! Just you wait!"

With Bell Tong's grades, it wouldn't be easy for her to enter the same university as them.

But well, dreams are always worth pursuing.

...

Inside the terminal building,

Jocelyn York and William Wei had already arrived early. They came to bid farewell to Raina Nan and Roxie Lin.

"Both of you are my good students. Oh no! Why do I feel like crying a little?"

William Wei said, pinching his nose.

"If anyone dares to bully you in college, tell Brother Wei, I'll fly over and break their legs!"

"Haha, we surely will."

...

"I'm quite surprised, actually."

Jocelyn York said, looking at Samson Nan who was rather quiet.

"What's the matter?"

He asked.

"I thought someone would definitely be shedding tears today."

"I'm happy, why cry?"

He smiled and joked, "Oh, really?"

Jocelyn York leaned on her chin, looking at his profile with interest.

...

...

Glancing at the time, it was almost time to board.

"Brother, I'm leaving."

"Yeah, take care."

Raina Nan grabbed her suitcase, took a few steps, and then turned back.

Without saying a word, she walked briskly towards him and opened her arms.

Samson Nan smiled and embraced her.

"Oh, you don't want to let go!"

William Wei teased them on the side.

Ignoring them, the two briefly embraced each other.

Raina Nan then picked up her suitcase and headed towards the terminal.

"Oh, Raina."

At this moment, Bell Tong suddenly spoke, stopping Raina Nan.

"That day in front of the clock tower..."

"Little Bell!"

Roxie Lin quickly called her, but it was too late.

"What did you say?"

"..."

Samson Nan was stunned for a moment.

It turned out that the two of them were hiding in the bushes that day.

"Tell me..."

He was about to speak.

"Shh..."

Raina Nan put her finger gently on her lips and gestured at him.

"..."

Only then did he realize, he smiled faintly and looked at her.

Their eyes met.

"This is ours."

"A secret."