Su Su's condition wasn't serious—just a temporary faint from overwork and low blood sugar. Luckily, Bai Su found her early, so nothing worse happened.
She was discharged quickly.
But in the hospital, young nurses kept glaring at Bai Su like he was scum, leaving him utterly ashamed.
He couldn't explain anything, so he silently endured the doctors' and nurses' disdain and contempt. Truth was, he didn't want to explain anyway. This was ultimately his fault.
Besides, he felt deeply guilty.
So he tried hard to make it up to his obedient, sensible little sister.
He, who'd never lifted a finger in the kitchen, actually bought a small clay pot. Following online guides, he carefully picked a free-range chicken and slowly simmered broth over low heat per a recipe.
Having never cared for a patient, he didn't know how to plan meals for low blood sugar. In his mind, nothing a pot of chicken soup couldn't fix when recovering.
If it couldn't, just make another pot.
Su Su stared at the creamy white hen soup on the table, unsure what to say.
"Drink up, Su Su! I made this specially for you!" Bai Su looked at her with eager anticipation.
Seeing his expression screaming "Look how awesome I am—drink and praise me!", Su Su resignedly took the spoon he offered. She scooped a spoonful, closed her eyes, and gulped it down.
The next moment, her eyes snapped open.
Surprisingly, the cooking was actually good?
The chicken was stewed tender, almost melting in the mouth. Scallion knots and spices had fully infused the broth, blending with the chicken's natural aroma into something wonderful.
Then Su Su spat it out, grabbed the water glass, and chugged a mouthful. Finally recovering, she glared at her utterly bewildered brother. "Bro, is salt free at home? Did you dump this much to murder me?"
"'So you can inherit my Ant Credit Pay debt?'" she grumbled inwardly.
Of course, she'd never say that aloud. It was 2008—Ant Credit Pay only existed in some alien-like young man surnamed Ma's head.
"Is—is it that salty?" Bai Su argued, face red. "I only added a little salt!"
"Taste it yourself. Open up, ah~" Su Su took his spoon, scooped soup, and held it to his lips.
Bai Su instinctively opened his mouth. Before he could react, she shoved the spoon in. An overwhelmingly salty blast exploded on his taste buds.
Seeing his contorted face, Su Su grinned mischievously.
Serves him right!
"Ptooey! Ptooey!" Bai Su spat furiously, then chugged water from his cup.
"Ugh, it's deadly salty! I only used a pinch—how?!"
"Who told you to never cook? Regretting it now's too late."
"Fine, I'll learn." Bai Su paused, his expression suddenly falling. "It'll just be us two now. Mom and Dad are gone... we have to rely on ourselves."
His smile faded. He lowered his head, voice thick with sorrow.
"Su Su, am I really that useless? After Mom and Dad's accident, I hid in my room—trying to escape reality, pretending it wasn't real."
"But I forgot you. Forgot all the things left to handle. Made you bear what you shouldn't have... even made you faint and get hospitalized."
This high school graduate curled into a small ball in his chair, like a wounded beast licking its solitude.
Su Su saw guilt, regret, and grief radiating from him.
"Su Su," his voice trembled with tears, "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"
Su Su seemed to understand something. She smiled warmly.
This timeline had changed because of her—unlike the last one.
At least, back then, he'd never apologize in such a soft, vulnerable tone.
A good start. She hoped for a good ending too.
The missed people, the regrets—maybe they'd become the brightest stars here.
"I'm here, new world!" Bai Susu shouted inwardly.
The Su Su who declared this looked at Bai Su before her.
Before chasing bigger goals, she had to fix this silly guy first.
She tried to look stern.
Sadly, that expression didn't suit her half-grown loli body. Her harmless cuteness made her fake authority adorably jarring—like a tiny kitten using a [super fierce.jpg] meme to act tough.
But Su Su didn't realize how she looked.
So, full of self-important dignity, she spoke: "Bai Su, you don't need to apologize to me."
Hmm, calling him by name was a useful trick. "Brother" put her at a disadvantage; names leveled the psychological playing field.
Bai Su instinctively looked up.
Su Su nodded "profoundly." "I don't need your apology, Bai Su. I just want you to pull yourself together."
"I don't want a Bai Su trembling alone in a dark room. I want a brother who steps up and takes responsibility."
"You shouldn't apologize. We're siblings—relying on each other is normal."
Her tone turned sharp. Her big eyes glared like knives piercing his heart.
"But! Brother! I'm so disappointed! Why let a little girl handle everything while you hide?! Don't you know this isn't manly at all?! You... you truly disappoint me!"
Bai Su stared at his disgusted-looking sister, feeling a strange unfamiliarity. *Is this really my soft, cute Su Su?*
Tormented, he forced calm. He stood, walked over, stroked her soft hair, and sighed.
"Kids don't understand. Don't think acting grown-up lets you lecture your brother. Some things are beyond you."
He dashed off the moment he finished.
Bai Su held one principle: never lose brotherly dignity in front of Su Su!
Only Su Su remained, sitting dazed and adorably confused on the chair.
Eh? Eh? Eh?
WTF?!
Coach, why isn't this guy playing by the rules?!
