We Will Never Become Enemies

The two drank late into the night. Na'er did not drink much, but Meng Li got completely wasted, his face flushed red and tears streaming from the corners of his eyes as he rasped over and over:

"Waaah... Don't go. Na'er, don't go, okay? You're my only family. Grandpa is gone, and I left Grandma too. I have nothing left. You're all I have."

Na'er pressed her lips together. Today was the second time she had seen her brother cry. The first had been when he sang earlier. The Meng Li she knew would never cry over anything. Even when everyone forgot his birthday, even when he could not afford food, she had never seen him like this.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Brother." Seeing her brother like this hurt Na'er as though a blade had pierced her heart.

Na'er supported the unsteady Meng Li back home. Since everything was already known, she had nothing left to hide. She tucked him into bed.

Na'er sat by the edge of the bed, listening to his familiar breathing as she stared at the Guanyin pendant in her hand all night without sleeping.

When Meng Li woke the next day, he heard movement in the kitchen. Rubbing his aching head, he thought, How did I get back here? Wasn't I drinking and having barbecue by the sea?

Still groggy, Meng Li got up and took a shower. When he came out, he saw the table laden with all kinds of breakfast: fried dough sticks, soy milk, pastries, and millet porridge.

"Eat while it's hot. It won't taste good once it gets cold," Na'er said with a smile.

They both chose to ignore what had happened yesterday, as if nothing had ever happened, though they both understood it in their hearts.

It was the weekend. After eating, Na'er washed the dishes and turned on her favorite animation channel. Meng Li tinkered with something in his room, and Na'er even had to call him out for lunch.

That afternoon, they went grocery shopping together, bought all the foods they usually loved, and prepared a feast that filled the table.

Both of them ate the meal quietly.

That evening, Meng Li watched television alone in the living room while Na'er went back to her room early to sleep.

But Meng Li did not sleep. If nothing unexpected happened, Na'er would leave today. He just did not know how she would leave.

At 3:20 in the morning, the outer door of the rental apartment opened. A stunning woman with emerald-green hair walked in. She looked eighteen or nineteen and wore a white dress patterned with green designs. She was also startled to see someone in the living room.

"You're here to take Na'er away?" Meng Li spoke first. So she had come after all.

Bi Ji looked at the man before her, surprised by how calm he was. It was as if he did not fear her—or perhaps he was simply fearless because he knew nothing.

Na'er's bedroom door opened as well. Wearing a white dress and holding their family portrait, Na'er silently walked over to Bi Ji's side.

"So, you're leaving." Meng Li sighed, feeling as though something was lodged in his chest.

"Brother, I'm leaving." Na'er nodded.

"Who exactly are you?" Meng Li fixed Bi Ji with a scrutinizing gaze.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you." Bi Ji wore an apologetic expression. "But don't worry. I will definitely take good care of Miss."

"I don't believe you. Na'er, come here for a moment."

Na'er nodded and obediently walked over. Meng Li took a silver backpack from beside the couch and leaned close to her ear. "There's a bank card and a Soul Tool Communicator inside. Don't let these people know about them—I'm worried they might get bad ideas. Call me if anything happens. Eat whatever you want out there, and don't worry about spending too much. I'll deposit more money into it regularly."

Na'er listened closely. Tears had already begun pouring down her formerly calm face. From beginning to end, this brother had always been thinking of her and never of himself.

"Why are you so good to me?"

"Because you're my family."

"Brother, can I hug you?" Na'er held out her arms.

Meng Li naturally pulled Na'er into his embrace.

"Brother, I don't want to leave you. But I have to go. I remembered many things I need to do."

Na'er paused, then hesitated before saying, "You absolutely, absolutely must not lose the pendant!"

Girls really do leave home once they grow up, Meng Li thought with a sigh. Holding back his tears, he gently stroked Na'er's little head.

After holding each other for more than ten minutes, Na'er finally forced herself to let go of Meng Li. She put on the silver backpack, and Meng Li gently wiped the tears from her face.

"Don't become a little beggar again."

Na'er nodded, then turned and followed Bi Ji out of the rental apartment.

Meng Li looked at the damp cement floor by the doorway. He did not close the door. Instead, he took the Wheat Wine from beside the couch and drank bottle after bottle until he could no longer feel anything.

Let her go. Don't think about her. There are many people in this world who love you.

"But... is there really anyone left in this world who loves me?" Meng Li muttered to himself.

"Lord, we should leave," Bi Ji said.

Na'er hugged the silver backpack without saying a word. Her tears had dried up, but her heart still felt as though it were being cut by blades. She opened the backpack Meng Li had prepared for her.

Inside were the relatively expensive snacks she had always wanted to eat but had not dared to buy, three carefully wrapped photographs, a Federal Card, a white communication wristband, a letter, a notebook, a contract, and several changes of clothes.

Na'er knew that Meng Li was forgetful, and she knew that he loved writing notes. The notebook recorded every little detail of their lives together. She had read it before as well.

Na'er opened the letter. It read:

"My dear little sister, you are my first family member in this world. I think you may not understand what I mean. You don't need to understand. Just know that this is what I mean.

"You were like a ray of light shining into my life, filling it with meaning. Your departure caught me completely off guard, but I don't blame you. Everyone has their own life, and I cannot imprison you because of my own selfishness."

"Forget it. Your brother has never been a sappy person, so I won't say any more sappy things. Call your brother on the Soul Tool Communicator if anything happens. No matter where you are, your brother will still be the same all-powerful man. No matter who bullies you, even if it's those Idiot Gods in the sky, I'll make them pay the price."

"Haha."

Na'er could not help laughing when she read that part.

"Those Idiot Gods..." Bi Ji noticed that passage and laughed as well.

So gods are idiots in Brother's eyes, Na'er thought as she continued reading the letter.

"Little sister, don't be afraid of anyone. Your brother is very capable. Oh, right, the bank card—no, it should be called a Federal Card—contains 118 million Federal Coins. They are the dividends from New Soul Tool Technology Company over the years. You deserve them.

"Oh, and there's a contract in the backpack. I've given you twenty percent of the shares in New Soul Tool Technology Company as well. Any future dividends will be deposited into this card. Spend it without worry. There's plenty of money. All right, my hand is tired. I don't feel like writing anymore. Signed at the end: your handsome brother who loves you, Meng Li."

With tears streaming down her face, Na'er finished reading the letter. She carefully folded it, pressed it to her chest for a moment, then put it back into the backpack.

"Miss, your brother really loves you."

"What is love?" A confused look appeared in Na'er's eyes.

"It will surely affect my recovery in the future."

"What if you become enemies in the future?" Bi Ji asked.

"No. He will never become my enemy. I won't let him appear in my world again."