Family Warmth

Morning sunlight filtered through the osmanthus branches and leaves, scattering dappled shadows. The courtyard air was fresh, carrying the scents of earth and flowers. Ryan pushed open his door and took a deep breath. The wound on his chest still tugged at him, but it had stabilized greatly compared to when he had first returned. His mother had carefully changed his medicine, wrapping the bandages tightly. Though his movements were inconvenient, it was enough.

Beside the stone bench, his little sister Yue'er was squatting with a wooden sword in her arms, treating the little stones in the courtyard as enemies and poking them one by one. Her little braids swayed with every movement as she imitated an adult's tone. "Don't come any closer! I'll beat you all down!" Her wooden sword was always crooked, but her face was utterly serious, as though she were truly fighting a battle.

Ryan could not help laughing. He walked over and crouched beside her. "Yue'er, no enemy would be afraid of that."

The little girl looked up. The moment she saw him, she immediately dropped her wooden sword and pounced over, clinging to his leg as she called in her soft childish voice, "Big brother, you're up so early."

"Just a little earlier than you." Ryan lifted her up and gently spun her around. His shoulder wound throbbed faintly, but he did not frown. He only let her giggle in the air. When she landed, her little hands were still tightly clutching his collar.

His mother came out of the house carrying a bowl of porridge and chided him, "You just started getting better, so don't move around recklessly. That wound on your shoulder is no laughing matter."

Ryan nodded, set his sister back on the ground, and took the porridge. Steam washed over