I Still Have You

On the way home, Mo Xie rode his bicycle absentmindedly.

The setting sun shone on Mo Xie, but its light made him uncomfortable. He wanted to escape it.

His feet felt as though they were weighed down with iron. Every push of the pedals took enormous effort.

A ride that was usually easy had become strangely difficult.

Mo Xie realized something was wrong with his condition and stopped his bicycle by the roadside. Sweat dripped from his forehead.

Even breathing was difficult for Mo Xie. He went into a supermarket to buy some water and collect himself.

As soon as Mo Xie entered, he spotted a little boy gazing longingly at the drinks in a refrigerator, swallowing now and then.

"Want one?"

Mo Xie asked the little boy.

The boy stared up at him with wide eyes, then nodded blankly.

Mo Xie took two bottles of Sprite from the refrigerator and handed one to the boy.

"This one's on me."

Mo Xie took his own Sprite to the register and paid.

The boy looked at the bottle in his hands. After a moment's hesitation, he drank from it.

"Mmm!"

His face lit up with satisfaction.

Mo Xie smiled at the sight. He stepped over to the boy, pulled down his mask, and took a long drink.

"Ah!"

Mo Xie let out a contented breath.

The boy stared at Mo Xie's face in surprise. "Are you the big brother from TV?"

Mo Xie froze. He hadn't expected a little boy to recognize him.

He crouched down and patted the boy's head. "How did you recognize me, little guy?"

"My sister really likes you," the boy said, blinking.

"Haha, is that so?" Mo Xie smiled, then asked, "Why are you here alone? Where are your parents?"

"Dad's at work. Mom hasn't come home in a long time. My sister takes care of me."

At the mention of his mother, the boy's little face fell.

Mo Xie could more or less guess what had happened to the boy's mother. There were only a couple of possibilities.

"But I've decided! When I grow up, I'm going to take care of Dad and my sister!"

The boy lifted his head and spoke with such earnestness that he looked especially adorable.

"Sounds like you're already a man."

Mo Xie couldn't help giving him a thumbs-up.

"Xiao Ye! Xiao Ye!" an anxious voice called from nearby.

"Sis, I'm here!" the boy called, waving.

A young girl hurried over. Panting, she demanded, "Xiao Ye, where did you run off to? Do you know how worried I was?"

"Sorry," Xiao Ye said, lowering his head.

"Hello," Mo Xie said, stepping forward.

"Ah! You're Mo—Mo Xie! H-hello!"

The girl covered her mouth with both hands, looking unable to believe her eyes.

"You called me your senior. Do you go to Water Orchid Middle School too?" Mo Xie asked with a smile.

"Yes! I-I'm in my first year!" the girl said nervously.

"No need to be so nervous."

Mo Xie brushed a finger over his Spatial Ring, and two tickets appeared in his hand.

"Here."

"Th-these are Concert tickets!" the girl cried in delight as she looked at them.

Aside from tours around the country and one large Concert each summer, Mo Xie held a small Concert in Bo City every year before the New Year.

Bo City's small Concert had one special feature: the tickets were free.

People obtained them through a dedicated website. They were mostly available to Bo City residents, and getting one came down to luck.

Fair and square!

The small Concert was called small for a reason. Bo City wasn't a major metropolis, and the venue couldn't hold as many people as his usual Concerts. Tickets were extremely limited.

And these were front-row VIP tickets from Xie himself. Who knew how much they would fetch if they were sold?

"Are these really for me?" the girl asked, overwhelmed.

"I like your little brother. If you have time, bring him along," Mo Xie said, still smiling.

“We will! Thank you, Mo Xie!"

The girl was beside herself. She had never imagined she would meet Mo Xie, let alone receive Concert tickets that were nearly impossible to get.

"I'll be going, then."

Mo Xie put his mask back on and turned to leave.

"Big brother!"

Xiao Ye called after him.

Mo Xie turned back and looked at him.

"Thank you for the drink!"

Xiao Ye raised his bottle high as he shouted.

Mo Xie made an OK sign with his hand, then rode away.

When Mo Xie opened the door at home, he found Mo Fan and Ye Xinxia watching TV on the sofa. Mo Fan was sprawled across it.

The moment Mo Fan saw him, he sprang up.

"Bro, you're finally back! I'm starving!"

"Sorry. I'll get started right now."

Mo Xie rubbed his little brother's head out of habit.

Then Ye Xinxia spoke.

"Brother Xie, is something wrong?"

Mo Xie paused. He hadn't expected her to ask.

"I'm fine. Wait a little longer, and dinner will be ready."

With that, Mo Xie hurried into the kitchen.

"Make it quick!" Mo Fan called impatiently.

Ye Xinxia watched Mo Xie walk away, lost in thought.

After dinner, Mo Xie went to his room, showered, and lay straight down on the bed.

Mo Xie didn't want to move. His body wasn't tired; his heart was.

He only wanted to stare into space. Gradually, the ceiling light doubled in his vision.

He didn't know how much time had passed before a small hand waved in front of Xie's eyes.

Mo Xie blinked and turned his head. Ye Xinxia was sitting beside the bed, waving her hand.

"Xin Xia, when did you get here?"

Mo Xie sat up as he asked.

"I knocked, but you didn't hear me, Brother Xie, so I came in."

"I was spacing out. That's why I didn't hear you."

Mo Xie pressed a hand to his forehead, frowning.

Seeing him like this, Ye Xinxia asked worriedly,

"Brother Xie, are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache. It's nothing serious."

Mo Xie understood her concern and tried to reassure her.

"A headache..."

Her arms reached toward him. A moment later, Mo Xie found himself enveloped in softness.

"I-I heard this might help..."

Blushing, Ye Xinxia cradled his head against her.

She was wearing light pajamas, making Mo Xie acutely aware of the sensation. Though Ye Xinxia was still young, she had developed far beyond others her age.

Xin Xia really has grown up... Mo Xie couldn't help thinking.

"Xin Xia, don't."

He tried to lift his head, but Ye Xinxia held him firmly, drawing him a little closer instead.

"It's okay, Mo Xie."

Still holding him, Ye Xinxia spoke softly.

"I don't know what you've been through, but you don't have to bear it alone. You can lean on us sometimes. Don't forget, Xin Xia and Brother Mo Fan are here. You still have us, Brother Xie."

I still have you... Her words shook Mo Xie.

"Xin Xia."

Mo Xie reached out and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

"Do you know how gentle you are?"

"Huh? Am I?"

"All right, I'm fine now. Thank you, Xin Xia."

Mo Xie patted her back, signaling that she could let go.

"Then..."

The next instant, the room went dark.

"Xin Xia?"

Mo Xie pulled free of her embrace and looked at her in confusion.

Before Mo Xie could react, Ye Xinxia lunged forward and pushed him down onto the bed.

"Then... can I sleep with Brother Xie tonight?"

Ye Xinxia curled up and nestled against Mo Xie's chest.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Mo Xie was stunned by Ye Xinxia's move, left at a loss.

"There's nothing wrong with a little sister sleeping beside her brother, is there?" Ye Xinxia said sweetly.

"...All right." Mo Xie sighed, pulled up the covers, and settled his arms around Ye Xinxia, finding a comfortable position.

"You've grown so big, Xin Xia, but you still like clinging to me."

"Mmm. You really are dense..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Go to sleep."

Holding Ye Xinxia, Mo Xie thought, That's right. I still have you all. But how can I lean on you? I'm the older brother, after all.

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