Chapter 612 - 627: All Grown Up

’A little messy?’

"It’s fine, I can handle it."

An Guoping laughed awkwardly as he opened the door. After flicking on the entryway light, he immediately bent down to get An Ning a pair of slippers.

"Slippers."

An Ning slipped them on and walked inside. Past the entryway, the living room came into view.

Clothes, books, and papers were strewn across the couch and floor, almost completely covering both.

"Ha ha... I’ll get this cleaned up right away."

An Guoping dropped his backpack and started tidying, first clearing a spot on the couch for An Ning to sit.

"Sis, have a seat. I’ll get you something to drink. What would you like?"

An Guoping walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and froze, staring at the empty shelves.

SLAM! He shut the refrigerator door and asked with a sheepish grin, "Sis, did you happen to bring anything to drink?"

"Or I could boil some water for you. It’ll just take a second."

As An Guoping turned to grab the kettle and fill it, An Ning had already stood up and was inspecting his refrigerator herself.

"What do you eat every day?"

She casually closed the refrigerator and opened a cupboard.

"Don’t look in there!"

An Guoping rushed to shut it, but one look from An Ning froze him in place.

"Sis—"

"You just eat instant noodles? And sausage?"

"That’s not all! I also have Jinhua ham and luncheon meat. They’re super nutritious, you know."

An Guoping shut the cupboard with a playful grin and led An Ning to a chair to sit down.

"Sis, I’m an intern now. I’m run off my feet every day; it’s a win if I can even find time to eat. Besides, I eat at the hospital. It’s just that sometimes I’m too exhausted when I get home. I don’t feel like moving, so I’ll just make some instant noodles."

"The place may look messy, but I know where everything is. It’s pretty amazing!"

An Guoping was trying his best to show her the bright side of his life, not wanting to make An Ning worry.

But An Ning’s heart still ached for him. She just didn’t want to add to his guilt.

’Besides, he hasn’t done anything wrong.’

"How about I hire a cleaner for you? Not live-in. They could just tidy up and cook some meals for the fridge. You could just heat them up when you get home."

"Sis, if I say no, will you be mad?"

An Ning shook her head.

"You’re really not mad?"

An Ning nodded.

An Guoping relaxed. "Sis, I’m still figuring out my own lifestyle and routine. Trust me, I can take care of myself."

"Alright, whatever you say."

An Ning didn’t press the issue. She wasn’t fond of having strangers in her own home either.

The brother and sister dropped the subject. An Ning took out the food she had brought, and after heating it up, the two of them sat down to eat at the kitchen island.

An Ning learned about Guoping’s workday as he spoke.

A twenty-four-hour shift would exhaust anyone, let alone Guoping.

He often had to work long night shifts, too. The first thing he wanted to do when he got home was sleep; there was no time for anything else.

But An Ning could tell that Guoping loved his job. She could feel his passion and excitement—it was fiery and brilliant.

He was thrilled with every correct diagnosis, cherished every opportunity to enter the operating room, and would sprint like a madman to save a life. And when a life was lost, he was filled with regret and sorrow.

Watching the passionately speaking An Guoping in front of her, An Ning realized for the first time that her little brother was independent now. He was a grown man.

Even though they were the same age, in her heart, An Ning had always treated him like a little kid.

’But he’s clearly grown up now!’

An Guoping kept talking. He seemed to glow.

An Ning just listened quietly.

"An Guoping, you’re going to be the best doctor."

"Really? If my sis says so, it must be true."

An Ning nodded with certainty. "Absolutely."

"Alright, go wash up and get to bed. I’ll clean up, and I’ll head out once I’m finished."

"Oh, right. Here’s a key to my little courtyard house. I’m leaving it for you since I’m going back to our hometown for a while. If you want a decent meal, go crash at Second Brother’s place for dinner, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Second Sister-in-law already has people drop off meat and other dishes for me every now and then. It’s just that I always forget about them, and sometimes they spoil."

An Ning started clearing the dishes. Guoping ventured a guess, "Is Jiang Xia not in Beijing?"

"How does everyone know about that?"

Her one sentence made Guoping grin cheekily. "Who can’t guess what Jiang Xia is thinking— wait a minute. What did you just say, Sis? No, what’s going on with you and Jiang Xia? When did this happen?"

Finally catching on, Guoping was stunned by the bomb An Ning had just dropped.

An Ning calmly continued washing the dishes, not even turning her head. "We’re not together yet. Jiang Xia is pursuing me."

Just saying the words made An Ning’s own cheeks feel a little warm.

An Guoping couldn’t see her expression. If he had, he would have surely yelled, ’You imposter! You’re not my sister!’

"Pursuing?" An Guoping plopped onto a stool, his face a mask of someone trying to process a momentous event.

"Sis, don’t you dare agree too easily. If you make it easy for them, men won’t know how to cherish you."

An Ning flicked the water from her hands and turned to face Guoping.

"You sound like you’re speaking from experience. Don’t tell me you—"

"No! No! Right now, I’m just trying to feed myself! I can’t afford another living creature, let alone take care of one. I mean, look at this place! Who wouldn’t be put off by it?"

"You have a point. But I’m warning you, An Guoping, if you dare mess with any young women, especially before you’re married... Hmph!"

The sharp huff spoke volumes about An Ning’s stance.

"Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll be a model citizen."

"Have you no shame? Calling yourself a ’youth’!"

An Ning retorted disdainfully. She wiped her hands and got ready to leave.

"You’re leaving already, Sis?"

An Guoping seemed reluctant to see her go, looking up at An Ning with the sad eyes of an abandoned puppy.

"If it weren’t for the dark circles under your eyes, I might actually feel sorry for you. Now go to sleep."

"Yes, ma’am!"

An Guoping insisted on walking An Ning downstairs, only heading back up after he saw her get on her electric scooter.

「After leaving」

An Ning returned to her courtyard house and finished most of her packing, ready to leave first thing in the morning.

「The next morning」

An Ning called An Guoming first. She told him about Guoping’s living situation and asked him to drop off a meal or two for him whenever he could. Otherwise, she was afraid her brother might actually starve.

"I get it. Don’t worry."

After they hung up, An Ning switched off the main breaker, turned off the water valve, locked the door, and departed.

An Ning drove, a pile of snacks sitting on the passenger seat. It wasn’t easy to eat while driving, so she could only pop a preserved plum or a dried apricot into her mouth every now and then.

Feeling a bit bored, she put on some music, cranked up the A/C, and put on her sunglasses, feeling her spirit soar with a sense of freedom.

The weather was clear as she drove north.

After she passed through several tunnels, the mountains began to thin out, and the sky slowly grew dark.