Chapter 3

Peya, Peya, you just left like this, leaving everything for me to face. How am I supposed to face your family?

Xiao Bing took a deep breath and lightly knocked on the door.

The door creaked open.

A young woman in her early twenties opened the door. She wore a white blouse, blue jeans, and slippers, dressed in a cool and casual style. Her appearance bore a slight resemblance to Su Peya, but their auras were vastly different. Su Peya was热情奔放, while Su Xiaoxiao had a cold and distant demeanor.

Xiao Bing looked at the young woman and asked, "Are you Su Xiaoxiao?"

"Who are you?" The young woman looked at the man, who was travel-worn but exuded a military air. Her beautiful large eyes were filled with a hint of vigilance and resistance.

Xiao Bing felt a tightness in his chest, took a deep breath, and sighed, "I am Su Peya's superior, and also her friend and comrade-in-arms..."

Su Xiaoxiao's face suddenly changed, and she pushed the door shut, trying to lock Xiao Bing out.

Xiao Bing didn't expect such a strong reaction from Su Xiaoxiao. Surprised, he quickly held the door and shouted, "I really am your sister's friend. What are you doing?"

"Get out! I don't have a sister!!" Su Xiaoxiao said emotionally, "If you don't let go, I'll call the police!"

"Even if you call the police, I have to say, when your sister was around, she would always talk to me about you. When you were in junior high, a male classmate used to insist on walking you home, and your sister went and beat him up. Your favorite food is osmanthus cake, and your favorite drink is milk tea..."

Xiao Bing could clearly feel Su Xiaoxiao's strength weakening. He pressed on, "She also said that the person she loved most in this life was you, her little sister. You are more mature than her, even though you are younger. You know how to be considerate to your parents and take care of the family..."

"Every time she talked about you, I could see the look in her eyes. You, her little sister, hold a very important place in her heart. Even if you say you don't have a sister, do you know how heartbroken she would be?"

Su Xiaoxiao suddenly opened the door again, grabbed Xiao Bing by the hand, and pulled him inside. Xiao Bing didn't even have time to change into slippers and was directly dragged into a room.

The room looked clean and tidy, small but complete. A wedding photo hung above the bed, presumably of Su Xiaoxiao's parents. On the opposite wall hung a black-and-white photo of Su Xiaoxiao's father. Xiao Bing suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

Su Xiaoxiao pointed to the bed, her eyes red, and said, "This is my parents' room. My parents used to sleep on this bed. Two months ago, only one person could sleep on this bed because my father died in a car accident. Before he died, he most wanted to see my sister, but we couldn't contact her. Do you know, my father died with his eyes open!!"

Xiao Bing's head buzzed, and his guilt deepened. Two months ago, Xiao Bing was leading the Longmen team on a mission in Africa. According to regulations, to avoid exposing their families, they were not allowed to contact home during the mission, so Su Peya didn't know what had happened at home until she died.

Su Xiaoxiao held back her tears and laughed coldly, "Now you understand why I hate her? She was taken by the state during her university years. For five years, she only called home a few times and came back twice, staying for at most two nights. She used a public phone booth and didn't even leave a mobile number."

"We all understood her and were proud of her for serving the country. But... no matter how great you are, you can't ignore your family, especially your parents! Where was she when my father had the accident? Where was she when he wanted to see her one last time?"

"No matter how special your job is, can't you care a little more about your family while living for the country? From the moment I saw my father die with his eyes open, I no longer have a sister in this world!"

Xiao Bing sighed, his face dark, and said, "You hate her, but she is already gone, and everything should be forgiven..."

Su Xiaoxiao's body trembled, her gaze falling from Xiao Bing's face to the urn in his hand. Her face turned pale, and after several attempts, she managed to speak, her voice trembling, "You're lying... Who are you... You must be lying..."

At such a young age, to endure so many consecutive blows, Xiao Bing suddenly felt a deep hatred for himself, regretting coming at this time and telling them this news. But it was too late. Xiao Bing looked at Su Xiaoxiao and said with great difficulty, "Five days ago, she was on a mission in Africa and unfortunately... Before she died, she asked me to bring her ashes back and gave me your family's address."

Su Xiaoxiao felt as if something was blocking her throat, tears streaming down her face. She, frail and weak, pushed Xiao Bing with all her might, her voice tearing through the air, "I don't believe it!"

"I don't believe it!!"

"I don't believe it!!!"

Su Xiaoxiao pushed Xiao Bing again and again. Xiao Bing didn't resist, afraid of hurting her, and kept retreating until his back hit the wall, unable to retreat any further.

"You liar! My sister can't be gone!"

Su Xiaoxiao was crying, and Xiao Bing's eyes were also red. He lowered his head and pulled out a letter from his pocket, the letter Su Peya had written before she died. Su Xiaoxiao snatched it and read it, then her body went limp, and Xiao Bing caught her in his arms.

In the letter, Su Peya apologized to her family and entrusted Su Xiaoxiao to take good care of their parents. Despite the long separation, Su Xiaoxiao recognized her sister's handwriting at first glance.

Xiao Bing held her tightly, feeling her soft, trembling body, and sensing her heart, which was almost shattered. His nose tingled, and he said firmly, "Xiaoxiao, believe me. Although your sister is gone, I will help her take care of your family. I promise!"

The phone in the living room rang incessantly. Su Xiaoxiao, who had been crying in Xiao Bing's arms, pushed him away and stumbled into the living room. Xiao Bing sighed and followed.

A panicked middle-aged woman's voice came from the phone, "Xiaoxiao, come quickly. Someone has smashed our shop, and your mother's heart condition has flared up. She's in critical condition..."

The voice on the phone almost made Su Xiaoxiao collapse. In recent years, as the family's financial situation improved, Su Mother opened a noodle shop, which had become very successful and moved near the university. After Su Father's death in a car accident, Su Xiaoxiao was worried about her mother's heart condition and advised her to rest at home, but Su Mother insisted on working. If it weren't for the emergency, the aunt who called wouldn't have said that.

Xiao Bing heard everything clearly as Su Xiaoxiao took the call. Seeing her rush out of the house in a daze, even forgetting to close the door, Xiao Bing, worried about her, followed quickly.

After rushing out of the neighborhood, Su Xiaoxiao hailed a taxi. Xiao Bing tried to get in, but Su Xiaoxiao pushed him out forcefully. Reluctantly, Xiao Bing hailed another taxi and told the driver, "Follow the car in front, don't lose it."

"Sure thing, did you two have a fight?"

Xiao Bing, in a bad mood, glared at the driver, who shuddered and quickly shut up, following obediently.

The Su family's noodle shop was near the university. Because it was a holiday, the business was busier than usual. When Xiao Bing arrived, Su Xiaoxiao was preparing to go to the shop to help, but now the shop was in ruins, and there were no customers left.

When Xiao Bing arrived, Su Xiaoxiao was squatting on the ground, crying out, "Mom, hang in there, the ambulance is on its way."

On the ground lay a woman in her early fifties, dressed simply, with an apron tied around her waist. She bore a slight resemblance to the Su sisters. Her face was as pale as paper, and she was barely breathing, looking as if she could die at any moment.

Xiao Bing didn't expect Su Mother to be so ill. If he hadn't arrived in time, she might not have made it until the ambulance came. He felt a surge of anger and said to Su Xiaoxiao, "Let me take care of her."

Su Xiaoxiao looked at Xiao Bing nervously, "You... can treat her?"

"I learned some basic first aid from a friend. Auntie is in critical condition, we can't just wait here. Let me try."

It was clear to everyone that Su Mother was barely breathing. Su Xiaoxiao didn't hesitate and nodded.

Xiao Bing asked, "Did Auntie take any medication when her heart condition flared up?"

A middle-aged woman in her forties said, "When Auntie Li had her attack, I gave her a quick-acting heart pill, but it didn't help."

Xiao Bing looked at the woman gratefully. If it weren't for that quick-acting heart pill, Su Mother might already be gone. He didn't waste time and said to Su Xiaoxiao, "I'll tell you the steps for first aid. First, unbutton Auntie's clothes and take off her apron."

As Xiao Bing spoke, Su Xiaoxiao followed his instructions.

"Place your left middle finger on the depression below Auntie's neck, place your palm on the center of her chest, and place your right hand on top of your left. Stack your hands, interlock your fingers, and lift your palms slightly. Yes, that's right... press down gently... then release slightly... good, that's it. Keep that pressure, a bit faster, aiming for about 100 compressions per minute..."

Amidst everyone's panic, Xiao Bing's voice was calm, confident, and reassuring. This confidence began to affect the others, and Su Xiaoxiao's trembling hands finally steadied.