In the restaurant.
"Good evening, doctor Zhang. Sorry to keep you waiting." The man shook the woman's hand, who looked to be in her early thirties. She got up from her seat to greet him.
"No need! Actually, I should apologize for calling you here at such short notice, President Lu. I need to get back to England because of an emergency, so I wanted to meet you before I returned," the woman said after returning to her seat.
The server served them coffee as they conversed.
"How's your younger brother doing?" Doctor Zhang asked.
"He is doing really great, all thanks to you," his eyes were filled with gratitude.
"He's lucky to have a brother such as you." She sipped on her coffee and gave a deep sigh. "As a doctor, I can only give medicines and make suggestions. Getting success always depends on the patient and their family."
"But at that time, you were the only hope for me," Lu Qiang said.
She looked at him thoughtfully. "How is his behavior now? Are there any major changes?"
"No, for five years he has behaved as a child of his age should," Lu Qiang assured.
"I saw the video you sent of him, and he looked extremely happy. I suggest you keep him away from things that can trigger him," she advised.
"I'll try my best," he replied.
"It's a blessing that he has you as his older brother. I hope, when he becomes an a.d.u.l.t, he will remember how much you have sacrificed for him. I truly respect you for that," she said with admiration.
"I just wish he would remain happy." He shrugged.
The two finished their coffees and stepped out of the hotel. As they waited outside, Lu Qiang began to speak.
"I wish you could attend the celebration," he said.
"I, too, wanted to attend but my flight is just in half an hour, and because of the emergency, I have to shorten my stay here in China," the doctor said.
"I can understand."
As they finished speaking, their cars arrived. Lu Qiang bid her farewell and went towards his destination.
At Jiang residence.
Everyone was getting ready for the party. Jiang Yuyan heard a knock on her bedroom door as she got out of the bathroom. The door opened, and Jiang Yang peered in, wearing his blue suit and holding two ties in his hand.
"Right or left?" he asked, raising his hands in front of her face.
"Both look the same," she said, not even bothering to look at them properly.
"I know that, but look at the design. They are different types of crossed lines! Which one?" he asked again.
"Left," she said randomly.
"Thank you. I will wear the right one," he said, folding the tie in his left hand and starting to wear the other one around his collar.
"I knew it!" she screamed. "You always do the exact opposite of what I say. Why bother to ask me?" Actually, she was not surprised by his actions in the least bit.
"You are only good at selecting garbage," he said with a mischievous smile on his lips.
"You—" She just threw a cushion in his direction. He avoided it deftly and left with the same smile on his face.
Jiang Yang and his parents waited for Jiang Yuyan to come downstairs.
"I heard raised voices. What happened? She sounded so angry." Mo Roulan asked.
"It was just a siblings' fight," Jiang Yang said lightly.
His mother suddenly thanked him.
"For bringing her back to China?" he asked, confused.
"We wanted to thank you for taking care of her when she was at her worst. Though we are her parents, you were the one who took care of her for all these years."
"Don't say that. I didn't do anything exceptional. It was my responsibility as her older brother."
"Your mother is right, Jiang Yang. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't know what to do." Jiang Peizhi's eyes became a little moist.
"I never want to see her like that again," her mother swore to herself. "I just can't forget it."
"She is a different person now," Jiang Yang reassured. "Don't worry, mom."
"I know this, but I don't want anything bad to happen to her."
"Nothing will happen, mom. Rest assured." He patted her shoulder affectionately.
"As long as you are here to annoy me, nothing can affect me." The voice startled the three.
"Yuyan," her mother stammered.
"Don't worry, mom. That is in the past. Don't think about such useless things anymore. I am not a child," she said as she moved forward to stand in front of her mother.
"You look beautiful." Jiang Yang interjected to make the mood lighter.
"Are you trying to make up for the awkwardness?" she asked, raising her brow in question.
"I mean it," he said firmly. "Isn't it, mom, dad?"
"You do look very pretty," Jiang Peizhi said.
Jiang Yuyan turned to her brother with a strangely serious expression. He was startled by this sudden change, but she didn't say anything. She took two steps to him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for everything you have done for me. You are the best brother in the world."
Unable to say anything, he hugged her back. When she pulled herself back, she held tears in her eyes.
"No need to thank me. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I am blessed to have such a lovely sister." In fact, his eyes were a little moist, too. It was rare to see such a happy-go-lucky person get emotional like this. "But you are wrong about something, sis." He said suddenly.
"What?" She wondered what he meant.
"I am much better than the best," he smiled and said, looking like his usual jolly self.
"There is no brother like you." She let him praise himself, still overwhelmed by emotions.
"If you ever find a man who takes care of you like your brother, grab onto him and never let him go," Jiang Yang teased.
"I would like that, but I fear there is no one like that."
"Of course, there is. You just need to look. Now let's go, we are getting late." He said.
Lu Feng came out of the mansion on the pretext that he had to take a call. He walked to the garden and sat on the spot under the tree. He supported his body with his hand and looked up to the heavens above.
A smile spread across his lips. "I am glad you liked it, grandpa. I am sorry I disappointed you, but I am doing my best to keep the peace in the house."
After a moment of thought, he said, "I still remember each and every word you said. I'll make them come true. I'll sacrifice myself. It's no big deal." Though he was smiling, the expression on his face was painful. He closed his eyes, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
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