After splitting up earlier, Shen Nan couldn't help but grumble to her brother, venting her frustration. "Shen Lang is just too sly, too clever! I mean, the two of us together probably couldn't match a fraction of his scheming! How did it end up this way, with us—the older siblings—being outfoxed by our little brother? Aren't I his sister, and you his brother? How did the family hierarchy get so upside down, with him basically calling the shots?"
Shen Zheng chuckled at her indignation. "Actually, life isn't easy for him either, you know. If you understood him a bit better, you'd see the weight he carries. You're the only girl in the family and always have to be the best at everything. Sure, Dad spoils you, but maybe that's why your personality could use a little softening. Our little brother's taken on the role of the 'bad guy' for a reason. Think about it—if he hadn't jumped in to help us the other day, we would've been in a tight spot."
"Hmph..." Though Shen Nan knew her brother's words rang true, she found it difficult to stop herself from butting heads with Shen Lang. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, she seemed to get some strange satisfaction from arguing with him. Maybe it was just that bickering with him brought a certain thrill to her idle days. After a long pause, she looked thoughtful. "Hey, bro, I remember Grandma saying that Shen Lang matured way earlier than either of us. Even though he's got that monk-like demeanor, he understands things far better than we think. Do you think… maybe he knows something about Mom? I dreamed about her last night, saw her face, though it was hazy, smiling at me. It's strange, I miss her."
Shen Zheng's expression darkened as he heard her. He sighed deeply, his gaze distant. "I don't really know, honestly. I've never spoken to him about it. And in this family… well, you know it's hard to bring it up. The mere mention of Mom is enough to send Dad into a silent funk for a month. It's been so many years now, and we've somehow managed. But listen, please don't do anything rash that might stir up trouble. If you bring this up and cause chaos at home, I won't let you off easy."
Though he tried to sound lighthearted, Shen Zheng was fully aware that Shen Lang did, in fact, know more about their mother than anyone else. He had witnessed it himself one night, years ago, when he was in third grade. That night, he had woken up needing to use the bathroom. Passing by Shen Lang's door, he noticed a thin strip of light seeping through the slightly ajar door. Curious, he peeked inside and saw Shen Lang sitting by his desk, illuminated by the dim glow of his lamp. Shen Lang was quietly examining a set of photos he'd taken from a file folder, and his face held a deep, melancholy expression. Even at a glance, Shen Zheng could tell who was in those photos.
Since then, Shen Zheng had tried, out of sheer curiosity, to search his brother's room for those photos when Shen Lang wasn't around. But his little brother's room was a maze of items with no clear pattern, making it impossible to find anything. And he suspected that if Shen Lang had hidden those photos, they were likely locked away in his safe—a safe not even their father had the key to. So, Shen Zheng had never spoken about that night until now, his sister's question having stirred up the long-buried memory.
Turning to him, Shen Nan looked at her brother with wide, inquisitive eyes. "Brother, they say Mom left on her own. Do you think she ever thinks of us? Misses us? Why hasn't she reached out in all these years?"
Shen Zheng, caught off guard by her innocent question, felt an unexpected wave of emotion. His eyes welled up, tears escaping down his cheeks before he could wipe them away. He stayed silent, unable to meet her gaze. After a long pause, he took a deep breath, wiped his eyes, and forced a smile. "I believe she does. She must. After all, she's our mother. Anyway, enough of that—let's change the subject. What do you think Shen Lang will drag back home this time?"
"Who knows? Whatever it is, it's bound to be something outlandish," Shen Nan huffed, rolling her eyes. "That kid has the weirdest interests. He studies the strangest things and doesn't seem like a normal child at all. I mean, we're siblings born to the same mother, even in the same delivery! Sure, we weren't born at the exact same time, but still—how did he end up so… different? Neither of us is anything like that. Where does he even pick up these quirks?"
Shen Zheng gave her a resigned smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're asking me as if I'd know! If I could get a straight answer from heaven, I'd be more than happy to ask. Maybe we'd finally get an answer. But until then, I'm as clueless as you are." His joking tone eased the tension, and Shen Nan couldn't help but laugh, her spirits lifting at last.
After an exhilarating Taekwondo class that morning, Shen Nan looked like she was already itching for a match with Shen Lang. Since there were no more classes scheduled for the afternoon, she and Shen Zheng decided to call home to check if Shen Lang was there. If he was, they would head home for lunch; if not, they'd have to eat out—at their own expense, naturally. And if they could avoid that, they could save some money, which was always welcome.
Unfortunately, the phone rang without answer. Their plans thwarted, the two of them reluctantly headed to a nearby restaurant. As they waited for their food, Shen Nan's curiosity got the better of her once more. "Hey, do you think Shen Lang's money comes from, like… a secret stash or something? If he hasn't robbed a bank, he must have a magic money tree. I mean, there's no way he's making that much selling old junk. No one would believe it!"
Shen Zheng glanced thoughtfully at his bowl before speaking. "I don't know everything, but if anyone's aware of what's going on, it's Grandpa. Do you remember back in first grade? Every time Grandpa visited, Shen Lang would cling to him, begging him to buy this or that, and all those things had to be left untouched. And maybe Dad knows more than he lets on, too. Haven't you noticed he never questions Shen Lang about these things? That's telling. If he's unfazed by Shen Lang's odd activities, it means he's either completely indifferent—which we know he isn't—or he's quietly confident in whatever Shen Lang is up to. And I think it's the latter."
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, a mischievous grin pulling at his lips. "Of course, if you're that desperate to know, go ahead and ask Dad! As for Shen Lang, save your breath. Once he's set on keeping a secret, even the gods couldn't pry it from him. I've got to admit, it's something I respect him for."
"Oh, great," Shen Nan shot back, mock-indignant. "Some brother you are! You're supposed to help me!" She gave up with an exaggerated sigh as the food arrived. "Fine, fine, enough of that. Let's eat."