Brotherly Disrespect

An Ran’s words were like a stone, suddenly thrown into Xie Wenyu’s peaceful study life, causing ripples that were hard to ignore.

In the last few months of school, An Ran would show affection to Xie Wenyu from time to time, giving him academic encouragement and help.

Sometimes Xie Wenyu felt sorry, but An Ran was more frank than him: “You don’t have to be embarrassed, anyway, I am already admitted to a university, and now I have nothing to do, isn’t it just right to help my classmate?”

As time went by, An Ran gradually took the place of his elder brother, she became the second person in Xie Wenyu’s life who would unconditionally tutor him on his homework. Xie Wenyu felt that even if he didn’t associate with An Ran in the future, he would become very good friends of the opposite sex with An Ran.

On a weekend at the end of the year, Xie Wenyu came home after playing ball and happened to see his parents video calling his brother.

It was mid-winter, and snowflakes were floating outside the window. Xie Wenyu put down the basketball, sat cross-legged on the carpet, took the phone and exchanged greetings with his brother.

While talking, Xie Wenyu’s eyes drifted to the snow scene outside the window: “Ge, is it snowing over there?”

Xie Wenkai: “Snowing.”

Xie Wenyu asked again: “Have you eaten?”

Xie Wenkai: “Have eaten.”

The voice fell, and the room fell silent. Xie Wenyu played basketball all afternoon today. He was very tired, so he didn’t say anything more. He got up and returned the phone to his parents, preparing to go back to his room to rest for a while.

Xie Wenkai stopped him from the other end of the camera.

Xie Wenyu turned around: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Wenkai: “Why haven’t you called to ask questions recently?”

Xie Wenyu: “I don’t have any questions to ask.”

Xie Wenkai looked at him silently for a while, then said after a long time: “Go and do your work.”

Xie Wenyu: “Oh, by the way, I just submitted online applications two days ago. I applied to a total of ten universities, including private, public, and different levels. I’m just waiting for the results.”

Xie Wenkai: “Give me your email address and password.”

Xie Wenyu: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Wenkai: “I’ll help you check every day if there are any emails from the universities.”

Xie Wenyu waved his hand: “No need, I can handle this little thing myself.”

After talking, Xie Wenyu went back to his room with the basketball in his arms. After he closed the door, Mother Xie smiled and said, “Do you think your younger brother has grown up?”

Mother Xie did not change the camera from the rear to the front. At this moment, the closed door appeared in front of Xie Wenkai. Xie Wenkai looked at it for a few seconds, then lowered his eyes and did not speak.

Mother Xie went on to say: “Wenyu has become a lot more independent in the past two months, and he has done all the things about applying for universities by himself.”

Xie Wenkai: “Really.”

Mother Xie: “Of course, the teachers and classmates also helped him a little bit, there is a girl who has been—”

Xie Wenkai raised his eyes: “Girl?”

Mother Xie: “Yes, there is a girl in your brother’s class who helped him the most.”

Xie Wenkai did not respond.

Mother Xie continued speaking, her tone becoming more and more gentle: “I guess that girl likes Wenyu. I don’t know if Wenyu can see it. Mom always feels that time flies quickly. In a blink of an eye, your younger brother is going to college, and you’re also in your sophomore year. You have both reached the age where you can fall in love…”

Xie Wenkai turned off the camera and switched the video call into a voice call: “Mom, hang up first, I have classes later.”

The snow is coming to an end. Following one heavy snowfall after another, Shanghai ushered in a warm season of blooming flowers.

In March, Xie Wenyu received replies from the universities one after another. When he opened the mailbox, some rejected his application for admission, some put him on the waiting list, and of course, some sent him an offer directly. Ten schools, and finally three schools welcomed him to be a part of their campus.

After comprehensively considering the geographical location, convenience of life, as well as the school’s connections and resources, Xie Wenyu reached a consensus with his parents and chose a private university in New York. The university has rich club activities; in particular, their basketball team is among the best in all of the universities in the United States, which is an important reason why Xie Wenyu wanted to study there.

After paying the reservation fee, Xie Wenyu announced the good news in Moments, and received blessings from many relatives and friends, including An Ran.

An Ran left a message: That’s great, I knew you could do it.

Xie Wenyu replied: Thank you, without your help, I could not have gone so smoothly.

For the rest of the time, Xie Wenyu prepared to rent a house, buy air tickets, and apply for passports and visas.

After being busy, it was already May. Xie Wenyu returned to school to attend the graduation ceremony. He was wearing a neat school uniform and stood in the middle of the class. The moment the photographer pressed the shutter, he showed two rows of white teeth and smiled handsomely.

After taking graduation photos, An Ran stopped Xie Wenyu and asked him if they could take a photo together.

Xie Wenyu nodded in agreement. They stood on the boulevard, bathed in the midsummer sunshine, and took a photo together.

After taking the photos, Xie Wenyu and An Ran walked towards the school gate together, they chatted about the preparations they should make before studying abroad. Halfway through the conversation, An Ran said, “Did you know that Pennsylvania and New York are adjacent.”

Xie Wenyu took out his mobile phone and checked the map. The two states were indeed adjacent to each other, only taking three hours to drive.

An Ran: “Let’s hang out together in the future when we have the chance, okay?”

Xie Wenyu looked at An Ran. After a while, he said “Ok”.

In fact, from the time he was admitted to university until now, Xie Wenyu has never mentioned what he said before to An Ran. He couldn’t figure out how he felt about An Ran, he had a good impression for sure, but Xie Wenyu was a little confused about whether this good feeling was friendship or love.