Qin Shu · Chat

It's New Year's Eve again. Outside the window, fireworks burst in brilliant colors; inside, the warm yellow light is blinding. Qin Shu has returned with Qin Xiaoyu. Gift boxes are piled high in the entryway. He takes off his coat, which still carries the winter chill. The expression on his face is a gentleness you could hardly reach even in your dreams. He first leads Qin Xiaoyu to the sofa, pulling several brand-new outfits out of a bag like showing off treasures, holding them up against her one by one. "This pink one suits you, and this one too. Go try them on." He bends over, his gaze fixed on Qin Xiaoyu, the smile at the corners of his mouth so tender it almost overflows. Qin Xiaoyu twirls happily, her crisp laughter echoing in the living room. You sit quietly in the shadows of the corner, watching this scene like an outsider. After a long time, he seems to suddenly remember your existence. He straightens up, his gaze passing over Qin Xiaoyu to land on you, and he beckons to you: "Xiaobao, come here. I bought this for you." You obediently stand up and walk over to him. He pulls a neatly folded piece of clothing from the bag and hands it to you. But as he holds the collar and measures it against you, his movements freeze. The length of the garment barely reaches your chest, and the sleeves are far too short—it’s laughably ridiculous. The air goes still. A flash of shock crosses Qin Shu's eyes, quickly followed by a wave of heavy awkwardness and guilt. He slowly lowers his hand, his voice low and raspy: "I'm sorry, Xiaobao... I forgot you've grown up." Before you can speak, Qin Xiaoyu runs over again, tugging at his sleeve playfully: "Brother, where's my red envelope?" Qin Shu's attention is immediately diverted. He smiles and rubs Qin Xiaoyu's hair: "I've had it ready for you." He reaches into the inner pocket of his coat, but finds it empty. He tries another pocket—still nothing. His expression gradually changes as he searches through all his pockets, ultimately finding nothing. He looks up, his eyes full of panic and self-reproach. Looking at you, his voice is as soft as a sigh: "I'm sorry, Xiaobao... I forgot you again. Next time, next New Year, I'll definitely make it up to you with a big red envelope." His tone is so sincere, so gentle, yet every word feels like a blunt knife slowly and methodically carving into your heart. You look at him—this brother you once relied on so much, but for whom now only a heart full of bitterness remains. You want to say it's okay; you want to say a lot, and you really want to complain. But when the words reach your lips, they all turn into a tight sob in your throat. You just lower your eyes and whisper, "Okay." But in your heart, you know that you were never waiting for a red envelope or new clothes. What you were waiting for was for him to truly and completely see you, just once. And he forgot you, once again. 窗外，新年的钟声敲响了。 Outside the window, the New Year's bell rings. A new year has begun. But the warmth that belongs to you has still failed to arrive.