Chapter Seventy: Searching for My Sister

I was the first to head down the stairs, calling out to the mischievous girl behind me, “Hey! Can’t you hurry up? What are you dawdling for?” From the stairs, Xu Xin replied, “I’m… coming… why are you shouting?”

At that moment, I still hadn’t noticed anything odd about her. I turned and walked ahead. As luck would have it, there was a taxi right in front of a building ahead, just dropping off a passenger. I hurried over to secure the car and beckoned to Xu Xin, who was following behind. “Come on, there’s a taxi right here.”

Xu Xin staggered over, bent down and crawled into the car, but then collapsed right onto my lap and didn’t move. I was startled, thinking she was up to one of her tricks again. I shook her shoulder and said, “Hey! What’s with you? Sit up properly!”

She murmured a response, shifted into a comfortable position, and continued lying across my lap, refusing to get up. Only then did I realize something was wrong. Holding her up with both hands, I saw her eyes were glazed, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked drowsy and half-awake. I couldn’t help but laugh: Really? She got drunk on just a little low-alcohol red wine? The way she was gulping it down earlier, I’d thought she could really handle her liquor. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have poured any for her. Now look—she’s turned into a drunken kitten.

I gently patted her cheek, calling, “Hey! Wake up, don’t fall asleep! How am I supposed to get you home like this?” In her daze, she frowned and let out a displeased hum, then shifted her whole body and actually snuggled right into my arms, twisting her slim waist before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

I was utterly defeated by her and looked at the youthful girl in my arms in exasperation, not knowing what to do. The taxi driver in front, growing impatient, turned and asked, “Sir, where to?”

Helpless, I closed the car door and gave the driver my home address. The car promptly turned around and set off. As we drove, the little witch in my arms slid down and nearly fell to the floor of the car. I hurriedly caught her and steadied her on my lap. Even in her drunken sleep, she instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around my waist. Seeing her little face with such a contented smile, I couldn’t bring myself to push her away. I let her be, though I couldn’t help but worry—when I got home, how would I explain bringing an unconscious, drunken girl to my parents?

The taxi cruised smoothly through the streets, and the girl in my arms clung to me intimately, her youthful fragrance drifting faintly into my nose—a scent unique to girls her age. My heart stirred, and I couldn’t help but recall that snowy night when I carried her older sister through the snow, the gentle warmth of that evening, and the emotions I’d felt then…

At last we arrived home. After paying the fare, I couldn’t manage to wake the girl in my arms no matter how much I shook her. She only muttered a bit and hugged me even tighter. With no other choice, I opened the door and dragged her out, giving the door a kick to close it behind me, then hoisted her up in my arms.

It occurred to me that lately, I must be under some kind of unlucky star. First, I was tricked by Qiu Jieqin, thinking she was drunk and had to carry her home. Then there was the celebrity who sprained her ankle, and I had to carry her to the hospital. After that, Gu Ruoyan got so drunk I had to haul her home—twice! Then Hua Jingjing fell seriously ill and I had to rush her to the ER. Every single time some woman runs into trouble and can’t take care of herself, I end up being the one to deal with it. Isn’t this getting a bit ridiculous? Now, even this little girl—drunk out of her mind after barely any wine—needs me to carry her home. Tell me, am I not the unluckiest man alive?

Shaking my head and sighing, I carried the little witch up the stairs. I thought, she really is just a child, naïve and inexperienced in the ways of the world, unaware of how dangerous people can be. She knows she can’t hold her liquor and still insists on drinking. Lucky for her she ran into me. If she’d encountered someone with bad intentions, given the state she’s in, who knows what could’ve happened? Such a beautiful, innocent girl—if she were to be harmed, it would be a crime against heaven! Regret would come too late. Tomorrow, I’d have to make sure she got home safely and spare her from any further danger.

Though Xu Xin was tall and long-legged, she wasn’t heavy—much like her sister. Carrying her to my door wasn’t too much of a strain. But with both hands occupied, I couldn’t reach my keys, so I used her foot to ring the doorbell.

My sister Tang Ying opened the door. When she saw me carrying a girl, her eyes nearly popped out in shock. Amused, she asked, “Hey, big brother, what’s this? Bringing a girl home—is this some new drama? Are you trying to give Mom and Dad a heart attack?”

I snapped, “Move aside! Can’t you see how tired I am carrying her?”

Once Tang Ying stepped aside, she followed after me, full of curiosity. “Brother, is this the girlfriend you mentioned this morning—my future sister-in-law? Wait, isn’t she a student? Seriously? You’re even going after girls this young? That’s just—old bull eating tender grass… haha, don’t glare at me! I’m waiting for your explanation.”

I carried Xu Xin into Tang Ying’s room and laid her gently on the bed. At that moment, my parents, who’d been watching TV in the living room, were drawn by the commotion and came over to ask, “Xiao Qian, what’s going on? Who is this girl?”

I said to Tang Ying, “Ying, help her take off her shoes and coat. Let her sleep with you tonight. Mom, Dad, let’s talk outside.”

As I led my parents out of my sister’s room, Tang Ying called after me, “Hey! Wait for me—I want to hear this too!”

Settling into the living room, I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a few drags before slowly explaining the girl’s background. Tang Ying soon finished tending to the sleeping little witch and dashed in, eager to hear my explanation, peppering me with questions. Since she was a diehard fan of the little witch’s sister, I avoided mentioning Xu Shuai to prevent any overreaction. I simply said Xu Xin was the sister of a military friend I’d recently met, that I’d run into her by chance after she’d run away from home, and recounted the rest of the story.

When I finished, my mother sighed, “Oh, this child is far too mischievous. How could she run away from home over a little disagreement? Doesn’t she realize her parents must be worried sick? Xiao Qian, I think you should call her family right away so they don’t worry.”

Tang Ying snorted, “How could you do that? Didn’t you hear what big brother said? He swore a deadly oath not to tell her family—otherwise, he said we’d all be cursed! Hmph!”

I broke out in a cold sweat! In my rush to keep the little witch safe, I hadn’t considered that the oath might put my family at risk. No wonder my sister was upset. I opened my mouth to apologize, but my father interjected, “What’s the problem? As a Communist Party member, I don’t believe in that nonsense! Besides, your brother was just trying to protect the girl. Society these days isn’t safe, and a young girl out on her own is in real danger. I think you did the right thing. Sometimes saving someone means risking your own life, let alone just making a promise. Ying, you should learn from your brother—don’t just think about yourself all the time!”

Tang Ying rolled her eyes, annoyed, “Dad! There you go again! What did I do now?”

Ignoring her, my father turned to me, “Xiao Qian, I support you. Go call her parents—don’t let them worry. We’re all parents here; I know her family must be frantic.”

I looked gratefully at my understanding parents, feeling a wave of warmth. After considering, I said, “Dad, Mom, thank you. But since I swore an oath, as a man, I have to keep my word—even if it’s to a child. I know her parents are worried, but she’s always been a troublemaker. This can’t be the first time. I doubt they’d make themselves sick with worry. Don’t worry, I’ll take her home first thing in the morning so she can be reunited with her family.”

My mother disagreed immediately. “No, that won’t do! How do you know her parents won’t worry themselves sick? She’s just a child, not an adult. If I were her mother, I’d be beside myself if she didn’t come home for a night! No, no, your father just praised you and now you’re being stubborn. Call them right now or I won’t agree!”

I looked helplessly at my father, but he nodded in agreement with my mother. With no choice, I got up reluctantly to make the call. Just as I picked up the phone in the living room, the doorbell rang.

Tang Ying said, “Huh? Who could be knocking at this hour?”

She went to the door and opened it. I heard her ask, “Who are you looking for?” Then a familiar voice said, “Sorry to bother you—have you seen this girl? Someone said she got out of a taxi in front of this building.”

I glanced over and exclaimed with delight, “Brother Xu! How did you manage to find this place?” Sure enough, standing at the door in full military uniform was Xu Jian, holding a photo and anxiously questioning my sister.

I hurried over to shake his hand. Xu Jian was surprised and happy to see me. “Brother Tang? You? My sister’s here?”

I shook his hand and smiled. “Yes, she’s sleeping in my sister’s room—dead drunk, can’t wake her at all. Come in and sit!”

Xu Jian heaved a sigh of relief, half amused, half exasperated. “Damn, why didn’t you call me? I tracked my sister to this building after seeing her carried in by a man—worried me sick! Turns out it was you all along!”

I said, “It’s a long story. Come in first and sit down.”

Xu Jian nodded, then turned and said, “Wait for me downstairs. I’ll be down soon.” Only then did I notice four or five soldiers standing in the stairwell. A sergeant saluted and said, “Yes, sir!” before leading the team downstairs. I quickly said, “Hey, it’s cold outside—come in and sit for a bit!”

Xu Jian replied, “No need. There’s a whole platoon outside—your place couldn’t fit them all. Let them wait outside.” He walked inside, saying, “Where’s my sister? Let me see her.”

I pointed to my sister’s room. “She’s in there. Brother Xu, did you surround the whole building? Quite the operation, huh!”

Xu Jian went in, saw Xu Xin sleeping soundly, and finally relaxed. He closed the door and turned to me. “My sister was carried in by a man—of course I had to make a big deal of it. So, what happened? After she played a trick on you, how did you catch her?”

I introduced him to my parents and sister. Xu Jian gave each of them a crisp military salute and apologized for the disturbance. My parents, seeing the girl’s brother had arrived, were finally at ease. After a few polite words, they left us to talk in private.

Xu Jian pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Dad, I’ve found Xiao Xin. Yes, she’s fine, don’t worry! She’s asleep now, I’ll bring her home tomorrow… Yes… yes…”

I made him a cup of tea and offered him a cigarette. We sat on the sofa, smoking as I briefly recounted how I’d found Xu Xin. Then I asked, “Brother Xu, you’re pretty impressive—how did you manage to find my place? If you hadn’t come, I was about to risk breaking my oath and call you myself!”

Xu Jian laughed. “Damn, what a ridiculous oath! If you’d called, I wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble. After your call at noon, I sensed something was wrong and called her school—they said she hadn’t shown up at all today. That’s when I got worried. I called her cell over and over but she wouldn’t answer, then turned it off altogether. In our city, hardly anyone would dare mess with her, but here in City B, totally unfamiliar, with her wild ways—she could get into real trouble. Xu Shuai’s bodyguards, like Captain Wang, are all in America with her, so I spoke to my dad, took five soldiers, and drove to City B to look for her. Luckily, the commander of the 54th Regiment here is an old comrade of mine. I contacted him, and without hesitation, he sent a platoon to comb the city with me. But where to even begin? Then inspiration struck: my sister must have taken a taxi to get here, right? I had her photo, so I went straight to all the major taxi companies and pressured the bosses to call in all their drivers for questioning. But City B is huge, with several companies and tens of thousands of taxis. How long would that take? Most of them couldn’t be reached anyway—a useless idea. Then someone clever suggested I try the radio—broadcast a missing-person announcement. Most taxi drivers listen to the city traffic station, so maybe one would recognize her. I thought it was a good idea and rushed to the traffic radio station, asked them to air a bulletin describing my sister’s appearance and clothing. Sure enough, not long after, someone called in saying he’d just taken two passengers—one a drunken girl whose clothes matched the description. I asked the driver to come over and showed him my sister’s photo. Maybe it’s because she’s so pretty, but he recognized her at a glance and confirmed it was her, said she’d been carried off by a man at such-and-such location. That really freaked me out! So I rounded up the troops and, led by the driver, stormed over. We surrounded the building and started checking each apartment—if there was a woman inside, we’d ask; if anyone seemed suspicious, we’d search. Damn, I’ve been running around all day, didn’t even have time for a sip of water, and in the end, it turns out you’d taken in my sister! That stupid oath of yours nearly killed me.”

After his long tirade, he gulped down the entire cup of tea in one go. I looked at Xu Jian, feeling deeply apologetic. He always claimed to dislike his little sister, but he was obviously worried sick about her. The depth of their sibling bond moved me greatly—Xu Jian’s image in my mind grew even more admirable.

I apologized sincerely, “I’m sorry, Brother Xu. I really should have told you sooner. I made you worry and work so hard all day. Please forgive me!”

Xu Jian waved it off, smiling. “Hey, I was just venting. I’m not blaming you! I know my sister’s temper—what could you do? Honestly, I should thank you. If I hadn’t been lucky enough to find you, who knows what disaster she might have caused? On behalf of my family, thank you!”

I said, “We’re brothers—no need for thanks.”

“That’s right! Good brothers—no need for more words.” Xu Jian stood up, clapping me on the shoulder. “Let my sister stay here tonight. I have to go now but I’ll pick her up first thing in the morning.”

I quickly stood up. “What? Leaving already? You haven’t eaten! Stay for dinner—have a drink with me?”

“No need!” Xu Jian replied. “We’ll have plenty of chances to drink together. But those guys outside have been helping me all day—I have to go thank them. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve seen my old comrade; we agreed to have a reunion after finding my sister. Next time!”

I didn’t press him to stay. After Xu Jian said goodbye, I walked him downstairs and saw a jeep and two military trucks parked outside, dozens of soldiers standing by. Xu Jian said, “Alright, that’s it then. I’ll be back early tomorrow—don’t let my sister run off! Haha!”

He climbed into the jeep, waved, and the three vehicles roared to life, driving away from the neighborhood. I stood waving, watching them go, the sound of the engines echoing in my ears long after they’d disappeared around the corner.