Volume One, Chapter Nine: Sisters

Dragging his weary body back to his apartment building, Mode pressed the doorbell for unit 502. Soon, he heard someone respond from inside, “Coming, coming!” Footsteps paused behind the door, and Four peered out through the peephole.

“It’s me, Sister Xi,” Mode said with a smile, waving toward the peephole. “Oh, it’s little Mode.” With a soft click, the door to 502 swung open, revealing a petite figure.

Li Yanxi held a spatula in one hand and gripped the handrail with the other. “Why are you still standing out there? Come in, little Mode. Your slippers are in the cabinet—I’m heading back to the kitchen!” Before Mode could reply, the petite figure darted away, vanishing into the entryway.

“She’s still as impulsive as ever, Sister Xi...” Mode smiled helplessly to himself, found his slippers in the cabinet, changed shoes, and walked into the apartment.

“Sister Xi, do you need a hand?” After washing his hands, Mode raised his voice toward the kitchen.

“No need, no need, I’m adding another dish. Go wake Dongzi first!” The tiny voice tried to rise above the kitchen’s noisy bustle.

“Alright!” Mode made his way to the inner room, found Li Dongdong’s door, and knocked gently. “Sister Dong, wake up, dinner’s ready.”

“Mmm...” A muffled, sleepy voice sounded, “Mode?” Her voice, still hoarse from sleep, questioned uncertainly.

“I came for Sister Xi’s help with a signature, and figured I’d grab a meal while I was here.” Mode rubbed his nose. Whenever he heard the lazy, magnetic voice of Sister Dong just after she woke, his nose always itched, as if he might yawn too.

“Did she drag you in again because of her quirks?” The sound of dressing came from inside, while Mode outside fell briefly silent.

“I’m used to Sister Xi’s straightforward nature, besides... besides, Uncle Changsheng’s been away lately, so it’s just me at home, and I’m in no rush to go back.” Mode replied with a smile.

The sound of dressing paused within, followed by a cool female voice, “Then come eat with us more often. You know Yanxi never cooks in moderation—a whole table’s worth. With you here, we can finish more of it.”

“Alright,” Mode smiled and nodded, though his lips pressed tightly together.

Mode’s childhood was spent almost entirely in “the tides.” When he reached school age, the man brought him to this apartment. Somehow, the man irresponsibly dumped all parental obligations—like attending parent meetings—onto the landlord sisters, who seemed barely older than Mode himself. Li Dongdong managed, always attending Mode’s parent meetings with a cold, silent face. But whenever Li Yanxi went, her petite figure easily led people to mistake Mode for the older brother bringing his little sister.

“Let’s go.” The door suddenly opened. Before Mode could react, his head was locked in an arm and dragged toward the living room.

“Gentle, Sister Dong, gentle...” Mode gasped, quickly patting Li Dongdong’s arm in surrender.

“Dinner time! Hey, Li Dongdong, don’t bully little Mode!” Li Yanxi, now freed from her apron, finally came to Mode’s rescue.

...

After eating and drinking his fill, Mode finally remembered why he’d come. He pulled the accident waiver from his backpack and handed it to Li Yanxi.

Although Li Dongdong appeared much more mature than the nearly 1.5-meter-tall Li Yanxi, Yanxi was, in fact, the oldest of the three.

With one hand twirling a pen and the other playing with the ends of Li Dongdong’s hair as she lay nearby on her phone, Li Yanxi pondered deeply over the waiver. After half an hour, making sure everything was correct, she signed her name with a flourish in the guardian’s section.

“Little Mode, it’s done!” “Huh... what?” Mode, who had been dozing off, jolted awake and rubbed his sleepy eyes, taking the waiver.

“I’ll head out now, Sister Xi, Sister Dong.” Slinging his backpack, Mode patted his cheeks, forcing himself awake.

“Not staying a bit longer?” Li Yanxi sounded disappointed, regretting not dawdling more so Mode could nap a while.

“No, no, I still have assignments to finish.” Mode scratched his head helplessly. He had just intended to trouble Sister Xi for a signature, but was swept up in her rhythm—eating, drinking, even napping. Now, back in his room, he’d surely have to burn the midnight oil to finish the tasks assigned by Teacher Su.

“Come again tomorrow.” Mode paused, turning back to see Li Dongdong, her head buried in her phone, fingers flying furiously across the screen.

“Then... I’ll trouble you again tomorrow, Sister Xi, Sister Dong. I’m off!” Closing the door behind him, Mode gazed at the oppressive fog blending with the night, feeling unprecedented ease. The emotion long repressed at the bottom of his five-drawer cabinet was quietly soothed by this inexplicable sense of comfort.

His steps light, the youth headed downstairs along the corridor.

...

The door closed, footsteps faded. Li Dongdong put down her phone—the screen now dark, her base exploding in a blaze of light. She turned, fished a comb from under the coffee table, and began brushing Li Yanxi’s hair.

“Is it really okay to keep Mode in the dark?” Li Yanxi sat cross-legged, hands propping her chubby cheeks, her tone losing its usual energy.

“If it’s his decision, we should respect it. Even if Mode eventually uncovers the truth by himself, the experience and growth will surely be what he sought.”

“But isn’t it... a bit cruel for little Mode?”

“Mode isn’t like us sisters, and he doesn’t have time to teach him step by step. He must learn by exploring on his own.”

“What if...”

“We, as hermits, aren’t just paper cutouts stuck to the wall. Since the last edict was ‘live well, live happily,’ it means we’re free to do as we please. The three of them are never home, so it’s up to us to bridge that one-in-ten-thousand gap.”

A beautiful braid emerged from Li Dongdong’s hands. She gestured for Li Yanxi to turn, beginning the second braid.

“Will we never see him again?” Li Yanxi suddenly turned, her now misty eyes fixed on Li Dongdong’s face, her voice trembling.

“According to the plan, yes.” Li Dongdong gently held the braid, turning to match Yanxi’s movement, her hands busy yet her gaze tender as she softly reassured, “But as the old saying goes, plans never keep up with changes—who knows, maybe we’ll meet again one day.”

“Even taking the worst case, at least we know his plan, know he’s faking his death to escape—that’s a blessing amid misfortune.” After finishing the second braid, Li Dongdong drew the petite figure into her arms, gently patting her back, her voice growing softer.

...

“I just... just...” Li Yanxi’s trembling voice was laced with grievance and unwillingness.

“What is it, you resent him for abandoning us and Mode for that godlike figure?” Li Yanxi buried her head in Li Dongdong’s embrace, wanting to deny it but unable to refute.

“It’s alright, let yourself cry. I’m not at peace either—I’m jealous of her too.” Feeling her chest gradually warmed by tears, Li Dongdong softly patted Yanxi’s back.

“But you must understand, she’s the one who accompanied him here, and the sacrifices he’s made for her are far more than what we’ve seen—a mere fraction.”

“I... I know, I just... just...” Li Yanxi’s sobs slowly subsided, her words choked.

“I understand. Anything to do with him makes you emotional. Look at you now—where’s the dignity of the eldest sister?” Li Dongdong smiled gently, teasing Yanxi. “Come on, wipe your face.”

Yanxi sheepishly lifted her head, a sparkling bridge of mucus connecting the two.

“Look at you—crying like a child at your age.” Li Dongdong patiently wiped Yanxi’s tears and nose with tissues, then tugged at her reddened cheeks. “Lucky the other three aren’t here, or they’d have a laugh at your expense.” With that, she removed her tear- and mucus-stained shirt, tossing it in the laundry basket, grabbing another tissue to wipe her chest.

“They wouldn’t dare!…” Yanxi pouted, shaking her tiny fists fiercely.

“Dongzi, do you think Mode’s autumn internship might run into trouble?” Rubbing her cheeks, Yanxi finally calmed down, but couldn’t help worrying again.

“It’s just a visit, that so-called autumn hunt might be risky for ordinary kids, but for Mode it’s no more than playing house. Kids have to grow up—letting him explore is good.” Li Dongdong flicked Yanxi’s forehead, smiling to ease her worries.

“Mm... true. Let Mode venture out on his own—I was considering secretly following him.”

“You must have too much time on your hands. By the way, did you tell him about the rent?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell Mode he doesn’t need to pay rent anymore; I’ll mention it tomorrow, say he already paid in full.”

“I bet, with your memory, you’ll forget again tomorrow...”

“If I forget, so be it. Whenever Mode remembers to pay, I’ll tell him then.”

“You, you...”