When children receive red envelopes, their first reaction is always to buy toys and snacks. Little Ethan Clark wandered around the mall alone for several days, and finally bought a beautiful watch.

Because in two days, it would be Ryan Cooper's birthday.

It was the first time he spent his own money to buy a gift. As a child, he already thought it was a sky-high price, but looking at it now, the watch wasn’t a famous brand, the style was very simple, not the popular digital watches among students these days—not cool, not complicated.

From childhood to now, Ryan Cooper had received plenty of “gifts” from Ethan Clark: the so-called “rare” four-leaf clover with a fourth leaf glued on by hand, little Lele stickers that, when collected to ten, could be exchanged for any errand or chore from his brother, hand-drawn exclusive mini-calendars for Ryan Cooper...

But the first time he received this gift, Ryan Cooper's initial reaction was strong resistance; he even dragged Ethan Clark back to the mall where the watch was bought.

At that time, Ryan Cooper had just started seventh grade, but standing at the mall counter handling the return, he looked as calm as an adult. Only Ethan Clark was crying, even sitting on the floor, hugging Ryan Cooper's leg and bawling, as if he were the one who had received a gift only to have it returned.

Unfortunately, the memory is too blurry. Why exactly Ryan Cooper was so against the gift at first, and why he changed his mind and decided to accept it, Ethan Clark can’t really remember.

He was a bit curious for a moment, but after thinking about it, he didn’t ask. Having just had an episode, he was already grateful not to be scolded—now was definitely not a good time.

Ryan Cooper unscrewed the cap and took a sip of water, then handed it back to him, snapping Ethan Clark out of his thoughts.

“Ryan Cooper ge, have you been waiting long?”

“Just got here.” Ryan Cooper stepped on the pedal.

Ethan Clark took the initiative to report on his follow-up visit: “I’m fine now, and I just took my medicine.”

“I can see you’re fine now,” Ryan Cooper said.

Ethan Clark didn’t sense anything wrong with this comment and continued, “Luckily you were there, otherwise I might have died.”

He said “might have died” with a straight face, but it really wasn’t an exaggeration. In elementary school, even though he brought his own lunch, as a kid he didn’t realize how serious allergies could be. There were several severe episodes back then, and each time it was Ryan Cooper, who went to the same school, who saved him.

He didn’t know how many times Ryan Cooper had saved his little life. Sometimes Ethan Clark would think of those cartoons where little animals repay kindness, and seriously wonder what kind of little animal he’d be in his next life.

Hopefully a little Pomeranian as fluffy as cotton candy, with a small tag hanging from its neck.

Thinking of the tag, Ethan Clark suddenly recalled what happened at the school gate. “You saved me twice today.”

Ryan Cooper didn’t scold him as expected, but didn’t say anything else either, just got ready to leave. Ethan Clark noticed and immediately plopped down on the back seat. Seeing Ryan Cooper turn to look at him, he tilted his face up, “My bike’s parked at the school gate, I’ll ride with you out first.”

He neither agreed nor refused, as if he were carrying a puff of air. Ethan Clark sat on the back and waved goodbye to Jack Harris and the girl not far away. “I’m heading home now!”

Jack Harris watched Ethan Clark, feeling like even his tone was full of happiness.

When he first learned that Ryan Cooper and Ethan Clark were brothers, he was puzzled why neither of them ever mentioned this to others. Thinking back on how they never interacted, he even felt Ryan Cooper was overly cold.

But putting himself in their shoes, if it were him, how would he explain his relationship with Ethan Clark?

No matter how you explain it, you can’t avoid mentioning his deceased parents.

Idle gossip is a bloodless knife; sometimes, silence is the best shield against harm.

As they rode out, a breeze picked up. The summer wind felt soft and gentle on the skin.

It reminded him of when he was little, sitting on the back of Ryan Cooper's bike. Back then, Ryan Cooper had just learned to ride, and the first person he ever gave a ride to was him. At first, they were both so happy—little Ethan Clark hugging his brother’s waist, legs sticking out high, shouting, “Faster, faster!”

Later, they fell. Ethan Clark scraped his knee and bled, and after that, Ryan Cooper wouldn’t give him rides anymore.

As they neared the school gate, Ethan Clark kept worrying that Ryan Cooper would stop and make him ride his own bike home, and he kept hesitating over what excuse to make up.

His bike chain fell off? No, too fake.

Low tire pressure? That didn’t seem right either.

Maybe he should just say his asthma hadn’t fully recovered, his chest felt tight, and he couldn’t ride.

He finally thought of a plausible excuse, but when he looked up, they were already far past the school gate—Ryan Cooper hadn’t stopped at all. Maybe he’d forgotten what he’d just said, Ethan Clark thought.

At the intersection, waiting at the red light, Ryan Cooper stopped. Cars passed by one after another in front of them, and the sunlight was silent.

A layer of condensation had formed on the bottle in his hand, turning it into a bottle of very guilty soda.

“Ryan Cooper ge, did Mr. Wright call Aunt Rong?”

Ryan Cooper didn’t respond; maybe he hadn’t heard.

Although Ryan Cooper usually didn’t talk to him much, Ethan Clark could sense subtle shifts in his mood, and he felt that Ryan Cooper wasn’t happy.

Was it because he’d eaten the wrong thing and had an allergic reaction, causing trouble for him?

Then why did he come to see him?

Probably just to make sure nothing serious had happened, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to explain to Aunt Rong when he got home.