Ethan Carter took the red envelope in a daze. He pinched open the bag and peeked inside—seemed like it was a thousand yuan. He knew well his mother Grace Bennett’s way of managing things; all his previous years’ New Year’s money had to be handed in, and he was only allowed to keep a thousand yuan each year. Grace Bennett never pocketed the children’s New Year’s money for herself, but always saved it up properly.

When Ethan Carter left home at eighteen, he got all his past New Year’s money from his mother. It seemed the family still kept up the tradition—only a thousand yuan for the child each year.

No matter how thick-skinned Ethan Carter was, looking into the little girl’s clear eyes at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed and declined, “It’s okay, it doesn’t take that much money to see a doctor…”

He’d only wanted to tease and mess with the little girl—after all, she was always cold and sharp-tongued, with quite a temper. Now, though, he felt utterly embarrassed.

Ethan Carter tried to shove the red envelope back to the little one, but she nimbly dodged. Olivia Carter said calmly, “Just take it. You’re so dumb, it’s normal you can’t make it on your own. If Mom and Dad knew you weren’t doing well, they’d be sad too.”

Ethan Carter looked stunned, momentarily speechless.

Olivia Carter really didn’t like Ethan Carter, but she didn’t want him to be miserable out there either. Ethan Carter was already twenty-three; if their parents knew he didn’t even have money to see a doctor, they’d be heartbroken. Olivia Carter didn’t want Mom and Dad to be sad, so of course she had to help solve their worries.

After giving him the money, Olivia Carter ignored Ethan Carter and simply hid in the courtyard to get some air, as if afraid he’d chase after her.

Olivia Carter: Adults these days are really hard to handle. I wish the Spring Festival holiday would end soon.

Staring at the burning-hot red envelope, Ethan Carter felt a complicated mix of emotions. He couldn’t help but flop onto the sofa with a sigh, looking a bit forlorn. His little sister was a kind and sensible little glutinous rice ball—even though she disliked and resented him in her heart, she still treated people with a crystal-clear heart.

After thinking for a moment, Ethan Carter simply sent a message to his agent Brian Clark.

YI: Actually, having a little sister isn’t so bad.

Brian Clark: You’re changing your tune this fast?

YI: [photo]

YI: I just played the poor card in front of her, and she gave me a thousand-yuan red envelope.

Ethan Carter took a photo of the red envelope and even sent it to Brian Clark to show off.

Brian Clark: ?

Brian Clark: Isn’t your little sister only two or three years old? You don’t feel bad taking money from her?

YI: Please be precise—she’s already three and a half now.

Brian Clark was speechless at his artist’s shamelessness. Now, for some reason, he felt sorry for Olivia Carter having to spend the holiday with her brother. He really ought to arrange work for Ethan Carter instead of letting him go home for the Spring Festival. He just wanted to beg Ethan Carter to act like a decent person. It was one thing for him to mess around with himself all the time, but now he was even messing with his three-and-a-half-year-old sister?

Chapter 6

Olivia Carter didn’t want to run into Ethan Carter again, so she took advantage of the last bit of daylight and ran out to the courtyard for some air. Her grandaunt was originally inside taking care of grandma. Seeing the little girl in the yard through the window, she reminded her, “Xiaoxiao, don’t go out now.”

There was a small courtyard at home, with an iron gate, and Olivia Carter always ran out to play through that gate, never liking to use the main entrance.

Olivia Carter replied, “I’m just in the yard.”

Hearing her promise, grandaunt was reassured and slowly drew the curtains. Olivia Carter bounced around a few times out of boredom, then poked her head out to look at the scene beyond the iron fence, whiling away the time outside.

It was Spring Festival, and most of the residents in the neighborhood had gone home for the holiday. With the already large green spaces, there were even fewer people to be seen. Olivia Carter used to see people walking their dogs, but now she found the surroundings empty, with only the gradually lighting warm yellow street lamps.

After a while, Olivia Carter finally saw the first person out walking a pet—but he wasn’t walking a dog, he was walking a cat.

A delicate little boy of six or seven, dressed in a black down jacket and a white scarf, stood under a tree holding a black cat on a leash. The black cat was pulled along by its little owner, also wrapped in a dark little coat. Its exposed fur was pure black, but its paws were snowy white, as if wearing white gloves.

It was the first time Olivia Carter had seen someone walking a cat, and she couldn’t help but stare at the little boy. He turned his head, as if sensing her gaze, and stared right back at her.

The two children looked at each other through the iron fence for a long time, as if daydreaming aimlessly, or cautiously testing each other, neither saying a word.

The black cat squatted on the ground, washing its face with its paw, the calmest of all in the quiet, glancing around at random.

Olivia Carter observed the little boy for a long time and saw the golden glow of his emotions, which she found quite novel. In her understanding, warm colors meant the other person was in a good mood and quite friendly toward her. But they hadn’t even spoken yet, and he was already willing to show goodwill, which surprised Olivia Carter a little.

Olivia Carter was sure he wasn’t a bad person, so she simply broke the silence first and asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

The little boy tilted his head and answered, “Because you’re looking at me.”

With communication established, the little boy led the black cat to the iron fence, approaching Olivia Carter in the courtyard. The black cat was quite cooperative. It looked like a fully grown cat, with smooth lines and agile steps, walking steadily beside the boy.