"Jiejie, is he really okay?" Lu Xun asked. His voice cracked, and she could tell he had been crying. Probably all night. The poor boy had been alone in his room, curled up in fear, waiting for answers no one could give.
An Xiulan's heart clenched. She sat down on the bench nearby and softened her tone, speaking with all the love she could pour into her voice.
"Of course," she said, gently. "Does your Jiejie ever lie to you?"
"No," he replied instantly, without hesitation.
His big sister never lied to him. Never. And more than that, she never treated him like a baby the way the rest of the family often did. She always spoke to him as if he mattered, as if his feelings were valid.
"Then trust me, alright?" she said warmly. "He's going to be fine. When he wakes up in the morning, I'll video call you so you can see him. Would that make you feel better?"
"…Okay."
