Chapter 527: Ren Shan’s Feelings for Her Brother

Chapter 527: Ren Shan's Affection for Her Brother

After spending three days in Yangyu Mountain, Su An and Ren Shan finally boarded the train home.

Zuo Zuying drove them to the station and thoughtfully bought them snacks and several bags of packaged sodas.

"Safe travels! Give us a call when you’re back to let us know you've arrived safely."

"Will do, thank you."

Only after watching them board the train and settle by the window did Zuo Zuying wave goodbye and leave.

Though it was nearly the end of the year, the weather in the south remained mild—just a long-sleeved shirt and a jacket were enough. As the train headed north, Su An and Ren Shan gradually added layers.

Fortunately, they had prepared in advance. By the time they arrived at A City’s train station, they were fully bundled up.

As soon as they stepped out of the station, they spotted Su Ping waiting outside like a guardian statue.

Seeing Su An and Ren Shan squeezing through the crowd, Su Ping excitedly waved. "An An, Shan Shan, over here!"

Following the voice, Su An saw Su Ping, wearing a military coat, scarf, hat, and gloves, waving while pushing a tricycle.

"Brother, why are you here?"

Su Ping grinned. "Comrade Zuo called home and told me you’d arrive around this time, so I came to pick you up."

As he spoke, he took the bags from Su An and Ren Shan, loaded them onto the tricycle, and urged them to climb aboard.

"Come on, are you cold? Let’s hurry home. Grandma and Mom will be thrilled."

"An An, our restaurant had a lot of year-end banquets, so I got plenty of candy and red eggs. I saved your share."

Su An smiled. "Really? How long ago was that? Are the red eggs cooked? You should’ve eaten them yourself—they might’ve gone bad by now."

Su Ping replied earnestly, "No, no, they’re fine. I sniffed them every day. When it got really cold and things started freezing, I stored them outside."

"Shan Shan, you have some too. Three days ago, I got six more pieces of candy—two for you. You can’t just run off like that again. Auntie Liu said there are lots of bad people out there. A girl from their village went south for work and vanished—even the police couldn’t trace her. You’re so young. After you left, I worried so much I couldn’t sleep."

Ren Shan’s eyes softened. "I won’t. I’m not like them—I’m clever. Even if I got lost, as long as I’m alive, I’d find my way back to you."

Su Ping said sternly, "Don’t you dare get lost!"

"You followed me home because I gave you egg pancakes on the train. What if someone offers you meat, and you think it’s better than egg pancakes, and you go with them?"

Ren Shan laughed. "How could that happen? Nothing beats egg pancakes!"

Su Ping pressed further, "What if they give you egg pancakes? Would you go with them?"

Ren Shan patiently replied, "No, the ones at home are tastier."

Su Ping thought for a moment. "Shan Shan, my knife skills have improved, and now I’m even cooking. The master gave me my own stove—I can make lots of delicious things."

Ren Shan couldn’t hide her smile. "So?"

"So even if someone offers you really tasty food, you still can’t go with them. I can make all sorts of dishes now, and the master is training me. I’ll learn to make even more delicious things in the future."

"Mhm, I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you make me leave."

Listening to their back-and-forth, Su An's heart swirled with feelings.

Ren Shan seemed to harbor unusual feelings for her brother. She'd need to find a way to gently remind her—she and her brother were never meant to be in the same world.

Moreover, her brother was getting to that age. With his steady job and trade skills, if he was willing, it was time to consider matchmaking.

Eldest Master Cai had already floated the idea of setting up his niece, Li Hongjuan, who worked at the train station, with her brother.

Eldest Master Cai knew Su Ping well. Though a bit slow mentally, he had skills and a stable job—he was a kind and honest boy. With Wang Xiaocui running a shop at home and Su An being accomplished, they were one of the better-off families in City A. The household was simple and amiable. Setting aside Su Ping’s lack of intelligence, they were undoubtedly a good family.

This was far better than those so-called "normal" families where everyone crowded together, constantly scheming and bickering, living in chaos.

Besides, Su Ping’s intelligence was only stuck at the level of a ten-year-old—he wasn’t intellectually disabled. It was an acquired condition, not hereditary. He was obedient, too. If a girl wasn’t particularly smart, marrying into such a family might actually be a blessing.

As it happened, Li Hongjuan was exactly that kind of simple, guileless girl—not a scheming bone in her body. Eldest Master Cai thought they'd be perfect together.

But he didn’t know whether the accident Su Ping had suffered back then had any impact on his fertility... or certain other aspects.

So, he had subtly asked Su An about it.

Last time, after Su Ping and Ren Shan saw Su An off to school, Ren Shan took Su Ping to the largest hospital in Yangcheng with Chu Shuyu and Gang Zi.

They ran every test possible on Su Ping. Ren Shan wanted to see if there was any hope for her brother.

Unfortunately, the results weren’t good. The doctor said Su Ping’s condition was caused by brain damage from that high fever years ago—it was irreversible and incurable. He'd always have the mind of a ten-year-old.

Though his mind was stuck at ten, his intelligence and cognitive abilities could still improve gradually through learning and day-to-day life. But no matter what, compared to normal peers, he would always be different.

In Su An’s heart, her brother was undoubtedly the best man in the world—good enough for anyone.

But Ren Shan was also her sister. Everyone could see how bright she was.

She was too outstanding. She would surely be right up there with the best in society one day. Meanwhile, her brother’s fate was already sealed. Even with her and their mother watching over him, he'd just be living a simple, ordinary life, day by day.

He couldn’t grow alongside Ren Shan. He couldn’t accompany her in making her mark in business.

In certain situations, he wouldn’t even understand the words or actions of others. He needed straightforward language—he couldn’t grasp hidden meanings.

Without understanding, he couldn’t provide timely emotional support. People get tired eventually. Even if Ren Shan harbored special feelings for him now, what about when she grew up?

Would such a dazzling, exceptional girl willingly spend her life with a man whose mind would forever remain that of a ten-year-old?

What if, after seeing greater things or meeting better people, she came to regret it?

By then, the hurt to their family—to the three of them—would cut too deep.