Chapter 101

101 Fear not, sister Part II

Xiao Chang knew Bai Yu well, as always. Every day, the two maids would go out to the market to spread another rumor that would cover up the number of doctors who came to Yue’s mansion to look at Bai He’s condition.

These past few days, Bai Yu regularly practiced guqin. She remembered how proud her brother was of her. The Meihua Lady competition now took priority over the rumor. She could not lose in that competition, even though she no longer had the willpower to compete anything with anyone.

If Bai He woke up, only to learn that his beloved sister no longer held the title Meihua Lady...she could not imagine how disappointed he would be. And so, Bai Yu played guqin for her sleeping brother every day, from morning until night.

The melodious but mournful tune of guqin can almost always be heard from the Meihua residence. Those who came by and heard it would always remark on the song that was so gentle, yet at the same time full of sorrow. No one knew what song Bai Yu played. They had never heard it before, but they were still moved to tears.

Today’s afternoon was also another day that Bai Yu sat, back straight, in front of her seven strings guqin. She laid her hands that had become thinner than before on the strings, preparing to play the song she had spent many shichens to alter until it could be played on the guqin. It became a beautiful song that could convey emotions even without the use of words.

The first note rang clear amidst the silence. This song was originally a song Bai Yu had heard in her last life.

Red magic slowly emanated from her body, following the melody of the song. A group of little red butterflies fluttered its wings, encircling Bai He who was sleeping on the bed.

From her thin lips, the lyrics were uttered along with the rhythm of the song.

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.....

*Looking up at the sky, it’s still so wide, with beautiful clouds.

As a child, I grasped at it. Oh, how I want to grow tall...

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The memory of a little girl in a pink dress surfaced. She tottered and came to a stop under the shade of a big tree. The small body of a six-year-old girl, craning her neck to look up at a bird nest on a branch. Her dark eyes sparkled with excitement, and with those small hands, she reached out, trying to grab those baby birds to play with. But no matter how she stretched her arms or jumped with her short legs, she was no closer to her target, even though the nest was on the lowest branch of the tree.

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I stared and stared until my brother saw.

He picked me up, smilingly. It’s almost within my reach.

I looked at the sky, with my hand stretched far,

Someday, that moon will be ours...

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Finally, the baby birds were in her hands. It was because of the help from the much taller brother who was only a year older. But before long, the girl had to leave the birds. Her brother said that they were waiting for their father and mother.

Little Bai Yu nodded, a bright smile on her face. She willingly handed the baby birds to her brother and let him put them back in the nest.

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When I was picked on, when I bawled and cried,

My brother was there to protect me. ‘Fear not, sister’

Two siblings side by side. Brother in front, sister behind, two hands his hand led the way.

Looking up at the sky, might be too far, ride on brother’s shoulders and you’ll reach it.

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Bai Yu recalled the memory of this body, the feeling of her brother’s hand holding hers their whole way back after they had said goodbye to the baby birds. A pink hair tie with plum blossom pattern was given as consolation. Her brother’s small hands that were so warm gently held her hair and tied it with utmost care.

Bai Yu pretended to cry out, then Bai He was so startled that he let go of her hair. He looked at her with eyes full of worry.

She beamed at him, and he laughed. Her brother lightly pinched her cheeks before continuing to tie her hair for her.

When she had yet to attend the hair-pinning ceremony, the first miss of the Bai family loved the pink hair tie with the plum blossom pattern the most.

Two small dimples appeared on her cheeks. Her voice, amplified by magic that she had unconsciously used, echoed throughout Yue mansion. Everyone stopped to listen to the lyrics that accompanied the melody they had been hearing for the past few days for the first time.

Golden eyes of the visiting guest gazed at the slender back of the woman who sang a strange song that had heart-wrenching meaning. He watched her in silence, having no intention to interrupt. This song reminded him of his dear brother who had to stand alone atop the world of people.

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Even when I’m grown, brother still loves and cares.

When my heart broke, you had your whole to share. ‘Fear not, sister’...

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The face of the number one beauty was streaked with tears. Her brother’s large hand delicately wiped them away for her, his warm embrace enveloped his fifteen years old sister. Bai He felt as if his heart was in an invisible grip when he saw his beloved sister cry for a man who did not even spare a glance for her, his sister whom he dedicated his whole life to protect.

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When feeling down I look up at the sky, thinking of me as a child.

On his shoulders, the moon is within reach.

Oh my dear, dear, brother...

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The boy who handed her a hair tie now became a tall man in armor. His body was stained with blood from countless enemies. His life that should be valued above all was now gambled on the battlefield. His hands that once held her close now gripped a sword. All for some day that his sister would reach her goal.

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When I was picked on, when I bawled and cried,

My brother was there to protect me. ‘Fear not, sister’

Two siblings side by side. Brother in front, sister behind, two hands his hand led the way.

Looking up at the sky, might be too far, ride on brother’s shoulders and you’ll reach it.

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“You’re thinner.”

“But I’m still beautiful, right?”

“You’re full of bruises.”

“But I’m still beautiful, right?”

“If you’re hurt more than this, I won’t let you train anymore.”

“I’ll be careful of anything that’s harmful to my beauty!”

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Her hands slid away from the guqin. She walked toward her sleeping brother, the little butterflies opened up a path for her.

Bai Yu sat down on her bed that had become her brother’s for the past week, then adjusted the blanket over his broad frame that had once hugged her. With a slight smile, she sang the final part of the song without a melody in hopes to prove what she had hoped.

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Even when I’m grown, brother still loves and cares.

When my heart broke, you had your whole to share. ‘Fear not, sister’...

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Gently, she used her finger to wipe away a drop of tear from the corner of her brother’s closed eye. He was still asleep, but her tune was next sung through a smile, accompanied by the sound of a racing heart.

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When feeling down I look up at the sky, thinking of me as a child.

On his shoulders, the moon is within reach.

Oh my dear, dear, brother...

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*’Dear Brother’ written by Prapas Cholsaranon, composed by Phonthep Suvannaboon, performed by Rawiwan Jinda