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My Sweet Childhood Friend
墨書 Inktalez
My name is A Mian, and I grew up alongside Gu Lan. As the elders say, we are "two melons on the same vine," inseparable. But I don't know when it started; the vine seems to have tightened around us, making it hard for me to breathe and stirring something deep within me. Especially when he looks down at me, his cool eyes seem to hold a deep pool, reflecting my flustered shadow. Others say that the Gu family Brother treats me the best, that our sibling bond is profound. But only I know that when he casually brushes my hair aside, his fingertips carrying a slight chill, my traitorous heart races for reasons far beyond mere "sibling affection."
"A Mian, slow down, watch your step," a clear yet somewhat helpless voice came from behind. I turned around and met Gu Lan's eyes, which held a hint of a smile. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard, casting flickering golden light on his dark blue robe. He always worried about my little tumbles like an old man.
I stopped in my tracks, hands on my hips, feigning displeasure. "Brother Lan, I'm not a child anymore; how could I trip over flat ground?"
He stepped closer and naturally reached out with his long fingers to smooth down my disheveled hair. "With your reckless nature, it’s hard not to worry about you, no matter how grown-up you are." His cool fingertips brushed against my ear, sending a slight shiver through me as if a feather had lightly grazed my heart.
I quickly took a step back, feeling my face heat up and awkwardly averting my gaze. "I... I'm not reckless."
Gu Lan chuckled softly, his voice rich and magnetic, striking a chord in my heart. "Yes, our A Mian is the most steady." The teasing tone in his voice was unmistakable. I puffed out my cheeks in protest and turned to run away, hearing him call out with amusement behind me: "Hey, weren’t we going to sneak some snacks from the kitchen? Wait for me!"
Our families have been close for generations, living right next door with only a moon gate separating us. Growing up, I either caused mischief in his study or he came over to mooch meals at my house; calling us childhood sweethearts is no exaggeration. Gu Lan is three years older than me—steady in temperament and academically gifted—exactly the kind of child that elders rave about as "the perfect kid." Meanwhile, I am lively and carefree, preferring climbing trees over dressing up, often giving my parents headaches. But no matter what trouble I got into, Gu Lan was always the first to step in—either cleaning up my mess or shielding me from my parents' scolding.
Over time, I almost began to think of him as my real brother. Until the day of my coming-of-age ceremony when Mother took my hand and said earnestly, "A Mian, your bond with that Gu boy is good, but remember there are differences between men and women; you should be more mindful moving forward."
At that moment, I understood little but felt something strange stir within me. From then on, I began to notice that Gu Lan's gaze toward me was no longer purely indulgent or helpless; it occasionally held depths I couldn't comprehend. Just like now, as he accompanied me in the kitchen while we "stole" some plum blossom pastries and watched me eat like a little kitten with crumbs all over my mouth. Instead of teasing me as usual, he took out his handkerchief and leaned slightly forward to seriously wipe the corners of my mouth.
The distance between us suddenly closed; I could clearly see his long eyelashes, straight nose, and those lips so close to mine. The air was filled with his refreshing pine scent mingled with the sweet aroma of the pastries—a strange atmosphere enveloped us. My heart raced again wildly like a drum.
"Brother Lan..." I started hesitantly wanting to say "I can do it myself," but found my voice trembling.
His hand paused mid-motion as he looked at me; there seemed to be an undercurrent swirling in those deep-set eyes. "What’s wrong?" His voice dropped slightly.
"N-nothing." I quickly snatched the handkerchief from him and wiped my mouth clumsily two times. "I'm full; I'm going back now!" With that said, I practically fled from the scene without daring to look back.
Behind me came what seemed like a very soft sigh—like it was scattered by the wind.
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