The world had changed. Not just for Hai and Chunhua, but little Jinhai too. His chubby fingers stayed glued to the crib's edge as he watched a baby, honestly too small to even make any sense for him - but the baby lay asleep on his fluffy bed inside his fluffy blanket. His chubby cheeks made him want to touch them, but he refrained.
"My beautiful wife and children, where are youuuuuuu!!!"
Hai made a grand entry, earning a glare from all three - his mother, wife and son.
"He is sleeping!"
"Oops…" he sheepishly grinned.
Walking up to the crib, Jinhai's sparkling observation of his little brother didn't go unnoticed by him. An emotion too indecipherable flickered across his eyes, but he smiled.
Liu Liyan rose to leave, but not without casting a sharp gaze at Chunhua. "You are the mother so you better take good care of him. Don't hop back to work too soon and neglect your child!"
Then she murmured. "I would just prefer if you stay at home…What's the need when Hai is earning well enough?" though those words didn't see the light of the day with Hai in the room.
Hai pouted. "Why are you already leaving?"
"He is sleeping. I will play with him once he is awake. For now, I am tired."
Left alone, Chunhua let out a soft sigh.
"Did Mom say something?"
She shook her head.
Hai pinched her cheek with a frown. "Don't take her words to heart, okay? Also, just talk back to her if she annoys you too much. Don't worry, she has thick skin."
"..."
She smacked him on his head. "Idiot. That's not what I am thinking about."
"Then?" His head tilted.
Her gaze darted towards her second son for a moment. "I think…she is unable to look at him."
Her fingertips tensely pressed against each other. "Hai, did we do the right thing? Instead of joy, Mom…it gets harder for her," she glanced back at Hai, "and for you too."
"She will be fine. Look at her. She had thrown a tight slap across my face when Jinhai was born. But did she ever stop to love him? She loves him more than she loves me," he pouted, aggrieved. "She will love Jing even more than Jinhai. Younger ones always enjoy endless doting. Why do you think Liling got spoiled?"
He dropped his head on her lap and grinned. "We will be fine, Chunhua. We…"
The corner of his eyes observed Jinhai struggling to keep his urge to poke his brother's cheek in check. The familiar light passed over his eyes again.
"We will be fine."
—
By the time Jing began to crawl, Jinhai had also learned to hold his baby brother with confidence. It was a long journey of only being allowed to watch him nestled in their mother's arms but unable to hold him himself.
"Aiyaaa, it's perfect!" Chunhua shone. "Look, how you are holding him so well!"
Then tears washed over her eyes. "You look so adorable. Wait, let me take a picture of this! Stay just like that."
Chunhua took their new digital camera out and brought her two sons into focus.
"Smileeee."
Baby Jing had acute senses. The moment the camera pointed at him, his lips curled into the brightest and most cheerful toothless grin. His watery, black eyes sparkled like two little stars. Jinhai, on the other hand, did smile too, though more subtle and measured.
Chunhua pressed the button and came the shutter of the camera's click.
"My boys are so handsome!" She squealed. "Jinhai, you can smile a bit more. Don't be shy, haha."
"This much smile is enough for me, Mom."
"Hehe, let me send this to Hai. He will be so happy! Jinhai, will you watch him for me? I will be back in some time."
Jinhai nodded.
Five minutes after Chunhua left, a pair of running footsteps echoed down the corridor. A little girl of five stood at the doorway, her small chest puffed with heavy breaths and eyes filled with big pearls of tears.
"Jinhai!"
Jinhai didn't turn, occupied with shifting Jing from his arms to the bed. The girl's cheeks reddened with further fury and grievances and she rushed to his side. Grabbing his arm, she pulled him a step back.
"Jinhai, you are so mean! You don't play with me anymore."
"Huian," Jinhai frowned. "I told you I am busy."
"Busy with what?" She gasped. "You don't play with me and you only are at home all days!" She sniffled.
"Because I am taking care of Jing."
"But Aunt takes care of him!"
"I also like looking after him. He is my brother."
"Can we play now?"
He shook his head. "I have to read him a story."
"But he is only a baby! He doesn't even understand what you are saying."
"Not like we understand, yes, but I think he still gets it. He makes all kinds of expressions, his eyes go wide when I change my voice for the story, or move my hands in a certain way. I think enjoys it in his own way," Very subtle, but Jinhai's eyes were sparkling.
After he nestled Jing properly in bed, he said, "Look after him for a minute. I will bring the story book from my room."
The whole way, his blood rushed with giddiness about the next story he should choose.
"I think I should go with Snow White," he nodded to himself.
Hugging the book to his chest, he ran back, eager and slightly breathless. But the moment Jing's cry bellowed from his parents' room, his excitement went pale within a matter of mere seconds.
He rushed back in and asked, "What happened? Why is he crying?"
"I-I don't know!" Huian said, "He just suddenly started to cry."
Jinhai then noticed Jing's left cheek slightly red as tears continued to plop down like a broken dam.
"Baaaaaaaaa…" Jing reached out, flailing his arms to his brother.
Jinhai stared at his face. For a strange reason, he remembered the day he had gone to the amusement park with his family. There was a ride that would glide up slowly, reach its peak and then drop down with a sudden, sharp jolt. At this moment, he felt his heart and breaths - both take a sudden dive just like that ride.
"...What did you do to him?"
