The Stars In Your Eyes

Bai Yutang is glad, his mother seems to be okay. Even though sometimes he caught his mother's face blankly stared at their family portrait in the living room, but overall his mother acted normally.

Bai Yutang decided to talk to Bai Yuren about their financial condition this weekend. Because Bai Yuren needed to apply for a scholarship too if she could.

Jian Kang Lu already pointed out that they're not strangers, and Bai Yutang's family is his family too. So even though Bai Yuren's scholarship is not approved, it doesn't matter. Jian Kang Lu told him several times that he could support Bai Yutang and his family until all of them can stand on their own.

But how could Bai Yutang agree with that? Even though he had to admit that having someone to take care of him and protect his family, it's something that is really nice and assuring.

So this Saturday, Bai Yutang told Bai Yuren that he will take her to stroll around in the mall. But he told her that they can't buy anything. Just to have lunch outside..

His mother waved her hand and said that she will visit his uncle and his grandparents, so her children could play outside without worrying about her. Deep inside, Lu Hua knows that her children are really worried about her, that's why she pretends to be strong and happy.

Even though her happy world is already gone, along with the man he loved.

Bai Yutang stroll around and ask his sister, "Where do you want to eat?"

Bai Yuren just walked slowly, and said she doesn't have any preferences, so it's up to Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang chose her favourite cafe. When they're waiting for their food to be delivered, Bai Yutang looks at his sister. She looks a bit thinner compared to 6 months ago.

"Is it hard? It must be hard. Jian Ge said that every medical student will hate books on their study."

Bai Yuren nodded. "It's harder than i imagine. But I think I can still maintain my grade, even though it is not as easy as high school. I thought gaokao preparation was already hard.."

Bai Yutang stares at his sister, he doesn't know what he has to say without making his sister worried and sad.

"Meimei…"

It's very rare for her brother to call her that. Bai Yuren already can guess what they will talk about today. So she just lowered her head. Staring at her skirt.

Looking at his sister, his skinny sister, with a sad expression, hurt Bai Yutang's heart. He suddenly doesn't have the heart to tell his sister that she needs to get a scholarship or else she has to stop studying.

No brother that loves his younger sister could afford to say that.

Bai Yutang remembered what Jian Kang Lu said, and he involuntarily touched the watch in his wrist. The watch that he just managed to find the engraving number and his initial behind it when he already back home.

At first he was confused with that number. But then he remembered. It was the date when they kissed for the first time.

He didn't know Jian Kang Lu is a man that really took notice about small things like that. When he confirmed it with his lover, his lover just said, "It's my lucky number since that day forward. So I hope when that number is engraved on the watch, it will bring you to good times, and good memories onward."

Bai Yutang took a deep breath, trying to find the courage from his lover's gift. "Meimei, i have to tell you honestly about our situation. Actually, our financial state is not very bad. But our father is not here anymore, and both of us are still studying. Don't worry, for now the money is still intact. I managed to use my savings and the money from my job to pay our expenses in the last 6 month."

Bai Yuren abruptly raised her face to look at her brother. She can't believe what she heard. How much could her brother save before? And he said from his job? Her brother is also still studying, how could he manage to work to pay their expenses and still study?

"Actually, I didn't enrol last semester. I'm waiting for my scholarship application to be granted. So the money is still intact. I enrol for this semester, don't worry."

"Gege!" Bai Yuren can't help shouting. How could her brother do that? She feels ashamed of herself. She knows that must be something wrong, or else her brother won't give her only 2000 yuan per month, though raised into 2500 yuan these past few months.

Even though she understands, it's hard for her. As a girl that was pampered so much by her parents, Bai Yuren used to have a happy life. Eat what she wants to eat, buy what she wants to buy.

2500 yuan per month is enough for daily life and her basic needs. More than enough. But can't compare with the life she used to have, and sometimes she lamented about that.

But to hear that her brother didn't even enrol because waiting for scholarship, constricted her throat and choke her.

"We still have more than 100,000 yuan, so don't worry. But, i need to tell you. If possible, can you apply for a scholarship too? And I'm sorry meimei, but we really need to save as much as we can. I still need two more years until graduation, and you even just start your first year."

Bai Yuren was stunned. She's not stupid, she know 100,000 yuan barely enough for them to live, moreover to study in good university. If she can't get a scholarship, it means she needs to stop studying.

Thinking about that, she can't stop her tears from swelling and flowing out. She has so many things she wants to do. Even though it was hard, she enjoyed her university life. And to imagine if she had to stop because they don't have money… It's really hard for her.

"Meimei.." Now Bai Yutang really regrets why he didn't follow his lover's advice. "Meimei.. Don't worry. Like I told you, I still have ways. You won't stop studying even if you didn't manage to get a scholarship. Don't worry."

Bai Yuren reached for tissues and hurriedly wiped her tears. She also doesn't want to cry in the cafe, seen by strangers. "But.. You also need to finish your study, gege. You only need two years more. If you stop because of me, it won't be good for all of us."

Bai Yuren can't stop her tears. She regrets why they have to talk about this outside. At first they thought their mother would stay at home, so they went outside. If she knew her mother was also going out to their uncle's, it's better to talk at home.

"Who said I'll stop my study? Right now I have a job, my income enough for all of our expenses if we live like these past few months. My scholarship is granted, so the money left is enough for your tuition in the next two years. After that, i'll start working. So, even without a scholarship, you don't have to worry. I won't let you stop studying."

Bai Yuren really can't stop her tears. Her calm brother, her skinny brother, her ordinary brother that she used to think was not special at all except for his academic achievement, had to work and study. For her and their mother.

Even just studying is hard for a student in an elite university, and her brother also needs to work.

"I-I'll try, gege. I'll apply for a scholarship. So, don't worry, gege.." Bai Yuren sobbed and said those words. She knows she can't let her brother carry this burden alone.

The food came, with a weird look from the waiter. The waiter just thought maybe this couple is fighting. But why does this skinny man make his cute girlfriend cry? Ungrateful bastard!

Bai Yuren already stopped crying and ate her spaghetti. She started to come back to her lively appearance when Bai Yutang kept asking her about her university life, and told her the jokes from Jian Kang Lu about the medical faculty student's life.

"Gege, i'm curious. What kind of job do you have right now? How could your income is better than YingYing's brother?" Bai Yuren asks him with a prying face.

She really curious. Part time jobs won't pay that well, impossible to cover their expenses only with part time jobs. Hua Ying, her best friend, had a brother that just started working last year. His salary is only 4000 yuan per month. She remembers because YingYing's brother complained about his salary that was smaller than his monthly allowance from his parents.

Bai Yutang choked. He was in a dilemma, whether he had to answer that honestly, or lied. But then he remembered his own words, and Jian Kang Lu's words. He needs to let his family know how good his lover treats him.

So he took a deep breath, even though he was embarrassed, but he wanted to answer honestly.

"I'm doing sketches, illustrations, and many things. A-and.. I also cook for Jian Ge. He paid me 5000 yuan per month."

Bai Yuren's fork fell from her grip. Her mouth wide open, she can't believe what she heard. Her brother's cooking is really standard, and sometimes tastes a bit weird. She only pesters her brother to cook because she wants to disturb and tease him. To imagine someone like Jian Kang Lu wanting to pay her brother 5000 yuan per month for his cooking is...

Both of them silenced. Finally Bai Yuren is the first to speak.

"So, if you had to cook for him, does it mean you stay at his house?" Bai Yuren almost blurted out asking whether his brother also has to work as a housekeeper. But she knew that it was really disgraceful to call his brother working as a housekeeper for Jian Kang Lu. 

His brother, the one that has to work to provide her monthly expenses.

Bai Yutang nodded, "Jian Ge knows about our situation. So he offered me to stay there for free. Since I can't do anything, I just cook for him. He said he likes my cooking. Then he offers 5000 yuan per month to cook for him everyday. But on Saturday and Sunday we usually eat outside."

Bai Yuren really can't believe what she heard. This Jian Ge is really weird. Does he have some fettish about ordinary food? Is he too tired to eat delicious and expensive food from the restaurant everyday, until he wants to pay his brother to cook for him?

Bai Yuren then remembers the beautiful soaps and masks his brother gave her. He said it was a souvenir from Jian Kang Lu when he went to Boston last month.

Not only soaps and masks, but also T-shirts, hoodies, and perfume too. Expensive perfume. Remembering how his brother answered her question about these souvenirs in detail, and Jian Kang Lu's weird act, Bai Yuren can't help to ask.

"So, did you accompany him too when he went to Boston, gege?"

Bai Yutang nods. "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I don't want mom to know that I took leave this semester. I don't want her to worry."

Bai Yuren is childish, and pure. Unlike those rotten girls. So she didn't think anything weird. She only thought that Jian Kang Lu had a weird taste in food, and envied her brother. Bai Yuren never went abroad before.

"Ah, gege! Tell me about your trip! Did you take a lot of pictures too? Ahh.. I wish i had a friend as rich and as kind as Jian Ge to you. I envy you, gege!"

They chat lively about the trip, and Bai Yutang is glad to see that Bai Yuren could accept the fact that they need to live frugally. He decided to follow Jian Kang Lu's words. Even though he feels bad to ask and borrow money from his lover, he really can't see his sister sad.

When they finished their lunch, they strolled around although didn't buy anything. Just chatting, and laughing. Like they used to when their father was still around.

When they reached home, Bai Yutang held his sister's hand.

"Meimei, like i told you before. You don't need to worry about anything. I'm sorry i could only give you 2500 yuan per month. It must be hard for you. But I believe we can pass all this, and you only need to study and enjoy your university life. Don't worry about money or anything else. Even though our father is not here anymore, but you have me, and I won't let my only sister down."

Bai Yuren hugs her brother, laid her head on her brother's shoulder. She can't help but cry there, in her brother's embrace.

Her ordinary brother, that she used to compare with her friend's brother. Her brother, that she thought was not handsome enough, not stylish enough, not funny enough, not talented enough, not dazzling enough.

Her ordinary brother is the brother that protects her with all his might.

Her ordinary brother is the best brother in the world.