Ning Qi looked at him and laughed, "What’s going on today? Did you make a fortune?"

Ning Yu said, "No fortune, just wanted to treat you to a meal."

As the dishes came, the siblings ate and chatted. They talked about company matters, family matters, and about Ning Yu’s recent work. Ning Yu is now a professional singer, not very famous, but at least he’s doing something he loves.

While chatting, Ning Yu suddenly put down his chopsticks and looked at her, "Sis, I want to ask you something."

Ning Qi said, "What is it?"

Ning Yu hesitated for a moment, then said, "What are you planning?"

Ning Qi was puzzled, "What do you mean, planning?"

Ning Yu said, "Your lifelong matters. You’re thirty-four this year, never seen you in a relationship, or showed interest in anyone. Mom’s gone, Dad’s gone, it’s just us two. If I don’t care, who will?"

Ning Qi was silent for a while, then said, "Why are you worried about this? I’m fine."

Ning Yu said, "What’s fine about it? You work all the time, don’t go out on weekends, and never attend gatherings with friends. How can that be fine?"

Ning Qi said, "I have friends."

Ning Yu asked, "What about a boyfriend?"

Ning Qi didn’t reply.

Ning Yu looked at her, his eyes showing some concern. He thought of how his sister had always been, forever calm, forever strong, always like a superwoman supporting the entire company and family. But he knew she had her weak moments, her tired moments, and times when she needed someone there.

He said, "Sis, I’m not rushing you. I’m just worried about you. You’ve been alone for so many years, and it pains me to see it."

Ning Qi lowered her head, looking at the cup in front of her.

After a long silence,

She raised her head, looked at Ning Yu, and said, "Xiao Yu, let me be honest with you."

Ning Yu watched her.

Ning Qi said, "There’s someone in my heart."

Ning Yu was taken aback, "There’s someone? Who? How come I never knew?"

Ning Qi said, "Someone you know."

Ning Yu thought for a long time, but couldn’t figure it out.

Ning Qi said, "Yang Ping."

Ning Yu actually knew in his heart. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say at that moment.

Ning Qi continued, "The first time I met him was when Dad was hospitalized. Later, when Dad passed away, I thought I wouldn’t see him again. Then, when you fell ill, he was the first person I thought of, and he saved your life."

Ning Yu said, "I... I remember him."

Ning Qi said, "Since then, there’s only been him in my heart."

Ning Yu was silent for a long time.

He remembered how his sister used to be. How she always quietly followed Sanbo’s news, how she would occasionally mention "Professor Yang’s" name, and how she donated a significant sum to Sanbo.

He hadn’t thought much of it back then, assuming it was just out of gratitude.

Now he understood.

He asked, "Sis, does he know?"

Ning Qi shook her head, "No."

Ning Yu said, "You never told him?"

Ning Qi said, "No."

Ning Yu asked, "Why?"

Ning Qi smiled, a smile with an indescribable emotion. She said, "He has someone he loves."

Ning Yu was stunned.

Ning Qi said, "The girl is very good, she’s a good match for him. Watching them together, I feel content."

Ning Yu said, "Then you..."

Ning Qi said, "I’m fine just like this."

Ning Yu didn’t know what to say. He looked at his sister, suddenly finding her a bit unfamiliar, realizing that the once ever-strong, ever-capable sister also had this side to her.

He asked, "Sis, aren’t you sad?"

Ning Qi thought for a moment, "To say I’m not sad would be false, but it’s not too sad either."

Ning Yu didn’t understand.

Ning Qi said, "Imagine you like someone, for a very long time. You know it’s impossible, but you can’t help but like them. At first, you might feel sad, unwilling, wonder why it’s not you. But after a while, you get used to it."

She paused, "Later on, you realize that liking someone doesn’t mean you have to be with them. Watching him being well, doing what he wants, being happy, is enough."

Ning Yu said, "But you’re alone..."

Ning Qi interrupted him, "I’m not alone. I have you, the company, and so many things to do. Besides," she smiled.

Ning Yu was silent for a long time.

He looked at his sister, feeling a sudden pang of heartache. The person who had protected him growing up, who bore everything for him, had so much hidden inside her.

He said, "Sis, you deserve better."

Ning Qi shook her head, "There won’t be."

Ning Yu asked, "How do you know?"

Ning Qi said, "Because there won’t be another Yang Ping in this world."

Ning Yu opened his mouth, unable to speak.

Ning Qi looked at him and smiled, "Don’t feel bad for me. Really, I’m fine."

She picked up her cup, took a sip of water, and said, "These years, I’ve watched him step by step. Watched him perform those surgeries, watched him mentor those students, watched him build his career to what it is today. I might not be of much help, but to offer some support, some funds, to help him do what he wants to do, it makes me happy."

Ning Yu said, "So those donations..."

Ning Qi nodded, "Some of it, yes."

Ning Yu didn’t know what to say. He recalled how over the years, his sister indeed had donated a lot to Sanbo. For equipment procurement, for research projects, and for the medical fund named after their father. He thought it was just gratitude, not realizing there was more to it.

He asked, "Sis, what will you do in the future?"

Ning Qi said, "What do you mean?"

Ning Yu said, "Will you continue like this?"

Ning Qi thought for a moment, "Yes, like this."

She looked at Ning Yu with a calm gaze, "Xiao Yu, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m really fine. I have things to do, someone to think about, and with you by my side, it’s enough."

Ning Yu was silent for a long time.

Finally, he said, "Sis, take care of yourself."

Ning Qi smiled, "I will."

After the meal, the siblings walked out of the restaurant. The city at night was brightly lit, the distant skyscrapers like glowing pillars, standing in the darkness.

Ning Yu said, "Sis, let me take you home."

Ning Qi shook her head, "No need, I drove myself. You go home and rest early."

Ning Yu stood there, watching his sister get into the car, start the engine, and slowly merge into the traffic. The red taillights flickered in the night, growing more distant until they vanished in the sea of cars.

He suddenly felt like crying.

But he held back.

He knew his sister didn’t need his tears. What she needed was for him to be well, lively, just like now.

Ning Qi drove home, parked the car in the garage, and took the elevator upstairs.

At home, she didn’t turn on the lights and went straight to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the city.

In the distance, there was a cluster of lights, the direction of Sanbo Hospital.

She looked in that direction for a long time.

Then she thought of Yang Ping’s face. Remembered his gaze when he first looked at her, remembered him standing by their father’s sickbed, remembered the moment he came out of the operating room and said to her, "The surgery was successful."

Years have passed.

She suddenly laughed.

These years, she had been living quite well. With a career, a brother, and that person in her heart. Although that person didn’t know, what does it matter?

She never needed him to know.

She just needed him to be well.

That was enough.

The next day, she went to the office as usual. Meetings, reviewing documents, listening to reports, approving budgets, everything as usual.

In the afternoon, the secretary came in to report, "President Ning, there’s a project for Sanbo’s medical fund that needs your signature."

She nodded, "Leave it there."

The secretary placed the document on the desk and left.

She opened the document and saw the project name: "Research on Minimally Invasive Treatment Techniques for Brainstem Tumors."

She looked at it for a long time, then picked up a pen and signed her name.

She put down the pen, leaned back in her chair, and gently exhaled.