Chapter 19: Taking Naps

Dad stayed at the stone quarry for lunch.
Leftovers fed the chickens and ducks—a perk of keeping livestock, no wasted slop.

At noon sharp, Chen Qiao sat before the second-floor TV on a sagging three-seater sofa, its worn leather patched with a bedsheet.
Underneath, faded patches and holes exposed yellowed foam, marked by years, practically patinated.
A white, openwork dust cover draped the backrest.

With a satellite dish, they caught out-of-province channels.
He tuned to the neighboring province’s kids’ channel for Dongxi Anime Club, the only domestic show backed by TV media, blending anime news and interaction.
It hyped Japanese anime, with weekend episodes on Western 3D films.
Chen Qiao caught Naruto clips and new show recommendations here—a gateway to many kids’ anime obsession.
Their offline magazine serialized Naruto, with deluxe editions including bonus discs.

Later, reports claimed Dongxi violated copyrights with its clips, shifting to Chinese anime recaps.
The club dissolved when its founder, Ge Kongming, planned to move abroad without a successor.

From next year, comic magazines faced stricter rules.
Original-focused ones like Manyou or Manke and import-heavy Comic Crystal or Moe Pictorial hit rectification.
Some stopped due to licensed imports like Naruto or risqué content, fading away.

The next few years would see original comic magazines shine briefly before print media’s decline—times changed too fast.

Chen Fei Fei, done helping Mom feed the animals, sat beside Chen Qiao with her cross-stitch.

Seeing him glued to anime, she relaxed.
A studious brother felt unfamiliar.
Praised by parents and teachers, used to pressure him, she never thought him much less capable—just too playful.

She saw no issue.
One hard-studying sibling was enough.
Let him enjoy childhood, as long as his grades didn’t tank or he didn’t date—that was key.

Kids were too precocious.
She hadn’t known about dating at his age.

But parents, teachers, and relatives expected him to match her excellence, burdening him.
She felt guilty, fearing he’d resent her.

Flunking on purpose?
Impossible.
Studying was all she knew.

Yawning, eyes narrowing, she wasn’t a habitual napper, but early mornings, a full stomach, and boring TV amplified her drowsiness.

Chen Qiao wasn’t watching closely, instead pondering if this otaku could pitch stories to anime magazines—opportunity everywhere.

Suddenly, his shoulder and arm sank.
Asleep, Chen Fei Fei leaned into him, heavy for his frail frame.

He steadied her, set her cross-stitch on the wooden coffee table, and slid over, letting her rest on his lap.
He brushed her smooth cheek, playing with her bangs.

Though classes started at 2:10, the middle school’s noon study rule, new last year, required 1:00 arrival, sparking student complaints.

At the elementary, the front blackboard, used for afternoon classes, needed noon-time copying of math test problems.
Many sixth graders arrived early.
The back blackboard held math homework; the front, Chinese assignments.

Seeing the time, Chen Qiao prepared to wake his sister.

Before he spoke, she jolted awake, propping herself up.
“I fell asleep?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

She wiped her mouth—no drool, but sleeping so soundly on his lap embarrassed her.
He should be sleeping on her lap.

He’d napped in her arms and on her back before.

“You were tired.
Sleep helps you focus in class.”

It made sense, but she felt sheepish.

“Not sleepy now?” she pressed.

“Not yet.
I’ll be sleepy at school—sleeps better there.”

He stood, patting his thighs, rotating his ankles—her weight had numbed them.

“School’s not for sleeping.
Nap at home.”

She yanked his arm, pulling him into her lap, forcing him to rest.

At two years older, she overpowered his weak frame.

“But you’ll be late for school.”

Without Chinese homework to copy, he’d stay till 1:30, watching the show’s end.

“A little late’s fine.
My homework’s done; noon study’s boring.”

Using her top-student privilege?
His plan wasn’t to corrupt her, just let her enjoy life.

No resisting?
Then enjoy.

Her thighs weren’t fleshy, but a girl’s lap was comfy enough.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her stomach, soaking in her scent.
Gotta act cute while young—chances fade with age.

He hadn’t planned to sleep, but her calming aura lulled him.
Even young, her sisterly charm—or brother-specific magic—worked.

Seeing him asleep, Chen Fei Fei smiled, fingers ruffling his short hair.
She lowered the TV volume with the armrest remote, keeping the channel.

Noon had no good dramas.
She disliked catching random episodes, itching for resolutions, worse if she missed one, breaking the story.

She preferred binge-watching DVDs on weekends, balancing studies and chores.

Last week, she and Chen Qiao fought over the TV.
He argued DVDs could wait, but his anime episode wouldn’t; she was hooked on a cliffhanger.
Normally, she’d compromise, but not then.

Not very sisterly—she reflected.

She eyed her cross-stitch on the table but couldn’t reach without waking him, so she gave up.

Watching the TV, she tried grasping his interests—robots, ninjas, incomprehensible.

If she knew he was into cute girls, they’d have plenty to talk about.