A Brother’s Cruel Words

Was he missing him? If that were truly the case, he felt he had every right to refuse Qiyu. He couldn’t risk Qiyu developing a habit of sleeping with him every night; it wouldn’t be good for either of them.

Lu Xingye reached out and switched on the bedside lamp. As he pulled on his shoes, he called out to Wang Ma, who was outside, “Wang Ma, what’s wrong with Qiyu?”

Hearing his voice, Wang Ma stopped pacing. Yet, her voice was still laced with anxiety.

“He was fine this afternoon, but tonight, I don’t know what happened. It seems he has a fever,” she explained. “The Madam has already called the family doctor.”

“The family doctor is still some distance away,” she added, “and Xiao Yu has been crying for you.”

No sooner had Wang Ma finished speaking than the door was flung open. A small Lu Xingye stood there, his face taut with seriousness, as he questioned.

“Is Qiyu sick?” So, it was physical discomfort after all.

Lu Xingye’s solemn demeanor resembled that of a miniature adult. He furrowed his brows, convinced that this was all his fault. ‘If he hadn’t made Qiyu leave, would Qiyu not have fallen ill?’

Lu Xingye, who had just considered himself quite clever, was instantly proven wrong. What connection could Qiyu’s illness possibly have with which bed he slept in?

Anyone with an ounce of sense would realize there was absolutely no connection.

However, in his state of frantic worry, Lu Xingye was hardly thinking straight.

Lu Xingye, flustered and anxious, followed Wang Ma towards Qiyu’s room. As he opened the door, he saw Qiyu, his small face contorted, refusing to drink his medicine.

Qi Zhixia, dressed in her pajamas, stood beside him, gently coaxing, “Drink it all up, sweetie, and Mama will grant you anything.”

Qiyu pressed his lips together, shaking his head vehemently in refusal. Even though his face was flushed crimson from the fever, resembling a monkey’s bottom, he refused to take a single sip of the medicine. “I won’t drink it!”

“I’ll get better even without the medicine,” Qiyu insisted. He was terrified that the moment he opened his mouth, Qi Zhixia would pour the medicine in, so he spoke cautiously, keeping his mouth tightly covered.

Qi Zhixia gently ruffled his hair, murmuring softly, “Sweetie…”

Qiyu thought she was about to urge him to drink the medicine again. Just as he prepared to shout his refusal, he heard Qi Zhixia complete her sentence.

“If you don’t drink it,” Qi Zhixia said with a smile, “when Doctor Gu arrives, he’ll use a fifty-centimeter-long needle to poke your bottom.” Fearing Qiyu wouldn’t grasp the concept, she even set down the medicine bowl and stretched out her arm to demonstrate.

Qiyu fell silent.

Lu Xingye was speechless.

After bringing Lu Xingye to the room, Wang Ma quietly descended the stairs. Before she reached the bottom, she turned back and called out, “Madam, I’ll wait downstairs for Doctor Gu.”

Qi Zhixia hadn’t intended for Wang Ma to simply stand around in the room anyway. Hearing her words, she placed the medicine bowl on the bedside table, then hurried to the doorway, calling out to Wang Ma’s retreating back, “Wang Ma, please go back to your room and rest. It’s already so late, and Doctor Gu won’t be here for a while.”

Fearing Wang Ma’s stubborn refusal, Qi Zhixia gently added, “Gu Chi will call me when he arrives.”

Gu Chi was the family doctor, highly paid by the Lu family and on call twenty-four hours a day.

Wang Ma was already around fifty years old, and it wouldn’t be right to trouble her with such matters late at night. Besides, Gu Chi had visited the Lu residence so many times; there was no way he would get lost.

Wang Ma paused, turning her head, appearing hesitant to speak. Her unspoken words were hidden within her worried expression.

“It’s alright,” Qi Zhixia reassured her with a nod.

“Madam, if anything… anything happens, please wake me,” Wang Ma insisted.

“For children this age, even a common cold or fever can be serious,” she continued. “Back in my village, there was a child who got a high fever and became mentally impaired. Our Xiao Yu is so beautiful and well-behaved; we absolutely cannot let…”

Lu Xingye couldn’t help but think: ‘Mentally impaired from a fever.’

Wang Ma became a bit verbose whenever this topic came up. Having been with the Lu family for so many years, she genuinely wished for everyone in the household to be safe and prosperous.

It was often said that people became useless in middle age, especially those from the lower strata of society. Finding work to support oneself became incredibly difficult.

Born in a remote mountain village with extremely low educational opportunities, she had lost her husband in her early years and her son in middle age. It was in her utter despair that she had, by chance, found an opportunity to come to this city.

The Lu family had never looked down on her; in fact, they treated her like one of their own. To her, this kindness was a debt she could never fully repay in a lifetime.

Qi Zhixia recognized Wang Ma’s concern. She listened to her words with a gentle smile, then nodded and replied, “Alright, I’ll be mindful. Goodnight.”

Only then did Wang Ma reluctantly depart, glancing back repeatedly as she left.

****

Qiyu had wrapped himself in the blanket like a zongzi, only his delicate, pretty little face peeking out. He looked at Lu Xingye standing outside the door and softly called, “Gege…”

Lu Xingye haughtily turned his head away, offering no response. Yet, his body reacted before his mind.

By the time he realized it, he had already walked over to Qiyu. Lu Xingye, mimicking an adult, used the back of his hand to check Qiyu’s temperature. The moment his hand touched Qiyu’s forehead, his eyes filled with guilt and tenderness.

Qiyu noticed Lu Xingye’s worry, so he smiled, grasped his brother’s hand, and gently shook it. “Gege, I’ll drink my medicine and get better quickly.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xingye picked up the bowl of medicine. He then fed Qiyu spoonful by spoonful.

Despite his reluctance, Qiyu obediently took the medicine from Lu Xingye’s hand, drinking every last drop.

Lu Xingye’s small face was furrowed, making him resemble a bitter gourd. He looked rather unhappy. “It’s all my fault,” he mumbled.

Qiyu was astonished; he didn’t understand why his brother would blame himself. “No, Gege,” he said, “I get sick often.”

He merely intended to convey that he had a weak constitution, always falling ill at the slightest provocation. It had nothing to do with Lu Xingye, and he shouldn’t blame himself.

Who would have thought that Lu Xingye would feel even worse upon hearing those words?

Qi Zhixia stood by, arms crossed, smiling as she watched their exchange. She was even a little surprised that Qiyu was so obedient to Lu Xingye.

She had tried both gentle persuasion and stern words, yet neither had succeeded in coaxing him to take his medicine.

From that day forward, Lu Xingye began to learn how to care for Qiyu in every aspect of his life, from his clothing to his food, shelter, and transportation. Whenever Qi Zhixia witnessed this, she would sigh, “This engagement was certainly not a mistake.”

****

All these changes culminated on a particular day in sixth grade. At that time, both boys were on the verge of graduation, anticipating a junior high school life filled with promise.

Lu Xingye woke early as usual, put on his slippers, and finished his morning routine. Then, he proceeded to “dig out” the sleepy Qiyu from beneath his blankets.

Qiyu had a terrible temper upon waking. If waking him were a game, it would be an SSSS+ Hell-level difficulty quest.

Usually, Lu Xingye’s only method was to simply pick Qiyu up, letting him cling to him.

After carrying him to the washbasin, he would set him down. Then, he would squeeze toothpaste onto the brush and help him brush his teeth.

Given the intimacy of their relationship, how could it possibly suddenly crumble?

Everything changed that day:

Both boys attended the same elementary school, though in different classes. Typically, Qiyu would wait in the car for Lu Xingye after school.

However, on this particular day, Qiyu had something incredibly exciting to share and couldn’t bear to keep it to himself. He wanted to tell his brother right away.

Lu Xingye’s class was at the very end of the corridor. He hummed a soft tune, hands tucked into his pockets, strolling idly towards it, his mood exceedingly pleasant.

Yet, just a step before entering the classroom, he overheard words he shouldn’t have.

Inside, several students surrounded Lu Xingye, their faces full of mockery, chattering loudly.

Qiyu probably understood a few of their remarks:

“Lu Xingye, are you gay?”

“And not only gay, but you like your own brother?”

“Seriously? Isn’t that totally perverted? You’re only in sixth grade!”

“Ew~ No wonder we always see you two hugging and cuddling.”

“You two are disgusting. So, are you going to have to get married abroad? Won’t your parents beat you to death if they find out about your relationship?”

The malice of children is the purest, most undisguised kind, with every word piercing straight to the heart.

This was just a regular elementary school. In their eyes, they probably assumed Lu Xingye and Qiyu were ordinary people within their circle, so they spoke even more recklessly.

Upon hearing these words, Qiyu clenched his fists in anger. ‘Are these people so idle? Do they love meddling in others’ private lives so much?’

“How peculiar,” a boy sitting on a desk drawled with a nauseatingly sarcastic tone.

These words stung not only Qiyu but Lu Xingye as well.

The blatant malice stabbed directly at them. Qiyu was about to step inside and confront those talkative boys.

However, a split second before crossing the threshold, he heard Lu Xingye speak. Instinctively, he recoiled, wanting to hear what he would say.

Of course, it was merely curiosity.

Lu Xingye was so good to him; he would surely curse those foul-mouthed boys. But what if a fight broke out?

If it came to a fight, he would undoubtedly grab a chair and join the fray. Even with Lu Xingye’s strength, he probably couldn’t take on five opponents alone; that’s where Qiyu would come in.

He envisioned his own entrance as cool, rebellious, dashing, and impressive…

Just as he was getting carried away in his thoughts, Lu Xingye’s own words shattered the illusion.

“I don’t like Qiyu.”

“Nor are we together, as you claim. I despise pretentious people.”

“Qiyu happens to fit that description perfectly, so there’s no way I could like him. I’m not gay, and any care I show is simply out of brotherly affection.”

This line of reasoning was entirely unlike that of a sixth-grader.

Lu Xingye’s cold voice continued, “As for you all, instead of discussing my family matters, shouldn’t you be more concerned about yourselves?”

Lu Xingye’s calm response showed no discernible flaws.

The only flaw: Qiyu himself had overheard it.

Lu Xingye smiled, looking at the person who had just spoken, “Didn’t you know both your parents are cheating? Your parents don’t want you anymore.”

He finished, then looked at another person, “Your mother thinks your grades are bad and prefers the neighbor’s child, doesn’t she?”

“And you, with your poor grades, family background, and looks, not to mention your twisted values—what will you do when you grow up?”

“Instead of mocking whether I like Qiyu, you should worry about yourselves.”

Lu Xingye delivered these words with a blank expression, each sentence carrying an absurdly destructive power. Naturally, they also pierced Qiyu.

Qiyu’s expression froze. He stood stunned, his mind replaying all the years Lu Xingye had taken care of him.

‘Was that truly what he thought?’

‘I despise pretentious people.’

‘I despise pretentious people.’

‘I despise pretentious people.’

Qiyu felt a pang in his nose, his eyes growing warm, filled with a shattered look. It wasn’t his fault for being prone to tears; it was these words that were simply too painful.

He reached out to wipe away the trembling tears, then, with resentment towards Lu Xingye, turned and ran.

Qiyu had heard everything.

Lu Xingye heard the commotion from outside the door and inadvertently glanced over. In that single glance, he saw Qiyu’s retreating back.

His pupils constricted, and an unreasoning panic seized his heart. His mind suddenly grew sluggish, unable to conceive of any way to mend the裂痕 in their relationship.

By the time he came to his senses, Qiyu’s figure had already vanished from sight. He grabbed his schoolbag and stumbled out the door.

If time hadn’t been so pressing, he truly would have beaten those people senseless. If it weren’t for them, how could he have possibly uttered such words?