Volume 1, Chapter 4: She Had No Such Brother

Lu Ning lowered her head and covered her mouth, coughing violently. Her back was thin and hunched, as if she might cough up a lung.

Lu Bei’s tone was harsh: "Don't think that by pretending to be sick and playing the victim, I won't discipline you. I told you to take care of Xiangxiang at school—to fetch her water and get her meals—but instead, you let her, a patient, get food for you! Not only are you ungrateful, but you also intentionally tripped her. Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?"

Lu Ning endured the coughing: "I didn't push her. It was she who..."

"Are you trying to say that Xiangxiang tripped because she couldn't stand steadily? Do you think I would believe such a clumsy excuse? Are you going to admit that you did it on purpose?"

Lu Ning’s eyes stung, and she straightened her back: "I will not admit it."

*Slap.* A sharp blow landed on her face, causing an instant, burning pain. Yet, no matter how much her face throbbed, it was nothing compared to the injury within her heart. She was numb to the pain.

"Fourth brother, why are you laying hands on her?" Lu Nanfeng strode in and restrained the furious Lu Bei.

"Second brother, she did something so vicious and refuses to admit it! I don't have a sister who is so cold-blooded and refuses to repent!"

Qin Xiang stood at the doorway, her hand wrapped in gauze, looking pitiful. Her eyes red, she spoke up: "Fourth brother, I already said it was my fault. It has nothing to do with sister Ningning."

"Xiangxiang, you are just too kind. I have to teach Lu Ning a lesson today so she doesn't go down the wrong path!"

Just as Lu Bei prepared to lash out again, Ji Chiqian shoved his chair back with a harsh, grating sound against the floor. Lu Ning looked toward the sound.

Ji Chiqian, expressionless, leaned against the desk, his eyes clear and cold: "Are you the student's family members?"

Lu Nanfeng nodded: "Yes, we are her brothers."

"She has a high fever of 39 degrees, suspected infection, and requires further examination. She is also hypoglycemic and suffering from malnutrition."

Lu Bei was startled: "She’s actually sick?" He had assumed Lu Ning was faking it to avoid responsibility.

Ji Chiqian’s voice was unhurried: "Then you should probably get your eyes checked, since you couldn't see something so obvious." The girl was deathly pale and looked visibly ill; was it really so hard to tell?

Lu Bei was choked by the comment: "What do you mean by that?"

Ji Chiqian furrowed his brows, his voice cool: "Exactly what I said. Even if she is your adopted stepsister, if you’ve taken her in, you have a responsibility toward her."

Hearing the words "stepsister," a flash of mockery crossed Lu Ning's eyes.

Lu Nanfeng hurriedly corrected him: "She is my biological sister, not adopted."

Ji Chiqian raised an eyebrow: "That would require a magnifying glass to see. If you hadn't claimed to be family, I would have been ready to call the police to report child abuse."

Seeing the red, swollen mark on Lu Ning’s face, Lu Bei’s tone remained sour: "What do you know? I’m teaching her a lesson!"

Lu Nanfeng was speechless. He had assumed Lu Ning was in good health and wouldn't get sick from falling into the water like Qin Xiang.

Lu Bei looked at Ji Chiqian with disdain: "You don't know—Lu Ning is always pretending to be sick to shirk responsibility, and this time she even caused Xiangxiang to get hurt on purpose. Xiangxiang’s father died saving her; sometimes I really want to cut open her heart to see if it’s black!"

Lu Ning’s throat burned, and although she wanted to defend herself, she ultimately said nothing. It wouldn't matter even if she did; they wouldn't believe her anyway.

Qin Xiang bit her lip: "It’s all my fault. I shouldn't have been so clumsy, and I shouldn't have tried to be strong and get meals for sister Ningning."

"It is indeed your fault." Ji Chiqian’s gaze was cold: "Since you are sick and on an IV, you shouldn't be in the classroom. Knowing you are ill, you shouldn't be causing trouble for others. Don't put on this act of 'I’m weak, therefore I’m right'."

Lu Ning widened her eyes, staring blankly at the sharp-tongued school doctor in front of her. Was he actually speaking up for her? Did he believe her? Her eyes turned red; a stranger understood these basic principles, yet her own brothers could not. Or perhaps they understood, but because they were biased toward Qin Xiang, they simply chose not to.

Qin Xiang’s expression froze, and she gritted her teeth in secret. What was this doctor’s problem? Didn't he see that she was sick but still trying to get food for Lu Ning? Why wasn't he moved by her kindness, but instead speaking up for Lu Ning? This wasn't right; this act always worked.

Unable to say a word, Qin Xiang could only lower her head in a display of grievance.

Lu Bei stepped forward to defend Qin Xiang: "Xiangxiang comes to class even when she’s sick because the college entrance exam is less than a hundred days away; she can't fall behind. She was just trying to mend her relationship with Lu Ning, but some people just don't know how to be grateful."

Lu Ning found it ironic. That morning, her fourth brother had urged her to take good care of Qin Xiang, serving her tea and water—did doing those things not interfere with her own studies? So he did know that the exam was less than a hundred days away. It was just that her exams were not as important as Qin Xiang’s.

Lu Nanfeng spoke up: "Fourth, take Xiangxiang back to rest."

"Second brother!"

"Are you going to ignore what I said?"

Lu Bei shut his mouth and left with Qin Xiang. The infirmary fell silent again.

Lu Nanfeng frowned: "Ningning, if you don't want to take care of Qin Xiang, that’s fine, but you are not allowed to do things like this again."

Lu Ning kept her head down. Her throat was in too much pain, and she didn't want to say a single word. She pulled the blanket up and covered her head, not wanting to see them anymore.

"Lu Ning, if you keep acting like this, I won't be able to protect you anymore." Lu Nanfeng was losing his patience. He reached out and pulled the blanket down: "You’re coming back with me so we can talk!"

He had to talk to Lu Ning today. Qin Xiang could no longer be allowed to suffer.

Ji Chiqian pressed his hand against Lu Nanfeng’s arm, his gaze cold: "She stays until this IV bag is finished. Family members can wait outside!"

Ji Chiqian’s gaze was proud and icy, brooking no refusal. Lu Ning looked up in astonishment, watching him stand before her second brother, his back appearing immensely tall. She noticed a scar on his wrist—crimson, ugly, and particularly striking. She had a similar scar on her leg from a car accident in her childhood. Had he also been in a car accident?

Lu Nanfeng did not back down: "I am her brother; I am taking her home. We have a doctor at home."

"If you have a doctor at home, why did you let her run such a high fever for so long?"

Seeing Lu Ning’s pale face, Lu Nanfeng replied with a touch of guilt: "She didn't tell us she was sick." He also remembered wanting to check her forehead that morning, but she had dodged his hand. Could he be blamed for that? Perhaps Lu Ning had dragged out her illness on purpose to avoid responsibility.

Ji Chiqian’s voice turned displeased: "Sir, if you try to take her by force, I will call the police to report you for child abuse. According to the law, if a child is subjected to domestic violence, she can apply for a personal safety protection order."

"I am her own brother, her guardian!"

"But just now, I personally witnessed you hitting her—committing violence. There is surveillance here that serves as evidence. I trust the police will make a fair judgment."

Ji Chiqian was calm and unyielding: "She does not want to go with you right now, and you have no right to force her."

Lu Ning’s heart trembled slightly as she secretly looked at the man standing guard in front of her.