Brother's Darling - Chapter 4

Siyan left after his phone call. I waited in the living room until eleven that night before he came back, looking tired.

I stood. “Ge.”

He glanced at me and headed upstairs. I followed.

“Xie Siyan!”

He stopped, seeming reluctant to talk. “Stay here and get well first. Everything else can wait.”

“I want to talk to you.”

After a pause, he continued up the stairs. “Come to the study.”

Inside, he sorted the papers on his desk at an unhurried pace. I twisted the hem of my shirt and forced the words out.

“Whether you believe me or not, Boyu put the drug in the milk. He meant for me to drink it.”

Siyan lowered his eyes. When he spoke, his words came slowly.

“That was the first time you’d ever poured me milk. I thought losing your place in the family had made you feel insecure, and you were trying to please me. So much that you’d even forgotten I don’t drink milk.”

“No. I knew you didn’t like it. But my stomach was hurting, and the nanny had warmed some for me. You came home just then, so I happened to ask if you wanted it.”

At last, he looked up, frowning faintly. “Your stomach hurt?”

I nodded. It was hard to get the rest out.

“I’ve got stomach cancer. I need surgery. That’s why I asked you for money…”

Clatter.

The glass on his desk tipped over. Water spread across the papers and spilled onto the floor.

“When?”

“Last month.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I… hadn’t worked out how.”

His usual composure fractured. For a moment, his face went blank.

He came toward me and studied me slowly, carefully, from head to toe. Then he caught my wrist.

“We’re going to the hospital.”

I managed a small smile. “Now?”

He let go. “First thing tomorrow. I’ll go with you.”

…

Siyan had always believed in getting things done. Once the hospital confirmed what I’d told him, he immediately scheduled the operation.

I went along with everything he arranged. Only just before surgery did I nervously clutch his hand.

He stroked my hand, his lips pressed together.

“Li, I still owe you an apology.

“I’ve found out what happened that night. I misunderstood.

“I thought you’d degraded yourself like that… But I wasn’t angry with you. I was angry with myself. I needed some time to think.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.”

I shook my head. “I don’t blame you, Ge.”

Even the most rational person wouldn’t stay calm after being drugged and waking to discover he’d slept with someone he’d treated as his brother for over twenty years.

“Boyu’s gone overseas,” Siyan added. “He won’t bother you again. Once the operation’s over, just concentrate on recovering. Don’t worry about anything else.”

—

A week later, I left the hospital. Siyan hired someone specifically to look after me.

I lay in bed reading, bored out of my mind. When he came home from work, he always stopped by my room first and stayed a while.

He replaced the flowers in the vase beside my bed, though they were still fresh.

“How are you today?”

I lowered my hand and smiled. “A little better than yesterday.”

He stroked my hair. “Is there anything you’d like to do when you’re well?”

“Find a job,” I answered without thinking.

“I can arrange a position for you at the company.”

I shook my head. “No need. A friend of mine opened an art gallery. That’s what I studied, more or less, so I’d like to give it a try.”

Siyan took out his phone. “What’s it called?”

“…”