Chapter 19: A Sister’s Mischief and a Brother’s Worry

“Hey, Youchu! You’ve snuck out on your own again.

Haven’t I told you countless times that your body is still very weak and you need to rest properly in bed?

If you keep running out to play like this, do you even want to be discharged from the hospital?”

Following the nurse’s tip, Shen Yunfei effortlessly located Shen Youchu in the hospital garden.

This wasn’t the first time Shen Youchu had secretly slipped out of her ward to play, so Shen Yunfei knew precisely where she would be, making it simple to find her.

Upon spotting her, he immediately launched into a stern reprimand.

Even though Shen Youchu was currently doing nothing more than sitting on a public bench in the garden, basking in the sun and breathing the fresh air.

“It’s fine, big brother.

I feel like my body is almost completely recovered, look.”

To prove her health was no longer an issue, Shen Youchu even bounced and skipped in front of Shen Yunfei.

“No, that’s not acceptable.

The doctor hasn’t said your body has recovered enough for discharge.

You must rest properly until then.

Alright, let’s go, back to your ward.”

“No!

I want to stay here a little longer, big brother, you big dummy.

The air in the ward is so stuffy; I just want to breathe some fresh air out here.

Half an hour, I’ll sit here for just half an hour more, and then I’ll go back to the ward, okay?”

Shen Youchu had no desire to return to that ward.

While she understood Shen Yunfei’s concern for her health was why he insisted she go back, his worry was truly excessive.

She was merely a bit weaker than her peers and had slightly lower immunity, making her prone to illness.

Otherwise, she felt perfectly fine.

“You truly are impossible, aren’t you?

Alright then, half an hour it is.

Not a minute more, understood?”

Seeing Shen Youchu plead with him in such a way, Shen Yunfei couldn’t bear to refuse her request and reluctantly agreed.

After all, no older brother could ever truly bring themselves to deny such a plea from their younger sister.

“So, Youchu, what would you like for breakfast this morning?

I’ll go buy something for you.”

“Huh?

Big brother, you didn’t bring me breakfast today?

You always used to buy it before coming over.”

“Well, there was a slight mishap on the way today, so I didn’t get breakfast.”

Normally, Shen Yunfei would pick up breakfast on his way to the hospital, but today, he had encountered a 昏迷的 (TL Note: unconscious) Liu Xingluo on the road.

Since he had to carry him to the hospital, it would have been too inconvenient to also carry breakfast.

Thus, Shen Yunfei simply skipped buying it, deciding instead to ask his sister what she fancied for the morning.

“A mishap, you say?

What kind of mishap?

I want to hear all about it.”

Shen Youchu, for her part, had suddenly become quite interested in the mishap Shen Yunfei had mentioned.

After all, being stuck in the hospital was incredibly boring, so much so that she was now interested in everything happening outside.

“Oh, there’s nothing particularly exciting about it.

I just ran into someone unconscious on the road.

Since I was already coming to the hospital to see you, I simply brought him along for the doctors to examine.”

“Oh, so you did a good deed!

Just as expected of my big brother.

If it were anyone else, they definitely wouldn’t have done what you did.

Did that person wake up after coming to the hospital?

Did they cause you any trouble, big brother?”

Knowing Shen Yunfei was a genuinely kind-hearted individual, Shen Youchu felt a swell of pride for her big brother.

Yet, she also worried that one day he might help the wrong person, only to be bitten back and suffer a great loss.

Still, from her understanding of her big brother, even if he were truly betrayed, he would continue to help those who deserved it.

“Not yet, but his older sister did arrive.

She didn’t cause me any trouble; in fact, she thanked me and asked for my number, saying she’d definitely repay me if the opportunity arose.”

“Oh, that’s great, that’s great.

It’s a relief that the people you help, big brother, are good people just like you.

By the way, what did that older sister look like?

Was she in your ‘strike zone,’ big brother?”

“Hey, what kind of nonsense are you spouting now, you little rascal?”

Seeing Shen Youchu abruptly shift the topic to his preferences in women, Shen Yunfei lightly chopped her head with a ‘hand-knife’ gesture.

‘Honestly, it was just a case of good deeds being rewarded.

Why did she have to think of it in any other way?’

“No, I’m not just spouting nonsense.

Look, big brother, isn’t it common in novels for the protagonist to save the heroine, and then for the heroine to offer herself in marriage to repay his kindness?

Isn’t that how the story often develops?”

“You know that’s usually the heroine, right?

The person I helped was a man, so unfortunately, the story won’t develop in the way you’re hoping for.”

“No, no, no.

That was just an example.

The main thing is to successfully make the other person owe you a favor.

And big brother, haven’t you already achieved that?”

“Alright, alright, let’s drop this topic and stop talking about it.

Reality isn’t a novel; it won’t unfold the way you imagine.

Let’s just focus on what you want for breakfast this morning.”

“Honestly, big brother, every time I try to talk to you about your big life decisions, you act like this.

At this rate, when will you ever find a partner?

When will I finally get a sister-in-law?”

Gazing at Shen Yunfei, Shen Youchu felt the full force of 恨铁不成钢 (TL Note: Hèn tiě bù chéng gāng, an idiom meaning to feel disappointed that someone is not living up to expectations, literally ‘to hate iron for not becoming steel’).

Her big brother was so young, and this was a prime opportunity for him to find a partner, yet he showed no inclination whatsoever.

She knew, of course, that part of the reason was her own fragile health; if she weren’t so frail and sickly, if she could recover quickly and be discharged, her big brother wouldn’t have to waste his time on her every day and could finally pursue a proper romance.

“Why are you rushing?

I’m not in a hurry, so why is my little sister so anxious on my behalf?

Aren’t you afraid that once I find a wife, I won’t treat you as well anymore?”

“Not at all, because I know your character very well, big brother.

Even if you get married and have a sister-in-law, you would never mistreat me.”

Others might not understand Shen Yunfei, but how could his own sister not know him intimately?

“Alright, alright.

Let’s not talk about this anymore.

Let’s discuss what you want for breakfast first; if you don’t tell me, I’ll just decide for you.”

Nevertheless, Shen Yunfei still didn’t want to waste time on this topic.

Finding a suitable girlfriend was incredibly time-consuming, not something easily accomplished.

Even if Shen Youchu badgered him constantly to find a girlfriend, it wouldn’t happen overnight.

“Don’t be like that!

What should I eat for breakfast?

Let me think.

I remember there’s a place near the hospital that sells changfen (TL Note: A Cantonese steamed rice noodle roll).

Big brother, could you buy me a serving of changfen?

And remember to drizzle chocolate sauce on it.”

“Chocolate sauce…

Are you trying to get your big brother beaten into the hospital to be your ward-mate?”

Though the world had been rebuilt following the Great Void Catastrophe thirteen years prior, most regional culinary prejudices had vanished.

However, a few still persisted.

For instance, there was the dish called ‘changfen,’ which originated from the region once known as Guangdong.

It was said that adding anything inappropriate to it could invite grave misfortune, even death.

Chocolate sauce was one such forbidden topping.