Chapter 95 — The Question
"Bai Xia isn't your sister-in-law. Call her Sister Xia or just Bai Xia—don't call her sister-in-law again."
Bai Yan's voice carried a sharp warning, and under his cold gaze, Mei Mei shrank back and nodded quickly.
"And who exactly is your brother?" Bai Yang added, crossing his arms as if interrogating a criminal.
Before Mei Mei could open her mouth, Bai Xia answered calmly, "He's the boy I like."
The two brothers froze as if they had swallowed a fly. Bai Yang blinked rapidly, while Bai Yan's expression darkened.
"Sister, is he your boyfriend?" Bai Xin whispered.
Bai Xia rubbed her head lightly and nodded. "Yes, he is."
That was all it took for Bai Yan to explode.
"What do you mean he's your boyfriend?! You're not supposed to have a boyfriend!"
"That's right!" Bai Yang chimed in uselessly. "Jie Jie, you should just stay home with us. All of you should."
Bai Xia almost laughed. What kind of backwards logic was that?
Bai Yan saw her faint smile and grew even angrier. "You still know how to smile? You will break up with him immediately!"
"No, I won't."
"You're not even eighteen!"
"I'll be eighteen in a few weeks."
"But I don't trust him!"
"Well, you're not the one dating him."
"You dare talk back all the time—!"
"So what? What about you who always sneaks out with your friends? I know you flirt with girls."
Bai Yan turned to Bai Xuan, seeking backup. "Do you see how she talks to me?"
Bai Xuan, exhausted from their nonsense, raised a hand. "Alright, enough. Go get her some food. Stop nagging her to death."
Bai Yan refused to give up, and even Bai Yang tried to protest, but Bai Xuan physically pushed them both toward the door.
"Go get Xia'er food," she ordered, slamming the door behind them.
Outside, Bai Yang scratched his head. "Brother… what's so wrong about the three of them staying at home and just looking pretty?"
Bai Yan sighed deeply. "Forget it. They won't understand. Let's just get her food so Xia'er will have strength to answer our questions later."
"Yes, let's go," Bai Yang agreed, and the two stormed off.
---
Inside the room, Bai Xuan turned to Bai Xia. "They're gone. You can finally get some peace."
Mei Mei, who had practically retreated into a corner during the argument, slowly regained her courage. "S-sister-in-law… my brother is awake now."
"I know," Bai Xia replied.
Mei Mei swallowed nervously. "Sister-in-law… about yesterday… I'm sorry. I know I'm not the smartest, but I'm smart enough to know I offended you. All of this was my fault. I'm truly sorry."
Bai Xia blinked, surprised. She wasn't angry—she just didn't like talking much. Especially with Mei Mei, whose conversations could somehow multiply into a million new ones.
Still, Mei Mei's words reminded her of something she needed to address.
"Mei Mei, I'm not angry with you. But… are you really Fu Jian's sister? He told me he didn't have siblings."
Mei Mei's eyes lit up instantly as if someone pressed the gossip button inside her.
"Well he isn't my real brother! My mother was Auntie Fu's younger sister. My mom died when I was born, and Auntie Fu had just lost her baby, so she raised me as her daughter and even fed me milk, so I guess that makes me her daughter! But also, one time Brother Jian said a coconut fell on my head, that's why I'm stupid, so I cried for days and then Grandpa took me to a monk temple and that's when I found the dog I—"
"Mei Mei!"
She froze, head bowing in embarrassment.
Bai Xia felt her headache coming. She really couldn't have long conversations with this girl. But at least she understood now—Fu Jian hadn't lied to her. She had misunderstood and acted unreasonable.
She turned to Bai Xuan. "I want to go see Fu Jian."
"What? You've just woken up!"
"I'm much better. Take me to his ward."
"But Xia'er—"
"If you don't take me, I'll go myself."
"Fine, fine, I'll take you."
Bai Xuan supported her as they left the ward. When they entered Fu Jian's room, the doctor was just finishing his check-up.
"Doctor, can we go in?" Bai Xuan asked.
"Yes, yes. I'm done." He stepped out.
"You can go now," Bai Xia said softly to Bai Xuan. "I'll come out by myself."
With that, she walked inside.
Fu Jian lay on the bed with his eyes closed—pretending to sleep. She could tell he was awake, maybe thinking it was the doctor. Quietly, she walked over, climbed onto the bed, and rested her head on his chest.
His eyes opened immediately. He wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her close. They stayed like that for several minutes, the silence warm and steady.
Then Fu Jian spoke.
"Why did you leave?"
"Huh?" Bai Xia looked up, confused.
"You left," he repeated. "Your face was the first thing I saw when I woke up. But then you ran away."
"Did you want my parents to see me alone with you in the room?"
"…oh." She had a point.
"My brother would probably lock me up for life," she muttered. "He even told me to break up with you."
Fu Jian's arm tightened around her waist. "I don't really like your brother."
"You'll like him when you get to know him."
He let out a small laugh. "You didn't ignore me today."
Guilt pricked her chest. "I wasn't feeling well yesterday. I'm sorry. I had a little panic attack."
"Is it something you tried to forget?"
"…yes. Kind of."
"I'm sorry I triggered you."
"You didn't do anything," Bai Xia said softly, lifting her face to meet his eyes. "I was just overthinking."
She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then settled back against his chest. Silence filled the room—calm, gentle.
After a few minutes, she felt his arm tighten around her waist again.
"Fu Jian?" she whispered. "What's wrong?"
"I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead." She lay comfortably on him again.
"…Who is James?"
Bai Xia's entire body stiffened in his arms.
And he felt every bit of it.