If she wanted, he would give her his life, as long as someone could take care of Xiao Lian.

Xiao Lian glared at him. “I don’t understand, but you do,” he muttered softly, “Actually, I understand everything.” If he hadn’t developed a high fever, his brother wouldn’t have become a male prostitute, tortured with scars. He was the one who had dragged his brother down.

Suddenly, Xiao Lian’s eyes flashed. He rushed to the outer room and returned with a pill and a cup of hot tea, steam rising from its surface. “Brother, take this.”

Su Xi was puzzled. “What is this?”

Xiao Lian replied, slightly satisfied, “Isn’t this the medicine that woman sent to supplement your body?”

“Xiao Lian,” Su Xi furrowed his brow.

“Oh, I know, it’s from Miss Jin,” he pushed the pill into Su Xi’s hand. “Quickly take it. Your body will recover faster.”

“But I already took one yesterday.”

“Taking more is beneficial,” Xiao Lian insisted, pushing the pill into Su Xi’s hand.

Su Xi glanced at Xiao Lian, who seemed overly excited, rarely displaying such brightness.

Su Xi reluctantly took the pill, finding the taste strange but increasingly sweet, considering it was from Jin Yu.

Xiao Lian watched him swallow the pill and handed him hot tea. “How does it taste? Have some tea.”

“It feels a bit sweet,” he replied after taking a sip.

Watching Su Xi take the pill, Xiao Lian felt conflicted. Why were his previous medicines so bitter? That woman clearly showed favoritism. Just because he never served her, she made his medicines so bitter that he wanted to vomit.

But she was good to his brother, knowing how exhausting it was for him to serve her, so the pill was sweet. Slightly satisfied, Xiao Lian noticed the red marks on Su Xi’s neck and recalled the previous night’s scene: candlelight, intertwined bodies, and seductive moans. His face turned red. Curiously, he asked, “What do you do in the room that makes such seductive sounds?” He had wanted to ask for a long time.

Su Xi’s face heated up, and she glared at him. “Why are you asking about that?”

“I’m curious,” Xiao Lian muttered, “For two years, I don’t know what you do in bed. Your body has ‘scars,’ but you seem happy, making heated sounds.”

Su Xi’s face flushed again.

He awkwardly looked away, somewhat embarrassed, and softly replied, “You’ll understand when you get married. You don’t need to know now.”

“I’m not getting married,” Xiao Lian grumbled. “I want to know now.”

Su Xi exhaled, helpless. Xiao Lian was still pure and meant to be married, but he…

“I love you. After you marry me, you won’t have to be a male prostitute anymore.” The woman’s passionate voice echoed in Su Xi’s ears. He sighed. He had been serving Miss Jin for two years; every part of him had been touched and kissed by her. He could only be hers.

Knowing Su Xi wouldn’t tell him, Xiao Lian stopped asking about last night. Noticing the hairpin in Su Xi’s hand, he asked, “Is this hairpin from her? I’ve never seen it before.”

Su Xi looked at the hairpin, feeling sweet inside. “Yes, she gave it to me this morning.”

Looking at the simple yet exquisite wooden hairpin, Xiao Lian felt somewhat envious. “I wish someone would give me a hairpin someday.”

Su Xi gently looked at him, “You definitely will.”

Leaning on the bed’s edge, staring at the delicate hairpin, he said, “Brother, she’s given you a hairpin. Maybe she’ll marry you in the future…” An excited expression flashed in Xiao Lian’s eyes. But when he saw the tenderness and happiness in Su Xi’s eyes, he suddenly fell silent.

Remembering Jin Yu’s silence when he previously asked about marrying his brother, Suxi felt his spirits dampen; her message had been clear: she would not marry him.

Suxi, dismissing Xiaolian’s repeated concerns, said, “Xiaolian, go out first. I’m going to get dressed.”

“It’s still early. You must have been tired last night. Sleep a bit more,” Xiaolian advised, choosing not to mention his talk with Jinyu, wanting to spare Suxi any sadness. Although Suxi hadn’t voiced it, he hoped to marry Jinyu. Learning that she wouldn’t marry him would surely break his heart.

Suxi gathered his clothes and urged Xiaolian out, “No, I want to get up early. I’ll prepare all the meals tonight.”

Xiaolian was surprised, “Why? You’ve already worked hard. I can help.”

Suxi’s face flushed at the thought of Jinyu visiting that evening, his eyes softening. “I’m not tired. I’ll handle everything myself.”

Xiaolian suddenly realized, “She’s not coming over again tonight, is she? She’s already been here for two consecutive days. Isn’t she satisfied? How can your body endure this?”

“Angry, very angry, his small chest heaving, his small fists clenched, his angry eyes full of displeasure.

“Xiaolian,” Suxi urged, “My body will be fine. Go out quickly.”

That woman was not only coming to torment his brother tonight but also enchanting him to cook despite his exhaustion. This couldn’t continue; his brother’s health was at stake. Suxi felt it was his duty to protect him in his infatuation.

Xiaolian resisted, tucking Suxi’s blanket tightly. “Brother, sleep a bit more. I’ll go boil hot water for your bath…” He would also ensure his brother took more of the supplements she sent over to nourish him. Xiaolian furrowed his brow, wondering if those pills were truly sweet. Perhaps he could try them if there were extras.

Suxi stared blankly at the determined Xiaolian, responding with a dazed “Mm.”

As Xiaolian walked out satisfied, he noticed the pillow that had fallen last night, remembering the scene and blushing. Before Suxi could notice, he picked it up, covering his cheeks, and ran out.

Suxi came to his senses, his long eyelashes trembling. His gaze swept over his slender arm, where clear red marks remained, and his eyes filled with tenderness.

Usually, she would move roughly on him to vent, but this time, she was gentle, as if in a dream.

Having known her for two years, he believed a woman like her would be pursued by many men wanting to marry her. However, her husband, Cloud Zheng, wanted to abandon a position many men would desire. He had never thought of marrying her because he was just a male prostitute.

She had helped him significantly, and all he could offer in return was his body and a true heart, silently loving her with all his emotions.

#

When Jinyu returned home, the steward greeted her, “Miss, you’re back.”

“Has something happened?” she asked.

“The harvest in the southern town is poor this year. Many farmers can’t pay their grain taxes.”

“Then reduce the taxes. I said this yesterday.”

As they walked inside, the steward followed, saying, “Even after reducing taxes, some still can’t pay. Should we postpone the taxes until next year?”

“Do as you said.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Jinyu abruptly turned, “Is there anything else?”

“Miss,” the steward hesitated, “That Young Master Xu has come.”

Jinyu frowned, her voice cold, “What does he want?”

The steward remained silent, wondering if she didn’t know. He glanced down.

The miss will understand after meeting Young Master Xu.”

“No meeting.” She continued walking to her room.

The steward followed, saying, “Miss, Young Master Xu came once after you left the mansion yesterday, staying until evening. He came early again today. He must have something important to tell you. It would be better to meet him.”

Jinyu stopped, then said, “I’ll change my clothes and meet him later.”

The steward quickly agreed, hoping Young Master Xu could marry her. The Jin and Xu families originally had an engagement. Although this young master had been lost since childhood and his background was unclear, his love for her was preferable to the unfaithful Cloud Zheng or the male prostitute from the pleasure house.