To avoid worrying my family, I hadn’t returned home during my recovery. When my parents noticed my prolonged absence, they sent my older brother to check on me. Helplessly, I wore a veil to meet him, but he immediately pulled it off, saying there was no need for such mystery between siblings.
When he saw my face beneath the veil, he was stunned for a moment. I smiled at him, and he turned away, returning the veil to me, saying, “Sister, you’d better put it back on.” I was on the verge of tears.
However, my big brother, who still loved his sister, thought for a moment and grabbed a fire poker from the kitchen before rushing out. I quickly grabbed his arm and asked where he was going. He said indignantly, “Going to settle accounts with An Jin!” After much persuasion and explanation, I finally convinced him that the injury on my face was the result of a fall. He was still furious, blaming An Jin for not protecting his wife and letting his sister get hurt like this. My heart ached, and I asked pitifully, “Is it really that ugly?” He looked at me awkwardly, rubbing his hands for a long time. Finally, he stammered, “Actually—it’s not that bad…” Reflecting on my pain, I decided not to go out until I was fully healed.
Seeing me dejected, my brother quickly began to share his embarrassing dating experiences with the girl from the Shu Ling Shi family. They had dated twice: once at a teahouse where he was accidentally splashed with tea; another time while shopping, she liked a hairpin, and he discovered his wallet had been stolen. The girl paid herself and politely smiled before going home.
I sensed my brother’s rocky romantic path. So I cautiously asked his thoughts about this girl. He thought for a while and answered, “She’s nice.”
