Chapter 22: There’s Still Hope for Big Brother
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Gently, Lu Yan Shu opened his eyes, revealing a calm and composed expression. For the past eight years, he had remained bedridden, his body paralyzed, unresponsive to the world around him.
“Big Brother? Big Brother, you’re awake?! Oh, thank goodness, you scared me so much. Where are the servants? And the royal doctor?” Lu Yuan Xiao, his worry evident, quickly moved a fragile piece of porcelain out of his brother’s reach and discarded it, yet he stayed close, concerned his brother might make another sudden movement.
“Look at me, Big Brother, it’s Yuan Xiao, your third brother. Remember? You used to carry me on your back when I was just a little kid. It’s been so long, I almost forgot what you looked like,” Lu Yuan Xiao spoke as he lay beside his brother, trying to capture his attention.
Their eldest brother had nearly lost his life years ago due to a drowning accident but was miraculously saved at the last moment by a skilled doctor using golden needles. Unfortunately, the incident left him paralyzed and confined to his bed, developing a deep resistance and anger whenever someone attempted to move him outdoors in a wheelchair. His unpredictable and sometimes violent behavior caused many to keep their distance.
For over eight years, the only sign of movement from him was the tight grip of his hands, first revealed when he tragically attempted to end his own life by cutting his wrists, a memory that haunted Lu Yuan Xiao deeply.
“Big Brother, I’ll go fetch the royal doctor and our mother. Meanwhile, can you look after Chao Chao for me?” he asked, hopeful.
“Chao Chao is our little sister, the fourth sibling. She’s very young and delicate. I think you’ll really like her.” Despite introducing their youngest sister, Lu Chao Chao, Lu Yan Shu gave no response.
Suddenly, a rough, strained voice broke the prolonged silence, sounding as though it hadn’t been used in ages, “No! There’s no need for the royal doctor. And don’t tell Mother.”
Lu Yuan Xiao paused, noting his brother’s clear aversion to the idea and observing the anger brewing within him, decided against pressing the matter. Seeing his brother appeared somewhat healthier, he opted to fetch a basin of water and a cloth himself. He knelt down and began to tenderly clean the bloodstains, demonstrating his deep care and concern.
[It’s no surprise that my big brother has turned into our story’s tragic yet formidable antagonist. He was a prodigy, only nine years old when he nearly drowned while trying to save another. The person he attempted to rescue didn’t cry out for help, leading to his tragic paralysis and confinement. Worse yet, he witnessed the death of our entire family. Having survived such horrors, he found himself in intellectual and courageous confrontations with the story’s heroes, ultimately facing defeat.] Lu Chao Chao snapped out of her thoughts, shaking her head in disbelief and sighing at the cruel fate her brother endured.
Lu Yan Shu, whose eyes usually betrayed no emotion, suddenly shimmered with a trace of feeling.
Straining, he managed to turn his head and saw his third brother, Lu Yuan Xiao, diligently cleaning the floor. The room was quiet, save for a baby who could sit and crawl but had yet to learn to speak. When the baby caught Lu Yan Shu’s gaze, she grinned, her smile revealing no teeth.
[My big brother is so handsome.] Chao Chao thought to herself.
Lu Yan Shu thought, puzzled by the baby’s silent approval, “Am I so disconnected that I’m misunderstanding? Our entire family suffered a tragedy? And what’s this about a mistress our father had?” Having withdrawn from the world for eight years, he remained unmoved by anything, even his mother’s tears. But now, he let out a self-mocking sneer.
What did it all matter now? He was paralyzed, entirely dependent on others for basic needs such as eating, drinking, and personal care. The despair and panic took hold in that moment as he realized the extent of his situation below.
“Get out!” he bellowed, his eyes wide with urgency, his teeth gritted, veins standing out on his neck.
Lu Yuan Xiao, startled by his brother’s sudden outburst, responded softly, “Big Brother, I’ll leave you be,” attempting to diffuse the tension.
But Lu Yan Shu was beyond consolation, filled with a restless energy and shame. “Go! Leave! Get out of here!” he roared, his voice laden with frustration, his gaze intense as he stared at Lu Yuan Xiao.
“If you have any regard for me as your elder brother, leave this place immediately and never return! I find it unbearable to even look at you; your presence repulses me!” Lu Yan Shu’s voice was hoarse, his body trembling with intense emotion, his fists clenched tightly in a mix of anger and despair.
Lu Yuan Xiao, deeply wounded by his brother’s biting words, felt tears well up in his eyes. He tenderly lifted their younger sister, Lu Chao Chao, hesitating to leave as he detected an unusual smell emanating from the bed.
At that moment, Lu Yan Shu’s pent-up feelings burst forth.
The narrative continues with Lu Yan Shu both laughing and crying simultaneously, overwhelmed by the tragic irony of his situation. Once hailed as a prodigy, he now lay bedridden and paralyzed, entirely dependent on others for even the most basic needs such as changing his soiled garments. His pride, once intact, was now in ruins, serving as a painful reminder of his steep decline.
In a quiet moment filled with empathy, Lu Yuan Xiao seemed to comprehend the deep sorrow consuming his brother. Silently, he placed his sister on a stool, cautioning her with a gentle whisper, “Chao Chao, stay still.”
Despite Lu Yan Shu’s angry demands for them to leave, Lu Yuan Xiao calmly prepared a basin of clean water and fresh clothes. With meticulous care, he attended to his brother, washing and dressing him as Lu Yan Shu fluctuated between scolding and pleading for him to depart.
Afterwards, Lu Yan Shu felt utterly defeated. The once-admired youth now dreaded even the slightest glance from others, vehemently rejecting any form of help or intimacy. He was humiliated by his current state, stripped of his dignity, and incapable of performing even the simplest acts of self-care. He found the situation deeply humiliating.
“Big Brother, we are true brothers,” Lu Yuan Xiao stated earnestly. Despite being the favored young master of their household, he showed no contempt for his elder brother’s changed circumstances.
Lu Yan Shu turned his head away, closing his eyes to avoid meeting his gaze.
[Such a loyal third brother, it’s tragic that he eventually endured such severe suffering, becoming blind, mutilated, and reduced to a pitiful state, displayed for others’ amusement like a pig in a jar.] Chao Chao thought sadly.
The grimness of these thoughts made both brothers shudder.
Suddenly, Lu Yan Shu’s eyes snapped open, a stark contrast to Lu Yuan Xiao’s weary expression caused by his sorrowful fate.
“Big Brother, I’ve cleaned you up. Let’s get you into your wheelchair and outside for some sunlight,” Lu Yuan Xiao suggested, hoping to bring a brief respite to their lives, which were overshadowed by the constant gloom of their confined environment.
Without waiting for a response, he assisted Lu Yan Shu in sitting up and included their little sister in this act of familial care.
Even as Lu Chao Chao silently mourned their doomed fate, Lu Yan Shu remained expressionless.
However, amidst their despair, a ray of hope emerged as Lu Chao Chao thought excitedly, [Fortunately, I can heal big brother’s legs!]
Taken aback by her words, Lu Yan Shu coughed violently and stared sharply at Lu Chao Chao. Her statement pierced his resignation, planting seeds of doubt about his acceptance of his condition. Could there truly be a chance for recovery? Was there still hope?
For a brief moment, he questioned his own sanity, wondering if her claim was merely a figment of his imagination. Yet, something within him stirred, suggesting that perhaps, all was not lost.
Lu Chao Chao observed her brother with curiosity, her small arms reaching out to him, embodying a child’s pure belief in miracles.
A bitter smile crossed Lu Yan Shu’s lips as he acknowledged the irony of his situation. Despite eight years of attempts at recovery, his greatest physical achievement had been the ability to clench his fists, while his arms remained largely unresponsive.
“Hug… Hug…” The baby’s soft, pleading voice broke the silence, touching something deep within him. Her simple request triggered a slight but noticeable twitch in Lu Yan Shu’s fingertips, as if his very soul was fighting against the paralysis that had dominated his body for so long.
Sweat appeared on his forehead, indicating the enormous effort it took to even attempt to move his arm. Slowly, he managed to shift his arm slightly, a small movement but significant in its impact.
For Lu Yan Shu, this moment was filled with intense emotion. Tears nearly came to his eyes. After eight years of unchanging incapacity and despair, with his body feeling like a prison, this marked a significant departure from the monotony.
This day represented a change. His arm, long given up on, had moved. This wasn’t just a physical milestone; it was a sign of hope, a hint at potential freedom from the constraints of his condition. The simple desire for a hug from the baby had led to a breakthrough that years of therapy and willpower hadn’t achieved, highlighting the strength of human connection and the relentless spirit’s ability to conquer obstacles.