Chapter 23: Pampering Her
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Lu Yan Shu couldn’t shake off Lu Chao Chao’s words: [If you drink my blood, even King Yama won’t dare to take you.]
Impatient, Lu Chao Chao crawled clumsily like a little ball into her elder brother’s arms. Once nestled comfortably, she still seemed unsatisfied and tugged at his hands, wrapping them tightly around her. But his strengthless arms soon fell limply again, leaving her displeased. Her little lips pouted so high it seemed like they could hold an oil pot.
With a tiny finger, she tapped his brow. A gentle warmth flowed into him, soothing his frail body bit by bit.
Lu Yan Shu was momentarily stunned. His whole body felt warm, as though his parched self had been nourished. Once more, Lu Chao Chao grabbed his arm and encircled herself. This time, their ten fingers interlocked, and his arms did not fall. Though it was just a faint hint of strength, it was enough to bring tears to his eyes. Holding her felt like embracing the whole world.
“Sister, you’ll crush our elder brother!” Lu Yuan Xiao rolled over in his wheelchair, startling her. It wasn’t just the sudden noise that frightened her; she was more worried about her elder brother’s temper. Known for his irritable disposition, he even maintained a cold face in front of their parents.
“Elder Brother, she’s only five months old and doesn’t know better,” Lu Yuan Xiao cautiously added.
To his surprise, Lu Yan Shu’s voice was soft, as though afraid of scaring the baby in his arms. “It’s fine.”
Lu Yuan Xiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. What happened? He had only turned away for a moment, and now his elder brother was protective of their little sister?
Later, Lu Yuan Xiao wheeled his brother through the garden. Lu Yan Shu, gaunt and skeletal, sat in the wheelchair while Lu Chao Chao lay on his chest. [Elder Brother is too thin. Hugging him is uncomfortable. Elder Brother needs to eat more meat. This is so bony.] She sucked her drool while thinking this.
The garden, once vibrant, had fallen into disrepair, a shadow of its former glory. Nestled in her brother’s arms, Lu Chao Chao noted, [Wow, such a big pond. It would be perfect for fish and turtles! Why aren’t there any flowers?]
Her soft muttering brought a hint of life back into Lu Yan Shu, who for the first time in a long while, raised his gaze to the sky. It had been ages since he stepped outside.
[Oh! Elder Brother smiled. He looks so handsome when he smiles!]
Lu Chao Chao’s wide-eyed marvel did not go unnoticed by Lu Yuan Xiao, who stole a glance at their elder brother. As expected, he adored their sister. He’d known it—no one could resist someone as adorable as her.
[Ah, I wish I could sneak her to school. Studying is so boring, but with her, it would be fun.]
The three siblings wandered around until a servant came rushing. “Young Master! Young Master!”
It was Yuan Bao, Lu Yan Shu’s personal attendant, panting heavily with sweat dripping down his forehead. He relaxed only after confirming Lu Yan Shu was safely in his wheelchair. That day, Yuan Bao had run into servants from the Jiang Family, leading to a scuffle.
Disheveled, his hair in chaos and a suspicious red mark on his cheek, Yuan Bao was shocked to see Lu Yan Shu outside. His eyes reddened with emotion. “Young Master, I brought your lunch back. Should we eat in the pavilion?” Since becoming bedridden, Lu Yan Shu subsisted on light porridge to reduce the need for bathroom trips, preserving the last vestiges of dignity.
[Meat! It’s a festival today; I want to smell roasted meat! If not, I’ll throw a tantrum!]
Lu Chao Chao’s pout deepened as her tiny fists clenched, giving her an air of defiance.
Lu Yan Shu chuckled, leaving Yuan Bao stunned. After eight years, it was the first time he’d seen his master smile. For someone who had spent years fending off his master’s suicidal tendencies, it was a miracle.
“Set up a grill in the pavilion,” Lu Yan Shu ordered. “And prepare meat porridge for me.” After all, Chao Chao had said his thinness made hugging him uncomfortable.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yuan Bao, overwhelmed with joy, limped toward the kitchen.
Soon, the pavilion was adorned with a small stove. A cool breeze softened the day’s heat. Thinly sliced meat and various sauces were laid on the stone table. A pot of meat porridge simmered on the iron grill, releasing bubbling aromas.
Lu Yuan Xiao, ravenous from all the preparations, felt his stomach gnawing with hunger. Seeing the spread, his eyes practically turned green.
Yuan Bao filled a bowl of meat porridge, ready to feed his master. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan Xiao grilled a slice of meat as thin as cicada wings, the sizzling fat releasing an enticing aroma of cumin.
“Wow, this meat is so tender!” Lu Yuan Xiao exclaimed after a bite, flailing exaggeratedly from the heat but refusing to spit it out.
Lu Chao Chao sniffed deeply, drool almost spilling over.
“Chao Chao, drink your milk,” Lu Yuan Xiao offered, producing a bottle. Her round eyes filled with fury, she pointed at the meat and then at her milk, her face a picture of indignation. Both brothers burst into laughter, fully grasping her complaint.
“You’re toothless and only five months old. You can’t eat meat. But you can smell it. See? I’m being so good to you. I eat the meat, and you smell it.” Lu Yuan Xiao’s shamelessness was unparalleled.
Her eyes turned red with frustration.
Watching the playful scene, Lu Yan Shu felt the gloom within him lighten considerably. “Yuan Bao, bring a banana.”
Fresh fruits, sent daily by Madam Xu, included bananas that Yuan Bao promptly fetched. Following Lu Yan Shu’s instructions, Lu Yuan Xiao scraped some into a mush, feeding it to Lu Chao Chao, whose delight was instant. [Oh, it’s so sweet and tasty! Big Brother, I love you. I love you the most! Oh, Third Brother is clumsy, but I love him too!]
After seven or eight spoonfuls, Lu Yuan Xiao stopped. “Too much won’t digest well. We’ll add more tomorrow.” Then he roasted a chicken leg, stripped the meat, and gave her the bone.
Lu Chao Chao immediately kissed him and settled back into Lu Yan Shu’s arms, gnawing contentedly. [Ah, life is perfect.]
The two brothers could barely hold back their laughter.
Typically, Lu Yan Shu only managed a few bites of plain porridge to keep himself alive, but that day he finished an entire bowl of meat porridge. The light in his eyes had returned, as though he had found a reason to live again.
By afternoon, Lu Yan Shu grew weary. Lu Yuan Xiao prepared to leave but hesitated. “Elder Brother, should I summon a doctor for you? Secretly, of course.” His mind lingered on the terrifying scar on his brother’s wrist.
Lu Yan Shu rubbed his fingers, finding them more agile than before. It was all because of Chao Chao.