Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

Zixiao pointed to the medicine bottle in Lu Ling's hand: "Oh... you've come to visit Aunt Miao? That's really strange. Why are you getting an IV drip? Is this the kind of visit that's popular these days?"

"Zixiao, let me explain..."

"Okay, I'll listen carefully to your explanation, brother." Zixiao stepped forward and took the medicine bottle from Lu Ling.

She said to Lu Ling and Lu Yao, "You two have worked hard. Now you can go and rest. I have something I want to talk to my brother about alone."

"it is good."

"clear."

Without saying much, Lu Ling and Lu Yao walked directly towards the pavilion in the distance.

You sold me out so easily?!

Yu Zhe was stunned. How could he just leave like that?

In fact, Lu Ling and Lu Yao had thought it through very clearly. They needed to teach the young master a lesson; he was usually too arrogant.

Only Miss Zixiao and Miss Yuche can handle him.

During this time, Zixiao also sent messages to Xiaolizhi and Qin Ruoke, saying that the person had been found.

Only Zixiao and Yuzhe remained. Zixiao asked, "Brother, there's no one here now. I can listen to your explanation. Tell me, why did you take the medicine bottle out instead of getting your IV drip properly? Where are you going?"

"Um... well... would you believe me if I said I was too bored and wanted to take a walk...?"

"To be honest." At this moment, Zixiao was quite assertive, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Fine..." Yu Zhe admitted defeat; he really had no way to deal with Zi Xiao.

So he explained the whole story in detail: "I was getting an IV drip just now... I asked the nurse how long it would take, and she said it would take an hour and a half. I thought an hour and a half wouldn't do, that would take too long."

"Is this taking too long?" Zixiao asked, confused. "Brother, is something the matter?"

Having already said it, Yu Zhe could only voice his thoughts: "A year and a half later...aren't you going home after school...?"

16. The Blazing Sun in My Heart

The place was quite remote, with no one around, and with Lu Ling and Lu Yao keeping watch in the distance, it gave Zi Xiao the opportunity to find out the truth about the matter.

Zixiao vaguely sensed what Yuzhe wanted to say, but that didn't mean she wouldn't ask.

"What does my going home have to do with you not taking your IV drip properly?"

Perhaps Yu Zhe could have resisted a little earlier, but now Zi Xiao's unyielding gaze forced him to continue explaining.

Zixiao held the IV drip bottle tightly in her hand, as if she would smash it in anger if she lied, even though Zixiao certainly wouldn't do that.

"Well... I was just thinking, what if you get home and find I'm not there? You might worry, since I don't have anything else to do at noon. As for the IV drip... the journey back will take quite a while, and you'll have plenty of time before you get home..."

His voice grew softer and softer, revealing his growing unease. Despite Zixiao's cheerful demeanor, I had a feeling she was about to explode.

Zixiao pressed on, "Yes, that's right. I still have a long time before I get home, so what are you going to do if you haven't finished losing by the time I get back, brother?"

“Well…” Yu Zhe looked away, “It doesn’t necessarily have to be all lost… If we can’t lose it all, we’ll just lose whatever we can…”

"..."

Is there such a thing as stopping an IV drip prematurely?!

"Tell me the truth about what you planned to do with the tape from your IV drip."

"Um... Zixiao, don't be angry..."

"How were you originally planning to handle this? I need to know, brother, do you even know what your current stance is?!"

Waaaaah, Zixiao was naughty today, she was super fierce.

"I was planning to... just put a band-aid on it to cover it up, as long as you wouldn't know..."

As long as you don't know, it's fine.

These words may have been expressions of concern or a desire for independence, but they sounded particularly hurtful to Zixiao.

Her lips trembled slightly as she looked directly into Yu Zhe's eyes: "You won't let me know... you won't let me know anything, even about the donation to the orphanage last time... In your eyes, am I really just a burden?!"

Oh no... I've made Zixiao cry.

Yu Zhe couldn't ignore the tear in the corner of her eye, nor could he justify his theory of "not wanting you to worry."

Ultimately, what I thought was protection for them turned out to be harm.

"I'm sorry..." Yu Zhe could only offer this honest apology.

"Don't apologize!" Zixiao wiped away her tears, her eyes growing even more determined. "I just want to know what my brother is thinking. Does he see me, and all of us, as a burden? Why doesn't he say anything? Why doesn't he want us to share any of his pain?"

"But all I want is for you to have a better life!"

Yu Zhe had been holding back his feelings all day, but Zi Xiao's questioning made him shout out what was on his mind.

"Zixiao, do you know! You're not as strong as you all think. Sometimes I feel really bad! Especially bad! I can't keep smiling and comforting you! I'm afraid that when I'm emotionally unstable, these awful feelings will affect you all! I hate this version of myself! How can I face you like this! Do you understand!"

It's been ages since Yu Zhe yelled at Zi Xiao like that.

But now, Zixiao felt no shock or fear; all she felt was relief.

You've finally shown this side of yourself.

Zixiao kept the medicine bottle above her head, pressed it against Yuzhe's chest, and hugged him carefully yet without reservation.

"I don't care." Zixiao hugged tightly with one hand. "Not only do I not care, but Yuche, Sister Xinye, and the people you care about, Brother, they definitely don't care about such a small thing. On the contrary, they would be very happy. You can tell us what's on your mind. You don't know... Every time you hold it in, it really makes me suffer. Isn't it good to say it out loud?"

This hug instantly calmed Yu Zhe down.

"I...you...Zixiao, aren't you scared? Don't you think I'm being too harsh by talking like this...?"

"We've always been the ones who went too far... I'm sorry we didn't let you say it sooner, but... now that you've said it, you should feel much better, right?"

Feeling Zixiao's soft embrace, Yuzhe closed his eyes, seemingly enjoying the tranquility.

Honestly, I feel much better now.

Zixiao nestled against Yuzhe and calmly said, "I just want to be a source of strength for my brother, even if it's only..."

It's my honor to help out even a little. I just asked Aunt Miao, and she said that you need to vent your emotions, and that's right. As long as it makes your brother feel better, what's a couple of yellings at me?

Zixiao said firmly, "If it allows you to vent, I don't mind if you hit me, brother."

"Don't say that..." Yu Zhe's voice trembled slightly, and finally he turned around and hugged Zi Xiao's trembling shoulders with one hand.

"How could I possibly hit you... It's my honor to have such a treasure, and I cherish it more than anything."

Feeling a bit blurry, Yu Zhe felt as if a ray of blazing sun had torn through the thick clouds, easing the oppression he had just felt.

"Zixiao... I'm really lucky to have you by my side."

"If we're talking about luck, we are the lucky ones."

Zixiao looked up: "So, brother, when you get better, how about we go hiking or to the beach together? Since you need to vent, let's have some fun. I'll go with you."

"Okay, wherever you want to go, that's where we'll go."

......................

Even from a great distance, Lu Ling and Lu Yao could feel the harmonious atmosphere on the other side.

They were naturally very happy; it seemed that the young master had finally come to his senses.

Lu Ling deliberately grinned mischievously at Lu Yao and said, "So, sister, aren't you envious?"

"Envious of... what?"

"Miss Zixiao, besides her, only Miss Yuche could open the young master's heart."

"..."

Lu Ling gets angry every time she sees her older sister's indifferent attitude.

"Sigh, if I had the chance, I would also like to have more interaction with the young master. But you have no hope, sister. You can't even speak properly. I have to relay your words to you. You want to have an interaction? I'm afraid the young master will be annoyed with you to death."

Then he deliberately squinted to observe his sister's condition.

After remaining expressionless for a long time, Lu Yao finally couldn't hold back anymore. She turned her head with a worried look on her face and asked, "Is it really that annoying...?"

"Haha, sister is so cute. No, no, sister is so funny, young master will like you, don't worry."

"Hmm...maybe, and...Lu Ling...is very bad."

.........................

Zixiao comforted Yuzhe for a while. After they let go of each other, Zixiao smiled and said, "We can talk about climbing the mountain later. My arm is almost numb from holding this medicine bottle. Now, brother, you can go back to the hospital for a few days, right?"

"Hospitalized...?"

Yu Zhe was startled and gave an awkward laugh: "Zi Xiao... I'll finish this IV drip properly, but is hospitalization... really necessary?"

This time it wasn't that Yu Zhe was worried about Zi Xiao, but that he genuinely found it troublesome. Who wants to be hospitalized for no reason?

But in Zixiao's opinion, he was not alright.

“That’s right, you should be hospitalized for treatment and your biological clock should be adjusted. You usually like to stay up late, so I’ll supervise you in the hospital and make sure you break this bad habit.”

"Zixiao, I think we can still discuss this matter."

"No, there's no room for discussion. Besides, I already guessed that you would refuse, brother. I have my own way."

Zixiao chuckled twice, took a step back, took out her phone, and dialed Yuche's number.

Then I turned on speakerphone.

17. I just have one sentence.

Why call Yuche?

Yu Zhe found Zi Xiao's action strange, but he consciously shut his mouth. He had a conditioned reflex of remaining silent when others were on the phone, which was a good form of politeness.

With the hands-free mode on, Yu Zhe could hear Yu Che's voice.

After the call was connected, her impatient voice came through the phone.

"What do you want, Zixiao? Don't call me if there's nothing wrong. Don't you know I'm busy?"

Zixiao frowned in anger as soon as he opened his mouth. This guy never said he was busy when he answered his brother's call, and he was always like a sycophant. His first words to her when he answered the phone were always in this tone.

Zixiao looked at Yuzhe with a questioning look, as if to say: Are you sure you don't agree to hospitalization?

Yu Zhe's response was quite clear in his eyes; he was playing coy, implying that they could still discuss it.