Chapter 3 — My Sister Stole My Fiancé

Clear Nhan, do not take her side. The two of you wanting a child is what matters most. Your health has never been very good, and with your younger sister living upstairs, the two of you cannot truly relax.

Oh Mother, why are even you saying such things?

Her mouth feigned reproach, yet her eyes cast shy, lingering glances toward Tong Zhi Ye several times. The man merely set down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and spoke in a voice devoid of ripples:

Whatever Father and Mother arrange will be fine. This matter is also my fault; I am the one who has not taken good care of Clear Nhan’s health.

I nodded, without a single moment of hesitation.

Very well.

The living room fell silent in an instant. The excuses they had prepared in advance went unused, leaving the atmosphere rather dry for a moment.

Since you agree, go back early and pack up your things.

She paused for a fraction of a second, then added:

This is not only for the good of your elder sister and your brother-in-law. You are not young anymore either; if you are to fall in love, you need your own private space.

Are you in love?

Tong Zhi Ye’s voice carried a sudden, abrupt edge. Not knowing how to respond, I simply replied:

Consider it so.

Assuming things go well this noon.

If there are no other matters, I shall be leaving.

I turned on my heel and walked toward the garden. From behind came Nguyen Minh Nhan’s peculiar, honeyed voice:

Zhi Ye, what are you looking at?

I got into the car and drove straight to the clinic of an elderly traditional medicine practitioner in the city. The old doctor opened the door, looking quite startled when he saw it was me.

Little Nguyen?

I nodded and greeted him respectfully:

Hello, Grandpa Tran. I just returned last night.

The old man’s eyes grew red. He patted my shoulder and stepped aside to let me pass.

Come in and sit. Have you eaten? The old woman cooked some porridge; would you like a little?

I smiled and said yes, eating half a bowl. Back then, Grandpa Tran was the physician who tended to Nguyen Minh Nhan’s health, and I was always the one sent to collect the herbal remedies. Over time, he came to realize how unloved I was at home and often kept me for lunch. Later on, when Nguyen Minh Nhan complained that the traditional medicine was too bitter, my parents switched her to Western medicine. Yet I kept the habit, frequently visiting the old man. Two years ago, upon learning that Tong Zhi Ye had a weak stomach, I asked the doctor for a specialized herbal prescription to nourish it. For three years, I brewed that medicine for Tong Zhi Ye. Seeing that he had grown much better, I eventually stopped.

After you left, no one else ever came to fetch medicine from me. That brat—he got what he deserved.

He spoke with indignation, showing far more care for me than my so-called family. My eyes stung with warmth. Finally, he remembered to ask:

Child, you surely didn’t come all this way just to see this old man, did you?

I felt a little shy.

Well, it is like this, Grandpa Tran. I would like to get a bit more of the stomach medicine.

With a heavy crash,

his bowl of porridge was slammed down onto the table. Grandma Tran let out an exclamation of dismay and lightly slapped his arm.

You damned old man, why use such force? You frightened the child.

He let out a cold snort through his nose.

Frightened to death, let her be! That ungrateful scoundrel already married her sister, and she is still running over in such a rush to fetch medicine for him!

I rubbed my nose with a guilty conscience. Perhaps my past devotion was too deeply ingrained in his mind, for Grandpa Tran had not even considered any other possibility. Nor could he be blamed; during those years, I had treated Tong Zhi Ye as a straw to clutch at in order to escape my cage. The slightest illness on his part could make me cry until I was starved of oxygen.

It is not for him.

Grandpa Tran was still sulking. Hearing those words, his white beard stopped twitching. His eyes could not help but dart toward me, filled with such an eager curiosity that it brought a smile to my lips.

It is for Gu Nian Nian.

His eyes lit up instantly, bright enough that he clapped his hands together in delight.

Child, you and that boy Nian Nian...

I felt somewhat embarrassed.

Nothing has been settled yet; our two families merely intend for us to go on a blind date.

He slammed his hand on the table and stood up in agitation.

There is no need for any blind date, just finalize it directly! I said that boy had good character years ago!

I listened in utter bewilderment.

Years ago?

Wasn’t he famously cold and aloof toward everyone back then? Grandpa Tran assumed an air of profound mystery.

That lad—after you and Tong Zhi Ye got together back then, he used to come to me all black and blue to get medicine.

I grew even more confused.

What does that have to do with me?

Hmph!

The old man looked rather proud.

How could it not? He wanted to warn Tong Zhi Ye to treat you better and keep your distance from your sister, so every day he dragged him out to play basketball. In truth, it was to settle a personal score.

Afraid that you would be heartbroken over Tong Zhi Ye, he made sure to hit him in the back every time, while intentionally letting himself be struck in the face and on the hands. In the end, it was like making soulful eyes at a blind person—you never paid him the slightest attention.

This time, it was my turn to be left speechless. I had known about their basketball matches, always assuming they were just typical roughhousing among young men. Never had I imagined that Gu Nian Nian, who always wore such an icy expression, had played basketball with Tong Zhi Ye entirely on my account. No wonder every time they finished a game, Tong Zhi Ye would be forced to lie flat at home for days without seeing me, claiming Gu Nian Nian was merely a poor loser with bad manners who loved brawling with thugs. Because of that, whenever I saw injuries on Gu Nian Nian, I had kept my distance. Words failed me completely. Grandpa Tran looked at me, sighed, and said nothing more. He simply stood up, walked into the back room, and brought out the medicine.

This medicine should have been given to someone else to drink long ago.

Knowing I had to meet him by noon, Grandpa Tran urged me to leave. I carried the package of herbs, feeling somewhat dazed the entire journey.