Volume One, Chapter Six: But She Calls Me Third Brother~

"You are slandering us! This is defamation!"

"I am going to sue you for the damage done to my husband's reputation! Do not think the Xie family is easy to bully!"

Xu Yun’s voice, as shrill as a megaphone, was piercing and jarring. It not only drew the gaze of the various dignitaries in the waiting area, but also deepened the disdain they felt toward the Xie family. The patients who came to this floor were either wealthy or powerful; the Xie family hardly made the cut. Xie Anyue only had to glance around to recognize many familiar faces often seen on television, the internet, and other media.

"Mom, stop it." Xie Anyue whispered, pulling at Xu Yun’s sleeve in a panic, trying to persuade her to stop.

"Don't pull me! This isn't over! Chu Mian, you ungrateful, heartless wretch, don't even think about getting a single cent of that ten million!"

Upon hearing that the surgery was a success, Xu Yun realized belatedly that she had nearly exhausted all of their liquid assets to save Xie Zhixing. She was already filled with regret and fear, and upon discovering that Chu Mian was the lead surgeon, she became unwilling to part with the money.

"Ms. Xu! Mind your language!" The usually kind-hearted dean snapped, slamming the medical record onto the table in front of Xu Yun with a loud *thwack*.

The opened pages were filled with incomprehensible medical terminology and data. At the very bottom, a note was printed in small, bold, black font: *The patient suffers from herpes; do not disclose the patient's medical information under any circumstances.*

Seeing that line, Xu Yun felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. Most of her bravado vanished as she realized she had made a scene. Xie Zhixing was, after all, a man; it was inevitable that he would come into contact with unsavory people during his social engagements. Fortunately, while herpes was a "dirty" affliction, it was not incurable. She blamed it all on Chu Mian, that wretched girl—she must have held a grudge and cursed the Xie family, causing Xie Zhixing to have an accident, suffer a difficult surgery, and end up with herpes.

Chu Xian watched the mother and daughter standing there like stray dogs, their eyes filled with hatred as they stared at his sister. They looked as if they would pounce and tear her apart at the first opportunity. Feeling a surge of disgust, he stepped in front of Chu Mian, his presence overwhelming.

Chu Mian had never experienced the feeling of being protected, and a warmth spread through her heart. She tugged at Chu Xian's finger, signaling him to step back.

"Brother, stay away from them. What if they have the disease too?"

Xie Anyue, having never suffered such humiliation, looked as if she were about to cry. Yet, as she looked up, she saw nothing but undisguised contempt in the eyes of everyone watching them.

Chu Xian felt his heart melt like spring rain at the soft, alluring tone of his sister calling him "brother." He wanted nothing more than to wrap his sweet, soft sister up, take her onto the plane, and "whoosh" back home to show her off to his brothers. Finally! They had a sister, too!

"You bitch! You’re the one who’s sick!" Xu Yun’s suppressed rage was reignited by Chu Mian’s nonchalant attitude. She pointed a finger at Chu Mian and started to lunge forward, only to be held back by an intern acting on the dean’s silent instruction.

"Ms. Chu, I’m sorry, the patient's family is quite emotional..." the dean said with difficulty. After this farce, he felt too embarrassed to find an excuse to ask Chu Mian to stay, especially with the imposing, intimidating Chu Xian standing right beside her.

Just as he was filled with regret and sorrow at the thought of losing such a top-tier talent, he heard Chu Mian speak. Her voice was cold but remained composed: "It’s alright, Dean. I know this isn't your fault. However, from now on, I will not accept patients from the Xie family."

"Yes, yes, of course. You are very magnanimous, Ms. Chu." The dean wiped his brow, feeling both surprised and relieved by the outcome. The Xie family were mere *nouveaux riches*, too impatient and ostentatious, always trying to climb the social ladder; they likely wouldn't last long anyway. As long as he kept Chu Mian, the "miracle doctor," everything else was manageable.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Chu Xian decided to take his sister home without delay. "Oh, and Dean, please arrange for security to escort the mother and daughter from the Xie family to get tested."

As Chu Mian turned to follow her brother, she threw out this request out of the blue. Though the dean was puzzled, he decided to have his staff carry it out.

"Chu Mian, you bitch! The Xie family fed you and raised you all these years, and this is how you turn out—an ungrateful, heartless wretch! You’ll rot in hell!"

Xu Yun and Xie Anyue were dragged away by heavily equipped security guards to be tested. The hallway was filled with Xu Yun’s hysterical cursing and Xie Anyue’s faint whimpering, creating a maddening atmosphere.

"Brother, it's fine. That's just how their family is—the upper beam is crooked, so the lower ones are, too. It’s not worth getting angry; don't dirty your hands."

Chu Mian could clearly feel the man beside her burning with rage that he was struggling to suppress. She raised her hand and patted his back to soothe him, while simultaneously and silently channeling a bit of strength into his back acupoints to clear his energy. After all, pent-up anger was bad for one's health.

Feeling the pat of her soft, boneless hand, Chu Xian felt a surge of stagnant energy dissipate, leaving him feeling refreshed and clear-headed. "Alright, little sister. We won't pay them any mind. Let's go home."

Though he said this, Chu Xian had made a firm resolution in his heart. They had lost their sister for so many years; he would make sure to settle the accounts for all the suffering and pain she had endured, one by one.

The two boarded the plane. Ordinarily, they should have been catching up, but Chu Mian couldn't remember much of her life before the age of ten, and Chu Xian was unwilling to bring those times up, so there was little to reminisce about. Instead, Chu Xian spent the time comforting her and telling her about the current state of their family. Watching the tall young man chatter on, the concept of "family" began to take clear shape in Chu Mian’s mind, and she became even more curious.

As the plane neared its destination, Chu Mian’s phone rang. It was the dean calling with the test results for Xu Yun and Xie Anyue.

Chu Mian glanced sideways and saw Chu Xian trying to look indifferent while secretly leaning in, so she put the call on speaker. The dean’s voice came through the receiver, sounding relieved and satisfied.

"Ms. Chu, thank you for the reminder. Xu Yun does indeed have herpes; it’s unclear whether she is a carrier or an active case. Xie Anyue’s results are currently negative."

Chu Mian wasn't surprised. As a tool for the Xie family to climb the social ladder, Xie Anyue naturally had to be "pure." Still... she hadn't expected the old couple of the Xie family to be such a well-matched pair.

"Thank you, Uncle Dean. Please send the diagnosis results for Xie Zhixing and Xu Yun to me. Thank you."

Chu Mian hung up the phone just as a notification pinged on her messaging app. Chu Xian didn't understand why his sister was doing this, but he knew Chu Mian was not indecisive; she certainly wouldn't cling to the false affections of the Xie family after all these years.

"Third Brother, are we going home now?"

*Third Brother!!!*

Hearing her call him "Third Brother," a blush slowly crept across Chu Xian’s handsome face. He stammered, "Uh-huh, y-yes, that’s right!"

With such a beautiful, well-behaved sister by his side, calling him "Third Brother" so sweetly, his heart was about to burst with excitement. *Heh heh!* When he got back, he would make sure the Eldest, Second, Fourth, and Fifth brothers all knew that he was the first one to hear their sister call him "brother."

"Where is our home?" she asked, surprised that a private plane was needed to pick her up.

As if suddenly remembering something, a flash of mischief crossed Chu Xian’s eyes, and he said, "Little sister, there is actually one more thing I haven't told you... I was afraid you'd be angry."

"What is it?" Chu Mian turned, curious.