Villain's Sick Beauty Sister Chapter 3: Part 1
Lu Nian ran all the way back into the house. She had caught a chill outside and coughed the entire way. When she entered, she brought in a gust of cold air, coughing until her cheeks flushed red. Startled, Zhang Qiuping hurried to bring soup and medicine, while the two caregivers helped pat her back to ease her breathing and together escorted her upstairs to her room.
“Miss, in weather like this, you can’t run around outside anymore,” Zhang Qiuping said. “Sir would be heartbroken if he saw this.”
Lu Nian let herself be fussed over, thinking that Sir probably would not feel heartbroken. By the time Lu Zhihong came home and saw her, she would already be well again. It might even be time for her next illness.
“Doctor Zhao will be here soon,” Zhang Qiuping said after answering the phone.
Lu Nian nodded. Holding a cup of hot tea, she sat obediently in her soft, warm chair piled with cushions, looking at Zhang Qiuping with clear eyes.
“Aunt Zhang, where does Qin Si live in our house now?” she asked. “Why don’t I usually see him?”
Zhang Qiuping did not know why Lu Nian had suddenly become interested in Qin Si.
However, Lu Nian’s temperament was capricious, and children’s moods changed quickly. Perhaps she had found some new amusement in him.
As long as Lu Nian was happy, it was not her place to interfere with how she treated Qin Si. So she replied, “He usually stays at your Uncle Xu’s place, on the top floor.” She hesitated for a moment, replacing the word attic with top floor.
Xu Ruhai was the Lu family’s housekeeper and had worked for them for many years. He handled household affairs big and small, so for convenience he also lived in the estate.
Looking through the window, Lu Nian could see the small building where the Xu family lived, hidden in the dim winter dusk, appearing increasingly shadowy and lonely, like a solitary bird stretching its dark silhouette into the evening.
The building was small, with only two floors. The first floor served as guest rooms for Lu company employees staying temporarily when visiting the estate. The second floor was Xu Ruhai’s room, and the room beside it had originally been arranged for Qin Si.
Xu Ruhai had a son about Qin Si’s age. The boy originally lived in the city with his mother, but after visiting the estate once, Xu Hui went home crying and insisting on living in the villa.
Xu Ruhai had no way to refuse his son, so he made Qin Si move out, gave the room to Xu Hui, and hastily arranged a place for Qin Si in the attic.
Lu Zhihong was often away from home and never concerned himself with such minor matters. As a result, Qin Si lost his room and had lived in the attic ever since.
Zhang Qiuping had only gone into that attic once long ago to clean up stored items. She was somewhat plump, and when she climbed into the attic to carry out a carpet, the narrow space squeezed her badly. The dust made her cough the whole way down.
However, just a little boy, how much space is needed? The attic is enough, Zhang Qiuping thought. Xu Ruhai should have cleaned the attic too, and of course it is enough to live in.
Lu Nian nodded thoughtfully, staring at the small building hidden in the twilight. She sat upright in the chair.
“Aunt Zhang, do you know why Dad adopted Qin Si back then?”
Lu Nian had always been resistant toward Qin Si, let alone personally asking about his origins like this. Zhang Qiuping gave her a surprised look, but since she asked, she still told everything she knew one by one, completely and honestly.
“That child was a leftover child in the orphanage. After several adoptions, he was sent back again. He stayed in the orphanage until eight years old, never went to school, and nobody wanted him. He looked like he was about to be abandoned…”
In fact, Zhang Qiuping did not know why Lu Zhihong had chosen Qin Si. His age and personality clearly were not suitable for adoption.
The Lu family sent him to the best school in Ancheng and provided food and clothing. Zhang Qiuping felt this was already doing very well.
She carefully observed Lu Nian’s expression.
Lu Nian lay on the bed absent-mindedly, staring blankly, not noticing her words. “But…” she hesitated and turned her head, “he doesn’t seem to like me very much.”
She was clearly still thinking about Qin Si.
She curled her lips.
“Miss, if you feel bored, you can call my Qingqing to accompany you. In a few days, once Miss recovers, you’ll return to school soon. You won’t lack friends.”
养不熟 literally means cannot be tamed or cannot be domesticated and figuratively describes a person who remains wild, untamed, or hard to get close to, no matter how much effort is put in.
Lu Nian said nothing, lowering her eyelashes in thought.
Not caring was not possible.
Whether she remained the Lu family’s eldest young lady did not matter. Lu Zhihong’s final outcome could only be described as reaping what one has sown. She had no ability to interfere with his decisions.
咎由自取— to have only oneself to blame; an idiom meaning to bring trouble or disaster upon oneself through one’s own actions.
But her current physical condition was extremely poor — taking three breaths for every step. She had no education and no abilities. When Lu Zhihong eventually fell and the Lu family passed into Qin Si’s hands, what would she do? Would she only be driven out to wait for death?
Even considering Qin Si, even if he later had overwhelming power and wealth, he would not be happy. He died at twenty-nine. In his short life, he was ruthless. Love, friendship, and family were irrelevant to him.
The original novel’s heroine was gentle and delicate, a flower that understands speech, and carried the heroine’s halo. Even so, she never managed to step into Qin Si’s inner world.
解语花 — flower that understands speech; someone gentle and emotionally perceptive
Readers once discussed how the heroine could conquer Qin Si. After eight pages of discussion, they reached an impossible conclusion.
“This person is probably born an emotional insulator, antisocial.”
“Why must you all conquer Qin Si? The book doesn’t even describe his appearance. Judging from his ruthless methods and how he never pities the fragrance and cherishes jade, he must be a psychological deviant — ugly and fierce. Is Lu Yang not sunny enough, or Zhao Tingyuan not handsome enough?”
怜香惜玉 (lián xiāng xī yù) — literally “pity the fragrance and cherish jade”; to show tenderness and care toward women
Lu Nian vaguely remembered glancing at the comment section. The arguments were so fierce they could not be untied.
吵得不可开交 (chǎo de bù kě kāi jiāo) — literally “arguing so fiercely it cannot be untied”; quarreling intensely
Now she could responsibly say that Qin Si was actually good-looking. Judging from his features and bone structure, he would not look bad when grown. She had not yet met the male lead, but felt he would not be inferior.
As for personality…
These things were definitely related to his youth in the Lu family. The Lu family was his first stepping stone and the beginning of his revenge.
While he had not fully grown up yet, Lu Nian wanted to do her best to improve his situation and let him feel warmth, hoping to pull him slightly back from a crooked path.
Still, after thinking it over, she decided to simply act according to her conscience and not deliberately overdo anything.
As an adult, Qin Si’s methods were ruthless and his thoughts unpredictable. Because of his childhood experiences, he was extremely suspicious, precocious, and sensitive. Throughout the story, those who deliberately flattered him with ulterior motives ended miserably. Lu Nian did not want to become the first person to be sacrificed with blood as an example.
开刀血祭 (kāi dāo xuè jì) — literally “made an example through blood sacrifice”; to punish someone first as a warning
She only wanted to live an ordinary life and not be implicated in Qin Si’s revenge against the Lu family. Being normally driven out would be enough.
From now on, she would study hard, cooperate with treatment, recover her health, and ideally learn a practical skill, so she could survive outside after being driven away.
Lu Nian stared at the ceiling in a daze. The little girl was wrapped in a large quilt, lips slightly parted, wearing a puzzled, contemplative expression. She looked especially cute.
When Doctor Zhao arrived, this was what he saw. Smiling, he gently opened the medical case.
“Come, little girl, stretch out your hand. Time to change the dressing.”
Lu Nian cooperated obediently and stretched out her right hand.
After the routine examination, Zhao Ming changed her medicine, gave instructions, and prepared to leave.
The little girl stopped him in a soft voice.
“Doctor-gege, can you stay a little longer?”
Zhao Ming was surprised. He was the fourth family doctor hired by the Lu family. The previous three had all been driven away despite high pay. Seeing the legendary eldest young lady now, he felt the sickly child was pitiful and cute. A little bad temper was normal.
He bent slightly and smiled.
“Of course. I’m the doctor specially hired by your family. You can tell uncle if you need anything.”
Zhao Ming was a little surprised. "Of course."
Lu Nian got down from the chair, eyes gleaming. "I will take you."
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