"Qhianqhian... Qhianqhian... Luo Qianqian."

The repeated calling left Luo Qianqian a bit confused. Who was it? Who is it, really?

She slowly opened her eyes, looking at the white wall in front of her and the IV drip, feeling a bit lost: "Where is this place?"

The ward was very quiet, but there was a somewhat pungent smell, and she could faintly hear the sound of an old man spitting.

As soon as she tried to speak, she realized her throat was extremely dry and hoarse.

"You’re in the hospital, young lady, what’s wrong with you?" A kind voice spoke up. Luo Qianqian turned her head in confusion to look and saw an elderly lady with a benevolent smile. The old lady poured her a glass of water: "Your boyfriend is really kind to you; he just left in the morning."

"Boyfriend?" Who? Why doesn’t she remember such a person?

"You silly child, who else would stay with you all night if not your boyfriend? I heard he just went home, probably because staying out all night worried his family."

Luo Qianqian nodded blankly.

But why does everything feel so unfamiliar now?

"Qhianqhian, are you okay?" At this moment, a staggering figure rushed into the ward. The haggard face left Luo Qianqian momentarily dumbfounded.

"Brother?"

The man in front of her appeared worn and weary, but his features unmistakably resembled her brother.

But shouldn’t her brother be full of youth and vigor? Why does he look like this? It’s not supposed to be this way...

Seeing his sister’s face covered in tears, the man hurriedly wiped her tears: "Don’t cry, don’t cry, brother’s here, don’t be afraid, brother will protect you."

It’s not supposed to be like this, it’s not supposed to!

"Brother..." Luo Qianqian burst into tears: "Brother, I’m sorry!!"

"Don’t cry, don’t cry, my good Qhianqhian, brother will always protect you, won’t let anyone bully you."

"Luo Shufan! Have you made up your mind? I agreed to pay your sister’s hospital fees but not for you to carry this burden forever! If you take this errand, get out!" A plump woman appeared at the door of the ward, and the once-quiet ward suddenly became noisy.

The world is never short of gossip; no matter where or when, gossip is the best way for people to get familiar with each other.

And at this moment, it was clear that Luo Qianqian’s affairs had turned into gossip. A group of people gathered at the door watching the spectacle.

"Oh, I thought it was just a heartwarming sibling relationship, but it turns out he’s just a freeloader, right?"

"A freeloader, you must have the means to be one. Look at that brother; despite seeming shabby, he’s still got the looks. You, on the other hand, could try freeloading; even giving money, no one would want you."

"Look how you put it; still, such a big sister-in-law is hard to get along with, especially when the siblings are so close. Who knows how she’ll make things difficult for the sister-in-law."

"Doesn’t that girl have a boyfriend? I saw him yesterday; he stayed by her bedside all night. That counts as true feelings in adversity, right?"

"Boyfriend?" Luo Shufan frowned tightly: "Qhianqhian, what’s going on?" No matter how others slandered him, he didn’t care; it’s already like this, and nothing could change it. But if it involved his sister, he couldn’t tolerate it one bit.

"I don’t know either." Luo Qianqian choked, but her answer to Luo Shufan was clear. She felt as if her mind was utterly blank, unable to remember anything, not even knowing where she was.

Luo Shufan took a deep breath, nodded, and gently rubbed his sister’s head: "You be good; brother will take care of the hospital bill, don’t worry."

"...Okay." Luo Qianqian nodded, but something felt off.

She seemed wealthy? Why, in her memory, had she never worried about hospital bills?

However, the plump woman couldn’t stand Luo Shufan speaking like this. She strode forward and slapped Luo Shufan hard on the cheek.

Almost instantly, the weary face turned red, just in the shape of a hand seal.

"Luo Shufan, who gave you the courage to speak like that? Who isn’t footing the bill for your sister’s living expenses and tuition? Aren’t I paying for your mother’s medication too? What gives you the right to act so high and mighty? Who gives you the courage?"

With that, she turned to look at Luo Qianqian on the hospital bed, swinging again and slapping Luo Qianqian back onto the bed: "And you, you burden, no money for university, go work already, do I owe you?!" She raised her hand again, intending to slap Luo Qianqian once more.

But Luo Shufan, with a dark face, reached out to stop the plump woman: "Stop right there, my sister is none of your concern!"

"You’ve got some nerve, haven’t you? Get out, I want a divorce!" The woman glared angrily at Luo Shufan.

Luo Shufan squinted slightly, and the spirit hidden in his eyes, along with the suppressed dignity of a long-repressed man, erupted in an instant: "Fine, then divorce. Whoever doesn’t, is a coward! I don’t believe I can’t support my sister and mom as a man!"

"Haha, fine, to the Civil Affairs Bureau!"

The plump woman obviously didn’t expect Luo Shufan to talk back; she wouldn’t slap her own face in front of so many people.

Luo Qianqian watched them leave, dazed, not knowing what to do.

Brother... her brother...

Why does her brother always have to protect her? She’s not good at all, unruly and spoiled, acting like a princess without actually being one. In this situation, why does her brother still choose to protect her?

Lying on the bed, only her cheek, which just got hit, was still slightly warm.

In the afternoon, Luo Shufan returned, dragging a worn-out suitcase and carrying a woven bag. He flashed a small red book at Luo Qianqian and smiled: "From now on, brother’s here to look after you. Anyone dares to bully you, I’ll teach them a lesson."

"Mm." Luo Qianqian nodded vigorously.

Luo Shufan reached out and touched the handprint on Luo Qianqian’s face, showing a bit of heartache: "I’ll buy you an egg to roll on it later. A young girl shouldn’t have such marks."

Luo Qianqian reached out with her little hand to touch Luo Shufan’s cheek: "It’s the same kind of handprint, you know."

Her small hand was yellowish and a bit rough, making it hard to believe it was hers.

"Does it hurt?" Luo Shufan looked at the anguish in Luo Qianqian’s eyes, feeling touched: "Our little girl knows how to care for her brother now; this slap wasn’t in vain, it was worth it!"

"Brother, are you silly?" Luo Qianqian cried with a smile: "Brother, let’s get discharged? I want to visit mom."

"Okay." Luo Shufan was momentarily stunned, then immediately nodded, smiling as he rubbed Luo Qianqian’s head and packed up to handle the discharge procedures.