Another New Older Brother? - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Honestly and Sincerely.jpg

Youyou’s memories of the hospital were not pleasant at all. In a child’s eyes, a hospital meant very, very painful needles, snowy white walls, and the pungent smell of disinfectant. Upon hearing that Bai Wenjin was in the hospital, Youyou was immediately scared to tears.

Auntie Li didn’t know why the little one had suddenly burst into tears and was thoroughly startled. She hurriedly took the phone back, only then learning that Bai Wenjin had been hospitalized for gastric bleeding.

Although Bai Wenjin explained that his condition wasn’t severe and Auntie Li helped comfort him, the child remained pale and was extremely stubborn about going to the hospital to see Bai Wenjin. Bai Wenjin had no choice but to have his secretary, Pei Mo—who happened to be visiting the ward, make a trip to pick the little fellow up.

Despite Bai Wenjin’s repeated assurances over the phone that he was fine, the chubby child remained moody. Midway through the trip, he even used his phone watch to send several voice messages to Bai Xi, scolding the “hospital” for being a “bad guy.”

“Mama, Big Brother is sick, Baby is going to see Big Brother.”

“Hospital is bad, Baby wants to hit hospital. Hit its bottom-bottom so it doesn’t dare make Big Brother sick.”

The child was truly angry, his cheeks puffed out.

“Little Master, a hospital is a place for treating illnesses and saving people. Once the Eldest Young Master is in the hospital, he will get better very soon,” Auntie Li said, gently rubbing the child’s head.

Youyou was still unhappy and grumbled, “If it didn’t make Big Brother sick, Big Brother wouldn’t have to go to the hospital.”

Secretary Pei Mo, sitting in the passenger seat, couldn’t help but chuckle. As expected of President Bai’s brother—this logic was perfectly sound.

Although Auntie Li and Pei Mo comforted Youyou the entire way, saying Bai Wenjin’s condition was just a minor issue, the moment Youyou stood in the ward and saw his Big Brother in a hospital gown with an abnormally pale face, his vision blurred instantly.

Bai Wenjin beckoned to Youyou, who was standing frozen at the door: “Come here.”

Having received permission, Youyou immediately started running da-da-da. He clearly wanted to charge into his brother’s arms, but as if remembering something, he slammed on the brakes and came to a halt.

Standing by the bedside, he asked cautiously, “Big Brother, are you hurting?”

The hospital bed was quite high, and since the child was so small, only his head was visible. Youyou had to grab the edge of the bed and strain his neck to look up at Bai Wenjin.

“Come up,” Bai Wenjin said, glancing at the child’s tiptoes and opening his arms.

Youyou shook his head, refusing to go up. Big Brother’s face was so white it looked like he might fall over if the wind blew; Baby was fat and might crush Big Brother.

“It’s okay, come up,” Bai Wenjin said proactively, seemingly sensing his worry.

Youyou gave him a hesitant look, his expression wavering.

“Come up, Big Brother wants to hug you,” Bai Wenjin said in a very gentle tone.

Hearing this, Youyou immediately kicked off his shoes. He first raised one chubby foot to shakily reach the edge of the bed, braced both hands on the mattress, and gave a mighty shove. Head-first, he tumbled into Bai Wenjin’s embrace.

Bai Wenjin slid his hands under the child’s armpits and pulled him up to sit on his lap. Youyou, who usually loved sitting in his brother’s lap, moved around restlessly, trying to arch his body upward so as not to put pressure on Big Brother.

“Big Brother, do you feel bad or not?”

Pei Mo couldn’t believe his eyes and thought he had seen wrong. Was the person speaking just now really their cold, machine-like President Bai?

Bai Wenjin ignored Pei Mo’s shock and, with an unchanging expression, continued to answer Jiang Youyou’s questions: “Don’t worry, Big Brother doesn’t feel bad.”

“Big Brother is a liar.” Jiang Youyou’s eyes were rimmed with red. Looking at the indwelling needle on the back of Bai Wenjin’s hand, his voice choked up: “Big Brother, does it hurt?”

“Getting a needle-needle is very, very painful. Baby is scared.”

Seeing the child sighing and lamenting, Bai Wenjin found it a bit funny in his heart. The needle wasn’t even in the kid; why was he scared to this extent?

“It doesn’t hurt. Big Brother is an adult.”

Youyou argued in a small voice, “Adults feel pain too.”

Every day, he wanted to grow up fast and become an adult; becoming an adult meant he could watch a hundred episodes of cartoons and eat two hundred ice creams at once without it being a problem. But now, he didn’t want to anymore.

Being an adult was truly not “beautiful” at all. Getting a needle-needle was clearly so painful, yet Big Brother still said it didn’t hurt. Mama said that after children grow up, they become strong. He decided he’d rather not be an adult; he was very weak and didn’t want to be “strong.”

After the two talked for a while, Youyou finally wasn’t as tense as when he first walked in.

The chubby child suddenly thought of something. He nimbly slid down from the bed, tugged on Auntie Li’s clothes, and blinked at her. “Auntie, Baby needs to pee-pee.”

Auntie Li led him toward the bathroom. The single ward Bai Wenjin stayed in had its own restroom. However, Youyou refused to use the one in the room: “Go to the outside one.”

Children’s minds wander, and they often make inexplicable requests. Auntie Li didn’t think much of it; after informing Bai Wenjin, she led Youyou out.

Youyou let go of Auntie Li’s hand and ran toward the door. He was going to find the doctor and get Big Brother some “medicine-medicine”. After eating medicine-medicine, Big Brother would be all better.

Coincidentally, a doctor was coming for rounds. As he pushed the door open, a child half the height of his leg appeared. The child rubbed his slightly reddened forehead from the collision, looked up the white lab coat, saw a kind-looking middle-aged man, and quickly called out sweetly, “Doctor Grandpa.”

“Ah, little one, whose child are you? You’re so polite.”

Jiang Youyou answered loudly: “Big Brother’s house’s child!”

the usually serious Chief of Surgery couldn’t help but chuckle. The rotating doctors behind him laughed too, and they couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at the child. They were instantly dazzled—the child before them was truly adorable, carved as if from pink jade, making one’s heart soften.

“Dr. Liu,” Bai Wenjin greeted Dr. Liu. Looking at Youyou, who had already run back to the bedside to press against his arm, he asked, “Weren’t you going to the bathroom?”

“The pee-pee flew away,” Youyou answered randomly, his eyes full of Doctor Grandpa.

Bai Wenjin could do nothing with him.

Dr. Liu was the Chief of Surgery at this hospital and also Bai Wenjin’s primary physician. Bai Wenjin’s stomach issues were a chronic problem; they were old acquaintances.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fairly well.”

Dr. Liu personally checked Bai Wenjin’s condition and mentioned some precautions, such as needing to fast during the hospitalization, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding too much stress.

Jiang Youyou was clearly very worried about Bai Wenjin and listened with rapt attention. Although he listened seriously, he was still confused, only understanding that Doctor Grandpa said Big Brother got sick because he didn’t eat properly. Moreover, while Big Brother was in the hospital, he wasn’t allowed to eat food.

Why aren’t they letting him eat food? If he doesn’t eat food, his tummy will be hungry to death.

Listening to this, Youyou just wanted to cry. He felt Big Brother was truly too miserable. He really wanted to plead with Doctor Grandpa to let Big Brother eat just a little bit of food, but seeing the other man’s stern face, he opened his mouth and then closed it again.

Doctor Grandpa looks so scary; Youyou doesn’t dare speak.

Dr. Liu was quite busy and left after a brief round. As soon as he stepped out, Youyou followed and ran to the door of the ward. Like a little thief, he peeked left and right to confirm no one was there before “Banging” the door shut tightly.

The three people in the room had no idea what he was up to. They only saw the child mysteriously patting himself all over.

Today, Auntie Li had dressed him in a denim romper. Besides a large pocket on the chest, the pants also had two small pockets on each side.

Youyou first patted the large chest pocket—it was flat. He then fumbled in the left pocket and only pulled out a small wooden Capybara toy. Placing the toy on the edge of the bed, he went to dig into the right pocket. He seemed to feel something, his eyes lit up, and then, as if presenting a treasure, he pulled out the item in his palm and placed it in Bai Wenjin’s hand.

“Big Brother, you eat.”

Bai Wenjin looked down at the packet of animal-shaped cookies and cast a confused glance at Youyou.

“Big Brother not eat food, tummy makes thunder,” Youyou patted his own belly. “Baby not eat food, tummy also makes thunder.”

“Big Brother eat cookies.”

The three finally understood—Youyou was worried that because Bai Wenjin had to fast and couldn’t eat, his stomach would be hungry.

Youyou solemnly instructed Auntie Li and Pei Mo: “Auntie and Brother, you must not tell the doctor.”

Doctor Grandpa said Big Brother is not allowed to eat things!

Suddenly, the ward door was pushed open.

Youyou immediately tucked his hands behind his back, turned around, and looked honestly and sincerely at Dr. Liu, who had returned to the doorway.

He said loudly: “Doctor Grandpa, Baby did NOT give Big Brother things to eat! You go away quickly!”

“Pfft—”

A young girl following behind the doctor couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

This was a live-action version of “burying one’s head in the sand.”

Bai Wenjin expressionlessly placed the cookies which Youyou had forced into his hand in a panic, onto the small cabinet by the bed.

He then met Dr. Liu’s meaningful gaze.

Four words popped into his mind: Reputation ruined by victimhood.