Husband, Let Your Husband Treat Your Illness - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In another corner of the city, amidst a cluster of villas filled with modern architecture, stood one house that was noticeably more “overbearing” than the rest. Though located in a complex of similar specs and sizes, this particular house stood out prominently. Designed like an ancient traditional manor, its grounds covered nearly half the area of Tiananmen Square. Clearly, those living here were no ordinary family. Most mysteriously, a pagoda stood behind the house; its purpose remained unknown.

As if on cue, a white Cadillac rolled slowly into the villa district. The driver was a man clad in a white, slim-fit suit. On his wrist sat a classic Patek Philippe watch, a complete ensemble that complemented the brilliant, sparkling gaze in his eyes. However, for a fleeting moment, a trace of melancholy could be seen in his expression.

He wasn’t young anymore; at 30 years old, he remained single so “clean” that he hadn’t even been linked to a rumored girlfriend. The people at home were certainly not going to keep quiet about it. If the family patriarch hadn’t issued a direct order, he would likely still be in New York performing surgeries. Despite his inner reluctance, he didn’t slow down. Finally reaching the gate, the security guard greeted him familiarly. “Oh, Xiao Jin is back! We haven’t seen you home much this year.”

“Grandpa called me back. I had to cancel several surgeries for this,” he replied with a face full of reluctance. Those surgeries commanded high prices, and to cancel them so abruptly he couldn’t help but wonder if anyone would die on the operating table because of this move.

“Well, the whole family is here today. I even saw the Sixth Young Master return.”

“Sixth Uncle? He’s back?” Dongfang Jin rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. The Old Master really went all out; for such a small matter, he actually brought Sixth Uncle back from Italy. His Sixth Uncle had settled in Italy long ago and was the type who wouldn’t return once in five or six years. “When your Sixth Uncle arrived, he looked just like you full of reluctance. He even said that if you showed up, he’d definitely kick you out.” Upon hearing this, it felt as if a thunderclap went off in Dongfang Jin’s head. It seemed there was no escaping today, especially from his petty Sixth Uncle.

“Big Brother, you’re already here, why aren’t you going in? You can’t run away today.” A voice suddenly jumped out from nowhere, pulling Dongfang Jin back from his thoughts.

“Yongxiao?! Why are you back? Weren’t you in Greece discussing your work?” How did this little “killer-by-pen” get back too? Dongfang Jin’s headache intensified several degrees.

“Ask Grandpa. I had just reached an agreement with them and was getting ready to attend the gala welcoming me to their ranks. But Grandpa blessed him and called and said ‘Don’t attend, come home.’ It was a death-order. Could I refuse?” It’s all because of you, Big Brother, otherwise I wouldn’t have come.

As Dongfang Yongxiao finished speaking, the gloom on Dongfang Jin’s face deepened. It seemed the Old Master meant business today. But was this necessary? Sixth Uncle was one thing, but this kid Yongxiao… who knows what kind of things he would write to mock him.

“Big Brother, let’s go.” With that, Dongfang Jin and Dongfang Yongxiao walked into the manor-like villa together.

Arriving at the front door, Dongfang Jin pinched his arm, unsure of reality. Feeling the pain, he resignedly accepted the fact that he was likely about to face a collective “marriage intervention.” Seeing this, Dongfang Yongxiao wanted to laugh but held it in. If his Big Brother caught him laughing now and settled the score later, he could kiss his peaceful writing days goodbye.

“Big Brother, this isn’t a dream. Just go in,” Yongxiao offered as a somewhat kind reminder.

“Do you want your hands to hold a surgical scalpel again?”

“Big Brother! What did I even say?!”

“You’d better not be planning to kick me while I’m down. Otherwise, I remember your mentor telling me he’s particularly looking forward to you returning to the front lines of medical work.” Kicking me while I’m down? I’ll make you go back to the job you hate.

“I’m not! I’ll shut up, okay?” This guy always used that to threaten him. And the worst part? It worked every single time.

Just as they finished, two young men came out to greet the pair who were bickering at the door. “Big Brother, Sixth Brother, why haven’t you come inside? My oldest Aunt saw you both ages ago. She thought something happened since you weren’t coming in.”

“Xiao Zhi and Ming Liang, we’re coming in right now.” Dongfang Yongxiao quickly fled from the “frenzied” man.

As Yongxiao escaped, Dongfang Jin followed him into the house. Upon entering, he saw the entire family sitting in the massive living room in a neat, hierarchical order. The atmosphere was so tense that you could clearly hear the chirping of a bird flying thousands of feet away.

“Finally willing to come back?” The speaker was the Old Master of the Dongfang family—a medical titan who had spent his life at the operating table and was now managing his grandson’s marriage. Once Dongfang Jin finished his greetings, the Old Master didn’t mince words and went straight to the point.

“Grandpa, this is my home. Of course I’d come back.” He braced himself, even though he was rarely ever home. Without a fixed position at a large hospital, he was a freelance surgeon who traveled to handle difficult cases. His life was much more free than that of staff doctors, and his fees were astronomical.

“You still know this is your home?” The speaker was none other than Dongfang Jin’s direct superior, his father, Dongfang Hao. He was the country’s leading neurosurgeon; no surgery or disease could scare him, but his son’s marriage and love life were a chronic heartache.

“Dad, of course I know.”

“Then what are your plans?” The second direct superior spoke—his mother, Chi Yuan, another top-tier physician in the country.

“I’m working on it.”

“Jin boy, you aren’t a kid anymore. You’re 30. Find someone to settle down with,” said the highest authority, Dongfang Jin’s grandmother.

“Grandma, it’s not that I don’t want to, I just haven’t found the one.”

“Tell me, is there something wrong with you? Our family lacks many things, but we don’t lack doctors! If something isn’t right, go get a check-up immediately!” Grandma’s words made Dongfang Jin’s face flush with embarrassment.

“Is there really a problem?” Dongfang Jin’s second uncle, Dongfang Qi, chimed in. “Do you want to come to my hospital for a check-up? Our andrologists are the best.” Dongfang Jin felt humiliated. Do I really look like I have a ‘problem’?

“No, it’s just…”

“Just what?!” almost the entire family shouted in unison.

“I don’t like women.” As soon as the words left his mouth, his third uncle spat out a mouthful of Tieguanyin tea, landing squarely on his son Dongfang Quan’s clothes.

“What? Say that again!” Once more, the whole family spoke together.

“I don’t like women. To be precise, I feel nothing for them. I haven’t felt anything for a man yet either, but I am certain that I prefer men.”

“Then what does this mean? Are you just stalling us?” The Old Master spoke, and silence immediately fell. Everyone knew he was likely angry. In their eyes, the boy had just made up a random excuse.

“Grandpa, I’m not trying to stall you. I just want you to know that I’ve never liked women since I was a child. When girls liked me, I always made excuses. Now that I’m older, I want to decide for myself and slowly find the right person. I just wanted to give you all a ‘heads-up’ first—it will likely be a man.” Dongfang Jin spoke with utter sincerity.

“That’s fine. All we want is your happiness, isn’t it?” Before the Old Master could speak, Grandma offered a reassuring “heart-strengthening” shot first.

“Grandma, then I’ll go ahead and look with a clear conscience.” Dongfang Jin felt like he’d received a royal pardon.

“Yes, Mom is right. Don’t we just want you to be happy? Since you’ve said it, as long as you find the right person and live a good life, we’ll be at peace.” The rest of the family seemed to reach a consensus, nodding along.

“Jin boy, as long as you are happy! Just remember in this family, we don’t do divorce.”

“So… this is an agreement?” Dongfang Jin never expected his family to be so reasonable. If he had known, he would have confessed long ago. Why wait until now?

“Alright, alright, dismissed!” The Old Master gave the word, and the crowd vanished instantly.

Dongfang Jin’s mother walked over. “Son, as long as you like them, it’s fine. As long as you’re happy. I won’t stand in your way.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll head out then. I’ve contacted a few famous hospitals to check their credentials.”

“Your father’s wish is for you to work at our family hospital and stop taking those high-risk surgeries.”

“I’ll consider it. Mom, I’m leaving now.” He knew that if he found a partner, he probably couldn’t keep flying all over the place.

Walking out of the house, Dongfang Jin took a deep breath. The world felt brighter. He had never felt life was so beautiful. He had been hiding abroad for years to avoid marriage talk, spending his time on papers or the operating table, his nerves constantly frayed. With this good news, the exhaustion of the past few years seemed to vanish. He felt light as a feather.

Getting into his car, he drove slowly out of the villa district toward the city center. He never thought this road could make him so happy, but today he was grinning the whole way. Even if he didn’t know where his happiness was, or if he couldn’t find it this year, or even if he had to wait a long time, he wouldn’t be sad. The best part was that his family had accepted him—and accepted a future love that the rest of the world might not.

Suddenly, his phone rang. “Big Brother, Grandpa forgot to say something. He said if you bring a man home, you have to be the one on top.”

Dongfang Jin slammed on the brakes, nearly sending his heart leaping out of his chest. The Old Master… how can he talk about such things so brazenly? If Grandpa Ye and Grandpa Dongfang ever met, it would surely be an interesting sight.