The Eldest Brother is Handsome but Sick. - Chapter 22

The “Immoral” Discovery

Su Huai had his eyes covered by Yan Jin’s warm palm, plunging his world into darkness. Although he didn’t know what was inside the wooden box, he did not forcefully break free from Yan Jin’s grasp.

Inside the box was a scroll about a palm’s width very exquisite. The painting depicted a twilight scene where a warm pavilion was filled with fragrant incense. A beauty was submerged in a bath of orchids, the hazy steam masking her jade-like skin. Her eyelashes were lowered, her lips held a lazy pout, and one slender hand gently toyed with the warm water, sending ripples through the tub. Behind a screen, the candle shadows flickered red; the entire room was a scene of soft, quiet tranquility. It was a vivid and alluring “Portrait of a Bathing Beauty.”

“Have a close look, Young Master! This is the work of a famous artist. Many noble sons fight to buy these back for their appreciation,” Hu the Immortal chuckled, stroking a non-existent beard as he whispered, “It’s the real deal. How about I sell it to you two for half price?”

“No thanks, much obliged, not needed!” Yan Jin felt like his eyes were going blind. He reached out, rolled the scroll back up with lightning speed, and slammed the wooden box shut without a shred of mercy.

He was “allergic” to such pictures.

This matter was both big and small; fundamentally, it was because he had lived two lives and his heart had become that of a stoic old fogey who avoided carnal temptations. He had always viewed women as patients, partners in cooperation, or at most, strangers to be treated with polite respect. He would never look at such a picture. In the System’s words: this man looks slick on the outside, but is actually a rabbit in fox’s clothing.

Having suddenly seen it, his immediate instinct was to avoid it and to make Su Huai avoid it as well. After all, his upright, “red and expert” Junior Brother likely hadn’t seen such things, and he feared the boy might be led astray.

With that, he released the hand covering Su Huai’s eyes, grabbed his sleeve, and prepared to leave. Su Huai’s gaze inadvertently swept over the wooden box in Hu the Immortal’s hand, then caught a glimpse of Yan Jin’s reddened cheeks. He had already guessed seventy or eighty percent of the truth. The corners of his lips curled up slightly, yet he considerately refrained from asking.

After walking a few steps, Yan Jin let out a long sigh of relief, feeling the heat on his face finally begin to recede. He stole a glance at Su Huai, who looked as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened. Only then did he feel slightly at ease.

Still, he worried about what Su Huai might have seen. He wanted to ask, but the incident was like a “scalding taro” in his mouth it felt wrong to ask, yet wrong to leave it alone. While he was hesitating, Su Huai suddenly spoke: “What was in that box?”

Yan Jin flinched, nearly tripping over his own feet. He forced himself to stay calm and said, “Nothing. Just some… useless things.”

“Oh?” Su Huai raised an eyebrow. “If it was nothing, why cover my eyes?”

Yan Jin was momentarily at a loss for words, stammering for a long while without producing a coherent answer. Seeing this, the mirth in Su Huai’s eyes deepened, but he stopped pressing, merely saying, “Since we didn’t buy that, shall we look at something else?”

Yan Jin felt as though he had been granted a grand pardon, yet his heart was still pounding. He peeked at Su Huai’s profile, which looked exceptionally clear and handsome in the sunlight.

He felt something wasn’t quite right.

After watching him for a moment, Su Huai finally couldn’t hold back a muffled laugh.

Yan Jin’s fur stood on end instantly. This brat was doing it on purpose!

By comparison, it made Yan Jin look like an overreacting, green-horned little kid.

The moment this thought surfaced, he became indignant. He felt a sudden need to assert his “Eldest Senior Brother” persona. He snatched his sleeve away and walked ahead, chin up and chest out, full of momentum.

If one ignored the fact that he was walking with the same arm and leg forward…

Su Huai found it hilarious but felt he shouldn’t tease him too far. He was about to step forward to coax him when a hand suddenly barred his path.

The Rainbow Threads

“Wait, Young Masters! I have one more item!”

Hu the Immortal shouted in the middle of the street, looking like he was determined to make a sale today, forcefully stopping the two in their tracks.

Yan Jin, still in a huff, turned back with a glare. Hu the Immortal shrunk his hand back and smiled pleasingly. “Rest assured, this is a completely respectable item. You two will surely like it.”

It was a box of colorful silk threads, as varied as a rainbow.

Hu the Immortal said, “The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. Why don’t you two weave a Long-Life Thread? To seek some luck and live for a hundred years.”

The Long-Life Thread this was something elders gave to juniors during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Yan Jin paused. He took the box and gently brushed the threads inside. Someone had once woven these for him; in his childhood, it was his mother, and later it was Old Lady Li from Mount Wofuo. Now, neither of them were here.

He thought of Li Dasheng again; that child would likely blame him now.

“Master, we’ll borrow your stall for a moment.” Yan Jin placed a silver ingot into Hu the Immortal’s hand.

Hu the Immortal beamed with joy. “Alright! Please, sirs!” He picked a shaded spot, nimbly cleared a table for weaving, and wiped the low stool until it was shining, respectfully inviting Yan Jin to sit.

He rolled his eyes and, being very tactful, prepared to leave.

“Immortal, wait,” Su Huai said suddenly. “Could you find me some more red thread?”

The Meaning of a Doctor

Thus, in the shade of a tree at the street corner, a somewhat peculiar sight appeared. Two young masters of exceptional grace, instead of reciting poetry or drinking tea, sat side-by-side on the low stools of a street stall. Their fingertips were entwined with silk threads as they seriously wove away.

In Yan Jin’s hands were two Long-Life Threads, while in Su Huai’s hands was the red string from before. The original knot had frayed, so he had simply taken it apart to re-weave it.

The breeze was not dry, and the sun was just right. To the sound of the townspeople’s laughter nearby, the moment truly felt like “peaceful years.”

Yan Jin leaned on the table, quietly watching Su Huai’s flying fingers.

In a daze, he recalled the first time he met Su Huai. Back then, Su Huai’s only grandfather had just passed away. The Su Family Clinic was being held together by an old servant who had followed the old man, but a servant wasn’t a grandfather; he couldn’t change the fact that the boy had no more relatives just like himself.

At that time, Su Huai was just a little kid, yet he already had the air of an adult. People often say that raising cats and dogs is a way to release one’s own love and receive a corresponding response; only then can one feel the countless beauties of the world.

And the affection between himself and Su Huai, or Su Huai and himself, was likely just such a bond.

“I see you come, and suddenly my humble hut feels the beauty of the streams and mountains,” Yan Jin murmured.

His voice was extremely soft, but Su Huai still seemed to sense it and gave an “mm” in response. Yan Jin laughed; he took a Long-Life Thread and tried to tie it onto Su Huai’s wrist.

Su Huai was at a critical point in finishing his knot, but he wasn’t annoyed at being interrupted. Instead, he used one hand to pinch the end of the red string and completely released the other hand for Yan Jin’s convenience.

Yan Jin tied it very carefully, saying, “Remember to throw it into the river after the first rain of the Dragon Boat Festival. That way, it can ensure you live for a hundred years.”

Su Huai looked down at Yan Jin’s eyes and said softly, “Yes.”

He answered so obediently that Yan Jin’s “old heart” felt a prick of warmth. He cupped Su Huai’s face and rubbed it: “The little brat has really grown up!”

Su Huai was confused. “What?”

“Nothing.” Yan Jin withdrew his hand. “Do you truly want to go to the Northwest?”

“Mm.” Su Huai tied the final knot and, just like Yan Jin had done, solemnly tied the red string onto Yan Jin’s wrist. “I want to be a traveling doctor for a few years.”

“When you were my age, you had already followed Master to many places and became a famous doctor known far and wide. Yet I have achieved nothing externally, nor am I of much help internally. I’ve been growing up under your protection all these years, so I want to go out and see the world in all its forms.” He glanced at Yan Jin, and seeing the dark circles under his eyes, he couldn’t help but feel heartache. Soon, that heartache turned into a heart full of guilt.

Yan Jin’s health was already poor; he had been so distressed earlier, yet now he had rushed here for Su Huai’s sake, even coaxing him and indulging his tantrums…

Su Huai softened his voice. “Yan Jin, let me go out and walk for a bit.”

Yan Jin looked at him. Suddenly, he thought of his younger self. After a moment of silence, he said, “The first time I traveled with Master, I caused a great disaster.”

Su Huai looked up sharply.

Yan Jin was usually irreverent and seemed to have a loose tongue, but in reality, he was very clear on what should and shouldn’t be said. If it was something he didn’t want to discuss, no one could make him speak; if pressed, he would simply use jokes and banter to deflect, or tease the person afterward. He was a “wooden club” who rarely shared his inner thoughts.

Now, this was the first time he had voluntarily brought up the past.

At that time, Yan Jin had just left home. Having lived two lives, he actually hadn’t been many places. In his previous life, he was mostly trapped in a hospital; in this life, he was mostly confined to the Yan Estate. Thus, his heart was liberated, filled with anticipation for the future and youthful spirit.

He had studied medicine with Yin Zhushuang for some time. Admittedly, his talent was exceptionally high, and he cured many patients. Having accomplished something on his own for the first time, he felt some self-satisfaction alongside his joy. Privately, he felt he was a genius and often ignored warnings to develop new medicines for patients. In such a mindset, he nearly caused a death.

The matter ended with Yin Zhushuang grabbing him by the collar and using a rattan cane to force him to apologize to the family, barely avoiding a lawsuit. Afterward, Yin Zhushuang punished him by making him copy medical books for an entire year regardless of wind or rain, checking his work every day.

It was only then that he truly understood what was held in a doctor’s hand and never dared to act willfully again.

“A gentleman is like jade; he should not be startled when facing a deep abyss. He does not compete with the bright moon, yet he illuminates the mountains and rivers. Only by cultivating the spirit of the bright moon can one survive in a chaotic world.” At this point, Yan Jin paused and looked at Su Huai. “However, Su Huai, we are doctors. Since we have become doctors, we must enter the world.”

“The matter of life is a weight unimaginable to anyone. You must treat it with absolute gravity.”

Su Huai watched him for a long time, and a sudden wave of bitterness rose in his heart. Since he hadn’t even learned many characters, there were no elders left in his family to teach him. In his years at the Hall of Three Lives, everyone in the sect was good to him, but no one had ever said such things.

He originally thought it would be enough as long as Yan Jin was sincere toward him; he didn’t dare to ask for more. He thought those “filthy” thoughts of wanting to possess the man would eventually fade as he grew up. But now, he could no longer find peace.

Su Huai thought almost despairingly: This person is always like a peacock with its tail spread, parading around in front of my eyes. How could I possibly forget?