Chapter 24 - 23: Fourth Brother, Save Me (2)
"I’m not hungry, and I’m not going out." Jie Jingshan was agitated, fiercely resisting leaving the room.
Qin Mei paid her no mind. ’If she can leave the room, she can leave the courtyard.’
"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, save me!" Jie Jingshan cried out. Unable to stop Qin Mei, she could only plead with Jie Jingchen for help.
Hearing Jing Qi’s cries, Jie Jingchen, who was inside the room, couldn’t contain himself. But then he remembered Qin Mei’s words and stopped in his tracks, his hands clenched into tight fists.
"Save you? From what? I’m taking you out to eat, not to sell you off." Qin Mei thought, ’If Jie Jingchen comes out to stop me, I’ll give up. From now on, I’ll just be a detached observer when it comes to Jing Qi’s affairs.’
’I’ve already made myself perfectly clear. If Jie Jingchen insists on ignoring my advice, then my hands are tied. I have no desire to waste my time and energy on an uncooperative patient and his family.’
"Fourth Brother!" Jie Jingshan cried out, her pale lips trembling. An inextinguishable panic swam in her tear-filled eyes.
The door to Jie Jingchen’s room remained tightly shut. In that moment, Jie Jingshan understood. Her fourth brother had completely abandoned her.
Qin Mei was very satisfied. Jie Jingchen hadn’t disappointed her.
Qin Mei stared at Jie Jingshan and taunted her, "I told you already. Your fourth brother is bedridden. He’s like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river—he can’t even save himself. You’re asking him for help? How could he possibly save you?"
"Fourth Brother..." Jie Jingshan pleaded, not ready to give up.
"Jie Jingshan, you’d better quiet down right now," Qin Mei threatened, "or I’ll dislocate your jaw."
The threat of a dislocated jaw was highly effective. A look of terror spread across Jie Jingshan’s face. Her hands clenched into fists, and her slender frame trembled uncontrollably.
Fear completely enveloped her. The fear of Qin Mei’s threat, the fear of being taken into the courtyard, the fear of the peculiar stares from outsiders, and the fear of their sympathy, their pity, their ridicule...
In the end, Jie Jingshan couldn’t take it anymore. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Seeing this, Qin Mei cursed inwardly. ’Damn it. I went too far.’
Jie Jingshan was lying on the bed, with Jie Jingchen seated beside her. He gazed at the unconscious Jing Qi, his deep eyes overflowing with worry.
Qin Mei sat off to the side, guiltily nibbling on a steamed bun. She had scared the girl into fainting, yet Jie Jingchen hadn’t uttered a single word of blame. That, paradoxically, made her feel even more uneasy.
’Did I go too far?’ she wondered, reflecting on her actions.
’Once I’ve decided on a course of action, I don’t like to drag my feet. I prefer to get things done quickly. I just overestimated Jing Qi’s mental fortitude.’
’Then again, it makes sense. Jing Qi is only fourteen; her mental defenses are still weak. In the 21st century, a fourteen-year-old is just a middle schooler, studying hard under their parents’ protection. Aside from schoolwork and unavoidable accidents, they’d rarely face any serious psychological distress.’
After finishing her bun and taking a sip of water, Qin Mei held an enamel mug, her fingertips picking restlessly at its surface. "Um... I... It’s my fault. I was too impatient."
Qin Mei’s philosophy was simple: if you make a mistake, you own up to it. Never evade responsibility.
"It’s fine, as long as nothing serious happened," Jie Jingchen said, his words holding a double meaning.
Qin Mei froze for a second, her brow furrowing. She understood his words. There was no accusation, but there was a warning. She lowered her gaze, staring blankly into her mug as she contemplated: should she really treat Jing Qi’s leg?
’If I cure Jing Qi’s leg, the Jie Family will be eternally grateful. If I can’t cure it, they won’t force the issue. But if I kill her in the process of treating her... then I’ll be the Jie Family’s greatest sinner, my crime unforgivable.’
"Qin Mei," Jie Jingchen called out. He turned to look at her as she was lost in thought, knowing full well she had understood the deeper meaning of his words. She was sharp—even sharper than he had imagined.
"Hm?" Qin Mei hummed, setting down her mug. She propped her cheek with one hand and idly drummed her fingers on the table with the other, her gaze casually meeting his.
"Qin Mei, regarding Jing Qi’s leg... if you can heal it, you will be our family’s greatest benefactor. If you can’t, that’s fine too. But we need her to live." Jie Jingchen stated his position clearly. He knew she understood, but he still felt the need to say it plainly.
Keeping Jie Jingshan alive was the Jie Family’s bottom line.
"No problem." Qin Mei could guarantee that much.
Jie Jingchen breathed a sigh of relief. He was grateful she hadn’t given up on treating Jing Qi’s leg because of this.
Changing the subject, Qin Mei asked, "So, what’s my fee?"
’I’m the one taking on the risk of this treatment, so they need to pay me. If there’s no payment, I have no motivation and even less willingness to take that risk. Familial affection and sympathy aren’t enough to make me gamble, especially since I have no feelings for Jie Jingchen, let alone any for his sister. My sister-in-law is the exception, of course.’
’The bond I’ve built with my sister-in-law is stronger than any I have with Jie Jingchen. If my sister-in-law and Jie Jingchen both fell into a river, I’d save her without a moment’s hesitation.’