Big Brother, I Fell Down

"Kexi! What the hell have you done now?!"

The door to the healing center was kicked open, and Carlotta strode in, her face filled with such murderous intent it could pickle vegetables.

Kexi was lying on the examination bed, pretending to be sick, when she heard the shout. She sat up abruptly and reflexively put on a big smile.

"Oh ho ho! Second sister! What brings you here!"

"If I don't come back, this family will fall apart!" Carlotta's voice rose two octaves, making the windows rattle.

"It's not that exaggerated." Kexi shrank back, her voice weakening.

"Tell me! What a terrible thing you've done!"

Carlotta walked up to him and grabbed him by the back of his collar.

"The magistrate of the Jinzhou specifically requests your presence! What the hell have you gotten into this time?!"

Kexi's face turned green. "I... I didn't do anything! I'm innocent!"

"Stop talking nonsense and come with me." Carlotta was too lazy to listen to his excuses and dragged him out.

"Sister! Second sister! My dear sister!"

Kexi grabbed the foot of the examination bed, hanging on it like a rag doll.

"I'm sick! Seriously sick! I'm going to die!"

He howled and rolled his eyes, trembling like a leaf, putting on a really good show. "Don't believe me? Ask Dr. Liv! I'll need to stay in bed for ten days to two weeks until the medicine arrives before I get better!"

Carlotta stopped what she was doing and turned her gaze to Liv was huddled in the corner.

"Is that so, Liv?"

"Ah?"

Liv was called out. She looked left at Kexi and right at Carlotta, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly.

"This..." she stammered, twisting the hem of her white coat with her fingers.

"Tell me. What illness does he have?" Carlotta's tone left no room for argument.

"That, well..." Liv's forehead was covered in sweat.

What was she supposed to say? That Kexi was faking illness? He'd probably jump up and tear the whole place down.

"Cough cough..." Kexi coughed desperately, as if she was about to cough up her lungs, while her eyes kept trying to wink at Liv.

"That is..."

"Cough cough cough! Cough cough cough!" Kexi coughed even more violently, almost rolling off the bed.

"Hmm?" Carlotta narrowed her eyes, her gaze like two knives fixed on Liv's face.

Liv felt like she must be having a Mercury retrograde today.

Why did this have to happen to her?!

She closed her eyes, steeled her resolve, and raised her head.

Seeing her struggle, Carlotta added, "Speak freely. Anyone who dares to cause you trouble afterwards will regret it."

"Thank you, Second Miss." Liv took a deep breath, speaking so quickly as if afraid she might change her mind, "The young master is fine; he just needs to rest in a shady place for a while."

"You little Liv! How dare you betray me!" Kexi jumped out of bed. "I'll tear this lousy place down!"

Liv was so frightened that she hid behind Carlotta, trembling with fear.

"Kexi." Carlotta's voice suddenly calmed down, like the quietest second before a storm.

"Oh, Second Sister, what is it?" Kexi instantly switched back to her obedient mode.

"You're itching for a beating, aren't you?"

"Second sister, I'm really sick, please believe me."

Kexi clutched her chest, feigning that she was about to faint.

"Liv is a quack, what does she know?"

"Stop talking nonsense and come with me."

Carlotta gave him no more chances to perform, grabbed him by the back of his collar, and dragged him out like a chick.

Kexi flailed her arms in the air, her feet leaving two white marks on the ground, and she was still making her last struggle.

"No! Second sister! I'm really sick! I haven't taken my medicine yet! I need to rest! I need to—"

His wails echoed down the corridor, growing fainter and fainter. Selina followed silently behind, her eyes fixed straight ahead, pretending she hadn't seen or heard anything.

"Second sister, don't pull me anymore, I can walk by myself."

Kexi was being dragged by the back of her collar, staggering as she walked, and finally couldn't help but beg for mercy.

Carlotta snorted and released her grip, but didn't stop walking.

"You'd better behave yourself. You'd better give me an explanation for what you've done."

"I'm innocent!" Kexi said with a pained expression, rubbing her neck as she followed behind. "I'm Dou E! I was surrounded by a group of people as soon as I stepped out this morning. What did I do?"

Carlotta ignored him and quickened her pace instead.

Just then, Luna and Phrolova bumped into them.

Phrolova changed into her black and white maid outfit and carried a wooden tray with a steaming bowl of freshly made ramen on it.

"Young Master, your lunch is ready." Luna smiled perfectly and winked at Phrolova. Phrolova lowered his head and moved the tray forward two inches.

Kexi was already incredibly annoyed, so without even looking, she waved her hand dismissively. "Go away, go away, you're so annoying."

His swing hit the edge of the tray perfectly.

Phrolova was already off balance, and the force caused him to lose his balance and fall to the ground, face and all.

The bowl shattered into pieces, soup spilled all over the floor, and hot soup splashed onto her skirt, soaking a large area.

Ouch.

Brother, I fell down.

Phrolova collapsed into the puddle of soup, her hands bracing against the broken porcelain shards, which pierced her palms.

She kept her head down, her long hair falling down to cover her face, revealing only a taut chin.

Her fingers slowly clenched into a fist, and blood seeped out from between her fingers.

Kexi had already been dragged far away by Carlotta, without even turning her head back.

Only Luna and Phrolova remained in the corridor, amidst a mess.

Luna didn't comfort her either.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Her voice came down from above, neither cold nor warm. "Hurry up and clean up."

Phrolova did not move.

Her fists were clenched so tightly that the blood on her palms stained a small patch of dark red on the hem of her skirt.

After a few seconds, she slowly released her grip and raised her lowered eyes.

Luna crouched down to meet her gaze, a carefree smile on her face, "Don't look at me like that. He's the young master. It's your good fortune that he knocked over your bowl. You should thank him."

She raised her hand, hooking one finger under Phrolova's chin. "What's wrong? Are you resentful? This isn't how a proper maid should behave."

Phrolova glanced at her but said nothing. Then she lowered her head and began to pick up the broken pieces of porcelain from the ground, one by one. Her fingertips were cut by the shards, but she seemed oblivious, gathering the fragments in her palm and placing them on the tray.

Soup dripped from between her fingers, mixing with the blood.

Luna looked at her, her face still smiling, but a hint of complexity flickered in her eyes.

This woman is more tolerant than she thought.

No wonder she dared to assassinate the young master. But it doesn't matter; she loves disciplining tough guys the most.

Especially the kind of training that can be done without the need for a responsible person.