"What?! ChunHua's fever returned?!" WeiSheng's voice bellowed through the house.
"I'm going to fuck up that dude!" However, he was firmly held back by his mother.
"Do you want ChunHua to be mad with you?" Her mother raised an eyebrow.
"But she was all fine and dandy when we left for work! To hear this upon our return-! Argh!!" WeiSheng cried out in frustration.
"Let's try to talk to her instead. It's no point ruining your relationship with her to help her. She won't appreciate it." Their mother advised.
"Mm. Let's just keep being there for her so that we can help her the moment she sees his true colours." Their father backed his wife up.
WeiSheng glared at the main door, humphed angrily, then stalked off to ChunHua's room. Their parents looked at each other and shook their heads before heading up the stairs with WeiSheng in the lead.
Gentle knocking on the door easily drew ChunHua out of her slumber. She sulked at the discomfort she felt all over. When the adrenaline died down during her bath, she started noticing the chills and aches. She suspected that there had always been a slight fever. It was that way the last time, after all. She just did not notice.
"ChunHua?" A chorus of voices called put her name ever so gently.
She peeked beyond her covers and saw the people that brought endless warmth to her heart. Tears sprung to her eyes uncontrollably. "Dad, mom, big brother..."
They rushed to her bed. WeiSheng and their mother squatted by the bed while their father stood behind them.
"Our dear baby... How are you sick again?"
"ChunHua, listen to big brother, BaiQiao really doesn't care about you, please come to your senses and stop torturing yourself like this!" He whispered exasperatedly.
However, it only earned him a light whack to the back of his head. He looked at his mother, flabbergasted. "What did I say-"
"Dense boy. Can't you find a better time to have a talk?" Their mother lightly chided.
"Your sister's clearly so unwell now. Don't give her distress at this time." Their father explained.
He looked at ChunHua's pale expression and half-lidded teary eyes. His expression turned guilty as he hung his head low. "Sorry, I was rash."
ChunHua slowly shook her head then reached out for his hand. WeiSheng saw her sluggish movements, understood what she wanted, and quickly gave her his hand. While she quietly held onto WeiSheng's hand, she thought to herself, /they'll keep worrying like this as long as I keep up my revenge. I don't wish to keep worrying them... What should I do?/
"ChunHua? Is there something you want to say? You know you can tell big brother anything, right?"
ChunHua looked at him with a troubled expression.
"If it's too tough to talk now, rest. There's no rush." He smiled gently while stroking the top of her head with his free hand.
She glanced at her parents who shared the same smile her brother had. It helped her arrive at a decision.
She spoke but her vice came out as a croak. "Can you promise me to cooperate with me no matter what I say?"
Her request stunned them. It sent an ominous chill down their spine. "Don't we always?" Her mother replied with a tight smile.
"I mean... Even if it's to let me suffer."
Their smiles dropped at the same time.
"No way." WeiSheng rejected without a second thought.
"How can we do that?" Her mother said with worry thick in her eyes.
"Why would you ask for this?" Her father probed.
"..." ChunHua remained silent for a long while. "I'm sorry. I just have something I simply must accomplish."
Her family members silently exchanged glances before turning back to face her. "... We promise." They said almost in unison. They would rather stay in the know and be there when she needed their help. They did not need words to know each other's thoughts about this matter.
ChunHua's tears fell in response to their agreement. "Thank you. Thank you... thank you..." ChunHua did not know what else to say. She just felt so thankful to have them as her family, to receive this much love. /And I took this all for granted./
"Little sis..."
"Oh, our poor baby..." Her mother pushed WeiSheng out of the way to hug ChunHua.
Her father also now approached the bed and brushed ChunHua's hair out of her face that was now strake with tears. "Princess, rest now. Tell us more later. Okay?"
ChunHua took a deep breath, nodded, then obediently closed her eyes. Everyone stayed by her side until she dozed off. It did not take very long for that to happen.
"Do you think it has anything to do with BaiQiao?" Her mother whispered.
"It could be..."
"I'll do beat that bastard up-!"
"WeiSheng!" His mother sternly chided in a hushed voice. "Did you already forget your sister's plea?! You be a good boy and wait to hear what she needs us to do!"
He pouted and sulked in the middle of the room like a giant husky. Xiao Tang noticed his distress and came bounding towards him to provide some comfort.
"Only you're on my side Xiao Tang~" He whined.
However, Ian Tang walked off to ChunHua's side the moment he said it.
"Xiao Tang~ Even you~!" He cried dramatically.
"Her dream!" Their father exclaimed. "Remember the dream she kept on blabbering about yesterday?"
"So, it's about us?"
Their parents continued discussing in hushed tones about what ChunHua could possibly want to talk to them about.
WeiSheng gave a long sigh. He stood up, placed his arms around their shoulders, then said while directing them towards the bedroom door, "Why don't you both practice what you preach and just wait to see what she has to say? No point fretting and guessing so much."
His mother nudged him in his ribs. "You. How daring..." Although her tone was scolding, she wore a smile on her face. She knew that WeiSheng meant well. "You're really our reliable son. ChunHua's trustworthy big brother."