FDNL CH 08

Chapter 8 – Third Brother

“Too sweet?”

Su Lianyi blinked, surprised.

The man didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the teapot, clearly intending to wash away the taste.

But before he could, Lianyi quickly reached out and snatched it from his hand.

“You can’t drink tea on an empty stomach—it’ll irritate your stomach and even harm your nervous system.
And this is leftover tea from yesterday! That’s even worse!”

The words spilled from her mouth before she could stop herself.

Both of them froze.

Even she was stunned by her own outburst.
Why was she lecturing someone who might be friend or foe?
Had she lost her mind?

But it was too late to take it back.
She sighed inwardly. So this is what they call professional reflexes—doctor’s habits die hard.

She carried the teapot back into the kitchen, poured out the old tea, rinsed it clean, refilled it with fresh boiling water, and brought it back.

“Sorry,” she said sincerely as she poured him a cup.
“I know many men don’t like sweets, but sugar gives energy. It’s my fault we have no money left.
I’ll find a way to earn some.
For now, please just bear with the sweet potato cakes and drink more water.”

Dahu didn’t reply.
After the shocks of last night and this morning, her strange words didn’t even seem to faze him anymore.
He simply picked up another of the odd “cakes” and continued eating.

It was obvious he didn’t enjoy them—
he’d shove one down, then immediately gulp down a full cup of water.
But beyond that initial frown, his face stayed calm and unreadable.

Lianyi quietly ate as well.
Truth be told, she was hungrier than he was.
She’d only had one bowl of soup last night, then worked through the entire night without rest.

Any normal person would have collapsed by now,
but she was a doctor—
years of grueling shifts had trained her body to endure exhaustion.
She used to joke that she basically lived at the hospital—
sleeping, eating, and working all in the same building.

It was that dedication that had made her one of the youngest specialists in her field…
And yet, in the end, she’d just—
died.

The thought hit her suddenly, her calm expression wavering.
She put down her half-eaten cake, sipped her hot water slowly,
and forced herself to steady her breathing.

A new life means a new start, she reminded herself.
Everything from the past—let it go.

***

After finishing his food, Dahu didn’t say a word.
He simply stood up and walked out.

Near the gate, a heavy hoe leaned against the wall—
but in his hands, it looked as light as a feather.

Lianyi watched his tall figure leave, frowning thoughtfully.

The way he had forced himself to eat something he clearly disliked…
That kind of self-control wasn’t normal.
It wasn’t the patience of a simple farmer.
It was the restraint of someone trained to obey, to endure.

Who was he really?
What was his purpose here?

Should she try to drive him out?
But if she provoked him, would he retaliate?

Tell her father?
No—before that man’s secrets were revealed, it would probably be her who slipped up first.

She sighed and began cleaning the dishes.
By the time she finished, the sun had risen high, warm light flooding the courtyard.
The early-morning chill had faded, replaced by gentle, pleasant warmth.

Fatigue washed over her.

She rubbed her eyes—and froze when she saw a red smudge on her hand.
Blood?!

She rushed to the bronze mirror—then almost screamed.

It wasn’t blood.
It was her face.

The white powder and red rouge from yesterday had melted under her sweat,
turning into a streaky, terrifying mess.
Add to that her damp bangs plastered across her round face—
it was a masterpiece of chaos.

And with those white-headed pimples dotting her cheeks like angry little volcanoes…
she suddenly had newfound respect for Dahu’s iron self-control.

The man had managed to eat her cooking while looking at this face.
That was… heroic.

***

Her outer clothes were clean—
clearly the new outfit the original owner had bought to impress the Li family’s second young master.
But when she peeked beneath…

Her inner garments were filthy beyond belief.

She gagged. Again.
For what felt like the hundredth time since waking up in this body.

Too tired to bother boiling bathwater,
she filled a big wooden tub with cold water from the courtyard tank,
stripped, and jumped right in.

She didn’t dare look down.
One glance at this new body might traumatize her further.

Still—she had to admit,
while this body was soft and round, the skin was smooth and pale,
like that of a baby.
Small mercies.

She scrubbed herself from head to toe,
then dumped nearly an entire handful of soapberry powder into her hair.
Black, filthy water streamed down the strands like ink.
By the end, the once-clear bathwater had turned a murky gray-black mess.

After drying off with a towel and putting on clean underclothes,
she felt reborn.
She changed the bed sheets to the ones she had washed last night,
opened all the windows,
and breathed in the fresh air.

Her mind and body finally relaxed.
The exhaustion she’d been holding back hit her all at once.

As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

Outside, the little courtyard was peaceful and quiet.
Children played on the distant street, their laughter fading as they ran off.
Sunlight shimmered over the rows of colorful laundry fluttering gently in the wind.
Everything felt still, serene—like a painting of rural life.

Inside the house, Su Lianyi snored softly.
Perhaps from fatigue, perhaps from sheer comfort.
Without her messy makeup,
her round face looked calm and pure—almost angelic.
Her long lashes trembled faintly like butterflies resting on petals,
her pink lips slightly parted,
and even her pimples somehow seemed… less offensive.

The sun rose to its highest point,
then began its slow descent westward.

***

Suddenly—

BANG!

The front gate burst open.
A loud, breathless voice bellowed:

“Sis! Second Sis! Where are you?”

The sound was like a pig being slaughtered.

Half-asleep, Lianyi vaguely heard a man shouting for his “second sister.”
But wait—she had an older brother and two younger sisters.
No brothers.

So who the heck was calling her?

Annoyed, she yanked the blanket over her head.

“Who’s yelling like that…? No manners at all… public disturbance… ugh…”

Still mumbling complaints, she promptly drifted back to sleep.

***

The fat man who had barged in was none other than Su Bai—
the original Su Lianyi’s younger brother.

He stopped short when he saw the yard full of colorful laundry.
After a moment of confusion, he snorted.
Must be that dumb husband she bosses around. Huh, didn’t think he could wash clothes this well.

The window was open, but the door was closed.
Normally, one would knock before entering—
but manners were clearly not part of Su Bai’s vocabulary.
He simply shoved the door open and barged in.

Inside, the house was spotless.
That made him pause again.
He even turned around and stepped back outside, looking around suspiciously.

“Wait… did I go to the wrong house?”

After checking the courtyard,
he confirmed the place was indeed his second sister’s home.
Then, shrugging, he stomped back in, lifted the blanket—
and there she was.
Snoring softly, round face peaceful as a Buddha.

He let out a sigh of relief and gave her shoulder a hard shake.

“Second Sis, wake up! What time do you think it is? Father’s looking for you—something big came up!”

Lianyi blinked awake, groggy.
When her eyes focused on the pudgy face leaning over her,
so similar to her own, she froze.

Then it clicked.

“Su… Bai?”

Uncle Ma had mentioned him—
the third child of the family, a small-time bully just like their father.
Fat, lazy, and not very bright.

“That’s right!” he said proudly. “Get up quick, Sis!
Dad’s got big news—real big business!”

“Big business?”

Lianyi raised a skeptical brow.
Knowing this family, “business” probably meant “trouble.”

Su Bai’s face lit up with a sly grin, his chubby cheeks squeezing together.

“Yeah! Some unlucky family crossed paths with Dad.
He’s about to make them pay up—big time!”