Chapter 26

According to the doctor, fortunately, it’s not a serious illness, just fatigue accumulated from long carriage travel, leading to a cold.

It’s good that it’s not a major illness, but still, if you’re sick, you should say so and stay quietly in bed. Why did you stubbornly crawl out and collapse in the hallway?

It’s really shocking.

It’s lucky that I, the kind-hearted SSR super oppa, was there, otherwise Yeonghwa would have become a permanent guest in the hallway.

“Ugh… Haa…”

I look down at Yeonghwa, who is breathing heavily.

Her hair stuck to her sweaty face, her flushed cheeks, and her clothes disheveled from tossing and turning in discomfort.

…What can I say? Seeing her, who usually acts so elegantly as if not a single hair is out of place, in such a disheveled and painful state, strangely stirs a protective instinct in me.

Moreover, the way she clutches her clothes tightly adds to her pitifulness. It’s not right to think this way about someone who’s sick, but she looks cute.

If that action was calculated, honestly, I have no confidence in winning future family political battles.

“Haa… Haa… Hng…”

Tiny teardrops roll down her cheeks. Why did she endure so much pain to the point of crying… What a foolish girl.

I thought I was being kind to her. Did I not seem reliable?

They say wild animals never show weakness even when sick. If they show weakness, they are easily marked as prey and attacked.

Perhaps in Yeonghwa’s eyes, I or other family members all seemed untrustworthy, unreliable.

There might have been a lack of time to build trust, but I think past experiences might have made her unable to trust people.

I wipe her tears and change the wet cloth.

Checking the time, it’s already past midnight, entering the early hours of the morning.

In the martial arts world, where there’s no time to play, I’ve gotten used to sleeping and waking up early, so my eyelids are getting heavy. Also, it’s early spring, so I feel chilly. I want to get under a warm blanket.

…But I can’t move because she’s holding onto my clothes. Even if it’s in her sleep, since my younger sister reached out first, as an older brother, I can’t push her away.

That’s what being an older brother means.

Nod-

I nod to convince myself and cross my arms to prevent my body heat from escaping. I lean slightly on the chair, making sure Yeonghwa’s grip on my clothes doesn’t loosen.

Leaving a warm and cozy bed for a hard and cold chair—what am I doing? But seeing Yeonghwa’s fever gradually subside and her breathing return to normal,

I feel a little, just a little, that my effort was worth it.

She’s really a handful of a younger sister.

***

Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp chirp~ Chirp~!

The diligent birds are chirping as the sun rises, casting a blue hue over the world.

Yeonghwa, on the bed, opens her jewel-like red eyes wide and looks at Mantian, who has placed a warm yet somehow cold hand on her forehead, trying to grasp the situation.

Her vision was blurry, so she clearly remembers collapsing in the hallway. She also vaguely remembers what happened afterward.

The problem is that she also vaguely remembers things she wishes she hadn’t.

Mantian’s face as he kindly changed the wet cloth. And then—and then—

“…Don’t leave me alone.”

Che-che-che, cheap?!

Even if he’s my older brother, letting a man I’ve only known for a day into my room… saying such shameless things…!!

“Huh? You’re awake. Looks like your fever has gone down. How’s your body?”

“Huh? -Eh? Uh? Well… that is…”

After staying up all night nursing her, why is she acting like this? Can’t fix her like an electronic device by hitting her, should I call the doctor again?

While Mantian seriously considers calling the doctor again, Yeonghwa takes a deep breath and somehow regains her composure.

Her jewel-like beautiful red eyes shimmer with allure. She smiles in a way that stirs people’s hearts.

Yeonghwa sits up, places one hand gently on her chest, tilts her head slightly, and gracefully expresses her gratitude.

“I showed you an unsightly side. Thanks to you, oppa, my fever has gone down. I really don’t know how to thank you—”

Polite, formal, boundary-setting speech. If I follow this speech, we’ll just exchange pleasantries.

We can maintain a good relationship by keeping our boundaries. But that’s no longer the relationship Mantian wants.

After staying up all night, working hard~ working hard~, and then just keeping boundaries and not interfering? Don’t make me laugh.

I lean forward, wave my hand, and forcibly cut her off. I throw a fastball at 160 km/h.

“Ah~ enough~ enough. You’re sick, no need to strain yourself with formalities. You don’t like me anyway, don’t force yourself.”

“…Huh?”

At the unexpected attack, Yeonghwa’s eyebrows twitch. Mantian flashes his characteristic bold smile. He breaks the mask.

“Being polite is a necessary skill for social life, but it’s not something to do when you’re sick. So, act comfortably.”

Unwavering, confident eyes, straightforward speech. A shameless face. It’s not just reckless. It’s not a mischievous prank.

He has the confidence to back up his delusions. He hits the nail on the head.

…Indeed, Yeonghwa dislikes Mantian.

His resemblance to the Sima Family Head, his eyes that see through people’s hearts without permission, his thick and shameless face, and the fact that, unlike her, he grew up happily without any shadows.

She dislikes all of it.

But even if her true feelings are exposed, she shouldn’t fall for the other’s provocation and reveal her emotions.

If it were the usual Yeonghwa, she would have smiled awkwardly here to smooth things over or subtly changed the subject.

Yes, if it were the usual Yeonghwa.

The sense of loss and anger from the Sima Family Head’s harsh words, and the lingering fever in her body, melt the mask hit by Mantian’s fastball.

Mantian’s annoying smile, which scratches at people’s hearts, scratches at the mask. It peels it off.

The smile disappears from Yeonghwa’s face. Her red eyes coolly settle. Ironically, her face resembles the Sima Family Head’s.

“…That’s right. I dislike you, oppa. So what? What are you going to do about it?”

“It’s a declaration of war.”

“…Huh?”

Her brows furrow at the incomprehensible words. She doesn’t understand.

‘Declaration of war? What is he talking about? What does it mean?’

Before Yeonghwa can grasp the hidden meaning, Mantian leans in. He doesn’t give her time to think.

He takes the first move. It’s Mantian’s turn now.

“I don’t know why you dislike me. But it doesn’t matter at all.”

Mantian is reflected in Yeonghwa’s red eyes. …For some reason, her mother’s words come to mind. They float up and overlap with Mantian’s image.

Thick eyebrows, a sharp jawline, a well-defined nose, and strong amber eyes. I don’t know about his guts, but he’s shameless.

“I’m actually a sticky and greedy man, different from my cool and handsome appearance. I never give up on what I like.”

Mantian’s eyes, which had been indifferent and cold, now shine. But it’s not like fire; it’s like stars. They twinkle like stars in the sky.

“And I have no intention of just maintaining a superficially friendly relationship with my newly found cute younger sister. We will definitely get along.”

‘He was a wolf in human form. A big, dangerous, greedy wolf.’

“No matter how much you dislike me, I will do my best to make you like me. I advise you to be prepared; you’ll be conquered quickly with just a little ‘dislike.'”

The limping wolf with stars in his eyes laughs. He boldly declares that he will have you.

“You better be well-prepared.”

…It’s absurd. She can no longer manage her expression. Her red eyes burn as she responds to Mantian’s challenge.

“Such great confidence. It’s almost pitiful.”

“Well, I’m handsome, smart, and have a great personality. I should have this much confidence.”

Sparks fly between the two.

The sparks flying in all directions burn away the boundaries. They no longer keep up formalities. They clash emotions as people.

The unconquerable younger sister. The unconquerable older brother. The sibling fight begins.

…But first, let’s feed her some porridge and medicine.

I call the maids to bring the porridge and medicine I prepared earlier. Then I leave to give her space to eat comfortably.

It’s no fun if one side unilaterally loses. Fights are best when both sides are energetic.

***

After Mantian leaves and the maids bring the porridge, Yeonghwa takes a bite and feels annoyed. The porridge is just right—not too cold, not too hot, and deliciously savory.

With each bite, Mantian’s face, who prepared the porridge, comes to mind.

…He’s really considerate in the most unnecessary ways.

Even though her fever has mostly subsided, her face gradually heats up. It turns red.