Too embarrassing.
Mier groaned in his heart.
He was too tired last night and fell asleep. He thought Niley would remove the chain, but not only did she not take it off, even his younger brother saw it.
Xing pouted when Mier wouldn't let him look. "Second Brother, why are you acting so distant? It's not like we haven't seen it before."
They had—just not under these circumstances.
Nearby, Liam glanced over and stayed calm. He walked to the table and started drinking water.
"Third Brother, you're not even curious? Look at those bite marks! That woman is seriously fierce!"
Niley had just walked in and heard Xing teasing. She looked toward the person on the bed.
Mier still had the body chain on, and Xing was pulling on it. He was bare, hands covering his face, hiding under the blanket. Niley narrowed her eyes at Xing. "Take your hand off him. Haven't you heard of 'no peeking'?"
"We've seen it so many times before."
"Move away."
Afraid they'd argue, Mier quickly looked up and called, "Wife."
Then he turned to Xing. "Move your hand. I need to get dressed."
Xing pouted again and stepped back toward the table.
Liam rolled his eyes. "You really have nothing better to do."
Xing: …
He was upset but didn't say anything.
Even if he did, it was useless. None of his older brothers ever took his side.
Niley ignored them and walked over to help remove the body chain from Mier.
Mier blushed, embarrassed and annoyed. "Why didn't you take it off last night?"
"It looked nice."
Hearing that, Liam, who was drinking tea, couldn't hold it in and spat it out. When both Niley and Mier looked at him, he wiped his mouth and waved his hand. "Sorry, couldn't help it."
"It's their fault. They don't care how we feel. I almost thought…" Xing started to talk and then realized how stupid he'd been earlier.
He glanced at the calm Third Brother and felt a little guilty. "Why didn't you stop me earlier?"
Liam turned his head to look at Xing, gave him another eye-roll, and went back to drinking.
Meanwhile, Mier put on clothes and tried to get up. But his legs were too weak. Just as he lifted his upper body, he collapsed back onto the bed. Luckily, Niley had been watching and caught him in time, only to have him shove her hand away.
He turned his head with a pout. Niley could clearly read the message in his eyes: I told you to stop. You didn't listen. Now look.
She rubbed her nose, feeling a bit guilty.
"I'll help heal you."
As she said that, green light gathered at her fingertips as she reached toward his legs.
"You just recovered. Don't waste your energy on me. Get some rest."
Mier saw the green light in her hands and shook his head.
He didn't want her to disappear again.
But Niley also shook her head. "I know my limits."
Mier rolled his eyes at her.
Niley smiled awkwardly, then held his hand and started healing him with her powers.
Seeing she was serious, Mier looked away, only to notice Liam and Xing watching them with disgusted looks.
His face turned red, and when he started to feel better, he quickly stopped Niley.
"Wife, I'll go wash up now."
Afraid the two watching him would say something, Mier rushed out of the room like he was running for his life.
Niley followed behind him and reminded, "Use the hot water in the kettle. Don't touch cold water—your body's still weak."
Xing clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Jealous?"
Niley didn't argue with them and followed Mier into the kitchen.
At this time, Han and Lei had already prepared breakfast and were bringing it into the house.
Seeing the two sitting and snacking, Han spoke coldly. "Go wash up. We're eating soon."
Xing looked at the food they brought in. It looked totally different from usual. He blinked at Lei. "Did Wife make this?"
He grabbed a piece and popped it into his mouth.
Lei rolled his eyes at him.
After washing up, Mier went next door to call Mr. Chen for breakfast.
It wasn't the first time Mr. Chen came over. But each time he saw the overwhelming amount of food, he couldn't help frowning. "Niley, isn't this too much?"
This one meal was like three days' worth for them.
Xing didn't understand and looked at Mr. Chen with complaint. "Dad, what did we use to eat? This is way better. I wouldn't mind eating like this every day."
"You wouldn't. You don't know how expensive food is because you're not the one managing the house."
Mr. Chen looked at him like he was hopeless. Out of all his sons, Xing was the most troublesome after Fish.
Liam looked at the full breakfast and frowned too. "Going to the town for treatment again used a lot of silver. Big Brother already put it on the tab. Later, maybe—"
"We have Wife now, don't we? She can treat you. No more wasting silver on medicine. We can just work harder and earn more money!"
Xing hated hearing about silver and medicine. He chewed and talked at the same time.
Mr. Chen glanced at his silly son and shook his head. Then he looked at Han. "The Fifth is right."
Pleased to finally get praised, Xing proudly glanced around at everyone—until he saw Niley giving Mier an egg roll. His face instantly soured.
He looked around again and muttered, "Wife is really, really biased."
She even served Second Brother food.
Mr. Chen knocked his chopsticks against Xing's and smiled. "Even with such good food, you're still talking."
Niley and Mier being close—what was wrong with that?
Way better than someone like Fish.
After breakfast, Han picked up his basket and sickle. "I'm going up the mountain."
Everyone told him to be careful.
After all, the family still had debt. If they didn't go up the mountain, there'd be no income.
Mier then took the dishes to wash in the kitchen. Lei followed behind to help.
Xing went to the next room, grabbed a sewing basket, and sat down to embroider handkerchiefs with Liam.
Niley, having nothing to do, looked around aimlessly.
In the end, Mier noticed and asked hopefully, "Wife, why don't you go with Big Brother into the mountains? Just the outer parts, not deep in."
Hearing that, Han also looked up at her.