Milady's Fine Gentleman 377 A Coin Has Two Sides 2

Eventually, the next day, Kang Sola returned to society as promised by her brother.  Although by force, she gave in to her brother's two wishes: that she would fill her stomach with the food he brought, and stay the night in his house.  It was for her, anyway.

She felt wronged, but she tried to understand his actions. 'His way is just a bit rough but I guess his intention for me isn't that bad.'

'But, his reasoning is flawed in some ways… So much flawed.'

Kang Sola had the whole night to keep thinking about her older brother.  She was worried and concerned more than she would ever harbor any hate for him, as she thought she would.

'No, I don't hate him.  I'm worried about him.'

---

During this time, the Chen household had been frantic for some other reason.  The couple had been suffering from pregnancy symptoms most commonly known to all, globally by the term, morning sickness.

However, contrary to the norm, it wasn't the mother-to-be who fell prey to the custom.  Rather, this time around, it was the husband's turn.

Yes, Chen Linyun had been feeling way down lately.  He stopped from having a good night's sleep.  As a matter of fact, just a little bit longer, and he would have forgotten how a sound sleep usually feels.

His countenance was almost always discolored or pale, and he often had unexpected trips to the washroom to puke.  He most definitely did not look forward to it.

For most, they considered it as morning sickness due to their pregnancy, but Chen Linyun knew better.

For several days now, he had been extremely anxious to the point that his well-being had been getting compromised already.  It started at the Xue Mansion, when he thought Xue Jinxu already knew his secret, but rather revealed another bomb about them expecting twins.

At that time, he was truly convinced that it would be the end of him as Xue Jinxu's husband.  Good thing, it did not proceed in that direction.  However, the new direction the conversation went that morning was nerve-wracking, too.

After that, there were instances that he caught himself simply staring at Xue Jinxu's baby b.u.mp and thinking to himself, 'There are two of them in there.  Two. Of. Them.  How will Xue Jinxu accept them?  Double the joy, double the heartache.' 

Most of the time that it happened, Xue Jinxu caught him staring redhanded with such a troubled look on his face.  Sometimes she wondered if he does not want the twins, and it made her heart ache.  She kept silent about it and tried to brush it off lightly as nothing was confirmed anyway.  Why believe it if there's no truth in it? 

Deep down, she's worried, 'Is there really no truth in it?' Judging by her husband's troubled look, her instincts told her that it might not be the case.

Chen Linyun's performance at work suffered the consequences, too.

Xue Jinxu got all the more fl.u.s.tered and worried for the sick husband.  Being the reliant wife that she was, she never left her husband's side and even advised him to stay at home while they observe his condition.  She had the doctor called for a check-up, and aside from that, she temporarily a.s.sisted in addressing the most urgent decision-making necessities at work, as was their practice and prevailing arrangement.

Every time Chen Linyun pukes, Xue Jinxu stood by his side and rubbed his back soothingly.  She asked the maid to prepare a citron ginger tea that's both relaxing and healthy.  She felt bad for her husband tremendously.  She kept on thinking that she should have been experiencing all those horrible pregnancy symptoms instead, and not her husband.

The doctor, on the other hand, was not convinced at all that Chen Linyun's condition was due to the pregnancy.

"Well, it could be related, but indirectly so, if he gets stressed by it.  His sickness is due to severe anxiety and stress.  Mister Chen should take it easy.  Perhaps something is bothering you?" The doctor interrogated Chen Linyun who was lying in the gigantic bed.  He was put on an intravenous drip to help augment the influx of nutrients in his body since he would eat little but throw up everything afterward.

Chen Linyun closed his eyes, as he felt his world moving round and about in circular motion.  He's dizzy and anxious at the same time.  His body and mind could not concentrate at all, but he could hear the doctor clear as day.  Despite this, he refused to respond.  He simply murmured an affirmative, "Hmmm…"

When Sola heard the news of Chen Linyun's condition, immediately, she went to the Chen household and stayed by her brother's side.  She felt responsible, too, because of the trouble she had been causing to him lately.

Troubled as she was, she promised Chen Linyun that he needs not to worry over her welfare and just focus on getting better.

"I won't go to places and would not people you wouldn't want me to." She promised, but twisted her index and middle fingers together on her left hand by her left backside, indicating that she's lying. 'I'm sorry, Linyun-ge.'

She did it because she had made a resolve:  that she shouldn't abandon her other brother just because of his sins.  Albeit saddened and devastated by her other older brother's wrongdoings, she figured that it won't help if she abandons him, too. 

'If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't see anything worth changing my ways for if there's no one to do it for. He must be lonely, too.'

And so, Kang Sola tried to be a good sister to both her brothers. 'They're family.  For Fengyu-Oppa, I shouldn't give up without trying.  I have to be there for him.  For Linyun-ge, he shouldn't worry much about me.  I'm worried about him, too.'

For several days, most of her attention went to her older siblings.  Once in a while, she worried about Xue Guangxi, too, who seemed to be not done yet in throwing a fit.

For two weeks straight, Kang Sola had not seen nor spent significant time with Xue Guangxi either at the Chen house or at the school.  The girl had heard the lad's little show of att.i.tude and his fit of tantrums during the family dinner at the Xue Mansion.  His sister, Xue Jinxu had referred to the incident in pa.s.sing while asking Kang Sola with so much worry and concern what could be wrong with her brother.

"Huh?" Kang Sola blinked questioningly at her interrogator, puzzled.  "Did it really happen?"

"Yes, dear."

So much was happening around her that the girl had to prioritize which people she needed to attend to first.  This came on top of her academics and several menial part-time jobs. 

She decided to still stay at Apartment 301 for the time being, so that her actions wouldn't be as restricted if she returned to the Chen house – especially now that she intended to visit her brother, Fengyu-Oppa once in a while, and start her attempt to influence him and his reasoning through the soft approach.

So her ranking was: Fengyu-Oppa first, then Linyun-ge, then Xue Guangxi.  She thought that her Fengyu-Oppa, although the world seemed to hate him, and for all the valid reasons too, didn't have anyone by his side while her Ge-ge, Chen Linyun had his wife and the whole Chen family behind him, and beside him.  Even if she stayed by his side all day and all night, she wouldn't contribute a thing to his recovery other than the security of her promise so that he could keep his peace of mind which was very important to him right now. 

Xue Guangxi only came in as third priority, of course, since Sola thought he wanted to have his own s.p.a.ce in the meantime, which she would gladly give if it would pacify his tantrums.  After all, he had been staying at the Xue Mansion of late, and by far he had been ignoring her messages of concern for him.