I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 7
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Absolute bed rest, she said. The Nanny guarded you so fiercely that no one dared enter, and everyone was terribly worried.”
Dang Lim, perched on the edge of the bed, sniffled as he spoke.
“In Father’s stead, *sniff*, since I had to look after you, the Nanny was on high alert.”
“Mm….”
I sat beside him in the same manner, accepting the candy he broke into pieces for me.
‘Dang Lim was driven by guilt, and Dang Gui-heon was held back by the Nanny.’
I could understand the Nanny’s heart as well.
She must have feared that I, having lost my dantian, would sink deeper into despair upon seeing my older brothers.
After all, everyone was already lavishing praise on how promising all the direct descendants were as late-stage cultivators.
‘So Gui-heon didn’t avoid me because he disliked me.’
The candy in my mouth suddenly tasted sweeter.
“But then….”
Dang Lim’s hands, which had been breaking the candy into bite-sized pieces, stilled.
He fell silent, lost in thought.
“….”
“Older brother?”
I tilted my head and looked up, and he startled slightly.
“Ah, right. The candy.”
Dang Lim carefully cupped the broken pieces so they wouldn’t spill, then popped them into my mouth.
I hadn’t called for candy, but since he offered, I accepted it.
“Mmm. Tasty, isn’t it?”
Dang Lim gently pinched my cheek and chuckled.
Seeing how much he could grab, it seemed my cheeks held quite a bit of flesh. I wondered if I could keep eating candy like this….
“Yeon-ah.”
After studying me for a while, Dang Lim finally spoke.
“You’re all better now… you’re okay, right?”
My head no longer ached, and my body managed daily activities without strain.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Then would you like to visit the Nanny?”
The Nanny. At his cautious question, I blinked.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t seen the Nanny since returning to the past.
I’d been too disoriented from the hallucinogenic herb to notice.
I’d assumed she was busy looking after Dang Lim and Dang Gui-heon….
‘The way he’s asking makes it sound like there’s something special going on.’
I swallowed the remaining sugar water in my mouth and asked.
“Where is the Nanny?”
“Well….”
***
“You’ve been through so much, and it seems the Nanny worried herself sick. She collapsed from illness not long ago.”
“I didn’t want to burden you with worry. I was planning to tell you once you’d recovered… Wait! Where are you going!”
Before Dang Lim could finish speaking, I bolted toward the Separate Quarters where the Nanny stayed.
“Wait! Wait! You’ll hurt yourself!”
Dang Lim shouted from behind me, keeping pace with my frantic sprint.
“Slow down. You’ll fall!”
“I won’t fall!”
I gave a hasty reply and ran with all my strength.
‘The Nanny is ill?’
And she’d taken to her bed because she was worried about me.
All this time, I hadn’t even gone to see her once, oblivious to her suffering.
I cursed myself endlessly. I should have sought her out first.
She was the person who cared for me and loved me most!
“Ugh, I can’t stand this…!”
Unable to contain his frustration any longer, Dang Lim finally scooped me up and tucked me against his side.
Then he leaped over a Maid who was carrying a laundry basket.
“Oh my!”
The wind sent the clothes in the basket fluttering away.
The long walls lining the path blurred past in an instant, and Dang Lim suddenly stopped, setting me down.
I had already arrived at the entrance to the Small House.
“Now take it slow… Argh!”
The moment my feet touched the ground and Dang Lim released his grip on my side, I bolted forward again.
“Cough, cough…”
The Nanny’s coughing echoed through the quiet Corridor.
The air was already thick with the scent of medicinal broths, mingled with a faint, acrid herbal smell that stung my nostrils.
“Nanny.”
I called out from beyond the door, my voice trembling, and a shadow drew near.
The Maid who opened the door gasped when she saw me, her eyes widening in surprise.
She quickly bowed her head and stepped aside.
“Please come in, Miss.”
Behind the Maid, I could see the Nanny lying in bed.
White bedding clung to her, damp as though she’d been burning with fever.
The Nanny’s pallid face turned toward me. I could see her eyes wavering, unfocused.
“Miss…”
The Nanny struggled to sit up. I rushed over and helped support her, though my strength alone was woefully insufficient until Dang Lim entered behind me and lent his aid.
He steadied her as I held her.
“Miss, how did you…?”
The Nanny murmured in disbelief.
“I’m all better now. Really.”
I spoke with forced cheerfulness.
So that she wouldn’t have to worry about me anymore.
The Nanny’s lips trembled. As if in disbelief, she looked me up and down.
“Are you truly… all right…?”
“Yes. I really am!”
I nodded while grasping the Nanny’s hand. It was rough, the fingertips darkened.
“It’s all thanks to you watching over me.”
Had the Nanny not been overprotective out of concern for me, perhaps my life could have unfolded differently.
Because I was isolated by that overprotection, no one noticed the hallucinogenic herb, and misunderstandings only continued to grow.
But without it, I might have fallen victim to something far worse than the hallucinogenic herb.
“You recover quickly too. All right?”
Besides, wasn’t it all done out of concern for me?
Then everything was fine.
If it was something done by someone who looked at me with such warm eyes, I could understand it all.
“She seemed to be getting a bit better, so I mentioned the Nanny and she rushed right out. Honestly.”
Dang Lim placed his hand on my head, speaking as if he couldn’t help it.
Then tears welled up at the corners of the Nanny’s eyes.
“Our young lady… how can you worry about me the moment you recover….”
“If I don’t worry about the Nanny, who should I worry about!”
I cheerfully burrowed into the Nanny’s embrace and secretly wiped my tears on her clothes.
“Now stop worrying about me and get better soon. Understood?”
The Nanny held me warmly and coughed softly.
“Cough, it seems I’m already much better….”
“Tsk, you’re lying.”
The Nanny’s voice was quite hoarse. The arm pulling me close had no strength in it at all.
If only I had overcome my fear and come out a little earlier.
Such regret pricked at my heart repeatedly.
I couldn’t stay in the room for long.
No matter how serious the illness, the Nanny said it wasn’t good to stay long in a patient’s room, and she drove us both out.
Without any resistance, we had to return obediently to my Quarters.
“Hey, you’re fast on your feet, aren’t you? Like a flying squirrel.”
Dang Lim said, placing his hand on my head.
My head was pressed flat under his palm. He’d done it just moments ago, and now he was doing it again.
Surely my height didn’t stop growing at five feet because of this.
Thinking so, I pulled away from Dang Lim’s hand.
“Stop it! My height is shrinking, brother!”
Dang Lim let out an exasperated laugh and exclaimed.
“Ha! As if that would make your arms grow to eight feet!”
“Oh my!”
An unfamiliar voice gasped in surprise from behind Dang Lim.
Two Maids I’d never seen before covered their mouths and stepped aside to the edge of the path.
“Come here. And stop running.”
Dang Lim gestured subtly to me, as if the servants couldn’t even see him.
I obediently took Dang Lim’s hand and slowly passed by their side.
“What brings you out again today…!”
“Indeed. I wish we could see each other every day.”
Soft whispers reached my ears. Their voices were distinctly affectionate.
‘Everyone who sees him says the same thing.’
Dang Lim was undoubtedly extraordinarily popular among the Family Clan.
I glanced up at Dang Lim quietly.
I thought he’d be embarrassed, but he wasn’t. His expression was utterly serene.
Perhaps he’d heard it so many times.
My heart tickled with mischief. I could have cleared up the misunderstanding, but instead I felt like teasing him, so I spoke up casually.
“You’re quite popular, older brother.”
“Huh?”
Dang Lim stopped walking and lowered his head to meet my eyes.
“Popular?”
“Yes. People keep saying it. That you’re cute. Just now, they did too.”
When I pointed to the Maids, Dang Lim blinked and looked back and forth between them and me.
I expected him to blush, but Dang Lim simply grinned widely.
“That’s all about you, isn’t it?”
“What?”
About me?
“No, it was definitely about you, older brother….”
When I turned around, our eyes met theirs.
“Hnnngh!”
They clamped their mouths shut and trembled.
“Huh?”
Their expressions were somewhere between laughter and tears.
‘…Was it really all about me?’
I’d naturally assumed they were talking about Dang Lim.
After all, thanks to his exceptional talent, Dang Lim received enthusiastic support from all quarters.
I thought the household staff praised him for that reason too….
“Oh….”
Before, I’d been carried around in Mother’s or Nanny’s arms, so I hadn’t known.
I was quite beloved after all.
Learning so much in a single day left me bewildered.
“Th…thank you.”
Well, never mind. I clasped my hands together and bowed, and Dang Lim added something from beside me.
“You’re the senior here.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Just nod your head. It’s only natural.”
He crossed his arms and gestured with his chin.
‘Hmm, I didn’t know my older brother could be quite arrogant….’
“Come on! Try copying me.”
I crossed both arms in front of my chest. Dang Lim looked dignified doing it, but my arms were still too short, so the effect felt a bit different. But there was nothing I could do about it….
I nodded my head up and down.
“Thank you for being so kind to me… I’m grateful.”
“Oh my…. Young Miss…!”
The maids’ eyes glistened with tears of emotion.
I quickly lowered my arms and grasped Dang Lim’s hand.
“Oh, older brother. Let’s go quickly!”
“Yes.”
Dang Lim smiled and gently patted my head.
“Please go carefully, Young Miss!”
The maids called out from behind. I hurried away with quick, short steps.
‘If this is a dream, I hope I never wake from it.’
For the first time since my return, I felt as though I had truly come home.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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