My best friend's older brother is a cold, brilliant surgeon who looks like a Greek god. I've always been terrified of him. One night, while devouring skewers at a BBQ joint, I passed out from blood loss and was rushed to the ER. Turns out, the icy heartthrob was the one performing my hemorrhoidectomy... Chapter 1 I might be the first person in history to be carried away by an ambulance because of hemorrhoids. Here's how it went down: That night, my chaotic best friend, Zoey, insisted on dragging me out for BBQ. Even though I knew I'd been bleeding for days, I couldn't resist the siren call of grilled meat. A bunch of us from middle school were tearing through skewers and beer when I excused myself to the restroom. Next thing I knew, I was on the floor. I woke up in the hospital where Zoey’s brother works. Zoey was grinning. "You're a legend, Sarah. We were all freaking out thinking you were dying, but nope—just a hemorrhoid explosion." "Three BBQ dinners... and you never speak of this again." "Deal, Your Majesty!" Later, my parents showed up, and then I was wheeled into the operating room. The surgeon? Dr. Ethan Stone. Zoey's actual brother. Before surgery, I was clawing at the door frame, wailing. Zoey was happily prying my fingers off. "Go on! My brother is the best, don't be scared!" "I want a different doctor! Switch doctors! Mom!" The hallway leading to the OR was quiet, making my screeching even more embarrassing. My mom actually helped Zoey pry me loose. "Sarah, stop it. Ethan is the Vice Chief of Proctology. I asked around; nobody is better than him." "I don't care! It's just a hemorrhoid, I don't need a genius! I want a female doctor!" "Oh, stop being a baby! Did you learn nothing in school? Doctors don't see gender, only patients..." In the end, I went quietly. Because while I was fighting a losing battle against my mom and Zoey, a tall figure in a white coat stopped in front of us. His dark eyes swept over me calmly. "Let's go." That cold voice. That crushing aura... I turned beet red, let go of the door, and followed him into the OR like a scolded puppy. Zoey says I'm scared of her brother. She's right. Since we were kids, just seeing him makes my heart race. I won't detail the surgery. It was a humiliating blur of consciousness and fear. I'm traumatized. Now I have a new symptom. Before, seeing him made me nervous. Now, seeing him makes me pale, dizzy, and chilled to the bone. Basically, I'm useless. Even worse was the post-op checkup. After morning rounds, Ethan walked in, pristine in his white coat, snapping on medical gloves. He pulled the curtain. His voice was icy and professional. "Pants down. Lie on your stomach." Tears welling up, my body obeyed automatically. A rectal exam right after surgery? Kill me now! The pain made me break out in a cold sweat. I instinctively whimpered, "Ethan... Dr. Stone... it hurts, please be gentle." Holy crap. Was that weak, pathetic voice mine? Why did it sound so... wrong? I felt his hand pause for a second. I buried my face in the pillow, wishing for death. That hemorrhoid surgery became the psychological shadow over my life. Not to mention the agony of the first post-op poop. It made me question my will to live. I howled like a banshee for days. The day I was discharged, my mom went to handle the paperwork. I sat in Ethan's office, clutching my butt, watching him write. He casually reminded me: "Avoid spicy and greasy food. Rest well. Sitz baths with warm water after bowel movements..." Face burning, I nodded like a bobblehead. "Mhm, mhm, mhm..." After the instructions, the room went silent. He suddenly looked up, eyes narrowing slightly. His gaze was dark and unreadable. I shivered, stuttering, "G-got it. I remember everything." A slow smile curved his lips. "Good. Go home." Damn it. Why am I such a coward? I had nowhere to vent my frustration. Later, seeing Zoey, I snapped. I put her in a headlock. "Your brother saw everything! This is on you!" Zoey gasped for air. "Don't shoot the messenger... Sarah, let go!" I squeezed tighter. "Today, sister teaches you a lesson!" Twenty days into my recovery, I was back to my old tricks with Zoey. My "friends" from middle school insisted on celebrating my survival. Since they brought a fruit basket to the hospital, I went. We had hotpot. They ordered a split pot, and I swear on my life I only ate from the non-spicy broth. But that night, my butt was on fire, and there was blood again. Disaster. I panicked. I texted Zoey to ask her brother if it was serious. She panicked too. "You have his WeChat! Ask him yourself! He's home right now. Voice call him. If he asks, don't mention the hotpot! Sisters for life, snitches get stitches!" I... Call Ethan? I opened our chat. The last message was from last year—a mass-sent link for a Pinduoduo discount, followed by a very aggressive: "Click it! Don't make Daddy beg!" Oh god. I forgot I spammed everyone with that. How did Ethan get on that list?! Depressed, I backed out of the chat, planning to drag my mom to the hospital tomorrow. Seconds later, a voice call from Ethan popped up. I shook, hesitated, then answered. My voice trembled. "H-hello, Dr. Stone." "Hm." Ethan sounded tired and indifferent. "Zoey said you're bleeding. What happened?" I froze like a kid caught stealing cookies. "I don't know. I ate hotpot, but it was clear broth. Nothing spicy." "Is it a lot of blood?" "Uh, not a lot, but not a little." "Pain?" "A bit." "Is anyone home?" "Dad's on night shift. Just Mom and me." "Okay. I'll come over and take a look." Wait, what? A house call? For my butt? I panicked. "No need! I'll go to the hospital tomorrow! First thing in the morning!" "That works too. Be at my office by 8 AM." The call ended. My face fell. God, why?! Can't I see a different doctor? The next day, I went alone. Mom had work. Zoey was interning at her uncle's company. Nobody would take time off for me. Their excuse was uniform: "You're not three. It's just Zoey's brother looking at your butt. Stop being dramatic." I was losing it. Is it "just looking at my butt"?! So there I was, back in Ethan's office. Pants down. Lying on my stomach. Even though he'd seen it before, it had been twenty days... my face was the color of a pig's liver. Ethan applied medicine. It was cold. I clenched. Afterward, I pulled my pants up fast. My face was burning. Thankfully, he didn't look at me. He sat at his desk writing. "Is the constipation bad?" I nodded. "Kind of." "How often?" "Every three or four days... once it was seven." He looked up. God, that look again. Dark, deep, soul-piercing. My scalp tingled. "Is... is there a problem?" He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "So young, and you treat your body like this." I defended myself. "I didn't mean to. I've been constipated since I was a kid." "BBQ, spicy skewers, hotpot... isn't that all you and Zoey post on your Moments? You think that helps? Hm?" That "Hm?" sent shivers down my spine. I immediately threw Zoey under the bus. "She likes it! She makes me go!" Ethan smirked, looking at me with amusement. I shut up, planning to slink away. Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at me while answering. "Yeah, she's here. Got it. Bye." I guessed it was Zoey. Sure enough, he said, "Zoey said to wait for her here. She's coming over." "Wait where?" "Here." Awkward. So awkward... Zoey, you traitor, making me wait in your brother's office! No, I need an escape plan. "Dr. Stone, Zoey takes forever. I'll go wait outside." "The medicine needs to set. Stay put." "Oh." I sat down obediently. I checked my phone—yep, missed calls from Zoey. I couldn't even be mad. The silence was suffocating. Just me, Ethan, and a wall of posters about anal health. There was also a doctor profile on the wall. His ID photo. Buzz cut, cold face, sharp brows, deep eyes, high nose, thin lips... Perfect features. The bio read: Ethan Stone, Vice Chief Physician. Graduated from China Medical University, fellowship at Peking University Medical... Specializes in anorectal diseases and pediatrics... Ugh, the elite aura. I knew he was the "perfect child" every parent compared their kids to. Smart, handsome, calm... Zoey said girls have been throwing love letters at him since middle school. But in person, he was even better looking than the photo. Tall, intense, skin so pale it glowed. Combined with that aloof attitude... deadly. I sat there for a while. It was the VIP ward, so nobody disturbed him. I played on my phone, but my mind wandered. He was reading files, occasionally checking the computer. Serious profile. Sharp jawline. A beautiful female doctor walked in. Even the white coat couldn't hide her figure. She clicked in on heels, smiling, and handed him a Starbucks. She was about to speak when she saw me. Raised an eyebrow. "Patient?" Ethan glanced at me. "Sister." The woman paused, looking me over. She laughed, a bit flirtatious. "How many sisters do you have? I know Zoey." Ethan didn't look up. "Zoey's friend. Had surgery here recently." "Oh." She smiled at me. "Sorry, sis, didn't know you were here. Didn't buy one for you." I shook my head like a bobblehead dog. "It's okay, I don't drink coffee." She turned her attention back to Ethan. Voice soft. "Let's go see a movie tonight. There's a good one out. After work?" "No thanks. Tired lately. Not in the mood." Being handsome has its perks. She wasn't mad about the rejection. "Okay, next time then. Take care of yourself, don't work too hard." They chatted a bit more, and then she left. Didn't look at me again. Chapter 2 I swear I didn't want his Starbucks. I was just thirsty. But when I awkwardly asked for a cup of water, he looked at me with scrutiny. "Want coffee?" "No!" I defended. "Just water." He pushed his own thermos toward me. "Drink this." What? I'm not Zoey. I can't just use his cup... I blushed. "Do you have a disposable cup? I can pour some out." "No. Just drink." He didn't look up. Voice calm. Like it was nothing. But my limbs went weak. Zoey said he was a germaphobe. He's a doctor! Why is he so casual? Take it or leave it? He glanced at me again. I panicked and grabbed the thermos. I sat down, unscrewed the lid, poured water into the cap, and sipped like a bird. I'll wash the cap later, I thought. "Sarah, Zoey says you draw comics at home since graduation?" Ethan suddenly spoke. I almost choked. Stuttered for a while, face burning. "Just... drawing for fun. People liked it, so I went full-time." "Hm. That's good." His casual approval made me dizzy. Good? Besides Zoey, nobody says that. My mom nags me constantly. "Get a real job with benefits! Why draw cartoons at home?" I started as an assistant in college. It didn't pay much. It's a passion industry. You do it because you love it. My mom thinks a degree is a golden ticket. But I struggled in Hangzhou for a while. When my webcomic started getting traction, I moved back home. Honestly, it's a bit embarrassing. Relatives always ask, "Sarah is still mooching off her parents? How much can drawing make? If it's not $3000 a month, get a job." Especially my aunt, who compares me to my cousin, Jinny. "Jinny works in real estate! She makes $10k a month! Can drawing compare?" And my aunt, who looks down on everyone because her daughter married rich. Anyway, reality bites. Even when I started making $10k a month this year, my aunt said, "So what? Jinny has insurance and a pension fund. What does Sarah have?" My dad supports me, though. He drives a taxi and brags to everyone. "My daughter is an artist! She bought me a new phone!" They say don't show off to those closest to you. They're the most jealous. But my mom wants to save face. My grandparents always favored my uncle and aunt. They gave all their savings to my uncle when his son was born. When my dad had appendicitis, they visited once with a carton of milk. But when my uncle broke his leg, they gave him $5000. No logic to bias. When I was little, I was at my grandma's with my cousins. Four kids. They boiled three eggs. They realized I was there and said, "Oops, Sarah is here. We only cooked three." They ate. I watched. When my dad came to pick me up and saw that, he teared up. He carried me out. "Let's go home. Dad will cook for you." That night he boiled five eggs. I almost puked eating them all. He said, "Don't tell Mom." Poor Dad. The egg incident must have triggered his own childhood trauma. My mom felt the unfairness, but she loved me. She bought me blueberries for my eyes and cacti for radiation. Compared to relatives, my friends like Zoey are great. "Sarah is a famous artist! Get her autograph now before she's huge!" I was lost in thought and laughed out loud. Then I saw Ethan standing up, leaning against the desk, watching me. Those dark eyes again. Scalp tingling. I stuttered, "W-what time is it?" He smirked. "You have a phone." I looked down. 10:24. "Why isn't Zoey here? I'll wait outside." I tried to walk past him, acting cool. He blocked my path. "Why are you so afraid of me?" So close. So tall. The pressure... His voice was deep, magnetic, and teasing. I went numb. Didn't dare look at him. Laughed like an idiot. "Misunderstanding, bro. Not afraid." "Good. Otherwise, I'd think you did something guilty and were afraid to face me." He stared straight at me. I blushed to my heels. My brain short-circuited. Just then, the door opened. Zoey, my savior! She wasn't alone. Chase was with her. Chase was there when the hemorrhoid exploded. According to Zoey, he cried like I was dying. When I was hospitalized, while others brought fruit, he brought roses. He comforted me: "It's okay, Sarah. Everyone gets hemorrhoids! I won't look down on you." I raged. "Why would you look down on me for that?!" He grinned like a fool. "Who knew a fairy like you could get hemorrhoids? I thought you didn't even poop." "Anyway, hemorrhoids or not, you're still perfect to me." Everyone laughed. I was so mad my butt hurt. "Get... OUT!" Anyway, Chase and I go way back. His dad owns auto shops. He used to be a punk, but now he's a decent mechanic. Zoey says he loves cars. Our group has six people. We hang out a lot. Chase said, "Let's grab lunch, then see Fast & Furious 9! It's awesome!" Zoey and I agreed. Zoey politely asked Ethan, "Bro, wanna eat with us?" "No time. You guys go." Expected. We ignored it. But then he smirked and dropped a bomb. "Buy tickets for the evening show. I'll join after work." WHAT?! Chapter 3 We tried to ditch him, but Zoey scolded us. "Are you human? My brother never wants to see movies! Sarah, he did your surgery! How can you be so ungrateful?" I shivered. So we waited. 8 PM show. Ethan arrived at 7:50. Black pants, white shirt, jacket in hand. Tall, straight, commanding. Even in casual clothes, he stood out. Short hair, dark brows, sharp nose... He was brighter than a celebrity. I saw girls checking him out. We had four seats. Me and Zoey in the middle, Chase next to me, Ethan next to Zoey. But Ethan said he might need to take a call, so he switched with Chase to sit on the aisle. Next to me. I tensed up. I didn't want Chase to move, but Zoey kept calling him. The movie started. I clutched my popcorn. I couldn't focus. That pretty doctor asked him to a movie, he said no mood. Then he came with us. And switched seats... I'm not dumb. This felt... targeted? Sure enough, in the dark, I put a popcorn in my mouth. Before I could grab a second, my hand was captured. My brain buzzed. It was Ethan. His long, bony hand grabbed mine and held it tight. His palm was burning hot. His thumb rubbed the back of my hand. Nobody knew. My face went white. I tried to pull back, but he held tighter. I was sweating. I didn't dare look at him or ask what he was doing. I heard a faint chuckle. Like he was mocking my fear. I wanted to cry... 24 years old, I've dated before, but holding hands felt like electrocution. Heart racing, dizzy. The culprit was calm, playing with my fingers, tracing my palm. Sparks everywhere. He kept rubbing, teasing. I watched the movie in terror. Halfway through, he seemed to fall asleep. Hand still holding mine. I peeked. Eyes closed, long lashes. He looked tired. But his grip didn't loosen. My mind was a mess. What does this mean? Does he like me? Impossible! I barely know him! And Zoey said girls line up for him... Maybe he's just lonely and messing with me? Did the hemorrhoid surgery spark feelings? The movie ended. Nearly 11 PM. Before the lights came up, I yanked my hand back. He woke up, eyes hazy. Zoey asked, "Sarah, why didn't you eat any popcorn?" "Ah... focused on the movie." A scoff from behind. My face burned. "Let's go home." I ignored Chase trying to discuss the plot. I need to go home and hide under my duvet. Outside, the wind was cold. Ethan drove. Zoey was going with him. I could have gone with Chase. But Ethan said, "I need to go back to the hospital. Sarah left her meds in the office. And her wound needs redressing." Meaning, he was taking me to the hospital! To take off my pants again! I wanted to refuse, but Zoey yawned and hopped in Chase's car. "Chase will take me. Brother, take Sarah home after. Drive safe!" Chase looked at me, wanted to say something, but drove off. "Sarah, we're going!" I watched them leave in despair. Ethan clicked his key fob, looking at me with amusement. "Get in, Fairy." "Fairy" was my nickname from school. My WeChat name too. Hearing him say it made me numb. I opened the back door. He grabbed my collar. "Sit in the front." I felt like a sheep entering the wolf's den. On the way, I kept my head down. Ethan asked casually, "Is that kid Chase chasing you?" "Ah? No, he's joking." "Kids these days joke with roses?" "He never said anything explicit." "Did he chase you in school?" "We were young, didn't know anything." I remembered Zoey saying her brother got love letters since middle school. He's six years older. When we started middle school, he was in college. Now we're 24, he's almost 30. Thirty is prime for men. Handsome, successful, stable. But single at 30 means family pressure. Zoey said he bought an apartment near the hospital to hide from his parents. I felt like he was hunting me because he was bored. I gathered my courage. "Bro, what did you mean in the theater? Rabbits don't eat grass near their burrow..." He smiled. Scary. The hospital was quiet at night. He took my hand again, led me upstairs to the office. Lights on. He put on gloves. "Table. Pants down." I clutched my pants. "I think the morning check was enough. No need for more medicine." "Really, it's unnecessary..." I finally realized something was wrong. After surgery, he checked me twice a day. Curtain pulled, pants down. Was that really necessary? He laughed, taking off the gloves. "True. Unnecessary. Forget it." Thunderstruck! My brain exploded. Anger replaced fear. "What do you mean?! Explain! Or I'm calling the police!" "Call the police?" He laughed like it was a joke. A wicked smile. "Then I should call the police too. Since you watched a man shower when you were twelve." If I had a mirror, I'd look like a ghost. I knew it! He remembers! Zoey and I have been friends forever. Summer of 7th grade. We went to her house. Her parents were always out. Big empty house. We came back from the library. Zoey gave me the key and ran to buy watermelon. I went in. Needed to pee. The bathroom was far. I couldn't hear anything. I opened the door and saw... A tall man showering. Steam. Muscles. Broad back. Narrow waist. I was twelve! I hadn't even had sex ed! I froze. He looked up. I screamed internally and ran. Forgot to close the door. That day is burned into my memory, right next to the hemorrhoid surgery. Chapter 4 A twelve-year-old girl knows nothing. I was terrified. But Zoey came back with watermelon. She dragged me to the kitchen. When we came out, Ethan was in the living room. Wet hair, wet eyes. Perfect features. Wearing a white basketball jersey, sitting on the sofa watching TV. Zoey yelled, "Bro, when did you get back?" He was a college freshman on summer break. He glanced at us. His gaze swept over me like nothing happened. He ate watermelon and watched the game. Calm. He could pretend, but I was a kid. I've been scared of him since that day. I went to college out of town. Came back last July. The hemorrhoid surgery was the first time I saw him since then. And he held a grudge. My lips trembled. Tears fell. He looked at me deeply. No pity. "You saw everything. We're even. Why cry?" "Are you a man?! Revenging for that? Pervert!" I cried harder. His eyes darkened. He grabbed my hand. Furious. "That? Kid, you owe me way more than that. "Yes, I'm getting revenge. I've never been played by a woman before. You played me like a fiddle. "I gave my heart once, and you played games. I wanted to kill you." What is he talking about? I was stunned. Suddenly, he grabbed my waist and kissed me. Hard. Dominant. Cold scent filling my nose. My brain blanked. He bit me. Pain... He let go slowly, wiping his lip. Smiled evilly. "Tastes good. I'm less angry now." I reacted. Punched and kicked him. "Pervert! Scum! I'll kill you!" He picked me up easily and sat me on the desk. Hand on my thigh. Leaned in close. Eyes dangerous. "Keep fighting, and I'll take you right here." He's crazy. Voice husky. Eyes wild. I cried in terror. Shook my head. "Bro, please! I'm Zoey's best friend! I... I just had surgery! Not recovered! Next time..." Pah! What did I just say?! Ethan paused. Smiled. The viciousness faded. He lifted me down. Whispered in my ear. "Okay. Next time." I fled home. I called Zoey, waking her up. "Zoey, did I ever offend your brother?" "Huh? How could you?" "I don't know either..." I was sobbing. Zoey panicked. "What did he do?" "He... he wanted to kill me." I couldn't mention the other stuff. Zoey gasped. "No way... wait. Is it because of that?" "Speak human! What is it?!" "Don't be mad. Promise?" "Speak!" "Remember in high school I had a boyfriend? My brother found out and made me break up. I faked it, but he found out and scared the boy off. "I hated him. He told me, 'Look at Sarah, quiet and good. Why can't you be like her?' "So I wanted revenge. When we went to the library, I used your phone to add his WeChat and confessed to him." "WHAT!" Zoey cried. "I'm sorry! I just wanted to prank him..." "What did you say?!" "Brother... I dreamed about you last night. You're so handsome. Sarah likes you. Want to kiss you." "..." "Don't be mad! He didn't reply! So I deleted him! I didn't think it mattered!" She deleted him. But she didn't know he added me back later. I was shocked when I saw the friend request. I was scared, but accepted to be polite. He sent four words: Study hard. I was confused. Replied: Okay. I calmed down. Zoey added, "Also..." "ALSO?!" "Ten BBQ meals! Calm down!" "Speak!" "He didn't react, so I asked him later. 'Bro, Sarah says she likes you, wants to be my sister-in-law...' "He was calm. So I sent him videos. "Videos of me joking calling you 'Sister-in-law' and you agreeing. Like when you said 'Sister-in-law will protect you'... I sent those." ... I'm dead. Zoey framed me. So he thinks I liked him, then got a boyfriend in college and flaunted it? He thinks I played him? "Zoey. Tomorrow morning. Explain everything to him." "You want me to die?" "Do you want me to die?" We both silenced. "Rather you than me!" We hung up. Next day at noon. Me: "Did you explain?" Zoey: "I'm at his place. Building up courage." "Now!" Zoey: "I might need to live at your place for a while. I'm scared." "Did he hit you?" "No." "Scold you?" "No. He told me not to go home for a bit." Zoey lived with me for a month. My life went back to normal. Ethan didn't contact me. I was relieved but confused. Sometimes I woke up from dreams about his angry face.
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