"Seriously, sis, you just let me come all by myself? Not even picking me up at the airport~"

Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the sofa, munching an apple.

"You’re a grown man. What’s there to worry about?"

"Aren’t you scared some girl might snatch up your handsome little brother?"

"I’d be thanking my lucky stars if you *didn’t* go snatching up others!"

…………

……

Su Shui peeked from the kitchen, watching the siblings chat. After a moment’s thought, he carried out a fruit platter.

"Xiao Feng, what brings you here suddenly? Come, have some fruit!"

As he spoke, Su Shui plopped down between the two.

The moment Su Shui approached, Lin Feng darted to the adjacent sofa like a mouse spotting a cat.

"Sis… uh, bro-in-law! Hi~"

He mumbled weakly, shrinking back into the cushions with visible trembles.

"What’s going on?" Lin Ning stared blankly at her brother, utterly confused.

"Who knows~ Heh~" Su Shui narrowed his eyes, flashing a peculiar smile as he jerked his chin toward Lin Feng.

"H-Haha…" Lin Feng forced a stiff laugh, frozen in awkwardness.

…………

……

Three years ago.

Su Shui sat rigidly on Lin Ning’s sofa in a crisp white suit.

Lin Ning, in a sundress, snuggled close, her arm looped through his.

Feeling his stiffness, she whispered,

"Don’t be nervous. It’s just an engagement ceremony~"

"Not nervous! Not at all!" Su Shui squirmed like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Rubbing his palms, he leaned against her shoulder.

"Totally calm. Super calm!"

He muttered to himself, but the more he tried to relax, the more his anxiety spiked.

"Shh, easy now."

Lin Ning cupped his chin, gently kissing his forehead.

"You’ve been to my house before. Met my parents loads of times."

"But—"

"No buts. Breathe. I’m not running anywhere~"

As they lingered in the living room, a small head peeked from a side room, staring intently at Su Shui.

"Wait here. I’ll check on Dad—he’s nervous too."

Lin Ning headed to the master bedroom, leaving Su Shui alone.

He’d just calmed down when her absence reignited his panic. He fidgeted, straightened his tie in the mirror, tugged his sleeves, and pulled out the engagement ring—examining it obsessively for flaws.

Just as he slipped it back into his pocket, a boy lunged out and snatched the ring.

"Hey! Give that back! This is armed robbery, you know!"

Su Shui lunged forward, desperate to reclaim it.

"Don’t—don’t come closer!" The boy’s eyes darted nervously.

Su Shui almost laughed. Who gets scared *after* stealing something?

"If you take one more step, I’ll—" The boy scanned the room, eyes landing on a fruit knife.

Su Shui snatched the knife first, hiding it behind his back.

"Try again. What’s your move?"

Tears welled in the boy’s eyes. He fumbled with the ring box, then popped the ring out.

"Come near me, and I’ll swallow this ring!"

"Whoa, whoa! Easy there, hero!"

Su Shui backed off, hands raised.

"You—you put the knife down!"

Su Shui jammed the knife into a potted plant behind him.

"Who *are* you? What’s your deal with my sister?!"

The boy jabbed a finger, hopping with frustration.

"Your sister?"

"Lin Ning!"

"Ohhh, my future brother-in-law~"

"Don’t call me that!"

The boy nearly exploded, mouth gaping as if to swallow the ring whole.

"Stop! That ring cost a fortune!"

Su Shui dropped to his knees, arms on his head. The boy seized the chance, straddling his shoulders.

Perfect opening. Su Shui shoved forward, flipping the boy onto the floor.

"Hand it over!"

He pinned the boy down, wrestling for the ring.

The kid clutched it like a lifeline, refusing to let go.

"Ow! Why’d you bite me?!"

Su Shui yelped, staring at the bloody teeth marks on his hand. Tears pricked his eyes.

"Are you part dog? I’ll need rabies shots for weeks!"

"Bite you to death!"

The boy lunged again, neck outstretched. Su Shui scrambled back.

Emboldened, the boy chased him in circles around the living room. The commotion reached Lin Ning in the master bedroom.

She stormed in, yanking both by their ears.

"Up! Now!"

Hands on hips, she glared at the two grown boys standing like scolded puppies.

"No troublemaking. *Especially* you, Su Shui!"

Su Shui gaped as she turned to her brother.

"Be good. This is your future brother-in-law~ Su Shui! This is my brother Lin Feng. Don’t you *dare* bully him."

Su Shui caught Lin Feng peeking from behind Lin Ning, sticking out his tongue. He grumbled,

"Not sure who’s bullying who here~"

"Both of you behave. If today’s engagement goes sideways—" Lin Ning clenched her fist, "—you’ll answer to me."

"No mistakes, ma’am!" Su Shui snapped a crisp salute, grinning.

"Ugh, so unserious~"

Lin Feng rolled his eyes at their flirting.

When Lin Ning retreated to the bedroom, Su Shui and Lin Feng sat on the sofa, glaring at each other.

"Hey. What makes you think you deserve my sister?"

"What makes me? My irresistible charm, little bro-in-law!"

"I said *don’t* call me that! She’s been tricked! I’ll save her!"

Lin Feng rambled, then drifted off, blushing as he giggled to himself.

Su Shui stared. "You’re… a sis-con?!"

Lin Feng’s face burned crimson. He jumped up, sputtering,

"N-No! I just protect my sister!"

"Sure, sure~ Whatever you say~" Su Shui shrugged, wearing a ‘I believe zero percent of that’ smirk.

"Anyway—let’s settle this. If you lose, you leave her alone!"