In a narrow alley, thugs lay scattered on the ground.
Su Shui was already unconscious. Lin Feng cowered in the corner, shivering slightly. Only the girl stood alone, punching and kicking to take them all down.
She bent down and gently hoisted Su Shui onto her shoulder.
Seeing Lin Feng still sitting dazed in the corner, she reached out. "You okay?"
...
...
In the living room, Su Shui lay sprawled on the sofa, a big bump swelling on his head.
Lin Ning gently wiped his face with a towel. Lin Feng and the girl sat nearby.
"So, what exactly happened here!" Lin Ning said, gazing at the unconscious Su Shui with concern.
"Nothing much. Just some trash blocked our way~" the girl replied casually.
"Nothing much? Look what they did to your brother!"
Agitated, Lin Ning slapped Su Shui’s head.
"Ouch!"
Su Shui jolted awake, staring at her with innocent eyes.
"Stay away from my brother!" the girl snapped, seeing him hit for no reason. She shoved Lin Ning aside protectively.
"Seriously, why did my brother even marry you!"
Gently placing Su Shui’s head on her lap, the girl glared at Lin Ning, complaining.
"So what! He proposed to me, not you. You’re just his sister~" Lin Ning shot back.
Watching the two about to clash again, Su Shui hurried to intervene.
"Sigh, can’t you two stop fighting the moment you meet? My head’s killing me!"
The girl softly stroked Su Shui’s hair, smirking at Lin Ning.
"Oh right, Xiao Feng doesn’t know you yet. This is my sister, Su Qing. And this is my sister-in-law’s brother, Lin Feng."
Su Shui introduced them. "By the way, you’re in the same class now~"
"I know. He sits behind me," Su Qing said, still stroking Su Shui’s head. She glanced up at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng instantly sat straighter, terrified of displeasing her.
"Ugh, you two chat. I’m going to lie down~"
Su Shui held his head and walked to the bedroom.
"Bro~ I’ll come with you~" Su Qing followed, about to enter.
"Get out here!" Lin Ning grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
In the living room, the two women squared off, tension crackling.
"I’ll care for him, sister-in-law!" Lin Ning glared, stressing "sister-in-law" sharply.
"No way. How could a noble lady like you tend to that loser? I’ll do it~ Oh, when’s your divorce?"
"Ugh!" The word "divorce" stabbed Lin Ning’s heart like a knife. "I’d never divorce him! Hahaha..."
She stood forcing a laugh, eyes darting away.
Su Qing sensed something off. "You’re actually divorced?!"
Lin Ning stayed silent, head bowed.
"Damn it!" Su Qing lunged forward, grabbing her collar. "How dare you divorce him! What’s wrong with him? Damn it!"
"Tch, I thought you’d be thrilled~" Lin Ning feigned triumph, slapping Su Qing’s hand away.
"Tch, figures. I’d only cheer if my brother dumped you first!" Su Qing scowled.
"So... I’ll take care of him~" Lin Feng weakly raised his hand.
"Oh~ Your hand’s hurt! Let me bandage it!"
Su Qing pulled him to the sofa and gently wrapped his hand.
It was just a tiny cut under two centimeters, but she swaddled his whole hand like a dumpling.
"No way I’m letting you two siblings cozy up to my brother!"
Seeing the over-the-top bandage, Lin Ning rushed over. "Xiao Feng, how bad is it? Xiao Feng? Talk!"
She anxiously examined his hand while Lin Feng sat dazed, replaying Su Qing’s tender touch. Her scent still lingered around him.
Slowly, his face flushed red, lost in strange daydreams.
"Lin Feng!"
Lin Ning slapped his head, snapping him awake.
"I’m fine! Just a scratch."
"A scratch bandaged like this? Unwrap it—I’ll redo it~"
As Lin Ning reached for the gauze, Lin Feng leaped up. "Don’t touch it! It’s perfect!"
While they argued over the bandage, Su Qing slipped into the bedroom.
Su Shui lay face-down on the bed, half-asleep and groggy.
He longed to rest properly, but the bump on his head wouldn’t allow it.
*Click.*
The door opened. Su Qing tiptoed over. Seeing the bump, she dashed to the fridge, grabbed ice cubes, and wrapped them in a towel for a cold compress.
The chill jolted Su Shui awake.
"Little Qingqing~ Where’s your sister-in-law?"
Hearing her nickname, Su Qing smiled—until he asked for Lin Ning. Her face darkened instantly.
She pressed the ice pack down hard. Su Shui yelped.
"Bro~ You only need me now, got it?"
"Got it, got it!" Su Shui obeyed. He’d always feared his sister. As kids, they’d both trained in martial arts—but only she stuck with it.
Now, Su Qing could fend off three strong men barehanded. Swords, spears, halberds, whips—she mastered them all.
Since middle school, Su Shui had lived under her rule. Chatting too long with girls meant punishment at home. Physical contact? Unthinkable.
Yet Lin Ning had held her ground against Su Qing—a shock to Su Shui. Everyone knew the fierce fighter hidden beneath her gentle facade.
As Su Qing’s small hands gently massaged his head, Su Shui drifted into sleep.
"Seriously, what’s so great about Lin Ning anyway!"
Watching him drool, Su Qing sighed and wiped his chin.
"He was promised to me! Grandpa’s so unreliable..."
She softly stroked his cheek, remembering her grandfather’s deathbed words.
...
...
"Little Qing, my days are few. I must tell you something."
"What is it, Grandpa~" Young Su Qing, just starting middle school, sat by his bedside.
"You’re not a Su by blood. I found you at a temple... raised you as Ah Shui’s child bride~"
"Huh!?"
"Don’t grieve. You’ve always been my true granddaughter!"
"No... thank you, Grandpa!"
Little Su Qing ran out beaming—and bumped into Su Shui chatting with a female classmate.
"Bro! What are you doing!"
