“Who told you I didn’t want to get married?” Zhou Lie strode over and smacked the back of his younger brother Zhou Lin’s head.
He just didn’t want to marry a woman he didn’t love.
“Ah…” Zhou Lin cried out and raised a hand to cover his head. “Brother, go easy on me. My head already hurts. You’re so annoying.”
He was nothing like the cool, unbothered guy who’d been acting all cocky just moments ago.
Lu Ning stood nearby, lips pressed together as she smiled.
Her younger brother-in-law was so much fun.
Zhou Lie snapped, “If you keep spouting nonsense in front of your sister-in-law, I’ll knock your head clean off.”
“I’m not spouting nonsense. You’re the one who told Mom and Dad you didn’t want to marry Xia Yuwei,” Zhou Lin argued.
Then he suddenly froze. He turned to look at Lu Ning, then turned back to his brother.
“I get it, Brother. You like her? She looks like she’s not even an adult, but you’re almost thirty. Aren’t you worried people will say you’re an old bull eating young grass?”
“I’m only twenty-eight!” Zhou Lie corrected him. “Your sister-in-law is twenty-four. We’re only four years apart. Wait—why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at school right now?”
Zhou Lin pouted. “Didn’t I tell you my head hurts?”
Why could nobody see that he was sick?
Everyone cared only about his grades. No one cared about his health.
His parents were like that, and even the brother he admired and loved most was the same. It made him so sad.
His head seemed to hurt even more.
“Headache, my ass,” Zhou Lie said. “You’re just asking for a beating. You don’t want to go to school, so you make up all kinds of excuses.”
Zhou Lin felt terribly wronged. “I’m not making it up. My head really hurts. What do I have to say for you to believe me?”
“I believe you.” Lu Ning hurried over and reached up to feel Zhou Lin’s forehead.
Zhou Lin froze.
Lu Ning’s hand was soft and fragrant, and it seemed to give off an electric charge. He felt a little shock, followed by a tingling sensation.
His heart began to race, and his throat grew even drier.
She said she believed him?
Did she really believe him?
“He’s not lying. He has a fever,” Lu Ning told Zhou Lie. “You’re a police officer, for goodness’ sake. You can’t just accuse people without getting the facts straight. Take Zhou Lin to the hospital and have him checked out. A fever can be serious or mild, but it needs to be treated in time.”
Zhou Lie quickly reached out to feel Zhou Lin’s forehead. It really was burning hot. He’d wronged his younger brother.
Good thing Lu Ning had noticed.
Zhou Lie felt even more fond of his sweet wife.
Lu Ning was nothing like the spoiled, willful rich young lady he’d expected. On the contrary, she was thoughtful and considerate.
“I’m not going,” Zhou Lin protested, his face full of resistance. “I caught a cold from one of my classmates. I’ll be fine after resting for two days.”
“He’s afraid of hospitals. He’s been scared of them since he was little,” Zhou Lie explained to Lu Ning. “I’ll see if we have any fever medicine.”
“No,” Lu Ning stopped Zhou Lie.
“Medicine always comes with risks. Even colds can have different causes, so you need the right treatment. If he won’t go to the hospital, we can take him to my dad’s clinic and have him look at Zhou Lin. Wait here while I change.”
Lu Ning turned to find some clothes.
Zhou Lin looked at Zhou Lie and pleaded, “Brother, can I stay home? I really don’t want a shot.”
Zhou Lie answered with a stern face, “You can choose between getting a shot and getting beaten by me.”
Zhou Lin: “…”
Lu Ning changed into a fitted black T-shirt and light blue skinny jeans, which perfectly outlined her curvy figure. She tied her long, black hair into a bun, making her look even younger.
She looked about the same age as Zhou Lin.
Zhou Lin stared at her, dumbstruck.
Zhou Lie, however, frowned. Why did he feel a little jealous? Was he jealous of his own younger brother?
He snatched the bag from Lu Ning’s hand, swept her into his arms, and strode toward the stairs.
Zhou Lin: “…”
“What are you doing? Zhou Lin’s right here! My leg doesn’t hurt anymore. Put me down,” Lu Ning said in one breath.
Zhou Lie didn’t answer. He simply carried her downstairs, doing as he pleased.
Zhou Lin came to his senses and hurried after them. “Sister-in-law, why does your leg hurt?”
“It doesn’t—no, it doesn’t hurt. I just said that by mistake.” Lu Ning’s face turned bright red, and she stammered in her haste.
If Zhou Lin found out the truth, how could she ever face him again?
When Li Ying saw Zhou Lie carrying his wife downstairs again, she looked puzzled. “Alie, are you two going somewhere?”
Zhou Lie answered directly, “Mom, Zhou Lin has a fever. We’re taking him to my father-in-law’s clinic to get checked.”
Li Ying grew anxious. “Zhou Lin, you have a fever? Why didn’t you tell me just now?”
Ever since this son had reached adolescence, he’d become rebellious.
He didn’t tell her anything anymore. If she asked a couple of questions, he got impatient, which gave her a real headache.
Sure enough, Zhou Lin looked annoyed as he replied, “I’m not going to die.”
Li Ying: “…”
“Wait,” Lu Ning said, making Zhou Lie stop. “Turn around.”
Zhou Lie had no idea what she wanted to do, but he did as she asked.
As soon as he turned, Lu Ning raised her hand and smacked Zhou Lin on the back of the head. She’d only tapped him lightly.
Everyone froze.
“Is that any way to talk to your mother?” she scolded. “Do you think we’re mind readers? If you don’t say anything, how are people supposed to know you have a fever? What’s that mouth of yours for? Maybe we should sew it shut.”
Zhou Lin stared at Lu Ning, who looked fierce in the cutest way, and felt terribly wronged. “Then how did you figure it out?”
“Because I have magical eyes.”
Zhou Lin: What the heck?
“Apologize,” Lu Ning ordered. “And listen: if you were my son, I’d beat you within an inch of your life. Did your parents raise you all these years just so you could make them angry? What do you think you owe Mom?”
“Ningning, it’s all right. Kids are like that. You should hurry and take Zhou Lin to the doctor.”
Li Ying looked at Lu Ning gratefully. This girl was much more sensible than the four children she’d given birth to. If only she’d been her daughter.
But now she was her daughter-in-law, which made her half a daughter anyway. That was good, too.
Lu Ning insisted, “No, Mom. One thing has nothing to do with the other. He was disrespectful to his parents, so he needs to be taught better and apologize.”
Zhou Lie hadn’t expected his soft, gentle wife to be so stubborn.
And so principled, too.
He glared at his younger brother. “Zhou Lin, didn’t you hear your sister-in-law? Do you want me to beat you?”
Zhou Lin pressed his lips together and rasped, “I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I was wrong.”
Li Ying’s eyes widened. Her youngest son had actually apologized to her!
Lu Ning instantly switched from fierce to warm and friendly, smiling as she patted Zhou Lin on the shoulder.
“A real man knows when to bend and when to stand firm. If you’ve done something wrong, you should apologize properly. Remember to speak nicely to Mom and Dad from now on.”
“Mom, we’re off. You should go get some rest. Don’t worry about Zhou Lin. I’ll make sure my dad gives him a thorough checkup.”
Li Ying nodded. “All right. Ningning, thank your father for me.”
“It’s nothing, Mom. We’re family.” Lu Ning turned to Zhou Lie. “Let’s go, husband. Could you buy me a cup of milk tea first?”
Zhou Lie smiled. “Sure. I’ll get you one when we pass a milk-tea shop.”
Zhou Lin followed Zhou Lie and his wife and wheedled, “Brother, I want milk tea, too.”
Zhou Lie replied, “You’re such a hassle.”
Zhou Lin: “Brother, you’re playing favorites. Your wife asked first. Why don’t you say she’s a hassle?”
Zhou Lie said, “How can my wife be the same as you? She’s a girl.”
Lu Ning smiled, lips pressed together. She loved listening to the brothers bicker. They were so funny.
Zhou Lin: …Since when was milk tea sexist?