However, Wei Jian raised an eyebrow and replied, his expression serious, "Who said I'm joking? You and Lina have been engaged since forever."

Lina's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing with disbelief. The original story never mentioned anything like this, she thought, feeling the weight of the revelation pressing down on her.

Bo Qiang, still smiling, countered his father's assertion with an air of nonchalance. "But you adopted her. So now we're siblings."

Lian Mei, his mother, interjected gently but firmly. "Bo Qiang, you know very well why we adopted her. But to us, Lina has always been your fiancée. That never changed."

Wei Jian observed his son's indifferent reaction with a mix of concern and resolve. This boy has always been like this—he only realizes what's important when it's slipping away, he thought to himself. Fine then, I'll teach him a bitter lesson about life.

Feigning disappointment, Wei Jian took Lian Mei's hand and announced, "Alright then, from this day forward, you and Lina are officially siblings."

Turning to Lina, he added with a warm, fatherly smile, "Lina, you're starting college soon. If you happen to like someone, just let me know. Your uncle will take care of everything."

Lina found his protective stance amusing and responded with a playful smile, "Okay, Uncle."

Lian Mei exchanged a knowing glance with her husband, fully aware of his intentions. She remained silent, but her eyes spoke volumes, revealing a shared understanding of their son's predicament.

Bo Qiang felt a twinge of discomfort at the lighthearted banter, but he chose to remain silent. He watched the interaction unfold, feeling a strange unease settle in the pit of his stomach.

As the tension in the room dissipated, the family moved to the dining table for dinner.

During the meal, Lian Mei casually suggested, "Bo Qiang, your father and I have been quite busy lately. Could you take Lina to school tomorrow?"

Wei Jian immediately jumped in, his tone authoritative. "That's right. Make sure you take your sister to school, and when we're not around, you're responsible for looking after her."

Bo Qiang paused to consider their words, then nodded. "Alright, Mom, Dad." He glanced at Lina, who seemed entirely focused on her food, not giving any indication of how she felt about the arrangement.

After dinner, Lina headed to the living room to watch TV. Bo Qiang, feeling curious, peeked over to see what show had captured her attention and realized it was the only program he actually enjoyed. Without a word, he sat down on the couch next to her, and they settled into a comfortable silence, watching the screen together without feeling the need to fill the air with conversation.

Wei Jian and Lian Mei noticed the quiet moment between the two and exchanged a satisfied glance before retreating to their room to rest for the night, leaving the young people alone.

As the show continued, Bo Qiang suddenly caught a faint, sweet scent beside him and turned to see that Lina had fallen asleep, curled up comfortably on the couch. She looked peaceful, her breathing soft and steady. For a moment, he hesitated, debating whether to wake her or let her sleep. Ultimately, he leaned over and gently nudged her shoulder.

"Lina," he said softly, "go sleep in your bed."

Lina stirred, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wake up. Still groggy, she blinked up at him and mumbled, "Okay, Brother Bo Qiang. I'll go to my room. Thanks."

Bo Qiang couldn't help but smile slightly at her. She looked so cute and obedient in that half-asleep state. As he watched her shuffle off to her room, his father's earlier words about her being his "future wife" echoed in his mind. The thought caught him off guard, and he quickly shook his head, pushing the idea away as if it were a fleeting dream.

He nodded briefly to acknowledge her response and turned away, heading upstairs without waiting for her. As he climbed the stairs, the strange feeling from the night's events lingered, unsettling him. He forced himself to focus on something else, determined to leave the confusing emotions behind for the moment.