The sound of the bell signaling the end of class echoed through the hallway as Lina gathered her books, preparing to leave. Just as she stepped outside, a voice called out behind her, "Lina, wait!"
She turned around and saw a boy with glasses running toward her. Confused, she asked, "Do you know me? Who are you?"
The boy adjusted his glasses awkwardly and smiled nervously. "Hello, my name is Zhang Rui. I'm part of the math club. And yes, I know you. You were the math champion last year, right?"
Lina paused for a moment, remembering the competition she had almost forgotten. "I did win last year," she thought to herself before smiling back at him. "Yes, that was me. How can I help you, Zhang Rui?"
Still looking a bit flustered, Zhang Rui said, "I'm the president of the math club, and I'd love to invite you to join."
Lina chuckled softly and replied, "Thank you for the offer, but I'm not interested in participating in those competitions anymore." She turned to walk away.
Zhang Rui, now desperate, followed after her, calling out, "But if you join, you'll earn a lot of credits!"
Lina smiled again, but despite his persistence, she declined. She continued walking toward the campus exit with Zhang Rui trailing behind, trying to convince her. As they approached the gate, she noticed a familiar car parked out front. It looked exactly like Bo Qiang's car, and she found it odd.
"He wouldn't be here, would he?" she thought, scratching her head.
Hours earlier, in his office, Bo Qiang received a call from his father.
"Have you picked up your sister from school yet?" Wei Lian asked.
Bo Qiang felt a wave of discomfort wash over him every time his father referred to Lina as his "sister." He replied, "Not yet. There's still time before I need to get her."
Wei Lian acknowledged this and continued, "I understand. Since she's new to the city, and neither your mother nor I are home at the moment, you should take her out every once in a while, let her explore the city."
Bo Qiang sighed, running a hand through his hair. "More work," he thought.
Wei Lian pressed on, "Take her to the park today. Let her get to know the area."
"Dad, I'm a bit busy today," Bo Qiang replied, trying to avoid the task.
His father's tone shifted to frustration. "You said you'd take care of your sister. Take her out today, and I'll let you handle that rural project you've been asking about."
At that, Bo Qiang's interest piqued. He sighed deeply before agreeing, "Fine, I'll pick her up."
Wei Lian, pleased with himself, smiled and hung up.
Lian Mei, Bo Qiang's mother, overheard the conversation and asked, "You really think this will work?"
Wei Lian chuckled arrogantly. "Of course. Bo Qiang's always been this way. He probably thinks Lina is interesting, but because he's stubborn like us, he'll resist. He hates being forced into anything."
Lian Mei laughed as well. "But he is being forced."
Wei Lian shrugged. "It's different. She's his sister now. He won't be as suspicious. And when he starts to like her more, I'll pull back, just to see how he handles it."
Lian Mei thought about it and added, "But what if Lina doesn't like him?"
Wei Lian smirked. "That'll depend on Bo Qiang's charm. If they don't end up liking each other, I won't push it." But in his mind, he thought, "Highly unlikely. With how Lina swoons over handsome guys, Bo Qiang's got a pretty good shot."
Back at the university, Lina's thoughts were spinning. "He should be at work, right?"
Bo Qiang sat in the driver's seat, watching her from the car. He smiled when their eyes met, but his expression darkened when he noticed the boy walking behind her. Irritated and not fully understanding why, he stepped out of the car and strode toward her.
"Lina, let's go home," he said.
Lina blinked in surprise, not expecting him to come pick her up, but she quickly composed herself. She looped her arm around his, grinning playfully. "Alright, brother Bo Qiang."
Bo Qiang's heart skipped a beat for a brief moment when she held his arm, but his face remained impassive.
Casting a sharp look at Zhang Rui, he asked coldly, "And who's this?"
Zhang Rui froze under Bo Qiang's gaze, unsure of how to respond, while Lina glanced between the two of them and thought, This world is full of handsome men, but if I had to choose, Bo Qiang is definitely more my type. She smirked slightly.
Bo Qiang would never admit it now, but there was something about Lina's presence that made his otherwise ordinary day a little more... complicated and funny.