The Strongest Way to Survive in the Apocalypse - Chapter 2：F*cking Adopted

“Brother. Where were you?”

Li An, his younger sister, was sitting on his bed, evidently waiting for him. Li Qiang felt a headache seeing her.

Her eyes widened, seeing his messy state and blood covered clothing.

“Li Qiang! Were you fighting again? I said I would tell mother the next time you fought!”

Li Qiang groaned mentally.

“An-An, please let your brother go this once. I swear I won’t ever do it again.”

“I told you last time that it would be the last time. I, a woman of character, cannot go back on her word! But for my dear brother, maybe I can….”

Li Qiang cursed inside and knew instantly what she was suggesting.He pulled out the 20,000 Yuan and presented to her.

‘What dreamy? What brilliance? This money-grubbing sister is the only reason I’m not rich after all these years of dirty work!’

He thought this in his head, of course.

Li An’s pretty face bloomed into a self-pleased smile.

“I couldn’t take the money my dearest brother fought blood and sweat to obtain as I am a woman of character.”

Li Qiang cursed his shameless sister, of course only in his head.

“It would be a great honour to your brother to present his dearest sister, whom he loves the most in the world, with this meagre sum.”

He began rambling, used to this shameless sister. He continued for a few minutes before Li An was satisfied. At this point, her lovely face was akin to a star in its resplendence.

“If that’s want you really want, brother dearest, I suppose I should save it for when you are more mature and of age.”

Li Qiang was almost fainted at her shamelessness. ‘More mature’? ‘Of age’? She was his younger sister! Despite this, he clenched his teeth and thrust the money into her hands. He then ran out of the room and into the shower. He heard a shout from behind him.

“A towel and your clothes are already in there!”

His anger was soothed by this small deed.

The Li Family was from high places and was both rich and influential. The father, Li Chen, was the only child of the Li Patriarch and so inherited the entire family fortune. He was akin to a classic handsome fellow, tall with clear eyes. He was nothing like the huge frame of Li Qiang. He was kind man yet also ruthless to his enemies and had served in the military when he was young.

The women of the family were just as outstanding. Li Ying, originally Bai Ying, came from another ancient and influential family and had married into the family. She, on the outside, was elegant and demure with glossy black hair and porcelain skin, which remained uncracked even in her middle age. However, on the inside, she was a tigress. She ruled over the other 3 members of her household with an iron fist. This was also why Li Qiang was so scared by Li An’s threat of snitching.

Finally, the golden child, Li An. She was a copy of her mother, in character, disposition and looks. She was also much smarter than Li Qiang and excelled at every level of education. She spoke several languages and played the piano to a high level. She was able to do all this, only being 7 months younger than Li Qiang, because of her amazing talent.

The family followed a strict schedule on weekdays, enforced by the mother of the family, Li Ying. They were all up by 8 o’clock, and at breakfast at 8:30. In the evening, the parents arrived home at 8:00 and everyone was to be down for dinner at 8:30.

As the family sat around the table, there was an odd silence. Li Qiang exchanged looks with Li An, who seemed similarly puzzled by her parent’s quietness.

“Li Qiang.”

Li Qiang instantly recognized something was wrong, as his mother never addressed him as Li Qiang and mostly called him ‘Big Qi or Ah Qi’.

“Me and your father have discussed something very important and we have decided to tell you something. We have kept this from you for your entire life, but only so that we could accept you into our family.”

Mother Li paused and held Li Qiang’s hand.

“We still love you, no matter what.”

“The truth is, you aren’t our son. You might have guessed this, but we adopted you into the family when Ying was pregnant with An-An. When I was young and, in the military, a good friend of mine died in combat. His wife had died during childbirth and so I took it upon myself to raise you.”

The dining room was silent, and everyone looked at Li Qiang. His mouth spasmed as he felt the intense awkwardness.

“Dad, mom… to be honest, I have suspected this for many years. My body and looks are clearly not from this family.”

The awkwardness reined over the table for another few seconds.”But I will always continue to regard you two as my parents. You took me in, raised me and loved me. For that, I will always love you back.”

Li Chen directly stood up. He strode over to Li Qiang and hugged him.”Son, I will always love you as well, and you will always have a place in my family.”

He was joined by his mother and the three of them hugged each other for a few seconds. They then broke off and returned to their seats. The table then resumed its liveliness, the awkwardness seemingly gone and Li An’s silence went unnoticed. The day ended in sleep.