A dinner of destiny

"Brother, why didn't you save me? It hurts so much! Why won't anyone save me? Why?!"

"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have killed me! We wouldn't have been swindled out of the company, either!"

"Mom and Dad trusted you so much, and you let us all down! It was all you!!!"

The voice in his head grew louder and louder, like a tape recording amplified without limit, twisted and terrifying.

His body seemed to have sunk into a bottomless swamp, leaving him unable to move. The voice grew ever sharper and more piercing, until it was unbearable.

He felt dizzy, and his vision blurred. He struggled to open his eyes, but his eyelids had become impossibly heavy.

He didn't even know what he was doing. He only felt himself staggering forward, as though searching for something in the darkness.

A sudden gust of wind blew in, chilling him to the bone, and he couldn't help shivering.

"I'm so cold, Xingxing..."

His eyes flew open, and the scene before him gradually came into focus.

He found himself standing by the window. At some point, it had been opened, and gusts of cold wind struck his face. His body was almost numb from the cold, stiff even when he tried to move.

He lowered his head and saw a sharp little knife gripped in his hand, its blade covered in blood. His hand trembled as blood kept welling from the wound and dripping onto the floor.

He stared at it all, dazed for a moment.

Slowly, he raised his head and gazed out the window, his eyes clouded with confusion.

Outside, everything was pitch-black. Only the distant streetlights gave off a faint glow, flickering between light and darkness.

Loneliness and despair surged from the depths of his heart, impossible to hold back.

Even if everything began again, the hurt he had caused others could never be erased.

Finally, he curled his lips into a bitter smile, climbed onto the windowsill, and sat down. His tone was as casual as if he were discussing the weather:

"Ah, autumn's here."

He closed his eyes and let the cold wind brush his face, as though cutting himself off from the entire world.

Much as he hated to admit it, even after starting over, he still seemed to love laughing and fooling around just as much.

But he seemed to be ill, trapped in a dark vortex he could neither escape nor outrun.

"Brother? I've been calling you forever. Why aren't you answering? They're styling your hair. Move a little!" Lin Xingmo watched his brother suddenly drift off again, unease stirring in his chest.

He had gotten up early that morning to use the bathroom and thought he would check whether his brother was sleeping well, only to discover that his bedroom door wasn't even shut.

He had assumed his brother had gone out. But when he pushed the door open, a dark figure was crouching on the floor, holding a knife and wiping at something he couldn't make out.

It looked exactly like a murder scene.

[Uh-oh, I'm toast~]

If his brother's inner voice hadn't sounded just before his scream erupted, he might have charged in with a stick.

Where the stick would have come from wasn't important. It was just a figure of speech.

But even now, his brother insisted it had been an accident. He had woken up hungry in the middle of the night and wanted some fruit, then started eating as he sliced because he was starving.

He had been enjoying it so much that he hadn't noticed cutting his hand.

Lin Xingmo looked at his brother's bloody paw.

Keep pretending! Go right ahead!

[I made it sound so convincing. He'll definitely believe me.]

[After all, these days, the more ridiculous something is, the more believable it sounds.]

Lin Xingmo: (=_=)

That was so absurd, not even an elementary school kid would believe it!!!

Grumbling aside, he still felt sorry for his brother.

After he helped bandage the wound, his brother shooed him away. Yet even now, he still looked unsettled. Was something going to happen today?

Although he kept hearing his brother mention that accident back then, his brother had never recalled it in detail in his thoughts. Was there something he didn't want to remember?

"Mr. Lin, Mr. Lin, are you both satisfied with our service today?"

Today was Old Mr. Qi's milestone birthday banquet. Nearly every family had received an invitation, and Father Lin and Mother Lin had dressed up, prepared their gifts, and gone ahead to offer their greetings.

Lin Xingmo looked at himself in the mirror. The exquisite makeup made his already fair, delicate face look even more lovely, like a peony newly blooming in spring, radiant yet elegant.

His dazzling, cleverly designed little formal outfit traced his perfect figure. Even simply standing there, he drew the eye.

To make him look a little more mature, his brother had even suggested a beautiful perm with big, flowing waves.

The stylist had prepared a suit for Lin Xingye in the same color palette as his younger brother's outfit. The tailored clothes brought out his tall, superb...

Well, he would have looked very handsome if he hadn't been making strange movements in front of the mirror, pretending to be a chick.

The stylist dragged him back to straighten his clothes and added a few small, delicate accessories. With his hair lightly curled, he looked even more like an exquisite, beautiful little figurine.

His brother blinked at him, envy written all over his face.

[I want a foil perm too. I feel like a Barbie doll right now. This doesn't suit my macho-man image at all!]

Lin Xingmo paused in the middle of taking a selfie and turned toward his brother. Unbidden, his mind superimposed the hair of a foil perm onto his brother's head.

He closed his eyes.

It wasn't that it would look bad. It was just that, paired with this outfit, it would feel indescribably... well, you know.

Smiling, he linked arms with Lin Xingye and told the receptionist, "Very satisfied. Thank you for everything today~"

In the banquet hall, Old Mr. Qi was still reasonably hale and hearty. Without anyone supporting him, he chatted about everyday matters with a few old friends, while guests occasionally approached to offer their congratulations.

Li Hanwen had switched cosmetics brands this time. They had assured him that this one was absolutely waterproof and smudge-proof, so it definitely wouldn't expose the bruises on his face like last time.

First, Lin Xingye had hit him. Then Bo Xi, whether because he disapproved of Li Hanwen's behavior or for some other reason, had come over to warn him too. Otherwise, Li Hanwen would have gone after them long ago.

Thanks to that, however, the reporters hadn't released any related photos. He had only lost face within their circle, which was far better than what he had initially expected.

Although he had still lost a few business partners over it, that was better than having everyone find out.

Today, he had to find a way to win Old Mr. Qi's favor!

Picking up his prepared gift at the entrance, he strode into the hall with an air of confidence and headed straight toward Old Mr. Qi.

After growing up and taking over the company's affairs, Qi Sijing and Qi Sinian had rarely returned to visit the old family residence.

Old Mr. Qi doted on both grandchildren. The moment they arrived, he called them to his side and kept them there for company.

Li Hanwen had just stepped forward to greet him and hadn't yet delivered his birthday wishes when a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Good evening, Old Mr. Qi."

It was Lin Xingye and Lin Xingmo.

Li Hanwen cast a discreet glance at them and thought, Of all the people to run into.

Lin Xingye's lips curved slightly, a dark gleam flashing through his eyes.

[You little bastard. Your big brother Xing timed his arrival just for you!]

At the sight of Lin Xingye, Qi Sinian rolled her eyes and muttered, "Just my luck."

Lin Xingye was still quietly gloating when he looked up and met Qi Sijing's gaze. The corners of his mouth immediately drooped.

Old Mr. Qi hadn't missed the undercurrents between them, but these young people's affairs hardly warranted his attention.

Lin Xingmo took a few steps forward and respectfully drew his brother into a slight bow with him, offering sincere congratulations. "Happy seventieth birthday, Grandpa Qi. Momo wishes you..."

Although the Lin Family's standing was nowhere near the Qi Family's, most of these children had grown up together and knew one another somewhat.

Besides, it was a special occasion, so Lin Xingmo could still address him as Grandpa.

Qi Sijing's stare made Lin Xingye's skin crawl, and he couldn't help looking up to glare at him.

[What are you staring at, you stinking Little Fish? Pervert!]

[Your tea bag's over there. Stop looking at me!]

Hearing that, Qi Sijing looked toward the entrance and happened to see a meticulously dressed young man coming in, chatting and laughing with someone from a family he couldn't identify.

The young man hadn't left much of an impression on him. He couldn't remember what he looked like.