Wang Mansion, Night
Ruoxi was sprawled comfortably on the couch in the living room, the television flickering softly as she flipped through channels absentmindedly. The sound of the door opening made her glance up.
"I'm home," Guo Min said, slipping off her heels and placing them neatly on the shoe rack before sliding into her home slippers.
"Welcome…" Ruoxi replied, her tone light, but her brows lifted slightly. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon."
She paused mid-scroll, then suddenly dropped the remote onto the couch and turned fully toward her.
"Go take a shower first," she said, already standing up. "I'll prepare something for you to eat."
Then, as if remembering. "Oh and, Mom and Dad want to video call us tonight. They asked about you, but I told them you were at the Zhu mansion."
She started walking toward the kitchen. "We'll call them after you come back down."
Guo Min gave a small nod. "Alright."
A while later, she came back downstairs, hair loosely tied with a soft bow, a pillow tucked under one arm, her laptop in the other.
She dropped onto the couch beside Ruoxi, settling in comfortably.
"Welcome back," Ruoxi said dryly, not even looking away from the TV.
"Why, thank you," Guo Min replied with equal sarcasm.
Her gaze shifted to the bowl placed in front of her.
Noodles.
She stared at it for a second before picking up the chopsticks.
"I expected this," she said, taking a bite. "You've never been a good cook anyway."
Ruoxi gasped dramatically, turning to her. "Wow. Taking my good intentions and hard work for granted. What kind of sister are you?"
Guo Min only hummed, continuing to eat.
For a moment, it was just them, in the dim living room with flickering lights from the television.
Almost like nothing had happened.
Then... Ruoxi's hand stilled on the remote. She placed it down slowly on the glass table and shifted, sitting more upright.
"So…" her voice turned quieter, more serious. "How was it?"
Guo Min didn't look up. "How was what?" she asked between bites.
Ruoxi raised a brow. "…You and my brother-in-law." A small pause. "I thought you were going to talk things out."
Guo Min finally lifted her gaze slightly. "…We talked," she said. "That's all. And he apologized."
"Really?" Ruoxi leaned back slightly, studying her. Then added, more carefully, "I thought you loved him."
Guo Min didn't hesitate. "I did... And I still do."
That made Ruoxi frown slightly. "Then why haven't you forgiven him?" she asked. "You just said he apologized."
Guo Min's chopsticks stilled mid-air. For a second, she didn't speak. Then slowly, she set them down. "…If it wasn't Lixi," she said quietly, her voice losing its earlier lightness, "if it was you who got hurt…"
Her eyes lifted to meet Ruoxi's.
"we are from different families but you are my sister… do you think a 'sorry' would fix it?"
Ruoxi's lips pressed into a thin line.
"And besides," Guo Min continued, softer now but no less firm, "that apology wasn't for me." she paused, "I wasn't the one lying in a coma."
Even though the television still played in the background, the room fell silent and neither of them paid attention anymore.
Ruoxi looked at her for a long moment, her expression shifting, understanding finally settling in. "…You're right," she said finally, quietly.
Guo Min didn't respond. She just picked up her chopsticks again and continued eating.
Ruoxi watched her for a moment, then sighed softly before shifting closer. Without asking, she gently laid her head on Guo Min's lap, making herself comfortable.
"So…" she began, her voice softer now, "Lixi is out of the coma and getting better, and the men aren't really needed in our lives for now," she added. "So take care of your sister here too."
Guo Min let out a small giggle, glancing down at her. "Hey, I'm busy," she said lightly. "I've been neglecting work for quite a while now. I need to handle some urgent things."
Ruoxi immediately sat up, pouting. "Wow," she huffed. "You've learned one or two things from my brother-in-law. Now you want to act cold with me too?"
Guo Min shot her an amused look.
Then, without arguing, she reached forward and pulled a small table closer, placing her laptop on it.
"Don't be dramatic," she muttered, already opening it.
Ruoxi crossed her arms but stayed right beside her, leaning slightly against her shoulder anyway. "Hmm. Busy woman," she mumbled.
Guo Min didn't reply this time. But the faint smile at the corner of her lips gave her away.
Next Morning, Wang Mansion.
Morning light filtered softly through the curtains.
Guo Min sat slouched on the couch, her head tilted back, one hand absentmindedly resting in Ruoxi's hair. Sometime during the night, both of them had fallen asleep like that, unintentionally, exhaustion finally catching up with them.
The room was quiet.
Until... Bzzzz.
Ruoxi's phone vibrated loudly on the glass table.
Half asleep, she groaned and reached for it, trying to silence the noise but instead, she accidentally answered the call.
The TV screen flickered to life. "Are you girls seriously still sleeping at this hour?!" Yun Ai's sharp voice blasted through the speakers.
Both Guo Min and Ruoxi jolted awake immediately. "Good morning, Mom!" "Morning, Mom!"
They scrambled upright, wiping drool, fixing their messy hair, and trying to look even remotely presentable.
Yun Ai stared at them through the screen, utterly unimpressed. "Oh wow, look at these two," she said, turning slightly as if addressing someone beside her. "Running companies, yet still sleeping like children. It's already 10 a.m.!"
"Come on, dear," Wang Mingze's voice came in, calm and amused as he appeared on screen. He leaned in and kissed Yun Ai's cheek. "We're the ones enjoying ourselves in Europe. Let them rest a little."
Then he smiled warmly. "Good morning, my girls."
"Morning, Dad," Guo Min replied, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Ruoxi stretched lazily before smirking. "You two are really living your best lives. Every parent wants to become grandparents, but our parents? They're trying to give us younger siblings instead."
Guo Min let out a soft laugh.
"Shut up," Yun Ai snapped immediately. "Grandchildren, my foot. One daughter is married, but the man I entrusted her to is acting like a complete pest. And the other, God knows if she's even straight."
Ruoxi shot upright. "Hey! Mom, what do you mean by that? Of course I'm straight!"
"Then prove it."
Ruoxi froze for a second before turning dramatically toward Guo Min. "Guo Min! Mom thinks I'm not straight. Tell her!"
Guo Min didn't even look up. "Tell her what?" she said casually, already gathering her things.
Ruoxi's jaw dropped.
Guo Min stood up, picking up her laptop and adjusting her clothes. "Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad. I'm heading to the office."
Wang Mingze chuckled softly. "Alright, take care."
Yun Ai narrowed her eyes but didn't stop her.
Guo Min walked off toward the stairs without another glance.
Ruoxi stared after her in disbelief before turning back to the screen, completely betrayed.
"You bitch. Betrayer," she muttered under her breath. "Brother-in-law has definitely rubbed off on you. Wicked human being."
From upstairs, Guo Min's faint laughter echoed, the house felt a little lighter again.
After getting dressed, Guo Min made her way downstairs, adjusting the sleeve of her blazer as she walked.
Ruoxi was in the living room, lazily scrolling through her phone. "No breakfast?" Ruoxi asked, glancing up.
"I'll grab fast food," Guo Min replied, picking up her bag. "I'm already late."
She paused briefly, turning back.
"…You know that project I've been working on?"
Ruoxi's expression brightened immediately. "It's a success, right?"
Guo Min didn't answer directly, but the faint lift at the corner of her lips said enough.
Ruoxi grinned. "Good luck with your meeting. You'll tell me everything tonight."
"Hmm. Thank you." With that, Guo Min turned and walked out.
---
Outside the Wang Mansion
The morning air was crisp.
Guo Min stepped out, her heels clicking lightly against the pavement—then stopped.
Her gaze landed on a familiar figure.
Zihan stood beside his parked car.
Waiting.
She raised a brow slightly, caught off guard.
"…Good morning, Guo Min," he said, his voice calm, though softer than usual.
"Good morning," she replied, her expression shifting into mild confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"…I was waiting for you."
A small pause.
"…Can I drive you to the office?"
Guo Min stared at him for a moment, studying his face like she was trying to understand something unfamiliar.
"You're not yourself today," she said bluntly.
Then she shook her head lightly.
"Anyways, I'm late. Don't worry about me. Maybe another time."
She gestured toward her car. "I'll drive myself."
Zihan paused, his hand stretched out before he stopped himself. "Okay. Have a nice day Guo Min". He said and she smiled at him.