The Jiang family house had never been this loud before.
Voices overlapped. Laughter echoed. The smell of home-cooked food filled every corner like a warm embrace.
Jiang Yue stood at the doorway, blinking in mild disbelief.
"…Did I accidentally come to the wrong house?"
Her mother turned instantly. "You're back!"
Before she could react, she was pulled into a tight hug.
"You've lost weight," her mom said immediately, cupping her face. "Are you eating properly? Are you sleeping? Are people feeding you? Do you need me to send food?"
"I—Mom—oxygen—"
Her brother snorted from the couch. "She's trending every two days. I think she's eating fine."
"I almost got poisoned yesterday," Jiang Yue muttered.
"…WHAT?"
Silence.
Her mother froze.
Her father slowly lowered his teacup.
Her brother stood up.
"…You almost what?"
Jiang Yue immediately regretted speaking.
"IT WAS A SMALL POISON," she added quickly. "Like… a tiny one. Barely noticeable."
Her brother stared at her. "That's not how poison works."
[System Alert: Host social recovery attempt failed.]
"…I tried," she whispered internally.
The Warmth She Forgot
Dinner was loud. Chaotic. Comforting.
Her mom kept piling food onto her plate like she was preparing her for hibernation.
"Eat more."
"Mom, I can't breathe."
"Eat."
Her father smiled quietly, watching her with soft eyes.
"You've grown brighter," he said.
The words hit her harder than anything else that night.
Her throat tightened.
"…Thanks, Dad."
Because her real father
Had never said that.
She looked down quickly, hiding the sudden burn in her eyes.
[System Alert: Emotional spike detected.]
[System Tone: softer] It's okay to feel this.
She swallowed. "…Yeah."
After dinner, her mom disappeared briefly, then returned with something in her hands.
A familiar book.
To Love, To Lose, To Heal.
Jiang Yue froze.
"Mom…"
Her mother sat down slowly, fingers trembling slightly as she opened the book.
"I read it," she said softly.
Jiang Yue's chest tightened. "…Okay."
Her mom flipped to a marked page.
Then began to read.
"'Grief doesn't knock. It settles quietly in the empty spaces, in the chair no one sits in anymore…'"
Her voice broke.
Silence filled the room.
"…It reminded me of your aunt," she whispered. "My sister."
Jiang Yue's breath caught.
"I thought I had moved on," her mom continued, tears slipping down her cheeks. "But your words… they brought her back. Not the pain. The love."
The room stilled completely.
Jiang Yue didn't know what to say.
So she moved slowly to her mother's side and
sat beside her mother and took her hand.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Her mom shook her head, smiling through tears. "No. Don't be. You gave me something I didn't know I needed."
Her father cleared his throat quietly, eyes suspiciously bright.
Her brother looked away, muttering, "Okay, this is getting emotional."
[System Alert: Host has achieved "Generational Healing Impact."]
"…That sounds fake," Jiang Yue whispered internally.
[System: It's not.]
The doorbell rang.
Everyone paused.
Her mother blinked. "Were we expecting someone?"
Jiang Yue's heart skipped.
"…Maybe."
She stood, walking toward the door.
Her hand hovered on the handle for a second,
Then she opened it.
Li Zhenkai stood there.
Still in his suit.
Tie slightly loosened.
Eyes tired, but focused.
"…You're late," she said softly.
"Business," he replied.
She tilted her head. "…Murder?"
A faint smirk. "Business murder."
She stepped aside. "Come in."
The moment he stepped inside
Her mother lit up. "Zhenkai!"
Her father stood. "Good to see you again."
Her brother narrowed his eyes slightly. "…You're the CEO."
"Yes," Zhenkai said calmly.
"…And you're dating my sister."
A pause.
Zhenkai glanced at Jiang Yue.
Then back at her brother.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Jiang Yue choked. "Fake dating!"
No one listened.
[System Alert: Reality distortion increasing.]
Dinner resumed, but something had changed.
Zhenkai fit in.
Too easily.
He answered her father's questions.
Listened to her mother's stories.
Even tolerated her brother's interrogation.
"You hurt her," her brother said bluntly, "then you'll have me to deal with."
Zhenkai didn't blink. "Understood."
Jiang Yue stared at him.
"…You're agreeing too easily."
"I'm being honest."
Her heart did that annoying thing again.
Later,after dinner she stepped outside for air.
The night was quiet.
For once.
She leaned against the railing, exhaling slowly.
"Running away?"
She turned.
Zhenkai.
"Taking a break," she corrected.
He stepped closer.
Not too close.
But close enough.
"You did well," he said.
"…At dinner?"
"At everything."
Her gaze softened. "…You always say that."
"Because it's true."
The silence stretched, but it was comfortable
[System Alert: High romance probability detected.]
[System Mission: Initiate kiss sequence.]
Her brain short-circuited. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
[System: Coward.]
"…Excuse me?"
"What?" Zhenkai asked.
"Nothing!"
She looked away quickly.
Then
Zhenkai's expression changed instantly.
"What is it?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
Instead he pulled her closer.
Shielding her.
His gaze scanned the darkness.
Ther was danger again, she keeps thinking
"Stay behind me," he said quietly.
Her heart pounded. "…Zhenkai"
"Trust me."
She did.
Of course she did.
A shadow moved.
Footsteps.
Then
Nothing.
Silence again.
Too quiet.
Zhenkai didn't relax.
Not until several seconds passed.
Then slowly—
He exhaled.
"…They're watching."
Her breath hitched. "…Still?"
"Yes."
Her fingers curled into his sleeve.
"…I'm tired," she admitted softly.
He looked down at her.
And something in his expression shifted.
Softer.
Closer.
His hand lifted—
Brushed her cheek.
Her breath caught.
"Then lean on me," he said quietly.
The distance between them shrank.
Just slightly.
Her heart raced.
His gaze dropped to her lips.
[System Alert: THIS IS IT.]
[System Mission: DO NOT MESS THIS UP.]
Her mind went blank.
His hand tightened slightly.
She closed her eyes and then
"YUE! COME BACK INSIDE!"
Her mother's voice.
They froze.
Jiang Yue opened her eyes slowly.
"…Of course."
Zhenkai exhaled sharply, stepping back.
"…Of course."
[System Alert: Mission failed.]
[System Comment: I hate this family.]
"…ME TOO," Jiang Yue snapped internally.
Later that night
Jiang Yue lay in bed, staring at the ceiling again.
But this time
She wasn't alone.
Not really.
Her phone buzzed with a message.
Zhenkai: Text me when you're inside.
She smiled faintly.
I'm inside.
His reply cam faster than she thought..
Okay, Good Sleep.
She stared at the screen.
Her heart steady.
Her fear… quieter.
[System Status Update:]
Survival Rate: 78%
Emotional Bond: Near Critical
Threat Level: Active Surveillance
She exhaled softly.
"…I almost kissed him."
[System: Next time, don't hesitate.]
Her lips curved.
"…Next time."