Night fell.
The city lights flickered on, painting the streets in neon and gold.
Inside a private room at a restaurant, six identical faces sat around the table—each with a different expression, a different aura.
Chen Yuqian leaned lazily against her chair, swirling her drink.
Chen Ruyan sat upright, composed and observant.
Chen Nuo stayed close to Alex, her fingers nervously clutching his sleeve.
Chen Yueling looked flustered, clearly not used to this kind of atmosphere.
Chen Yan smiled sweetly, dimples showing.
And the newly arrived Chen Ruyan—different from the "original"—remained quiet, her cold gaze occasionally drifting toward Alex.
It was a surreal scene.
Six versions of the same person.
And one outsider.
Alex.
"Well," Chen Yuqian broke the silence, raising her glass, "a welcome party should at least have a toast."
Everyone followed, glasses clinking softly.
But beneath the surface, something else was brewing.
Chen Ruyan exchanged a glance with Chen Yuqian.
It began.
"Yueling," Chen Ruyan said casually, "you've been working the longest with us. Why don't you sit closer to Alex?"
Chen Yueling froze.
"W-Why me?"
Chen Yuqian smirked. "Because you're the most 'innocent' one."
That only made her blush harder.
"I… I'll just stay here…"
But before she could refuse further, Chen Nuo gently tugged her.
"Sister Yueling, it's okay…"
Reluctantly, Chen Yueling moved, sitting beside Alex.
The moment she did—
A strange silence fell.
Alex could feel it.
A subtle shift.
Like something invisible had… connected.
Chen Yueling stiffened.
Her breathing became uneven.
"I… I feel…" she murmured.
Chen Ruyan's eyes sharpened. "What do you feel?"
"I don't know…" she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest. "It's like… something is waking up…"
Her gaze slowly turned toward Alex.
Confusion.
Embarrassment.
And something deeper.
Fragments.
Images.
Emotions that didn't belong to her—or perhaps did.
"I… saw something…" she said shakily.
Everyone leaned in.
"What did you see?" Chen Yuqian asked.
Chen Yueling hesitated, her face turning red.
"I saw… myself…"
She swallowed.
"…with him."
The room went silent.
Alex exhaled slowly.
Chen Ruyan, however, smiled.
Not surprised.
Not shocked.
But satisfied.
"Just as I thought," she said softly.
She raised her glass again, her eyes gleaming with something dangerous.
"Chen Longtao…"
"No—Alex."
"You really are the key to this world."
Outside the window, the city lights flickered—
As if the dream itself had begun to destabilize.
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