Night had barely fallen when Meimei sat curled on her window seat, hugging a pillow that still faintly smelled of lavender. The moonlight slid over her face, illuminating her blank expression as she scrolled through the replay footage on her tablet.
There was Ichiro on the hallway camera—sweet smile, gentle tone.
And then, Ichiro on the rooftop—malice in his eyes, venom on his tongue.
The contrast was nauseating.
"…No, no, that's just… stress," she whispered to herself.
But the evidence didn't lie.
[Jin's voice doesn't shake when he tells the truth. Unlike someone.]
Meimei clutched her pillow tighter.
She replayed it again.
And again.
Until her ears rang with her own heartbeat.
Downstairs, laughter erupted from Ichiro's room as he played innocent in front of another sibling. Probably sweet-talking Lianhua. Again.
[He's so good at pretending even I believed him.]
Meimei's lips trembled.
"I even told him… that Jin should try to get along with the family better…"
She pressed the pillow to her face.
"I'm the worst."
---
Meanwhile – Jin's Room
Jin lay on his bed sideways, scrolling on his phone. His expression remained bland as Ergouzi piped up cheerfully in his head.
Ergouzi: "Breaking news! Ichiro tried to move family assets to a 'charity' fund under his fake name. Got rejected. His expression was top-tier."
[Ha. He still thinks he's playing chess. I'm playing demolition.]
Ergouzi: "Want to catch him red-handed tomorrow? I'll prep a highlight reel."
[Jury's out on whether it's even worth it. He's not subtle.]
Jin yawned, flipping the pillow over to the cool side.
[At this point, I just want peace. A small apartment. Cheap noodles. No dramatics.]
Ergouzi: "Unfortunate. This is a 999-chapter melodrama. Good luck."
---
Elsewhere – Secret Group Chat
Xinyi: "Confirmed. Ichiro told Meimei that Jin pushed him, but the footage shows the opposite."
Father Li: "Damn it. That brat's lies run deep."
Grandma Li: "Don't pressure Meimei. Let her come to her own conclusion."
Lianhua: "She still trusts him. She needs to break on her own time."
---
Midnight – Meimei's Room
She sat silently in front of her vanity, makeup removed, face pale under the warm yellow glow.
There, sitting on her desk, was the letter Jin had left her the day he returned.
Just a simple sentence:
"I don't blame you. I just don't want to be part of this."
Meimei's eyes welled up.
[He never even raised his voice.]
[He never asked to be accepted.]
[And I… told him he was being selfish.]
A knock on the door startled her.
"Meimei? Are you asleep?" Ichiro's gentle voice called out.
She stood frozen.
Another knock.
"I brought you some warm milk. Thought you might like it."
"…Leave it by the door," she said quietly.
"Okay," he replied, all sweetness.
Footsteps faded.
Meimei tiptoed over and peered through the peephole.
Ichiro was smiling at the empty hallway, eyes hollow.
Her hand trembled as she slowly slid the lock back into place.
[No more smiles. Not from you.]
---
Next Chapter:
Chapter 19 – Enter Qiaoqiao: A Sister Who Worships the Wrong Brother