Location: Jin Family Dining Hall – That Night
The table was loaded.
Lamb slices, marinated beef, spicy broth bubbling like a volcano ready to erupt. Grandma Jin was all smiles, swishing tofu in her soup while humming an old drama theme.
"Eat up, eat up!" she said cheerfully. "This family needs warmth again!"
[Jin]: [Warmth? More like heat stroke from tension.]
Ichiro sat across from Jin, sleeves rolled neatly, acting like this was just a cozy family dinner and not a chessboard.
"Thank you for having me," he said humbly. "Even after… everything."
[Jin]: [Even after gaslighting me, lying to mom, and turning half my sisters into blind stans? Yeah. Welcome back.]
---
System Overlay – Melon-Eating Stream Activated
Live Status: "Dinner with Drama" 🍲
Audience: 11/11 Siblings + Parents + Grandma
Voice Subtitles – System Whisper Mode:
Ichiro (in his mind):
"I just have to look sincere. Cry a little if needed. I can turn this around. They're soft-hearted idiots."
Sister No. 3:
Did he just think we're soft-hearted idiots??
Sister No. 7:
I'm sitting right here, bro. We can hear your thoughts now, remember?
Father Jin:
Is that brat's brain leaking or is this the system again?
---
Ichiro gently put his chopsticks down, gaze "heartfelt."
"I just… miss when we were all close. I miss Jin-ge caring about me."
[Jin]: [Bro. I used to give you my chicken wings. And you repaid me with backstabs and betrayal DLC.]
"I know I've made mistakes," Ichiro continued, eyes glistening. "But I always looked up to Jin-ge. He was my role model. I wanted to be like him."
[Jin]: "Then try silence. I do that a lot."
Spicy broth boiled harder.
Sister No. 2 choked on a mushroom.
Grandma Jin blinked in surprise.
Ichiro forced a chuckle. "Still the same sharp tongue."
[Jin]: [Still the same fake charm. I'd clap, but I'm holding this ladle.]
---
Family Group Chat – Unmuted During Dinner
Mom:
Is it just me or is Ichiro… performing?
Third Sister:
Like a failed drama student.
Youngest Sister:
He always squints when he's lying. Look. He's squinting.
Grandpa:
I've been quiet. But I'd like to slap him with a lotus root.
---
Ichiro's voice softened, the room going quiet. "Jin… I just wanted to be part of this family. I wanted to belong."
[Jin]: [You wanted control. Not family.]
Then, without a word, Jin stood. Walked to the stove. Picked up a spicy fishball. Blew on it.
[Jin]: "You say you want to belong."
He turned. Calm voice. Neutral expression.
"But you never once apologized for what you did. You just ask to be forgiven."
Silence.
[Jin]: "If you can't own what you broke, you don't belong at this table."
And he bit the fishball. Slowly. Eyes locked on Ichiro.
---
System Notice – Family Awakening Level +2
Trust in Jin: +18
Trust in Ichiro: -35
Effect Unlocked:
"You Can Sit With Us" no longer applies to Ichiro.
---
Ichiro looked cornered for the first time. The smile faltered. Just a hair.
[Jin]: [And there it is. The crack in the mask.]
From the head of the table, Grandma Jin cleared her throat.
"Jin-ge," she said gently, "pass me the chili oil, would you?"
He did.
Grandma poured a whole spoonful into Ichiro's side of the broth.
"Let's see if he can handle spice. Since he likes acting hot so much."
---
End of Chapter 32
Next Chapter Tease – Chapter 33: The Puppet's Strings Snap
Ichiro's mask slips in front of someone dangerous — Dad.
And this time, the consequences aren't just verbal.
It's time for the "fake son" to face the real father.