The doorbell rang just as Yuyin tossed the last of her strawberry-flavored popcorn into her mouth.
She gasped. "He's here!"
Yinyin calmly looked up from the dining table where she was arranging utensils. "Yes. That's what happens when you invite people."
"Yinyin! A whole CEO! A trillionaire! In our humble little 3-story villa with marble floors and motion sensor lights!" Yuyin said dramatically as she adjusted her oversized hoodie and brushed her hair back.
"You literally own half this block," Yinyin muttered.
"That's not the point!" Yuyin whispered like it was sacred. "Lu Chen is like… him. He's the moment. He's HIMOTHY."
Yinyin groaned into the tablecloth. "Please stop talking."
---
> Living Room – Ten Minutes Later
Lu Chen stood by the glass wall overlooking the city skyline, hands tucked into his coat pockets.
He didn't look like a guest. He looked like he owned the house.
Which was ironic, because the actual owner—Yuyin—was currently hiding in the hallway behind the door, peeking through the crack like a schoolgirl.
Mingze was already on the couch, pretending not to laugh.
"Are you going to greet your guest or not?" Yinyin called from the kitchen.
Yuyin hissed. "I'm not mentally prepared!"
"You've known him for ten minutes."
"Exactly!" she whisper-yelled. "I need at least thirty more!"
But eventually, she strutted into the room with all the confidence of a girl who had no idea she was standing in front of her ex-boyfriend.
Lu Chen turned toward her. Calm. Still.
"Hi again," he said simply.
Yuyin gave a short dramatic bow. "Mr. Lu Chen. Sir. CEO. Role model. Walking Forbes list."
Yinyin and Mingze both turned away to hide their expressions.
Lu Chen only raised a brow. "You're… lively."
Yuyin beamed. "People tell me that. You're taller than I remember."
"You met me yesterday."
"Exactly!"
---
> Dinner Table – Later That Evening
Yuyin sat directly across from Lu Chen, watching him eat like she was watching a live show. "So how do you and Yinyin know each other?" she asked, sipping from her juice.
Yinyin froze mid-bite.
Lu Chen stayed silent.
Mingze cleared his throat. "We're brothers."
"Oh. Duh," Yuyin said. "I meant you and Yinyin."
Yinyin smiled politely. "Old acquaintances."
Yuyin narrowed her eyes. "Like… high school? University?"
"Not quite."
"Oh, business?"
"Sort of."
Yuyin glanced between all three of them suspiciously. "This is sounding very shady."
Mingze jumped in quickly. "I think we first met when I came to a tech launch event."
Yuyin gasped. "That I hosted?"
Mingze flinched. "Um… maybe?"
She smiled proudly. "I knew it! I was probably so awesome you were all like, 'We must become friends with this girl's best friend.'"
Yinyin let out a very nervous laugh. "Something like that."
But the truth was the opposite.
Everything began with Yuyin.
Lu Chen only met Yinyin because of her.
She was the center of it all.
And now… she had no idea.
---
> Later That Night – Balcony
The air was cooler outside, and Yinyin stood with her arms crossed, looking out into the dark city.
Lu Chen joined her silently.
They stood there for a long time.
Then Yinyin said, "She kept asking how we met."
"I know."
"She deserves to know the truth."
"She's not ready."
"You're not ready," she corrected gently.
He didn't deny it.
Yinyin turned to look at him. "She's still the same. Laughs too loud. Eats too much sugar. Collects fluffy socks like it's an Olympic sport."
Lu Chen gave a small, almost invisible smile. "I noticed."
"And she still looks at you like you hung the stars," Yinyin added quietly. "Except… now it's because she thinks you're some idol. Not because she loves you."
That smile vanished.
Yinyin sighed. "You want her to fall in love with you again."
"I want her to choose me again. Without the past weighing her down."
Yinyin nodded slowly. "Then you'd better be prepared to watch her fall in love with someone else too. Because if you wait… she might not choose you this time."
That hurt more than he let show.
But he only said, "Then I'll take the risk."
---
> Meanwhile – Inside, With Yuyin
Yuyin sat curled on the couch, humming to herself as she scrolled through her phone, totally unaware of the emotional tension storming around her.
She paused and looked toward the balcony, where Lu Chen stood with Yinyin.
"…They do look kinda good together," she muttered.
Mingze, sitting across from her, choked on his drink.
"What?"
"Don't you think?" she asked, turning to him with wide eyes. "Like… your brother and my best friend?"
Mingze wiped his mouth, panicked. "Uhh… not really?"
"Huh," she said. "I feel like there's something I'm missing."
There was silence.
So much missing.
And she didn't even know it yet.