Beneath the setting sun, two figures sat on the concrete steps by the riverbank.

Hu Ming handed Ye Qiuxue a pack of crispy noodles he’d just bought from the convenience store. She took it with a puzzled look but didn’t open it right away. Instead, she asked him,

"Why do you feel so different today?"

Hu Ming tore open his own pack, pulled out the plastic card printed with a squirrel, and tossed it carelessly onto the grass. Then he started crunching the noodles.

Each *crunch* made Ye Qiuxue feel like she’d slipped back into childhood.

"After all, I’m no longer the Khan Family’s young master. All that baggage is gone."

Hearing him mention it again, Ye Qiuxue silently opened her pack and nibbled small bites.

Her gaze lingered on the river reflecting the sunset as she continued,

"No one even looked for me today. Seems they don’t plan to apologize. Tomorrow, I’ll check the security footage—to clear your name."

"Prez, caring this much about me... could it be my handsome face bewitched you?"

The moment the words left his mouth, a deathly glare pierced Hu Ming’s face.

Her icy stare cut like a blade, making him flinch.

"Just kidding."

"Not funny."

"But Prez, let’s drop this morning’s incident. Some things aren’t worth digging into further."

Too many threads were tangled in this mess. Hu Ming didn’t want to drag her into it.

Yet meeting Ye Qiuxue’s eyes, his resolve wavered.

"You don’t trust me to find the truth?"

"Of course I do. But this is my battle alone. I was... not exactly a saint before. I’m already grateful you see me as just *me*."

Seeing his firmness, Ye Qiuxue let it go.

But watching his lonely silhouette, her brow furrowed slightly.

"Were you... kicked out of the Khan Family?"

"Not yet. But it’s coming."

"They raised you all these years—"

"I’ve only ever lived as a replacement for their son. This life was never mine."

"But it wasn’t your fault! You were the victim too, weren’t you?"

Ye Qiuxue’s calm cracked into frustration. She couldn’t understand how he stayed so detached.

What about his future? Didn’t he need a plan?

Unconsciously, her fingers tightened on his sleeve, her tone turning earnest.

Hu Ming stared at her, startled.

Their eyes locked.

Realizing her slip, Ye Qiuxue’s cheeks flushed. She let go.

"Sorry."

"I’m happy you care, Prez."

Hu Ming crumpled the empty noodle pack and stuffed it into his pocket.

"It’s late. Head home."

Hands in pockets, he walked toward the setting sun.

Ye Qiuxue watched his back until it vanished into the twilight, lost in silence.

...

Night fell over the Khan Family estate.

Hu Ming stood at the gate for a long moment before stepping inside.

The guard at the entrance hurried to open the door.

"Young Master! Madam and the others have been waiting ages. Where *were* you? We’ve been searching everywhere!"

His tone carried a hint of reproach, as if Hu Ming’s absence had unsettled the whole household.

Hu Ming stopped under the lamplight, his shadow stretching long and solitary.

He turned slowly to meet the guard’s eyes.

"What does it matter if you couldn’t find me? I never belonged here anyway."

"...!"

The guard fell silent. Everyone knew Hu Ming’s situation.

But where would he go if he left the Khans?

Hu Ming walked past without another word, heading straight for the villa.

Inside, cheers erupted from the hall—

The Khan Family was celebrating Han Shuyi’s return.

Hu Ming saw their radiant smiles, warm and intimate. A true family.

"Han-gege is my real brother. No wonder I felt so close to him from the start," Han Yunxi beamed. But her smile dimmed as she glanced at the empty seat beside her.

She’d grown used to someone bickering over snacks at her side. The sudden quiet felt strange.

Han Shuyi gently placed a cup before her, his voice tender.

"Thank you for welcoming me back, little sister. It’s a miracle we’re reunited."

A flicker of bitterness crossed his face—visible to all.

Madam Han bit her lip, eyes glistening. Her husband, Han Litian, squeezed her shoulder—a silent reminder of the moment.

She quickly raised her glass.

"Let’s not dwell on the past. We’re together again. Cheers!"

"To family!"

The clinking glasses sounded like shards in Hu Ming’s ears.

So easy to be forgotten.

Hands in pockets, he walked straight to his room.

Han Yunxi set down her glass and instinctively looked toward the door—just catching his vanishing back.

After a pause, she smiled. "Bathroom break."

Hu Ming flopped onto his bed the moment he closed his door.

Truth was, he still wasn’t used to classes.

Before his rebirth, he’d never been ordinary. After it, he’d never craved grand ambitions.

Half a day of lectures nearly put him to sleep.

He already knew everything in those textbooks. The teacher’s dry drone bored him to tears.

*Knock knock.*

He opened the door to find Han Yunxi standing there, arms crossed, cheeks puffed.

"Why didn’t you say hello when you got back? We waited *forever* for you!"

"Waited for me? For what? Today was all about welcoming Han Shuyi home. Do you really think my presence at that table makes sense?"

Hu Ming leaned against the doorframe, studying his "sister."

Han Yunxi’s anger flared.

"Do you think we don’t see you as family? *You’re* the one pushing us away!"

"Really? Then why did you go to school with Han Shuyi today?"

Hu Ming smiled—but his eyes held no warmth.

Han Yunxi’s confidence faltered.

"I—"

"You used to hate running into me at school. Let’s be honest—you were ashamed of me."