At the dinner table, Han Yunxi didn’t see Hu Ming.

He’d said he was back—so why wasn’t he joining them for dinner?

Her mother’s troubled expression caught her eye. Was it because of Hu Ming?

Han Yunxi recalled his words to her.

Hu Ming seemed deeply disappointed in all of them. And Han Shuyi—why had he deliberately gotten close to Li Yue despite knowing about her and Hu Ming? Why had he made her keep it secret?

Wasn’t that the same as shutting Hu Ming out?!

Frustration flared within her. She lifted her head and asked her mother,

"Mom, where’s my brother?"

"Huh? Your brother’s right here."

Madam Han gestured toward Han Shuyi beside her. He blinked, momentarily startled, before realizing who Han Yunxi meant.

His face remained calm, but a chill crept through him.

What spell had Hu Ming cast on her? They’d never gotten along before, yet now Han Yunxi was actively worrying about him.

This was dangerously unfavorable to him.

Han Shuyi lowered his head slowly, focusing on the food in his bowl.

Seeing this, Madam Han assumed he was upset.

Did he feel excluded by Yunxi?

He was her real brother, after all. It must sting to hear her call someone else "brother."

Madam Han’s face hardened as she scolded Han Yunxi,

"Yunxi, I’ve told you—Han Shuyi is your brother. Han Huming is just someone else’s child!"

"Mom, you raised Hu Ming too! We’ve lived together all these years. Is it so wrong to call him ‘brother’?!"

"You’re not blood-related! Besides, he won’t even join us for meals—does he see us as family?!"

Han Yunxi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She could hardly recognize this sharp-tongued woman as her once gentle, doting mother.

Hadn’t she spoiled Hu Ming rotten before?

Why had her attitude shifted so drastically after learning his true identity?

After raising him for years—was there truly no bond left?

Unable to accept this, Han Yunxi set down her chopsticks.

"I’m full," she murmured, then turned and left.

Madam Han stared at the half-full bowl Yunxi abandoned, her face darkening.

Her obedient daughter had just defied her—all because of Hu Ming.

She’d only spoken the truth. Why couldn’t her daughter understand?

"Look at this! What spell did Hu Ming cast on her? Han Shuyi is her real brother! You two got along fine before—why the sudden change?!"

Madam Han’s anger was genuine. Han Shuyi patted her arm soothingly.

"Mom, Yunxi just needs time to adjust. It’s natural. Besides, Hu Ming is still family. She’s probably worried you two will drift apart."

"Drift apart? It’s the Humings who are scheming behind our backs!"

"Enough!"

Han Litian, silent until now, cut in sharply.

He fixed his wife with a stern gaze.

"Whatever that couple does, they’re *them*. Hu Ming is *Hu Ming*. Taking your anger out on him—what kind of justice is that?"

"I..."

Madam Han faltered, recalling her harsh words to Hu Ming after school that day. A flicker of guilt surfaced.

[*It was just heat-of-the-moment talk. It doesn’t count.*]

She clung to that thought.

A dark flicker crossed Han Shuyi’s face. Beneath the table, his fists clenched slightly.

...

Hu Ming vanished all through Saturday and Sunday.

He seemed to have evaporated—no one could find him.

Though every night, someone glimpsed him slipping back to his room. No one knew where he went.

Servants in the Khan Family villa whispered among themselves. They all believed Hu Ming was about to be cast out.

After all, they’d witnessed his parents’ dramatic visit—their demand to take Han Shuyi back as their "real son."

Hu Ming? They hadn’t even mentioned him. Clearly, they’d disowned their disgraced child.

Monday morning arrived swiftly.

Han Litian rose early, dressed neatly, and waited by the front door for Hu Ming.

Right on cue, Hu Ming appeared in his school uniform, heading toward the entrance.

"Hu Ming."

Han Litian called out as he passed.

Hu Ming paused, mildly surprised to find the head of the Khan Family waiting for him at dawn.

"Dad."

"Get in. I’ll drive you to school."

"...Okay."

Hu Ming couldn’t refuse the family patriarch—not without consequence.

He opened the rear door and slid inside. Han Litian’s eyes darkened slightly at the sight.

Hu Ming used to always sit shotgun.

[*So much has changed.*]

Han Litian couldn’t quite name the feeling. Hu Ming seemed older now. Calmer. Colder.

"Yunxi told me what happened Friday. Does your face still hurt?"

"It’s fine. His punch wasn’t that hard."

"The principal messaged me too. That student’s been expelled. As for the driver... your mother insisted he stays—he’s assigned to Shuyi. So I hired a new one for you." Han Litian’s voice softened. "I’m sorry you had to go through that."

Hu Ming stared out the window, giving only a low, noncommittal "Mm."

An awkward silence filled the car.

Then, voices approached from behind.

"Dad, why’d you wake me so early? I’m dead tired."

"Wanna coffee?"

"No way. Bitter stuff!"

Han Yunxi yanked the car door open—her sleepy eyes instantly brightening.

"Brother! We’re riding together today?!"

Han Shuyi, stepping up behind her, froze mid-motion when he spotted Hu Ming in the backseat.

*So that’s why Dad told us to wake up early.*

Han Shuyi slid in beside Hu Ming, flashing his signature sunny smile.

"Hu Ming. Haven’t seen you around much lately."

That radiant mask—what twisted face hid beneath it?

Hu Ming’s lips curved faintly.

"Don’t worry. We’ll be seeing each other every day."