The house below him was a hive of life and laughter. From the second-story balcony railing, Jinhai leaned forward, arms crossed over the polished wood, his jet black hair catching in the golden light of the chandeliers below.
He could see his mother moving gracefully among the servants, fussing over lilies, smiling at every small detail. His uncle and aunt bantered. His cousins argued over chairs. Even his grandparents' voices carried, the old master grumbling while his grandmother swatted him affectionately.
It should have been a comfort.
It should have felt like home.
But Jinhai's chest only tightened.
He had come home late last night, and then—he'd walked through the mansion doors, only to learn the truth: the Liang family was invited for dinner. Tonight.
His blood had run cold. That meant Lily would be here. That meant she would learn. That meant he could no longer pretend to be just Jinhai Su—the boy she spoke to like an equal, the boy who had laughed with her in the car, the boy who had listened when she broke.
She would learn that he was her fiancé's younger brother and that he was Jinhai Shulong.
"Jinhai?"
The soft voice came from behind. He turned to see his mother, Mrs. Lihua Shulong, standing in the doorway of the balcony. She wore a shawl draped over her shoulders now, her expression gentle and loving.
He swallowed, suddenly aware of how raw his emotions must look. "Mother."
She approached slowly, her hands folded in front of her, her presence as steady as always. "You've been quiet all day. Standing here while everyone else prepares. What troubles you, my son?"
Jinhai looked away, back down at the hall where laughter rose in bursts of warmth. He hesitated, then said hoarsely, "I don't want to go down there tonight."
Lihua's brows lifted slightly. "You don't want to attend dinner?"
"No." His voice cracked, and he exhaled sharply. "I… I can't. Not tonight."
---
His mother tilted her head, studying him with those patient, searching eyes that had always seen through him. "You know this dinner is important, Jinhai. For our family. For your brother. Your brother needs you."
He exhaled slowly. "You know what it means if I'm seen at that table. If someone recognizes me—not as Jinhai Su but as Jinhai Shulong—the name will spread like wildfire. Reporters, investors, vultures. It would put Father's plans at risk. And Lily's family… they'd know before we're ready for them to know."
For a moment, Lihua said nothing. Then she stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "You've lived under this alias for years now. I had hoped one day you'd be free of it. But… you're right. If you attend as yourself, it could undo everything."
"Exactly." His voice dropped, thick with guilt. " I'll be at the add shoot. If you need anything. Im just a phone call away. That way i wont risk exposure. "
Before his mother could answer, another voice chimed in.
"Exposure?"
Both turned to see Meilin, his younger sister, peeking out from the corridor with her arms folded. Her long braid swung as she padded forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Gege, you're making it sound like you're some FBI level secret spy who works for the illuminati. All you have to do is sit at a dinner table and smile."
Jinhai's lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smile. "It's not that simple, Meilin."
She huffed, planting herself beside him at the railing. "You're being dramatic. No one would suspect you're that Jinhai. You're too quiet. Too boring in real life." Her grin widened when he shot her a look. "Besides, I bet the bride will be looking at the groom instead of you anyway."
Mrs. Lihua Shulong let out a chuckle. "It's too early to be saying these things sweetie."
"Why not?" Meilin tilted her head, mischief dancing in her gaze. "Girls like boys who are funny. And you—well, you listen too much. Youre boring Gege. I feel sorry for your future wife... that is if you ever have one." Meilin broke off laughing.
"Well one things for sure Meilin. You're not getting that limited edition photo album that you asked for yesterday." Jinhai broke into a lopsided grin as he watched his sister's face change three colours as she huffed.
Lihua gently cut in, her hand brushing Meilin's shoulder. "Enough teasing. Your brother isn't wrong. His presence could complicate things." She turned back to Jinhai, her eyes tender.
"Very well. Go for your shoot. Make us proud my little boy. But no more hiding forever, dear.."
Relief and guilt tangled so tightly in his chest he could barely breathe. "Thank you, Mama."
Meilin leaned her chin on her hand, smirking. "Fine, how about this gege. You give me that limited edition album and ill make sure to tell sister Lily that she missed out on her handsome brother in law today."
"Oh god Meilin" He sighed betraying more panic than he intended. "You know what, I'll give you that album on one tiny little condition. Never mention me in front of anyone at thr dinner. Deal?"
Meilin started hopping up and down. Her grin widened. "Done deal gege! Aha. I like this! I know how to boss you around now gege. Hehe."
Jinhai slid his hand down his face.
Mrs. Lihua gave her a gentle but firm look. "Enough, child." Then, softer, to Jinhai: "Don't get caught in the rain again today, I don't want you getting sick Jinhai."
With a pat on the cheek Mrs. Lihua Shulong left with Meilin tugged along warmly by the arm, Jinhai turned back to the railing, chest heavy.
Below, the lights of his family's gathering glowed warm and inviting. But in him, only shadows stirred.
He would pray that everything went fine today. With the way his brother had locked himself in his room the past few days was concerning at the least.
He hoped his brother saw her for the lovely girl that she was. He didnt want her heart to break. For now he decided that he would keep his secret. Even if it poisoned him from the inside out.
Jinhai turned his head, eyeing the last door down the hallway. Lihyun's room.
"I just have to speak to him once. Just once. To make sure he is doing fine." Jinhai thought.
Jinhai repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist as he came to stand in front of his brother's white wood door. He had rehearsed what he was going to say a million times last night.
He took a deep breath in and plastered a soft smile on his face.
He brought his hand to the door landing their secret childhood code knock on his door. He tapped two times and then knocked twice.
There was no response for a whole two minutes. Jinhai stood there hoping for the familiar turn of doorknob and the warm sound of his brother's voice. But that never came.
Just as he was about to turn around and leave the door clicked open with a tiny screech as the sound of retracting steps came from the room.
Jinhai turned around and smiled. He pushed the door ajar making sure to close it behind him. The scent of stale air, untouched food and despair hit his nose like a tidal wave. His brother had been sitting in this room for the past 2 day with the curtains drawn shut.
Lihyun sat untouched on his bed, his hair unkempt and eyes hollow from two days of silence.
Jinhai quietly made his way to the mini fridge and filled a glass of cold water for his brother. Just the way he liked it. He quietly made his way over to his brother and plopped down right next to him, glass in hand.
"Drink some water Lihyun." Jinhai whispered, scared that his voice might break the peace and tranquility of the room
But Lihyun didn't even budge. Jinhai sighed and put the glass of water down on the bedside table.
It was time for plan B.
"You know it's unfair. You're supposed to be the strong one, the leader. And here I am, the little brother trying to drag you out of bed like mother."
Lihyun didn't reply but his jaw tightened. It was working, if only little.
Lihyun pulled out something from his pocket. Something he had kept treasured between the folds of his 12th grade textbook. Something that meant alot to him.
He held up a small folded paper crane, made out of the wrapper of his empty fruit loops box. It was slightly crinkled, clearly clumsy, with a crooked wing.
Jinhai began softly, "You made this for me when I was 14. You told me, whenever I felt trapped, I should fold paper. Make something ugly into something that flies. Remember? You said that."
He set the crane down on his brother's broad shoulder. He was somehow still in his office clothes. The office never leaves Lihyun, his mother had once said.
"I've kept this one since then. Because that is what you were to me. Someone who knew how to rise even when things were unbearable."
His brother's jaw twitched.
Jinhai continued, determined got get his brother out of his shell.
"I know you don't want this marriage. I know you love someone else. And if it were up to me, I'd tell them all to go to hell and let you choose your happiness. You deserve all the happiness in the world. And I'll find a way to end this marriage. Even if that means talking to father. I'll do it because you're my brother."
For the 1st time in what felt like eternity Lihyun slowly moved his head to stare at Jinhai, his eyes ablaze with an intensity of emotions Jinhai couldn't put down.
"But tonight. Mom needs you. Meilin needs you. The family needs you. They have been worried sick for days. All they have been wanting since the past week is to see you smile again."
His brother's eyes flicked to the door, pained and weary.
"You don't have to smile for anyone, you just have to stand beside mom like you have always done. Make her happy. She put in alot of effort today. If not for mom. For me."
Jinhai put his hand on top of his brother and squeezed it. "I won't be here tonight. But I believe in you. If you don't come today, they'll seat Meilin next to grandma Suirin. And she pinches hard. You don't want you sister's cheeks to be bruised at your engagement dinner do you?"
At this Lihyun smiled faintly.
Jinhai let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.
Jinhai reached out and held his brother's wrist warmly. Lihyun finally looks at him, and though the pain still lingers in his eyes, he slowly exhaled, covering Jinhai's hand with his own.
Jinhai let out a strangled laugh. And then immediately leapt into action. He scrambled off the bed and made a dash to the bathroom at the far end corner of his brother's unbelievably large room. He switched on the faucet and let Luke warm water stream into the lavish bath tub as he rummaged through his brother's never ending barage of a closet.
"Blue or black?" Jinhai mouthed lost in thought.
After no answer from his brother he ended up pulling out the grey suit from his wardrobe. Not too flashy, not too formal.
He set the clothes on the bed and turned to Lihyun while leaving the room.
" By the way…Meilin said if grandma Suirin still goes for her cheeks tonight, she is going to throw you in front of her as a shield. Fair warning"
For the first time in days Lihyun laughed... properly laughed.