"Brother," Wang Xueying dared to ask, her eyes dancing with a mischievous glint, "are you cheating on Mei?"
This bold inquiry was laden with a deeper revelation.
Despite her limited perspective, she had managed to glimpse the contours of an intimate conversation, one that hinted at an unspoken connection between Wang Xiao and another girl.
Wang Xiao's countenance shifted, his face registering both exasperation and resignation.
With a sigh, he stood and discreetly closed the door, creating a barrier between their conversation and the outside world.
He turned to face her, his voice now hushed but tinged with curiosity. "Why do you have to speak so loudly? Do you want the entire community to hear your words?"
Undeterred, Wang Xueying shook her head, her gaze sweeping across her brother's room, her curiosity insatiable. "Do not attempt to change the subject, brother," she declared firmly, refusing to be swayed or dismissed this time.
There was something unspoken, an invisible current of intrigue that had pulled her into this clandestine realm.
She couldn't quite fathom why she was so invested in her brother's affairs now, but her actions spoke louder than words.
She wouldn't have ventured into his room like this unless she harbored a compelling purpose, one that had yet to reveal itself fully.
Wang Xiao halted her adventurous intrusion into his room by gently catching her hand, his gaze piercing and full of curiosity. "Why are you here today?" he asked directly, his expression a mix of concern and scrutiny as he carefully observed her face.
Realizing the game was up, Wang Xueying pouted and relented, "Mother is calling you down for dinner," she replied.
"Hm?" Wang Xiao furrowed his brow. It was unusual for anyone other than Wang Mei or Xinyue Zhilan to come calling him.
He wondered why she was even at the dinner table.
Sensing his confusion, Wang Xueying smiled faintly and clarified, "I decided to eat with everyone today."
A collective puzzlement lingered in the air, shared by the entire family.
They were equally baffled by her sudden change in routine.
Wang Xiao deliberately feigned ignorance of certain matters, hoping to stave off complications and imagining that his predictions wouldn't come true, especially at this critical juncture when he felt nearly helpless.
"I won't go down to eat today. Send my share up to my room," he declared firmly, preoccupied with his ongoing task of entrapping Fu Yuxin.
Wang Xueying's expression changed, but before she could utter any further objections, Wang Xiao politely threw her out of the room. The door closed, leaving him to his own devices, as he resumed his conversation with Fu Yuxin.
_______
Fu Yuxin's eyes flicked anxiously across her phone screen, her heart racing as she awaited Chuan Hao's response.
Chuan Hao: Hey, you still there? I had some small work to attend to, it's all fine now.
A small, relieved smile tugged at the corners of Fu Yuxin's lips. Swiftly, she typed her reply: Were you planning to exact revenge on me for ghosting you earlier? Didn't I explain? It was my brother.
Chuan Hao: No revenge, my sister came unexpectedly.
Intrigued, Fu Yuxin asked: You have a sister?
Chuan Hao: Yeah, any problem?
Fu Yuxin hesitated, then typed with a touch of concern: ... Is she also like my brother?
Chuan Hao: No, she is the complete opposite.
A tinge of frustration crept into Fu Yuxin's expression as she sent an *angry face*: Can't you at least console me?
Chuan Hao: Why should I console you?
"..."
Fu Yuxin fell into contemplative silence, her thoughts drifting to Chuan Hao's response.
Why indeed should he console her?
A complicated expression crossed her face as she gazed at her mobile phone, puzzling over the mysterious Chuan Hao.
He didn't seem to play cards according to the routine at all.
Here was a beautiful girl simply asking for a few comforting words, yet he had declined her request.
Unbeknownst to her, the reason she continued chatting with Wang Xiao was precisely because he didn't follow the expected norms of their interactions.
Otherwise, he might have found himself on her blocklist long ago.
In the end, she couldn't help herself but continue the conversation. An hour passed, and Fu Yuxin was summoned downstairs to partake in the family dinner, her mind still lingering on the mysterious figure on the other side of the screen.
_______
Wang Xueying gracefully descended the stairs, her steps light and determined as she reached the ground floor. She moved with a sense of purpose, arranging the two dinner plates with practiced ease before her gaze fixed on the seldom-used, abandoned elevator.
A collective murmur of confusion and surprise rippled through the family gathered around the dinner table.
They were all left wondering the same thing: What had come over this unpredictable girl?
Had she already changed her mind?
"Xiao Ying, what's going on?" Xinyue Zhilan called out to her, concern lacing her voice.
Wang Xueying continued her path without turning, her voice carrying an unusual resolve, "Brother asked to have his meal sent directly to his room!"
Curiosity piqued, Xinyue Zhilan couldn't help but inquire further, noting the two plates Wang Xueying held in her hands, "And what about you?"
Wang Xueying spoke softly, her decision made as she gently placed the plates on the elevator floor just as the doors began to close. "I'll be dining in my room as well," she replied, her words trailing away as the elevator swallowed her departure, leaving the family with a lingering sense of bewilderment.
"???" Xinyue Zhilan massaged her temples, clearly distressed. "What's going on with her?" Worry creased her brow as she tried to make sense of Wang Xueying's sudden actions.
Wang Xiao's decision to dine separately was understandable, perhaps due to work or personal reasons, but Wang Xueying's behavior left her puzzled.
Why had she chosen to join them for dinner, only to retreat to her room again?
Unbeknownst to the family, Wang Xueying's decision had been motivated by her desire to share a meal with Wang Xiao.
If he wasn't going to be present at the dinner table, she saw no reason to linger either.
As the day came to a close, Wang Xiao strengthened his friendship with Fu Yuxin, gradually building a stronger bond.
He then retired for the night, joining Wang Mei, engaging in another molesation session, that carried out throughout the night.