Xu Jinyao had been in a sour mood since yesterday.
Wang Jianyuan had returned the day before. Xu Jinyao had been so happy to welcome him home—he'd cooked a lavish meal filled with all of Wang Jianyuan's favorite dishes. He even made a special trip to a high-end salon to get himself groomed from head to toe, wanting to look his best.
Ling Xiaoying's words from the other day still lingered in his mind, casting a shadow he couldn't quite shake. He had hoped that spending a warm evening with Wang Jianyuan would ease his unease.
But it hadn't.
Not even a little.
When Wang Jianyuan walked through the door, he barely spared Xu Jinyao a glance. His expression was cold, his mood worse. He said little, ignored the feast laid out on the table, and made his way straight to the small bar tucked in the corner of the villa. For the rest of the evening, he drowned himself in bottle after bottle of liquor, occasionally taking a call for work, but otherwise silent.
Every time Xu Jinyao tried to approach, Wang Jianyuan would push him away with a curt, irritable shout—his voice sharp, his tone unwelcoming. Xu Jinyao had no choice but to retreat awkwardly, his hands clenched at his sides.
The night was no better.
Wang Jianyuan had suddenly pulled him into the bedroom, rough and impatient. His actions carried a biting edge, a kind of cold desperation that stung more than it soothed. Xu Jinyao had always been patient with this man, always willing to endure—he didn't protest, only silently hoped that it would pass.
But it didn't.
Even the next morning, despite his sore body and unrested sleep, Xu Jinyao rose early. He made a warm, nourishing breakfast with his own hands, carefully ironed Wang Jianyuan's clothes, and laid everything out neatly.
But when Wang Jianyuan came downstairs, he barely touched the food—just half a cup of coffee and a piece of bread—before leaving the house again, his face clouded with a foul mood.
Xu Jinyao stood by the table, the untouched breakfast still steaming softly in front of him.
He didn't say anything.
Just quietly watched the door close.
He prepared himself in silence and went about his day with downcast eyes and pursed lips.
Xu Jinyao was worried.
He couldn't help but wonder—had something serious happened to Wang Jianyuan while he was away? But with the way the man had been snapping at him since his return, Xu Jinyao didn't dare ask. The coldness in Wang Jianyuan's voice, the constant irritation—none of it gave room for questions.
As a result, Xu Jinyao found it difficult to concentrate during class. His mind was miles away, stuck replaying the past few days over and over again. The stares and whispers from some of the students didn't even register anymore. Ever since Ling Xiaoying had publicly saved him that day, he'd somehow become the center of everyone's attention—but today, he simply didn't have the energy to care.
He had been uncomfortable at first, caught off guard by the way people looked at him—curious, intrigued, sometimes even pitying. But not today.
Today, he was simply too downcast to notice anything at all.
That was, until he neared the gates.
Even through the haze of his mood, it was impossible to ignore the sudden stir in the air—voices growing louder, whispers rising like waves in the quiet campus.
"Whoa... How did she even get inside the premises? The conservatory has strict regulations. Outsiders usually have to wait outside the gates..."
"I'm surprised—but also, not really. Have you seen her socials? There's been buzz about her. She's clearly well-connected. Who knows who she might know to get this kind of access?"
"Only people with direct ties to students or alumni are allowed in like that, right?"
"Powerful industry figures can come in too... but only after approval."
"Either way, wow. She's so beautiful in person. The rumors didn't lie—she really does look like Ling Xiaoyu. That same kind of soft, exquisite beauty..."
"I talked to her earlier! She was looking for the cafeteria and somehow ended up eating with a bunch of us from different departments. She's super friendly and easy to talk to."
"Really? No way... I hope I get a chance to speak to her too. She's so adorable."
"I wonder who she's waiting for."
"Isn't it obvious? She asked around for Xu Jinyao earlier. She's been standing here for a while now—just waiting."
Confused by the growing murmur of chatter around him, Xu Jinyao finally looked up—and immediately spotted a familiar figure standing among a group of students, their attention wholly captured.
'What the—what is she doing here?
How did she even get inside the school premises?'
Frowning, Xu Jinyao pushed through the gathering crowd until he reached the center of attention: a radiant 'girl' with delicate features, her hair styled perfectly, laughing brightly as she posed for selfies and chatted like a seasoned influencer.
The moment 'she' spotted him, her entire expression lit up. She quickly excused herself from the other students, waving both hands enthusiastically at him. Or at least, she tried to—her arms were weighed down by a few bulky shopping bags. She ended up adjusting her grip, pulling the bags down to her sides and hurrying over with a wide, gleaming grin.
"Jinjin~! Hi~!" she called out sweetly. "Jiejie's here to pick you up. I bought you tons of gifts while I was at it!"
Before he could react, Xu Jinyao was swept into a tight hug—his face buried directly into her chest.
His body froze.
'W-What in the world is she—wait... this doesn't feel right.
Is this... is this what a woman's chest is supposed to feel like?
They're so... out of proportion. And they're jiggling weirdly. That's not normal, is it? They're moving way too easily—like balloons!
No, no, no! Bad manners. I shouldn't be thinking about a lady's body like this! That's rude. Bad Xu Jinyao. Stop.'
The 'lady,' seemingly unaware of his internal crisis, pulled away after a long moment and casually hoisted her 'breasts' back up into place with both hands before patting the still-blanked-out Xu Jinyao on the shoulder, looking pleased.
"Shall we go now?" she chirped cheerfully. "I brought my driver along today. Let's have a little day out—cute, right?"
Before Xu Jinyao could get a word in edgewise, the heavy paper bags were shoved into his arms. Then, with no room for protest, he was grabbed by the wrist and spirited off past the gates, leaving behind a sea of whispering onlookers.
Before leaving, 'Ling Xiaoying' turned back to the gathered students, waving cheerfully. Her voice rang out with warmth and elegance, her tone sweet but unmistakably laced with deeper meaning.
"I'll be off now~ It was fun meeting everyone," she said, smiling brightly. "Please take good care of my little brother from now on, alright? He's a bit awkward, but he's a gentle and hardworking boy. Because he's so kind and soft-spoken, he's often taken advantage of. There have even been people trying to steal his achievements or smear his name behind his back."
She sighed dramatically, the smile never leaving her lips. "He's been through a lot. So I hope all of you can keep an eye on him, especially when I'm not around. After all… I'm afraid if I stepped in myself, I might not hold back. And if that happens…" Her lashes fluttered as she tilted her head, voice light as a breeze, "Well, I might end up ruining someone's entire life. The love of an older sister, you know—fierce and unforgiving. It shouldn't be underestimated."
The threat was clear beneath the sugar-sweet words.
A few students—especially the ones who had quietly targeted Xu Jinyao in the past—visibly stiffened, cold sweat prickling their backs.
But 'Ling Xiaoying'—no, Ephraim—was already turning away, delighted, grabbing the stunned Xu Jinyao by the wrist again and dragging him out of the gates.
They crossed the parking lot together, and when they reached a sleek black car parked at the corner, Ephraim pulled open the back door and ushered Xu Jinyao inside before sliding in beside him.
Once seated, Ephraim leaned forward and placed a small paper bag on the front seat.
"Mister Huang," he said brightly, "the cakes from the cafeteria here were so sweet. What a luxurious institute—it really spoils its students! I remembered you said you have two little girls at home, right? The cakes were so cute, I picked a few for them. Take them back with you later, okay?"
Mister Huang, a composed middle-aged man who had served in the military before becoming a long-time driver for the Shen family, gave a rare, gentle smile. Though quiet by nature, he had taken a liking to Ephraim recently—the boy's chaotic, lively personality was a complete contrast to his usual cold and reticent employer, and somehow, it was refreshing.
He was such a fun, yet thoughtful person—it was always a pleasant day whenever Ephraim was the one Mister Huang had to drive around. Which, lately, was often. For some reason, Shen Yizhou had started driving himself more frequently these days.
"Thank you, Young Mas—Miss," Mister Huang corrected himself quickly, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror with a soft, amused glint. "That's very thoughtful of you."
"Nonsense, Mister Huang. It's nothing at all," Ephraim waved off with a bright smile. "Just wait two more days. The dolls I mentioned will be ready by then. It's been a long time since I stitched or crafted anything by hand, but I'm actually enjoying it. They're turning out pretty cute so far. Take them to your girls and tell me everything about how they react, okay?"
"Of course, Young Miss," Mister Huang nodded, his voice a little softer. "They'll be thrilled. They've been looking forward to it ever since I mentioned it. Their mother used to sew them handmade dolls when she was alive... So they really, truly treasure things like that."
Ephraim's smile widened, eyes curving. "How lovely. I'm glad I decided to make them then."
Their little conversation continued warmly, comfortably, threading between stories about children, snacks, and hobbies.
Meanwhile, beside Ephraim, Xu Jinyao sat quietly, entirely left out of the exchange.
He had wanted to speak up—wanted to ask to be dropped off somewhere nearby, or at least reject the sudden invitation—but Ephraim's cheerful chatter had given him no space to do so. And being the soft-spoken person he was, Xu Jinyao found it difficult to interrupt anyone mid-conversation to begin with.
Ephraim, of course, had counted on exactly that.
Rachel had advised him in a teasing, knowing tone before they even stepped into the car: "Strike up a conversation with the driver right away. Make it warm. Make it flow. Jinyao won't have the heart to interrupt—and by the time he gathers his courage, you'll already be at your destination."
Sure enough, by the time Xu Jinyao realized they were far past campus, the car was already pulling into a covered parking lot.
Their destination: a sleek, modern karaoke lounge.
This was a place Ephraim had long thought of dragging Xu Jinyao to.
In the original storyline, Xu Jinyao had always been the type who was too busy, too solitary, too saddled with responsibilities to enjoy the little things in life—like a silly round of karaoke with friends, greasy late-night snacks, or cheap arcade games. There were so many places he'd quietly wished to visit, but never had the time—or company—to do so… And he was also broke, so there was that.
Even after he started dating Wang Jianyuan, those small wishes remained unfulfilled. Wang Jianyuan, with his refined tastes and lofty preferences, had no patience for what he considered "low-grade entertainment." So naturally, Xu Jinyao could only keep his own desires quietly tucked away, the same way he always did.
Ephraim thought that was kind of tragic.
So he had made it his mission to let the boy have some fun for once. Really let loose, no heavy thoughts or burdens in the way. If he could get Xu Jinyao to enjoy himself, laugh a little, then maybe—just maybe—he'd earn a few precious goodwill points in the process.
That was one part of the plan.
The other?
Well, Ephraim hoped he could convince him to let him post a little clip online—just a short video of Xu Jinyao singing. His voice, after all, was so stunning it could bring a room to silence. If his followers heard it even once, the buzz would be immediate. It was a way to give the guy a bit of the spotlight, without shoving it in his face or triggering that towering wall of pride he carried around like sacred armor.
Of course, if it were up to him, he'd have just shoved the boy straight into his sister's entertainment company and let her work her magic. She had the influence, the resources, and no shortage of opportunities to offer.
But Xu Jinyao… had a pride the size of a coral reef. Not the little ones. The giant ones that could be seen from space.
He'd never accept help so easily.
Ephraim didn't really get it. If a golden pie was falling from the sky, wasn't it smarter to bounce on a trampoline and open your mouth wide to catch it?
Well. That's what separated people like him from protagonists, he supposed.