"Shen Yi! What were you doing sneaking into my room last night?!" Lu Xinyi's voice was sharp, her eyes blazing with anger. "If you don't explain yourself right now, get out of the Lu family! Consider all these years we've raised you as wasted!" Her tone was icy, her gaze filled with disgust, as if Shen Yi were some kind of vile criminal.
The luxurious living room was a testament to the Lu family's wealth. The Italian leather sofa exuded opulence, and the Persian handmade carpet covered the floor, every inch screaming affluence. The sparkling crystal chandelier cast a brilliant light, but to Shen Yi, it all felt like a distant dream—unreal and out of reach.
"Who am I? Where am I? What's going on?" Shen Yi clutched his head, his mind spinning. He muttered to himself, his voice filled with confusion and helplessness.
"Shen Yi! Stop playing dumb!" Lu Xinyi's delicate eyebrows furrowed in rage. "If you don't explain yourself, I'll make sure you're out of this house by tonight!" She took a step forward, her fists clenched tightly, as if ready to strike at any moment.
"Lu Xinyi?" Shen Yi's confusion deepened. He stared at her, his eyes searching for some clue in his memory. Who was she? Why did she seem so familiar yet so distant?
After a moment of stunned silence, Lu Xinyi's face flushed red with fury. "How dare you call me by my name, Shen Yi!" She pointed a finger at him, her voice rising with anger. "Even if you're pretending to be clueless, this is going too far! You really need to be taught a lesson!"
Shen Yi's mind raced. "Lu Xinyi… isn't that the name from the novel I read last night?" His thoughts drifted back to the story—a tale of a wealthy family, betrayal, and a protagonist who shared his name. In the book, Shen Yi was constantly framed by the true heir, Lu Jiang, and misunderstood by the Lu family's five sisters, especially the eldest, Lu Xinyi. Just because he was an "outsider," he endured endless humiliation and mistreatment.
According to the novel, today was the day Shen Yi would be kicked out of the Lu family because of Lu Jiang's schemes. Ironically, after ranting in the comments section about how unfair the protagonist's life was, Shen Yi had somehow found himself in this very situation.
Shen Yi let out a bitter laugh. "What kind of mess is this…?" he thought. "Of all the times to end up here, why now? If I'd arrived just a day earlier, I could've exposed Lu Jiang's true colors. But now… maybe leaving isn't such a bad idea."
Just then, a flood of memories rushed into his mind—scenes and emotions that were both foreign and familiar. They crashed into him like waves, threatening to overwhelm him. He closed his eyes tightly, clutching his head as a pained expression crossed his face.
"Shen Yi! Are you even listening to me?!" Lu Xinyi's voice was laced with fury. "I'm asking you what you were doing in my room last night!" She glared at him, her chest heaving with anger. "What the hell are you playing at?"
Shen Yi finally regained his composure and looked at Lu Xinyi. She was as beautiful as described in the novel—tall and elegant, her clear eyes now burning with rage. But her beauty did little to soften her harsh demeanor.
"What are you staring at?!" Lu Xinyi snapped, her voice trembling with anger. "I never thought I'd have someone like you in my family…" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, her hand dropping to her side.
Shen Yi noticed her chest rising and falling rapidly, her shirt buttons straining. He quickly averted his gaze and said, "I really don't understand. Why don't you check the security footage? Wouldn't that clear things up?"
Though he had no ill will toward Lu Xinyi, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. "This is ridiculous. I saw you were drunk and brought you hangover soup, and now you think I had ulterior motives? Seriously, what's wrong with you?" he muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with frustration.
"Anyway, it doesn't matter. If you want me to leave, I'll leave. It's not like anyone in this family likes me anyway—especially you, and him." Shen Yi pointed at Lu Jiang, who was standing at the top of the staircase, a smug smirk plastered across his face.
Lu Jiang adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his delicate features giving him an air of gentleness. But the faint sneer on his lips betrayed his true nature. He tilted his head slightly, watching the scene unfold with amusement, as if it were all a well-scripted play.
Lu Xinyi hesitated. "Shen Yi… was it really you who brought me the hangover soup last night?" But then she frowned. Shen Yi hadn't actually said that out loud—so how had she heard it? Was she imagining things? She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
Last night, after returning home from a business dinner, she had been too drunk to function and had collapsed into bed. When she woke up in the middle of the night, thirsty and disoriented, she'd found a bowl of hangover soup on her nightstand. At the time, she'd assumed it was Lu Jiang who had prepared it for her. After all, he was always so thoughtful and considerate. But now Shen Yi was claiming it was him?
Shen Yi raised an eyebrow. "Lu Xinyi, are your ears working? I said I'll leave, okay?" He turned and started walking toward the door.
"And how did you know it was me who brought the soup? Huh… finally starting to see the truth?" He shot her a sarcastic smile over his shoulder.
Lu Xinyi's frown deepened. "Shen Yi! Are you insulting me? You—" She took a step forward, but Shen Yi cut her off impatiently.
"Enough! I don't want to waste any more time arguing with you. I'm leaving, alright?" He waved his hand dismissively and quickened his pace.
"Not so fast!" Lu Xinyi snapped, lunging forward and grabbing his arm. Her grip was surprisingly strong, her nails digging into his skin. "You're not going anywhere until you explain yourself!"
Shen Yi yanked his arm free. "Get off me! If you want answers, go ask your precious little brother what he's been up to!" His voice was filled with anger as he glared at her.
Lu Jiang's expression faltered for a moment. "What's gotten into Shen Yi today?" he thought. "He's acting completely out of character. But this is good—the more he angers Lu Xinyi, the sooner he'll be kicked out." A sly smile crept across his face as he watched the scene unfold.
Lu Xinyi stumbled back, shocked by Shen Yi's sudden aggression. But her anger quickly returned, and she stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Shen Yi! How dare you treat me like this! And what do you mean by 'what Lu Jiang has been up to'? Are you accusing him of something? Explain yourself! You're not going anywhere!"
Shen Yi was beyond frustrated. "You're really unbearable, you know that? Fine, you want an explanation? Here it is!" He stormed over to the staircase, grabbed Lu Jiang by the arm, and dragged him in front of Lu Xinyi.
"Tell her, Lu Jiang. Who made the hangover soup last night?" Shen Yi's eyes burned with intensity as he stared down at Lu Jiang.
"And while you're at it, explain why Lu Xinyi's personal belongings ended up in my room!" His voice echoed through the living room, sharp and accusing.
"Lu Jiang! Speak up, you coward!" Shen Yi's grip tightened, his fingers digging into Lu Jiang's arm.
Lu Jiang's face paled. He had been the one to plant Lu Xinyi's clothes in Shen Yi's room, and he hadn't expected Shen Yi to fight back like this. Normally, the Lu family would take his side without question, but now Shen Yi was turning the tables.
"Brother… I don't know what you're talking about," Lu Jiang stammered, his eyes welling up with tears. "You're hurting me…"
"Shen Yi, let him go! He's your brother!" Lu Xinyi rushed to Lu Jiang's side, her voice filled with concern. But there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes as she glanced between the two men.
"Lu Jiang, tell me the truth," she said, her voice trembling. "Did you make the soup? And… what's this about my things being in Shen Yi's room?" Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the thought of her personal belongings being involved in this mess.