Shen Yi crossed his arms, his posture radiating cold detachment. His sharp gaze locked onto Lu Jiang, who was visibly nervous but still trying to salvage the situation. Lu Jiang took a small step forward, his face contorted into a pitiful expression as he turned to Lu Xinyi.
"Big sister... I was the one who made the hangover soup. It really wasn't Shen Yi," he said, sniffling slightly as if he had been wronged beyond measure.
Lu Xinyi glanced at Shen Yi with a cold, distrustful look, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Shen Yi smirked, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Oh? You made it? Then tell me, what ingredients were in the soup? What were the steps to prepare it? If you can answer that, I'll admit it was you." He tilted his head slightly, his eyes challenging.
Lu Jiang's face turned pale as a ghost. He had no idea how to make hangover soup. He spent most of his time partying with friends, playing video games, or sleeping. Household chores were completely foreign to him.
"I... uh..." Lu Jiang stammered, his words stumbling over each other. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his eyes darted around nervously.
Lu Xinyi watched his flustered reaction, and the truth began to dawn on her. Anger surged within her. She couldn't believe her own brother would lie to her over something so trivial. It was deeply disappointing.
"Lu Jiang! Why would you lie to me? Over a bowl of soup? You've let me down!" Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and heartbreak. She stared at him, searching for an explanation that would make sense.
Her gaze then shifted to Shen Yi, who stood with his arms crossed, a look of amusement on his face. For a brief moment, a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes, but she quickly masked it.
"Now, explain this. Why were my personal belongings in Shen Yi's room? Both of you, speak up!" Her voice was icy, her eyes darting between the two men.
Shen Yi shrugged nonchalantly, a playful smirk on his lips. "Ask him first. I'd love to hear how he plans to frame me this time. I might even learn a thing or two about his craft. He's quite the expert at it." He clapped his hands lightly, the sarcasm dripping from his words.
Lu Xinyi shot Shen Yi a glare, as if to say, "Don't make this worse," before turning back to her brother.
Lu Jiang's mind raced. He had two options: admit to framing Shen Yi and beg for forgiveness, or double down and blame Shen Yi. But he knew if the truth came out, he'd have no way to explain himself.
He clenched his teeth, deciding to gamble. "No! I can't admit it! If I do, I'm finished in this family! I'll bet on her still trusting me!"
Tears welled up in his eyes, and he took a step forward, clutching the hem of his shirt. "Big sister! It wasn't me! Shen Yi must have taken your things when he brought you the soup last night! I'm innocent!" He wiped away fake tears, his voice trembling with feigned emotion.
Lu Xinyi turned to Shen Yi, her eyes filled with accusation. "Is this true? Did you take my things under the guise of bringing me soup?" She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, her face burning with shame.
Shen Yi laughed bitterly, the sound echoing through the living room. "Hah! You believe him just like that? You've known me for over a decade, yet you trust someone who's been nothing but trouble since he came back?" He shook his head, his expression a mix of disappointment and disbelief.
Lu Xinyi froze. Shen Yi's words struck her like a dagger. Why had she been so quick to believe Lu Jiang? She had lived with Shen Yi for years—how could she trust a newcomer over him?
But she wasn't ready to back down. "Then prove it wasn't you! And Lu Jiang just needs guidance—I believe he can change!" She clenched her fists, as if trying to convince herself.
Shen Yi shrugged. "Fine. Follow me." He turned and headed upstairs.
Lu Xinyi hesitated but followed. Lu Jiang stayed behind, his face pale and his feet rooted to the ground. Lu Xinyi grabbed his arm and dragged him along.
When they entered Shen Yi's room, Lu Xinyi's eyes widened in shock. "This is your room? It's so small!" She couldn't believe how cramped it was, a stark contrast to the rest of the luxurious house.
Shen Yi chuckled darkly. "What's the point of saying that now? I've asked to change rooms countless times. Did anyone care?" His voice was laced with bitterness as he walked over to the bed and began rummaging through the sheets.
Lu Xinyi's heart ached. She couldn't imagine how Shen Yi, who was over six feet tall, had managed to live in such a tiny space.
"We didn't ignore you on purpose! You could've come to me!" she protested, her voice tinged with guilt.
Shen Yi's smile faded, replaced by a look of pain. "Do you remember last winter? I was so cold I couldn't sleep, so I went outside to jog just to warm up. You saw me and asked why I was out so late. I told you about my room. Do you remember what you said?" He stared at her, his eyes demanding an answer.
Lu Xinyi's mind flashed back to that night. She had seen Shen Yi running in the backyard and thought he was being ridiculous. When he explained, she had brushed him off, promising to fix the issue the next day. But she never did.
Guilt washed over her. She realized how much she had neglected Shen Yi, forcing him to live in this tiny, uncomfortable space.
The room was barely larger than a closet. A single bed, a worn-out desk, and a small window were all it contained. She remembered the bed—it was the same one Shen Yi had slept in as a child. It had never been replaced.
Her eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't imagine how Shen Yi had endured this for so long.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. I've gotten used to it," Shen Yi said quietly, his voice calm but filled with resignation. He then turned to Lu Jiang.
Lu Jiang's heart sank. He knew the moment of truth had arrived.
"Lu Jiang, this is your last chance. Will you admit it, or do I have to expose you?" Shen Yi's voice was low and commanding, his eyes piercing.
Lu Jiang's face turned ashen. "I didn't do anything! I want to see how you'll prove it! Big sister, don't let him slander me..." He looked at Lu Xinyi with pleading eyes, hoping she would believe him one last time.
But Lu Xinyi hesitated, then looked away. She was determined to get to the bottom of this.
"Fine. You really won't admit it until the end," Shen Yi said with a sigh. He turned to Lu Xinyi. "Did you take a shower on the second floor yesterday?"
Lu Xinyi nodded, her expression uneasy. After drinking the soup, she had indeed taken a shower. She hated the smell of alcohol and food on her skin.
"And did you tell me not to use the second-floor bathroom?" Shen Yi asked.
Lu Xinyi's unease grew. She nodded again. As they had grown older, they had decided it was inappropriate for Shen Yi to use the second-floor bathroom. But Lu Jiang was an exception.
Shen Yi glanced at Lu Jiang, who looked like he had seen a ghost. He walked over to the bed, bent down, and began searching under the sheets. Finally, his hand paused as he found something.
A smile spread across his face as he pulled out the object. When Lu Xinyi saw it, her face flushed with anger and shame.