◎How could you fall in love with your own sister-in-law?◎

The beads of the pearl curtain rattled softly as Zhou Xiaojun’s incessant chatter grew clearer and closer. “He’s already dating someone, can you believe it? At such a young age, why isn’t he focusing on his career? I’m not giving him any more luxury yacht gifts.”

“Yes, yes, Grandma, please stop gifting him those things,” Fu Jiaxi replied lightly.

The seemingly random topic felt jarringly out of place in the current atmosphere.

By the time Fu Jiaxi realized something was amiss, her steps were already committed.

Three pairs of eyes converged on her, their intentions unmistakable.

Yue Jincheng’s gaze was deep and heavy.

Yue Yunzong wore a mocking smile, watching the scene unfold like a spectator at a play.

And Yue Shaoheng, though standing the farthest away, radiated an uncontainable intensity—his emotions boiling over, sticky and suffocating.

Zhou Xiaojun held Fu Jiaxi’s hand as she walked, continuing her stream of complaints. “Why are you limiting my spending again? You’re ruining all my fun.”

When they reached the midpoint between the three men, Zhou Xiaojun stopped.

Her petite figure conveniently blocked Yue Shaoheng from view.

“Grandma, it’s because Jiaxi cares about you. She doesn’t want you straining your eyes by staring at screens all day,” Yue Yunzong teased lightheartedly, as if nothing unusual had transpired.

Zhou Xiaojun chuckled. “Oh, Yunzong is just jealous. You care about me too—I remember that. You’re all good children.”

Elders’ love must be balanced, distributed evenly to maintain harmony.

“Alright, go take a walk in the garden. Your Uncle Li has been taking good care of those orchids,” Zhou Xiaojun said, waving her hand to signal Fu Jiaxi to leave. Then, turning to Yue Jincheng, she added, “Come inside and help me light some incense.”

Yue Jincheng silently complied, slowing his pace for a fraction of a second as he passed by Fu Jiaxi.

“Come on, give me a hand,” Zhou Xiaojun urged.

Inside the prayer hall, the scent of sandalwood lingered faintly. The curtains were half-drawn, casting soft shadows. Bamboo swayed gently outside the window, and the air within the ancestral hall felt cooler, slower. The smoke from the incense burner curled lazily upward, undisturbed by the breeze.

The simple red-brown wooden chairs and altar stood solemnly. The prayer cushion on the floor, worn from years of use, bore a slight indentation in the center.

Yue Jincheng knelt on the cushion, the creases of his suit pants folding neatly around his slender ankles, encased in dark socks.

He took three sticks of incense from the box.

Beside him, Zhou Xiaojun spoke softly. “I know you’re worried about Jiaxi, and your mind isn’t here. Perhaps you even blame me for pulling you away.”

“No,” Yue Jincheng replied, aligning the incense sticks and picking up a match. “Don’t overthink it. Today is your birthday—try to be happy.”

Zhou Xiaojun sighed quietly. “Your face may appear calm, but the furrow in your brow hasn’t smoothed once. That child Shaoheng is stubborn and reckless—he can’t hide anything.”

“Strike.”

The first match flared to life, its flame leaping briefly before extinguishing just as quickly.

Yue Jincheng’s voice was cold. “He only loses control in front of certain people. And what he fails to conceal isn’t just his emotions—it’s as if he wants to rip his heart out and shove it in my face, ensuring I don’t miss a thing.”

“It’s not you he fears—it’s Jiaxi he wants to see everything,” Zhou Xiaojun cut deeper, slicing open a raw wound in Yue Jincheng’s heart. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just didn’t want you bottling everything up, doing something foolish, and ruining yourself in the process.”

The tip of the match still glowed faintly. Yue Jincheng pressed it with his fingertip, expressionless, extinguishing it completely.

Zhou Xiaojun approached slowly, striking another match. Her trembling hands moved gently as she relit the incense stick he had nearly snapped in half.

“I know you’re thinking about what’s happening outside—you don’t want Jiaxi and Shaoheng together. But your worry is also a burden to her. Right now, you’re only the father of her child, not her husband, not her partner, and not even her friend. Who she chooses to associate with is her freedom.”

Zhou Xiaojun carefully peeled back the fog clouding the person before her. “You’ll have to get used to this sooner or later—or rather, you should have accepted it long ago.”

Yue Jincheng’s heart felt like an elevator plummeting out of control, descending floor by floor.

Loss, resentment, anger—all dissolved into helplessness and torment.

He looked up, meeting the Buddha’s serene gaze.

For all these years, he had prayed sincerely, yet never asked for much.

The closest he ever came to true faith was when he bowed deeply, his heart filled entirely with thoughts of Fu Jiaxi.

________________________________________

Outside the prayer hall, Yue Yunzong deliberately lingered, sipping tea with an air of calm indifference. Every so often, his gaze flicked toward Fu Jiaxi.

His eyes appeared kind on the surface but were sharp and invasive beneath.

Fu Jiaxi, however, showed no fear. When she noticed his teacup was empty, she stepped forward to refill it.

Yue Yunzong smiled and blocked her gently, covering the cup with his hand. “Oh, how could I possibly trouble you? Guests should be treated well—they’re here to enjoy themselves and leave happily.”

Fu Jiaxi held the teapot firmly and smiled. “Today is to celebrate Grandma’s birthday, and under her grace, I can barely consider myself her guest. But I wouldn’t dare overstep my bounds in front of you. My opportunity to join Baifeng Group and the Investment Development Department was made possible by your invaluable support. As my superior, it’s only right that I show respect. Can’t I take this chance to pour you tea and express my gratitude?”

Her words were smooth and diplomatic, defusing his deliberate provocation into a warm gesture of goodwill.

Yue Yunzong, cornered by her tactful response, had no choice but to move his hand away from the teacup. “You’re eloquent and increasingly capable.”

“It’s all thanks to President Yue’s high regard—I’ll work hard and ensure I don’t hold anyone back.”

She poured the pale green Longjing tea until the cup was full, then gently placed the teapot down.

Under her watchful gaze, Yue Yunzong had no choice but to finish the tea. He set the cup down on the table—not too lightly, not too heavily—and smiled without reaching his eyes. “You haven’t seen Third Brother in a long time. I won’t be the unwelcome third wheel. Take this chance to catch up.”

His sarcastic insinuation hung in the air. If Fu Jiaxi rushed to explain herself, it would only make her seem guilty.

Yue Yunzong left, leaving Fu Jiaxi alone with Yue Shaoheng.

Without sparing him a glance, she turned to leave as well.

The fragile balance Yue Shaoheng had been struggling to maintain shattered completely. The emptiness of losing her again overwhelmed him, and he could no longer restrain himself.

“Jiaxi,” he called out, quickly stepping in front of her to block her path.

Instinctively, Fu Jiaxi took a step back, putting distance between them. Her gaze remained calm and indifferent.

“How… how are you doing?” Yue Shaoheng asked hesitantly.

“I’m doing well.”

“You’re trying so hard to please Second Brother—is this what you call doing well?”

“I’m working hard, living my life, and engaging in normal workplace socializing. What’s wrong with that?” Fu Jiaxi frowned, genuinely puzzled.

“You weren’t like this before,” Yue Shaoheng said anxiously. “Why—how could you act so humbly toward Second Brother? You used to live such a good life, never bowing your head to anyone!”

Fu Jiaxi let out a light laugh. “So in your mind, I should have lived a sheltered, carefree life? This label you’ve pinned on me—I don’t even know where to begin explaining.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Yue Shaoheng insisted. “I just don’t want you to live worse than before. I don’t want you to lower your head for the sake of survival.”

“The reason I didn’t have to bow my head before was because of Yue Jincheng. He gave me a comfortable life, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak, incapable, or afraid of hardship. I don’t need anyone’s pity, and I certainly don’t want anyone using this to mock him.” Fu Jiaxi spoke confidently and frankly. “It’s you who are stuck in the past, not me.”

Yue Shaoheng froze.

Fu Jiaxi didn’t want to say more and turned to leave.

He instinctively grabbed her hand. “Jiaxi, Jiaxi.”

“Yue Shaoheng,” Fu Jiaxi quickly pulled away, her voice low but sharp.

“You don’t need to make excuses for Big Brother—he should have protected you. It’s his failure, his neglect,” Yue Shaoheng said stubbornly, his grip tightening instead of loosening. He leaned closer, his voice trembling. “Why are you enduring this humiliation? You shouldn’t have to endure this!”

Fu Jiaxi hadn’t expected him to lose control so completely. With guests milling about outside, she couldn’t risk making a scene by resisting too forcefully.

Just as tension reached its peak, a stern voice cut through the air. “Third Brother!”

From behind a pillar, Yue Mingxin, unable to bear watching any longer, rushed to shield Fu Jiaxi. “What’s gotten into you, Third Brother? Do you want everyone to come and gawk? Do you want to ruin Sister Jiaxi?”

Yue Shaoheng hesitated, his body trembling slightly. Fu Jiaxi seized the moment to break free and quickly left the contentious area.

Outside, laughter and chatter filled the air. She maintained her composure, brushing past curious glances, seeking refuge in a quiet corner. But no matter where she went in the vast garden, there seemed to be nowhere she could hide.

Fu Jiaxi finally retreated to the restroom, locking the door behind her before letting out a heavy sigh of relief.

She stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror. Her situation within the Yue family felt like walking on a knife’s edge, surrounded by those who sowed discord, those who could snap at any moment, and those who spoke in veiled sarcasm.

Fu Jiaxi, oh Fu Jiaxi…

She splashed cold water on her face and managed a faint smile at her reflection. What kind of life have I been living these past few years?

________________________________________

Meanwhile…

Yue Mingxin dragged Yue Shaoheng aside and issued a stern warning. “Third Brother, today is Grandmother’s birthday. Do you really want to disturb her peace?”

Even after regaining his composure, Yue Shaoheng’s tall, imposing figure still exuded an oppressive aura. “You rushing over like that—was it for show? Even if you call Grandmother over to mediate, I’d have no regrets.”

“Do you really think dragging Grandmother into this will justify your actions? Have you lost your mind—or your heart?” Yue Mingxin snapped angrily, then added sharply, “Your memory seems poor, Third Brother. Back then, when Big Brother spared you, it was only because Grandmother pleaded on your behalf. Do you really want to test your luck this time?”

Yue Shaoheng retorted, “You don’t need to threaten me. Jiaxi divorced him. So what? Does that mean I don’t even have the right to talk to her anymore? His possessiveness and controlling nature—are they so noble?”

Yue Mingxin, who had always been close to Yue Jincheng, was blunt and outspoken. “Is that what you call talking? Didn’t you see that Sister Jiaxi didn’t want to engage with you? Forcing yourself on her, clinging desperately—how noble do you think that is?”

His words struck like a dagger.

Yue Shaoheng’s gaze burned with anger as he finally broke down. “It was him who took Jiaxi away from me! She liked me first—she clearly liked me first!”

“Are you out of your mind, Yue Shaoheng?” Yue Mingxin rolled up her sleeves and moved to cover his mouth. “Do you want to ruin Sister Jiaxi’s life? What’s this nonsense about ‘first’ or ‘later’? She married Big Brother—she became your sister-in-law, your elder. Someone you shouldn’t even dare to fantasize about.”

Yue Shaoheng laughed bitterly, his once-clear eyes now clouded with resentment. “And here you are, acting so hypocritical. You lecture me about morality now, but back then, did Big Brother ever give a second thought to ‘morality’?”

Yue Mingxin took a step back, pausing for a few seconds before asking, word by word, “How dare you stand here and question Big Brother about morality? Have you forgotten what you did? When Jiaxi was still your sister-in-law, you never once suppressed your desires for her, never respected the hierarchy or ethical boundaries. You disregarded your brotherhood with Big Brother. When you forcibly held her hand, when you hugged her without her consent, did you ever stop to think about what ‘morality’ and ‘boundaries’ even mean?”

The deafening silence contrasted sharply with the occasional bursts of laughter and chatter from outside.

Yue Shaoheng stood motionless, like a broken puppet, stunned and hollow, as if an arrow had pierced straight through his heart.

“You thought no one saw, didn’t you? Two summers ago—you disregarded Jiaxi’s resistance and hugged her from behind, saying things that were utterly inappropriate. You thought no one was watching, and you were certain she wouldn’t tell Big Brother. In the name of love, you caused harm. You bullied her, embarrassed her—you were despicable.”

Yue Mingxin finally vented her anger, standing up for justice and forcing him to confront the truth.

Yue Shaoheng slowly lowered his voice. “So you blame me… blame me for causing their divorce.”

The word “divorce” carried a cruel and shattering weight.

Yue Mingxin’s eyes instantly reddened. “I—I just think… Sister Jiaxi has suffered so much in our family…”

Yue Shaoheng’s eyes brightened slightly. “See? Even you believe that Big Brother failed to take care of her, don’t you?!”

“As an outsider, I have no right to judge others’ rights and wrongs. But one thing is undeniable.” Yue Mingxin spoke firmly. “Every single moment of happiness Sister Jiaxi experienced in this family came from Big Brother. You had no place, no significance. Don’t even dream otherwise—you… are nothing.”

A prolonged silence settled between them, calm and still.

Gradually, both became aware of something unusual and instinctively turned their heads in the same direction.

Beneath the pearl curtain stood a tall, slender figure.

Unbeknownst to them, Yue Jincheng had been standing there for some time. His shoulders bore traces of the faint sandalwood scent from the prayer hall, but his gaze was as sharp and cold as a blade, exuding an icy aura.