The moment their hands barely touched for a second, they both jerked back as if pricked by a cactus, staring at each other in stunned silence.
After a long pause, they finally sat back down.
With Sang Lu mediating, they awkwardly sipped their afternoon tea. Though the misunderstanding had been cleared up, years of estrangement couldn’t vanish overnight.
But that was alright.
The fact that they could sit together over coffee without immediately falling into their old quarrels was already a monumental leap.
They were barely in their twenties.
The time they’d spent at odds now accounted for more than half their lives so far.
But as time passed, that proportion would shrink.
Good memories would eventually outweigh the bad.
The old grudges and walls between them would grow increasingly insignificant.
Sang Lu glanced up at the two brothers, still unsure how to interact with each other, and smiled optimistically.
...
That night.
Sang Lu fell asleep quickly and soon slipped into a dream.
It was long and vivid.
Palm trees, sea breeze.
Clouds dyed gold by the setting sun, stretching endlessly across the sky.
Blonde men and women in swimsuits strolled along the beach as she lounged on a chair, leisurely enjoying the wind.
Her phone rang, and she answered.
A group video call.
The screen split into three frames, Feng Yi and Feng Bai’s faces appearing in two of them.
Feng Bai’s complexion had lightened, his youthful features now matured—clearly no longer twenty. From the background, it seemed he’d taken a break from a film set to call.
On the other side, Feng Yi’s hair was slicked back, his sharp features polished into a refined, corporate look. Only the faintly raised eyebrow betrayed any trace of the rebellious Feng family second son.
"Eldest sister-in-law, where’s big brother?" Feng Bai asked through the screen.
In the dream, Sang Lu felt like an observer, detached from her own perspective.
She watched as her dream self curved her brows and answered naturally, "He went to buy me ice cream."
The two on-screen reacted as if this were perfectly ordinary, humming in acknowledgment.
Feng Yi then asked, "Eldest sister-in-law, how much longer do you and big brother plan to travel? The company’s drowning in work. Without him, I’m lost—my heart’s a mess."
Feng Bai snorted. "Second brother, can you handle it or not? If not, just let me take over. Let big brother and sister-in-law enjoy their trip in peace."
Feng Yi scoffed. "You? I’d sooner trust Qiang to run the company than believe you’d show up to work consistently."
"Who’s Qiang?" Feng Bai frowned.
Sang Lu chimed in, "His new bulldog."
"Second brother, you—"
"Ha!"
The three burst into laughter.
Feng Bai sighed dramatically. "I knew it. I’m at the bottom of the family food chain."
Feng Yi smirked. "Obviously. You’re the third son."
Feng Bai protested, "So third means third?"
Feng Yi raised a brow. "What are you thinking? You’re fourth."
Feng Bai blinked. "Huh?"
Feng Yi deadpanned, "Big brother’s only second. Eldest sister-in-law’s at the top now."
Feng Bai grinned, feigning fierceness. "Right. Anyone who messes with sister-in-law answers to me first."
Sang Lu laughed, shaking her head. "Stop, stop. I’m getting goosebumps."
The two brothers, seeing her amusement, looked oddly proud of themselves.
Feng Bai beamed. "If you and big brother ever get bored traveling the world, just call us. Team Perfect Score is always on standby to deliver jokes."
Feng Yi scowled. "Who authorized that name? What even is 'Team Perfect Score'?"
Feng Bai pointed between them. "Yi and Bai—one hundred."
Feng Yi: "..."
Sang Lu: "..."
Feng Bai, undeterred, added cheerfully, "Sister-in-law, I made one for you and big brother too."
"Let’s hear it."
Just then, a deep, cool voice spoke from behind her in the dream.
Feng Yan’s voice.
"Big brother, you’re back!" Feng Bai’s eyes lit up on-screen. "'Broken Mulberry Seal'—how’s that for a team name?"
"Pfft—"
Sang Lu laughed so hard she woke herself up.
Her eyes fluttered open, still hazy with sleep, lips curled in a grin as she stared at the bedroom ceiling.
Unbelievable.
What kind of terrible joke was that?
Now "Broken Mulberry Seal" was stuck in her head.
She got up and headed to the bathroom to wash her face.
The cold water splashed against her skin, clearing the last dregs of sleep.
As she massaged cleanser into her cheeks, her hands suddenly stilled.
A tiny bubble of foam popped with a soft "plop."
Her mind buzzed.
Realization struck.
That wasn’t just a bad joke.
It wasn’t just a bad joke!
That had been another premonition.
A future where Feng Yan kept his promise never to pilot a helicopter again. Where Feng Yi and Feng Bai grew into harmony.
The story’s course had completely changed.
Even as Feng Yi and Feng Bai matured, Feng Yan was still there.
Sang Lu’s eyes brightened further.
The mirror reflected her radiant joy.
Right then.
Her phone vibrated.
She rinsed off the foam and tapped the screen.
Reading the new message, her already-smiling lips curved even higher.
[Feng: I’m coming home tonight.]
