Ye Yunjin stared blankly at Zhu Liuyue before him.
Once again, she had shattered his expectations.
Zhu Liuyue.
She was clear-headed.
Not just clear-headed—she was perceptive, sharp, hitting the nail on the head.
So his disguise had never stood a chance against her. She had seen straight through to the deepest colors of his personality.
Ye Yunjin couldn't tell if he wanted to laugh or sigh. Wearing that perfect mask for too long—it was exhausting.
He had been sitting upright and proper, but now, he shrugged.
His once-straight back relaxed, settling into the chair, his whole posture loosening at last.
His speech no longer sounded so rigid and measured.
“You're right. I've been pretending all along.”
“Pretending to be a mature, flawless, capable Ye Yunjin. In reality, I'm insecure, sensitive, and volatile.”
“Arrogant, too.”
“Before I came here, all I thought about was how to get along with you, how to get closer to you—but I never once considered what you liked or disliked.”
“I'm sorry, Liuyue. Can you give me a chance?”
“I don't want our marriage to be a cold, distant arrangement of convenience. I want our future together to be built on emotion and… love.”
He bowed his head humbly.
His long lashes drooped, casting a soft shadow beneath his eyes.
He looked sincere and pitiful.
Zhu Liuyue didn't answer his question.
Instead, she rested her chin on her hands and tilted her head slightly.
She asked in return:
“Guess why, at the engagement ceremony, I had Ye Yunche impersonate you to complete it—rather than having him simply show up as himself?”
Ye Yunjin's lashes trembled.
He took a deep breath.
“Because you like Yunche.”
The corners of Zhu Liuyue's lips curved upward.
Her smile was dangerous, carrying a cold cruelty.
“That's right. Because I like Ye Yunche, and so I know him very well.”
“Right now, he's interested in me only because my performance at the racetrack that day caught him off guard. He finds it novel, amusing, intriguing.”
“Like a child who's just discovered a brand-new game—he can't help but want to explore it. But Ye Yunche's personality isn't the easy type, either. If he gets something too quickly, he'll grow bored, feel it's stale.”
“So, you're nothing more than a whetstone I use to test and toy with Ye Yunche.”
Cards on the table.
Zhu Liuyue had essentially confessed everything.
I'm not interested in you.
I like Ye Yunche.
And you're just a stand-in fiancé—a tool.
These words hit harder than what came before, more brutal still, like a sharp blade driven straight into Ye Yunjin's heart, blood dripping.
No pause.
By the time he registered what had happened, Zhu Liuyue had already finished speaking.
The young woman before him then calmly took a sip of her coffee, smiling at him with an air of lightness.
Ye Yunjin's throat ran dry.
He wanted to say something—anything—to salvage some dignity, to win her back, or to save… something.
He didn't know.
But in the end, not a single word left his lips.
“No need to try so hard to please me. It's a waste of time.”
Zhu Liuyue smiled, composed and unhurried.
She set down her coffee, rose, and left with those words.
She didn't hesitate or pause for even a moment.
It wasn't until the glass door of the café clicked shut that Ye Yunjin's thoughts snapped back.
She'd said,
No need to try to please me.
A waste of time.
Ye Yunjin pressed his hands to his face, covering his eyes, and leaned back.
But a delighted laugh escaped his throat involuntarily.
If, before, his active pursuit of Zhu Liuyue had only been to keep Ye Yunche from getting what he wanted—
Then at this very moment,
He was truly serious.
Never before had his heart beat so clearly and so violently as it did right now.
His instincts told him.
She—was the one he had been searching for all along!
…
The weekend.
Zhu Liuyue and Zhu Qi went to a new script murder mystery store opened by a friend. The moment they walked into the room, they spotted Ye Yunche seated in the most conspicuous spot… and Ye Yunjin beside him!
What the hell?
She'd had a mental preparation for one of them showing up.
But both?
And today, the twins seemed to be in sync—dressed in identical light blue hoodies with black jeans,
looking far more youthful and energetic than they did in formal settings.
The only difference was that Ye Yunjin's hair was slicked back, revealing his smooth forehead.
While Ye Yunche's messy bangs hung loosely over his head, curling at the ends.
Zhu Qi was still naïve, waving and greeting them happily.
“What a coincidence! Brother Yunjin, Brother Yunche—you guys play script murder too?”
Ye Yunche shot a quick glance at Zhu Liuyue.
Coincidence, his ass.
He'd specifically found out about Zhu Liuyue's weekend plans knowing she would be here, so he'd come chasing after her.
As for his big brother…
The son of the store's owner happened to be his brother's junior in the same program, and he'd invited him as well.
So before heading out, the two brothers had silently preened in front of the mirror, even deliberately choosing the same outfit—each secretly suspecting the other might show up.
And sure enough.
They'd run into each other at the store.
Ye Yunche laughed heartily and said, “Bro, what a coincidence. You're here too.”
Ye Yunjin nodded. “Not really a coincidence—the owner is my junior, and he mentioned Liuyue would be here. I wanted to learn more about my fiancée's interests. What about you?”
“Me? I—hahahaha…” Ye Yunche tousled his messy bangs, looking a bit guilty.
He'd thought about fighting his brother over her, but it was supposed to be low-key.
He couldn't exactly say outright: Bro, I'm gonna steal your girl.
So Ye Yunche stammered through a laugh and explained:
“I've gotten bored of racing lately. Heard from—uh—that Zhu Qi that script murder was fun.”
“Mm. Then let's all play together.” Ye Yunjin raised an eyebrow.
“Great, great! Together!”
The two brothers had barely sat down when Zhu Qi and Zhu Liuyue arrived.
The four exchanged greetings.
They sat down across from each other.
For a moment, the atmosphere was awkward.
Luckily, the owner Xiao Wai came in soon enough. Seeing them, he grinned happily: “Whoa! Brother Yunjin, you really did me a solid! And Brother Yunche, you came too!”
“Zhu Qi, you little rascal. Nicely done bringing Sister Liuyue along. Looks like my little shop's gonna boom from now on.”
“Oh, hold on—there are more people coming. They'll be here soon.”
Xiao Wai greeted each of them in turn, then headed back out to usher in the newcomers.
Soon enough.
The remaining two men and two women arrived.
They were all from the same circle.
People they knew.
In fact, they were familiar faces.
But suddenly, Xiao Wai slapped his forehead.
He realized he had seriously messed up his guest list today!!!
Beside him, Zhu Qi shot him a look that could kill.
The two guys were Zhao Wen—the one from the racetrack that day—and his cousin Xiao Qitang.
And of course.
He had another identity.
Zhu Liuyue's ex-boyfriend!
