• He stepped forward toward the room,
He stepped forward toward the room,Things felt rushed, almost too perfectly arranged. As Xie Lu stepped into the room, he noticed his brother speaking to a man he barely recognized—someone who supposedly worked in the building, but he didn't remember where. Yet today, this man stood with an oddly confident posture, a piercing gaze fixed on Xie, and a smirk playing at his lips.
The man slowly approached, the smirk never leaving his face. "It's a pleasure to work with you tonight, Mr. Xie. Call me J."
Xie narrowed his eyes slightly, unsettled by the man's strangely amused demeanour— Who the hell gets this excited about a faking stabbing scene? He thought. Still, keeping his voice flat, he simply responded, "Okay."
J's smirk faltered for a second, clearly disappointed by the lack of reaction. He shrugged it off and stepped past Xie, leaning casually against the wall. Meanwhile, Jin Lu clapped his hands once and said, "Alright, everything's in place."
He pointed toward J "He's wearing a fake blood pack under his shirt. When he brings you the wine, he'll 'accidentally' drop the bottle on you. You get angry, you will grab the fruit knife on the table, and 'stab' him in the abdomen. It'll look real. I'll come rushing in to stop you. CCTV catches it all. Simple and clean."
Xie gave him a silent look filled with quiet loathing but said nothing. He hated being part of this farce. Still, he moved to the sofa and muttered,
"Let's get this over with."
J beamed. "Great! I'd love to see how Mr. Xie handles being the broken one later for once of all. Oops—did I say that out loud? Ah, never mind me." He chuckled darkly.
Xie narrowed his eyes. This guy's clearly not in his right mind… he thought.
"But he didn't know that what J told would be his future ahead.."
Later, when all things are set up. Jin Lu stepped outside to monitor, leaving J to enter the room moments later holding a wine bottle. Just as planned, he "tripped," splashing wine all over Xie's crisp suit.
Xie stood up slowly, his eyes empty, grabbed the knife from the fruit basket with robotic precision, and lunged forward. The blade plunged toward J, who cried out as the blood bag burst, staining his shirt red. He dropped dramatically to the ground, groaning in mock agony. Perfectly acted
Right on cue, Jin Lu burst in. "What the hell are you doing?!" he yelled, rushing over to J's side.
Xie stood still, his expression blank—cold. He didn't say a word, as he was told to do.
Jin glanced up at the surveillance camera and gave a subtle smirk to himself. The act was done. He grabbed Xie by the arm. "Come on. You've done enough damage."
Without resistance, Xie allowed himself to be led away. The trap was set—and the first act of his fall had begun.
---
"So tomorrow, you'll lash out at me in front of Father when I show him the footage," Jin Lu had said with a smirk that still echoed in Xie Lu's mind like a poison-laced whisper.
Later that night, as he returned to his villa, he got into his bed without even changing. He lay flat on his back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, replaying every word his brother had said…. He thought the first move had been made. There was no going back now.
His phone suddenly lit up beside him. A message from his brother Jin:
"Meet tomorrow morning – at Lu Family Estate."
Xie Lu stared at the screen blankly. The glow of the phone felt cold against the darkness in his chest. With a slow breath, he put it down and whispered to himself,
"Am I destroying my own life with my own hands?
A rush of nostalgia hit him—years of hard work, the battles he fought to build his position, the dreams he crafted. And now, everything was crumbling. His once-warm world with Xiao Si felt like a fading illusion. Even just yesterday, life was different. Now, every breath felt like a punishment. He thought of Xiao Si—Was she okay? Had they fed her? Where was she being held? What condition was she in now?
His thoughts spiralled. All kinds of thoughts fought for space in his exhausted mind. Overwhelmed and sleep-deprived, his body finally gave in, and he dozed off, unknowingly slipping into unconsciousness.
The next morning, the chirping of birds made him awake. His eyes slowly opened, greeted the sunlight through the half-open curtains. For a few seconds, there was peace… until the weight of reality crashed back in.
Today was the day. He had to return to the Lu Family Estate. He had to stand before his father and act insane—to shatter his own image, his pride, his legacy—all to save the only person who had ever truly loved him.
And so, the mask of madness had to be worn.
—
The tall iron gates opened with a creak as Xie Lu drove to a stop in front of the Lu Family Estate, the heart of the Lu Family for hundreds of years, where the main branch of the family managed their business and political connections. The estate was a prima facie monument to old money — its towering face of grey stone and dark wood rose bluely against the morning sky like a living memento from the past. Ivy trailed the walls, and the great doors were embossed with intricate scenes of dragons and phoenixes. There was a hint of sandalwood in the air.
There was a uniformed guard bowing in waiting
"Welcome, Young Master Xie. May you go forward, and have a lovely day."
Xie glanced at the man, his expression blank.
Lovely day, huh? You'll be watching me get committed to an asylum today.
He gave a nod and continued up the sweep driveway, parking beside his brother's sleek black car. So Jin had already arrived.
Stepping into the grand hall, he was greeted by the soft glow of vintage chandeliers and the aroma of aged mahogany. The interior boasted an imposing 90s chic—rich but faintly dated. Marble floors underneath plush Persian carpets, and oil paintings of the Lu ancestors graced the walls of the corridors. Stunning vases sat at each corner, and the distant soft hum of classical piano music filled the air
A waiter greeted him
"Welcome, Young Master. Young Master. Would you like me to take your coat?"
"Where is everyone?" he asked, his voice flat.
"Inside the dining hall, sir."
He handed over his coat, took a deep breath, and readjusted his position before advancing towards the hall. As he entered, his eyes fell on the familiar faces.
His brother, Jin Lu, leaned back, a self-satisfied grin on his lips as he sat beside was their mother, Wai Qin, graceful and quiet as always, while at the head of the table sat their father—Lu Zhong, the patriarch of the Lu family.
Jin looked up with amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Why are you standing there? Come, enjoy the meal," he said smoothly.
Xie shot him a cold glance, saying nothing.
"Hm."
He pulled out a chair and sat down opposite his mother,
Just as the quiet returned, Lu Zhong's voice cut through the stillness.
"How are things going at work? Everything running smoothly?"
"Ah, ye—"
Before he could finish, Jin interrupted with a syrupy voice.
"Excuse me, Father. I'd actually like to discuss something regarding Xie. In private. In your office, if that's alright." Lu Zhong raised an eyebrow, giving a gaze toward Jin, then at Xie. There was a suspicion in his eyes, but he remained composed.
"Whatever you wish to discuss can wait until after the meal. This is not appropriate behaviour to interfere while I'm talking with someone, Jin."
"Yes, Father. My apologies," Jin said with a slight head bow. Jin stared at Xie Lu, a crooked smile playing on his lips—amused, almost delighted by the tension in the air. He watched his younger brother eat in silence, slowly, mechanically, like someone forcing down regret with every bite.
Xie Lu didn't return the look. He kept his head down, ignoring the presence beside him. The food was tasteless in his mouth, but he knew this might be the last time he shared a meal with his family as the CEO.