It started with peace. Sweet, temporary peace.
Lu Chen and Yinyin had just returned from the balcony, still carrying the awkward weight of avoiding Yu Yin's questions during dinner. Yinyin was trying so hard not to laugh, and Lu Chen—well, Lu Chen was trying not to run. His calm CEO aura had taken a hit tonight.
As they entered the living room, Mingze was lounging like he had no business being the vessel of chaos.
"I can't believe you left me with her," he said dramatically, eating a spoonful of ice cream like it was punishment.
"What did she say this time?" Yinyin groaned, dropping onto the couch beside him.
Mingze turned toward Lu Chen slowly, then pointed a spoon at him. "She thinks you and Yinyin are secretly married."
Lu Chen blinked. "What?"
"And that the reason I'm here is because I caught you two and I'm the ex-boyfriend who's bitter but still helping the both of you raise a love child."
Dead silence.
Yinyin slapped a hand over her face. "Oh my God."
Mingze looked entirely too pleased. "She saw you both coming out of the balcony and said—and I quote—'The tension in the air is thicker than stew. They're either dating, engaged, or hiding a marriage from me.'"
"She said that?" Lu Chen was genuinely shocked.
Yinyin nodded, face still in her hands. "She probably read that in one of those cheesy webnovels she's obsessed with."
"And then she told me," Mingze continued casually, "that if I'm the one she thinks I am, then I should get my act together before Lu Chen steals his woman forever."
Lu Chen sat down slowly like the absurdity had physically pushed him. "I don't know whether to laugh or panic."
"Laugh," Yinyin muttered. "Because we're all living in Yu Yin's imagination now."
Just then, Yu Yin entered the room with three cones of ice cream.
She beamed like she hadn't just declared a full-blown telenovela plot in their absence. "Dessert!" she chirped. "I hope no one was talking about me."
She handed them each a cone and plopped down beside Yinyin, eyes flicking between her sister and Lu Chen with gleeful suspicion.
Yinyin tried to act normal. "Thanks, Yu."
Yu Yin turned to Lu Chen and said with zero hesitation, "You better be fast."
He blinked. "Fast?"
"With whatever you're planning." She gave him a sly look. "You know, before another handsome guy comes and sweeps her away."
Lu Chen nearly choked on his ice cream.
Mingze let out a loud cough to cover his laughter.
Yinyin stared at her sister, praying she'd be abducted by aliens. "Yu Yin…"
"What?" Yu Yin looked confused. "You like each other. It's obvious. I mean, who has a balcony moment unless they're in love?"
Lu Chen looked away, ears tinged pink.
Yinyin whispered to Mingze, "This is your fault."
"I regret nothing."
Yu Yin clapped her hands. "Anyway! I've decided that if you two get married, I want to be the maid of honor. Or the matchmaker. Or both."
"You're not even supposed to know we—" Yinyin caught herself. "—we talk," she finished lamely.
Yu Yin grinned like a fox. "Exactly. So you better get moving, Mr. CEO."
Lu Chen gave her a helpless smile. "I'll…keep that in mind."
Yinyin groaned again. "This is not how normal families function."
Yu Yin stood up triumphantly. "Who wants brownies?"
"Only if they come with peace and quiet," Yinyin muttered.