— Mingze & Lu Chen POV —
Mingze leaned against the car as Lu Chen unlocked it.
"She really thinks you guys are dating," Mingze said, chuckling.
Lu Chen gave him a look. "You couldn't have corrected her?"
"Oh, come on," Mingze raised his hands. "You know her imagination is a whole movie franchise. If I had said no, she'd think I was lying to protect some forbidden romance."
Lu Chen smirked, finally letting out a breath. "She called me shamelessly slow."
"She's not wrong."
Lu Chen shot him a glare.
Mingze shrugged. "You were about to tell her, weren't you?"
He didn't reply, just started the engine, the hum of the car filling the silence.
"Lu Chen," Mingze said, more serious now, "how long are you going to keep hiding this from Yu Yin?"
Lu Chen's jaw clenched. "It's not the right time."
"She looks up to you like some idol. When she finds out you dated her sister, it'll hit harder than a slap."
"I didn't ask for her admiration." He stared at the road ahead. "And I didn't ask to fall for her sister either."
Mingze stared at him for a beat before sighing. "Man… you're hopeless."
They drove off, their silence holding more conversations than words ever could.
---
— Yinyin & Yu Yin POV —
Back at the villa, Yu Yin popped another spoon of ice cream into her mouth, legs curled up on the couch as she scrolled through her phone. Yinyin returned from the kitchen, her hair slightly wind-blown from the balcony breeze.
"He's cool," Yu Yin suddenly said.
"Who?"
"Lu Chen, duh."
Yinyin raised a brow and sat down. "What now?"
Yu Yin turned her phone screen around—it was Lu Chen's company profile. "A whole CEO in our house. Do you know how powerful that sounds?"
Yinyin hid her smile. "He's not all that."
"Says the one who looked like a lovestruck kitten on the balcony."
"I was cold," Yinyin lied swiftly.
Yu Yin grinned. "You're lucky, you know? You always get to meet the interesting ones."
Yinyin's smile faltered slightly, and she stared at her little sister—still so trusting, so bright-eyed. "Yu Yin…"
"Hmm?"
"What if… you found out something about someone you really admire… something that makes things a bit… complicated?"
Yu Yin paused mid-spoon. "Like?"
"Like they weren't who you thought they were. Or they had a past that… connects to someone close to you."
Yu Yin looked thoughtful, then shrugged. "Well, I'd want to know the truth. But it depends—was it a bad secret or just one nobody knew how to explain?"
Yinyin blinked. That… sounded too accurate.
"Why?" Yu Yin asked, now narrowing her eyes. "Wait. Wait, wait, wait—did Lu Chen used to have a thing with—"
"No!" Yinyin cut in way too fast.
Yu Yin narrowed her eyes further. "You're lying."
"I'm not lying!"
"…You're definitely lying."
Yinyin groaned and facepalmed again. "Can we just watch a drama or something?"
Yu Yin smirked. "Fine. But I'm telling you… he better act fast. Or I'll make this a full love triangle. I don't mind fighting you."
Yinyin gasped. "Yu Yin!"
Yu Yin giggled, tossing a pillow at her sister.
But behind the teasing smiles, Yinyin's heart thudded with unease. The moment Lu Chen left, she felt the weight return. The past was never far behind… and it was only a matter of time before it collided with the present.