The ornate chandelier above flickered slightly as the shouting below intensified. Tension crackled through the air like a storm about to break.
"You manipulative little liar!" Leng Meixuan shrieked, slamming her palm onto the marble table. "You think everyone in this house should bow to your pathetic sob story?"
Lu Jingyan stood across from her, jaw clenched, eyes sharp like ice blades. "Better a sob story than a spoiled brat who lives off her parents' leftover dignity. Which is more pathetic? Me or you"
"You—"
"You think marrying into this family makes you special?" *Ning Ruomo* cut in, standing now, voice sharp and accusing. "You brought nothing to this house but misfortune!"
"Then throw me out," Lu Jingyan said coldly. "Oh wait—you can't. Because your name holds less weight in this house than my shadow."
"Enough!" Meixuan screamed, lurching toward her, eyes wide with fury.
A vase teetered on the edge as a side table got bumped during the scuffle. Porcelain shattered on the floor.
The door flung open.
Leng Xuanmo's deep voice rang out like thunder. "What is going on here?"
The entire room seemed to freeze.
At the top of the staircase, Leng Xuanmo stood tall in a dark shirt, sleeves rolled up, eyes radiating pure dominance. Behind him, Leng Shiyan leaned against the railing, arms folded, watching the chaos with a narrowed gaze. Leng Yumo, dressed in oversized black and clutching a juice box, blinked wide-eyed, chewing on a sweet. Beside her, Mo Tianyi remained unreadable, only his cold eyes scanning the scene like a silent executioner.
Lu Jingyan straightened but said nothing.
Meixuan opened her mouth, but Xuanmo raised a hand. "Save it."
His gaze swept over the broken porcelain, the furious faces.
"I leave for ten minutes," he said slowly, dangerously calm, "and the house turns into a circus."
Ning Ruomo started, "She provoked—"
"I. Said. Enough." His voice cracked like a whip. "If anyone raises their voice again, I'll make sure you won't raise anything for the next month."
Mo Tianyi's gaze met Lu Jingyan's for a moment silent understanding.
Leng Yumo whispered, "Is this what people call... 'family bonding'?"
Shiyan muttered dryly, "More like domestic demolition."
And downstairs, silence finally took root thick, cold, and full of consequences.
"Is this what my cousin in through on your House?" Mo Tianyi asked I a whisper only for the four of them to hear
"Leng Xuanmo. You ruined her, brought her here, make her go through hell. Like it isn't enough?"
"Mo Tianyi" Leng Xuanmo called
"Enough. I heard you haven't even registered your marriage. And that is more like it" he said
"I will fix it" Leng Xuanmo said
"It is too late. Tell her the whole truth. Nothing but the truth" he said
"Brother Tianyi. Don't do this" Leng Yumo said
"Yumo. It's all started with you. Amd it would end with you. Don't interfere. Ot s matter between me and your brother" he said shutting Leng Yumo up.
"Lu Jingyan. Leng Xuanmo has something to say to you" Mo Tianyi called shocking the Leng siblings
"Mo Tianyi" Leng Shiyan called but instead he turn around and leave the three of them standing and leave for the study room waiting for the four of them
"Brother"
"Let tell her truth. Nothing but the truth" Leng Xuanmo said walking away.
"Brother Shiyan" Leng Yumo called knowing this is her fault
"Let's trust Leng Xuanmo" was all he could say as Lu Jingyan meer up with them on the top stairs.
"What is the problem?"
"I don't know" Leng Yumo said
"Alright. Let's go" Lu Jingyan said as she walked towards the study room