Chapter 4: A Forced Transaction

Over the next few days, Evan enjoyed a quiet and peaceful routine. Julian seemed to have completely forgotten about his existence, filling his social media feeds with photos of himself and his fiancée at the mountain resort. Having set Julian's notifications to "Special Focus" on his phone, Evan found it impossible to avoid seeing these updates.

However, these pictures only fueled his hatred, making him eager to contact Christian, join forces with the Christian family to bring down the Julian family, and give that scumbag a thorough slap in the face.

Yet before Evan could even reach out to Christian, an unexpected visitor appeared right outside his door.

Hearing the knock, Evan hastily grabbed a tissue to wipe the toothpaste foam from his lips, pulling open the apartment door without a second thought.

Standing outside was a tall woman in a sleek black dress. With flowing wave-curled hair, fair skin, and sharp, refined makeup, she held a luxury handbag fresh from last week's release—clearly priceless at first glance.

The woman appraised Evan with a keen, searching gaze, tilting her chin up slightly. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Uncomfortable under her scrutiny, Evan stayed where he was, forcing himself to stand straight as he murmured politely, "Miss, I think you might have the wrong place..."

"Impossible. It's definitely here," the woman said with utter confidence. Her resolute tone made Evan feel inexplicably self-conscious instead.

Knowing further chatter was pointless, Evan decided to settle things quickly. "Who are you looking for, Miss?"

Switching her bag to her other hand, the woman raised an eyebrow. "Christian. Where is he?"

*Ah, another fiancée-chasing-a-man scene...* Evan sighed internally. He really couldn't fathom what was wrong with these rich heirs—always hiding away their concubines without even doing a proper job of it. Pure foolishness!

"Mr. Christian isn't here. You should go look for him at the Christian family residence," Evan explained patiently. He turned into the room and returned with a slip of paper. "This is Mr. Christian's phone number. If you can't find him, you can try calling him."

Evan had already automatically cast the woman in the role of "Christian's fiancée." In the narrative in his mind, she seemed rather pitiable—rushing into a marriage of convenience; could it get any sadder than that?

Baffled by his actions, the woman took the note, glanced at it briefly, and stuffed it back into Evan's hands.

"You dislike him that much? So eager to push him away?"

Evan knit his brows in confusion, thinking to himself: *I have nothing to do with him in the first place, and I don't even like him.*

Of course, he couldn't say his thoughts aloud, so he merely let out an awkward smile. "I... I just thought you might have urgent business with him..."

The woman let out a soft chuckle, her smile broadening as her intimidating aura dissolved. She reached out a hand toward Evan, her wrist adorned with a translucent jade bangle delicately carved with lotus patterns. "I'm Serena, Christian's older sister."

*Christian's older sister...* Hearing her mention Christian's nickname in Chinese earlier almost made Evan laugh. He found it impossible to associate such a cozy pet name with Christian's proud, overbearing face, sensing a bizarre mismatch.

"You must be Evan. I noticed he's been going out quite frequently lately, so I secretly asked his driver and managed to track you down here." Saying this, Serena took the initiative to hold Evan's fingers, squeezing them gently before letting go.

"I..."

"No need to be shy. I told him before coming over. Even though he didn't reply, I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Serena said, tossing aside her former cold demeanor to make a playful face. "Did I interrupt your quality time together?"

Evan stared blankly at the woman in front of him, letting out a soft "Ah?" before hurriedly shaking his head. "No, no... He and I are actually..."

"I know! You two are already married—wait, no, he said you were *getting* married, but it's pretty much the same thing anyway."

"Huh?"

Serena blinked, reaching out to playfully ruffle Evan's hair. "You're so adorable! No wonder Christian likes your type—I was wondering why he hadn't found a partner for so many years!"

Watching Serena walk right into the apartment, Evan stood rooted to the spot, a million questions racing through his head.

For the first time in days, he felt a desperate urge to call Christian—just to demand what kind of nonsense he had been feeding his own sister.

---

Closing the door behind him, Evan turned back toward the living room, only to see Serena earnestly reviewing the design sketches he had casually drawn on the coffee table.

Embarrassed, he hurried over to her side, his expression scrunched up. "Those were just random doodles I did out of boredom. Please don't look at them..."

"Evan, do you know that a genius young designer emerged a few years ago? The evening gowns he designed had so much tension, perfectly fitting the identity of modern independent women. Your design sketches are just like his—there's so much emotion you want to express." Serena raised her head, her eyes shining with admiration.

Evan had, of course, heard of that genius prodigy who designed exclusively for women. His gaze dimmed slightly, and he forced a weak smile as he pulled the sketches from Serena's hand and tossed them into the trash bin.

"Compared to him, I'm nowhere close."

Perplexed by Evan's self-deprecation, Serena shrugged. Then, remembering something, she patted the sofa cushion beside her, gesturing for him to sit.

Smelling the perfume on Serena, Evan consciously shifted a bit further away.

His unique body left him with two distinct physical aspects, yet he was accepted by neither side. He could sense the subtle hostility many women held toward him, nor could he find a true sense of belonging among men.

This awkward predicament was something he had been born with.

Noticing Evan's deliberate distance, Serena threw a curious glance his way. Rather than bringing it up, she began poking fun at her younger brother instead.

"Evan, I didn't come here to break you two up. I was just far too curious... You know Christian just returned from abroad, and before he even fully grasped company affairs, he rushed to take over everything. I was worried he'd overwork himself, so I quietly pried a little into his personal life..."

Serena pinched her thumb and index finger close together for Evan to see, emphasizing her words. "Seriously, I only dug around a tiny bit, and that's how I found out about your existence..."

Evan let out a sigh in his heart, thinking to himself: *How was I supposed to know Christian just returned from abroad? I've known him for less than a week.*

In his past life, Evan didn't even recall such a person existing at Julian's engagement banquet.

"...My family wants me to bring you back so everyone can meet you. Marriage isn't a small matter, and I felt it wasn't right to keep you staying in a hotel all the time..."

It seemed Christian had spilled every last detail to his family. Evan's inner self rolled his eyes, delivering a thorough string of internationally recognized expletives to Christian's name.

Seeing no response from Evan, Serena blinked and asked tentatively, "Evan, do you want to come with me?"

Evan's mind was crystal clear at this moment. He knew that since Christian had set these rules on his own, he was betting that Evan wouldn't dare rebel, leaving him no choice but to participate in this indefinite transaction.

If this transaction could truly bring vengeance upon Julian, it was worth a shot.

After all, Christian was the one who hit the "Start" button; stepping into the game now wasn't breaking any rules.

Evan curved his lips, his watery, doe-like eyes appearing pure and harmless, making Serena's heart melt instantly.

"Sure, I'll go with you, Sis."

That single sentence completely won over Serena's heart. She wished she could pull Evan into her arms and keep him forever, never returning him to her brooding, sour-faced brother.

---

After packing his few belongings, Evan took his room key card down to the front desk to check out, only to be informed that Mr. Christian had to handle the checkout personally. With no other choice, Evan slipped the key card into his pocket and dragged his lightweight suitcase out of the hotel.

Serena drove an artistic Mini Cooper, slowly pulling up right in front of Evan. Rolling down the window, she tossed her chin up to signal him to get in.

Evan didn't stand on ceremony any longer. He placed his luggage in the back and took the passenger seat.

It was easy to tell that Serena was far more straightforward and open than Christian. In Evan's mind, the image of Christian's triumphant, half-mocking smile surfaced—those handsome, almond-shaped eyes were terrifyingly cold when drained of warmth.

"Christian has a bit of a strange temper. It must be tough on you, putting up with his moodiness," Serena blurted out mid-drive, making Evan's heart skip a beat as he focused on his phone's fashion exhibition feed.

Evan let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "Mr. Christian actually has a pretty good temper."

Evan was telling the truth. Having endured so much inhumane treatment, simply being treated as an equal was enough to make him content. Evan asked for nothing more; he had surrendered his dreams and freedom only in exchange for a place to belong.

This desperate yearning to survive was something only Evan himself truly understood.

At the thought of this, a heavy stone seemed to weigh on his heart—he could hardly imagine how the Christian family would view him if they ever discovered his body's flaw and his shameful past.

This move was a dangerous gamble, and Evan had pushed himself straight into the unknown fog with his own hands.

---

The Christian family estate was situated on a quiet hillside. Driving up the winding mountain road and passing through dense foliage, dark glazed roof tiles soon came into view, reflecting the surrounding greenery.

The courtyard was classic Eastern style; stepping closer, one could hear the gentle babble of a running stream. Whenever the breeze blew, the lush bamboo grove in the garden rustled softly. Elegant corridors wound through the scenery, where an elderly man sat alone at a marble table in the center, playing chess by himself.

After parking the car, Serena saw Evan standing dazed in place and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Let me take you inside."

With that, Serena led the way into the courtyard. Hearing footsteps, the white-haired elder raised his head toward the entrance, his expression warm and amiable.

"Grandpa!" Serena walked over with light steps, gently supporting the old man.

Evan stood where he was, hesitating slightly before calling out softly, "G-Grandpa..."

Serena leaned down to whisper a few words to the elder, then stood up and waved Evan over.

Evan hesitated, but a sudden roar of a sports car engine echoed behind him. Instinctively turning his head, he saw Christian walking toward him with a dark, storm-like expression, his long trench coat billowing loudly in the wind.

"Mr. Chris—"

Before Evan could even finish his greeting, Christian grabbed his wrist firmly, leading him straight toward Serena and the elder.

Stopping right before the two, Christian wrapped an arm tightly around Evan's waist without a word, pulling him close into his chest. Standing tall and straight, he announced solemnly:

"Grandpa, let me officially introduce him. This is my partner, Evan."

In an instant, all eyes landed on Christian.

Evan could keenly sense the old man's delight, but he awkwardly looked up at Christian, trying to break free from the arm holding him captive, only to be held even tighter.

Immediately after, he heard Christian speak a single sentence that made him stop struggling entirely, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at Christian's side profile.

Christian declared, "Please pick a date for us, Grandpa. I want to marry Evan as soon as possible."

Chapter 5: Pretend Husbands

Marriage, marriage, marriage...

Ever since his rebirth, Evan's life seemed to revolve around those two words. It was something he had desperately yearned for in his past life, but now, it hovered over him like a curse, threatening to suffocate him.

Christian glanced down at Evan before continuing calmly, "I originally wanted to introduce him to Grandpa earlier, but Evan is far too shy. So, I thought it best to wait until things settled down at the company before bringing him over."

Evan stared in astonishment at Christian lying through his teeth without batting an eye, inwardly giving him a thumbs-up.

If he had possessed such a knack for lying back then, he wouldn't have been controlled and manipulated by Julian for so many years.

Just as he was lost in chaotic thoughts about his past life, Evan's hand was suddenly taken in a warm grip and pulled forward slightly. A gentle voice fell by his ear: "Evan, let me take you inside."

The soft, tender tone of Christian's voice sent a wave of goosebumps across Evan's skin. Disgusted, he pressed his lips together and tugged hard at his hand once the old master turned around, only to be startled by a stern, warning glance from Christian.

"This isn't right..."

Evan's low mutter was caught by Christian, who stopped in his tracks, pulling Evan over to the far end of the corridor before letting go of him.

"What isn't right?"

Finally freed from the hold, Evan shrank back slightly, lifting his head with a troubled expression. "We've known each other for less than a week. I don't even... don't even know you... How do you expect me to act like we're madly in love?"

Christian stared into Evan's eyes, nodding thoughtfully, and then asked, "Did you ever join a drama club in college?"

"Um... what does that have to do with anything?" Evan had indeed joined several clubs during his college years. Studying design, he was often dragged in by the drama club to help with props and behind-the-scenes support.

"Just treat them all as your audience. You and I are the leads in this show."

Christian's suggestion sounded simple enough, but executing it was immensely difficult. Evan desperately wanted to remind this high-and-mighty heir that drama clubs required countless rehearsals before presenting a flawless performance on stage; amateurs like them would be riddled with glaring flaws.

Seeing Evan's facial features practically scrunched together in distress, Christian thought for a moment before offering a brief summary: "Accustomed to quiet environments. Likes spicy food. Owns five properties and two sports cars. Currently living at the Grand Horizon Estates. A workaholic."

Utterly baffled by Christian's sudden barrage of details, Evan widened his eyes, a look of complete blankness on his face.

"What are you standing there for? Write it down." Christian rested his palm against his forehead, wondering if Evan suffered from a lack of intelligence.

Evan let out a soft "Oh," inwardly grumbling that Christian's self-assessment was actually quite spot-on. He closed his phone's audio recording app, opened the notepad, and typed in Christian's exact words, character by character.

"What about you?"

Evan shifted his gaze away from his phone, tilting his head as he thought it over. "There's nothing special about me. I like reading, can't handle spicy food very well, savings... I don't think I have any..."

When mentioning his savings, Evan's eyes dimmed significantly—ever since graduating from college, he had been placed into Julian's company under the dignified title of Julian's personal assistant, though his real role was far more embarrassing than anyone could imagine.

"Oh, right. I graduated from the Seaside Academy of Fine Arts, and my work was... women's fashion design."

Comparing the two, Evan felt the gap between himself and Christian was vast. They didn't belong to the same world at all, and ordinarily, their paths would never have crossed.

"Women's fashion design... In that case, I'll say we met on an airplane. You helped me out, and as we gradually got to know each other, we started a long-distance relationship across international borders."

Christian lied without so much as a blink, pulling details out of thin air. The backstory he crafted was remarkably romantic, resembling a sweet trope deliberately set up by an author for a novel's main couple.

Yet real life was mostly a angst-filled tragedy. Evan let out a quiet sigh, joking half-heartedly, "We could say we ran into severe turbulence on the plane, and I saved your life."

Christian nodded. "That sounds a bit more believable."

Just as both of them opened their mouths to add something more, a chestnut-haired head suddenly popped out from the dense vines on the other side of the corridor, calling out toward them: "Young Master! Young Master's partner..."

Christian signaled to the person with a wave of his hand, indicating he would be right over.

Turning back, Christian lowered his hand helplessly. "That's the butler's son. I'll introduce you to him later."

Evan gave a quiet "Mm," swallowing back the words he had been about to speak. He figured that since this relationship was merely meant to deceive Christian's family, there was no need to take the play too seriously or reveal everything about himself to Christian.

"Just so we're clear, I haven't agreed to this deal yet. I'm only helping you out today." As soon as Evan spoke, the cozy atmosphere that had briefly built up vanished in an instant. Christian remained silent for a few seconds before letting out a low "Got it."

---

Guided by Christian's hand through a doorway decorated with intricate carvings, Evan's eyes lit up at the interior design. Back in school, he had always admired such classical architecture, but when even his freedom was stripped away later, his dreams had shattered into dust.

In the center of the spacious main hall stood a massive rosewood root-carved tea table, neatly arranged with a complete tea set. Deeper inside the hall sat rustic sofas and minimalist solid wood tables, with the old master and Serena seated together. A series of ink-wash folding screens behind them partitioned the path leading further into the estate.

Seeing that Evan couldn't take his eyes off the paintings on the screens, Christian leaned down, whispering softly into his ear, "There's a small pond behind those. You'll see it when we head to the dining room for dinner later."

Brought back to reality by Christian's reminder, Evan realized he had been acting a bit too out of place. He quickly withdrew his gaze, standing properly and obediently by Christian's side.

Hasty footsteps echoed from behind the screens. Curiously tilting his head, Evan saw a woman in a teal dress rushing in. Looking up and catching sight of Evan, she halted, covering her mouth with her hand as a delighted, surprised smile spread across her face.

"Mom, you always walk so fast. Dad must be having a hard time keeping up behind you." Christian's tone was relaxed as he curved his lips, giving Evan's fingers a subtle squeeze where no one else could see.

Receiving the cue, a bright smile bloomed across Evan's face. He stepped forward on his own initiative, bowing his head slightly. "Hello, Mrs. Christian. I'm... Christian's partner, Evan."

Evan was actually extremely nervous. Growing up in an orphanage, he had never experienced a mother's warmth or true family affection. Stepping close to such a bond made the deep-seated timidness inside him surge uncontrollably.

He feared Christian's family would spot that cowardice, and even as he raised his head, he didn't dare meet the woman's eyes directly.

"May I call you Evan?" The woman's gentle voice felt like a warm bath to Evan's heart, the soothing heat slowly driving away his anxiety.

"You don't need to be nervous. Christian has never brought a friend home before—you are the very first. His father and I are both thrilled." As she spoke, the woman reached out to take Evan's hand, her soft touch sending a gentle flutter through Evan's heart.

Evan could genuinely feel that Christian's mother was happy from the bottom of her heart; the genuine joy in her eyes and the warmth of her fingers could not be faked.

"Thank you, Mrs. Christian," Evan gathered his courage to meet her gaze. "Thank you for accepting me."

Christian's mother and grandfather pulled Evan over to sit on the sofa and chatted with him for a while before a chubby man—Christian's father—came trotting out from behind the screen, out of breath and looking at his wife with a aggrieved expression.

"Sir, please have a seat." Evan quickly stood up to offer his spot to Christian's father, taking a seat opposite the elders alongside Christian.

Hearing his voice, Christian's father noticed the slender, delicate young man for the first time. He blinked, looking distinctly puzzled.

"Dad, this is my partner, Evan. I'm planning to marry him."

"B-But... isn't he a man?"

The Christian family was traditional at heart. Although Christian's father had mentally prepared himself for his younger son getting married, he had never imagined Christian would choose a man.

Hearing this, Evan looked toward Christian in a sudden panic, only to be met with a reassuring glance. Immediately after, he heard Christian speak calmly:

"Evan is intersex, but that doesn't stop me from being with him."

*Intersex...*

In an instant, every gaze in the room darted straight toward Evan. Taken completely off guard, Evan felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss. Sitting beside Christian, even his breathing became cautious and tentative.

He could easily guess what would follow.

A traditional family like the Christians could never accept a body that was neither fully male nor female. They would treat him with cold indifference, mock him with harsh words, and perhaps even force him to cut all ties with Christian.

That was simply how the world worked—it was never forgiving toward anything that deviated from the norm.

Evan let out a long breath of relief. He had initially worried he wouldn't perform his part well and would be despised by Christian, but now it seemed he had overthought things—he didn't even possess the qualification to continue acting in this play.

"Mr. Christian, my body indeed has severe flaws... I know..."

"WOAH—Evan, you are way too cool!" An exclamation abruptly cut off Evan's remaining words. He turned to look at Serena in complete shock, utterly bewildered.

"There's a kind of beauty in the art world called androgyny—it's usually found in depictions of angels, but this is the first time I've ever seen it in real life!" Serena casually draped an arm over Evan's shoulders, her voice brimming with sincere joy and admiration. "My brother is so lucky to be with you!"

Evan froze, his tightly clenched fingers slowly relaxing as he bit his lip softly.

Christian's mother stood up as well, her eyes glistening with tears. She took Evan's hands gently in hers. "Child... you must have suffered so much all these years..."

That single sentence pierced right through Evan's composure. He shook his head in a flurry, lowering his gaze and blinking rapidly to keep the Christian family from seeing his sudden loss of control.

This was the first time in all his years that he had heard a mother figure speak to him with such tender care.

Evan had thought he was long accustomed to unfairness and discrimination, that nothing of the sort could ever move his heart again. Yet he never expected that what brought tears to his eyes was not his past suffering, but this hard-won moment of genuine warmth.

In that very instant, a quiet thought surfaced in his mind—he almost wished he could stay in the Christian family forever.

Human beings were creatures that naturally gravitated toward warmth; no matter how stubborn or guarded one claimed to be on the surface, facing true tenderness and care would still undo them completely.

"Thank you..." Evan didn't know what other words could express his gratitude. Sniffling softly, his eyes reddened as he looked past everyone toward Christian.

Christian merely raised an eyebrow, deliberately avoiding Evan's gaze. Turning his head away, he leaned down and whispered something quietly into his father's ear.

Where Evan couldn't see, a fleeting look of deep relief crossed the bottom of Christian's eyes.

Chapter 6: The Christian Family's Terrifying Eldest Brother

Everyone in the Christian family was exceptionally warm and welcoming. Although Christian's father still held a slight hesitation regarding Evan being a man, his refined upbringing ensured that he treated Evan with grace and courtesy throughout their interactions.

Yet, for the entire afternoon, Evan didn't catch another sight of Christian.

When dinner time arrived, Evan was arranged to sit right next to the old master of the Christian family, with Christian seated at his right side.

"Here, try this. Christian mentioned you grew up in the south and love fish. This sweet and sour fish was prepared specially for you, Evan," Christian's mother said, using a pair of serving chopsticks to place a tender piece of fish belly onto the small plate in front of him.

The Christian family had originally built their fortune in the north through the textile trade, so almost none of them were fond of fish. Seeing them thoughtfully prepare a dish specifically tailored to his tastes made Evan's heart swell with warmth.

"Thank you, Mrs. Christian."

After thanking her, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite under everyone's eager gazes. The fish was delicate and melted in his mouth, filling his palate with a perfectly balanced sweet and sour flavor. Evan looked up in delightful surprise, complimenting sincerely, "This dish is wonderful!"

Hearing Evan's praise, the rest of the family—who had been eagerly waiting for his evaluation—finally picked up their chopsticks to eat. Flustered by such attentive treatment, Evan repeatedly turned his head to check Christian's reaction, only to receive a look filled with deliberate "devotion."

*Mm... it really is a pity Mr. Christian didn't pursue an acting career,* Evan thought silently to himself.

Most of the family members were present for dinner, each occupying a designated seat. By now, Evan had shed the awkward stiffness he had felt during lunch. He raised his head and carefully scanned the table, noticing that the seat opposite him—which had been empty at noon—remained vacant.

"Evan, this beef stewed with potatoes is quite good. Want me to scoop some for you?" Serena's suggestion broke Evan's gaze away from the empty seat.

Perhaps noticing his curiosity, Serena walked over, picked up his small bowl, and served him some stew while teasing casually, "There's also an elusive older brother in our family. He doesn't come home for dinner often, and every time he does, he finds fault with everything and everyone... Pray he doesn't suddenly show up..."

Serena froze mid-motion, abruptly sensing an odd shift in the dining room's atmosphere. She blinked, her smile turning somewhat stiff. "W-Why did everyone stop talking..."

Looking past Christian's profile, Evan wasn't sure what expression to make toward the man currently pushing open the door and walking inside.

The man had his hair meticulously slicked back into an immaculate style, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses over a high-bridged nose. With sharp, cold facial features and a tall, commanding stature, his impeccably tailored suit highlighted every physical advantage he possessed.

Evan's eyes couldn't help but sweep up and down the man's frame as he tightened his grip on his chopsticks—*this man is absolute top-tier... way too handsome...*

Holding the small bowl in her hands, Serena turned around stiffly. Catching sight of the man's dark, stern face, she whirled back around in a flash, shoved the bowl into Evan's hands, and scurried back to her seat like a mouse fleeing a cat.

The man closed the door with an unhurried firmness. Instantly, the warm ambiance in the dining room dropped by several degrees, and silence fell over the table.

As the man took off his suit jacket, revealing a crisp white shirt underneath, Evan's eyes lingered on his slender waist for a few seconds. It wasn't until his foot was lightly tapped under the table that he snapped back to his senses, hurriedly looking down to pick at the beef chunks in his bowl with his chopsticks.

The old master, disliking such sudden awkward silence the most, glanced back and forth between Christian's couple and the solitary Vincent, letting out a soft sigh. "Vincent, this is Christian's partner. After dinner, make sure you get introduced."

Vincent pushed up his glasses, letting out a brief, cold "Mm."

Evan was left thoroughly embarrassed by the response, swallowing the introduction that had been at the tip of his tongue right back down along with a soft piece of potato.

Despite the minor episode, the dinner proceeded comfortably enough. It was the first full meal Evan had enjoyed in all the days since his rebirth—while staying at the hotel, he had been constantly consumed by anxiety about his uncertain future.

Quietly touching his slightly full stomach, Evan thought that if he agreed to Christian's proposal, his immediate quality of life would at least be secured. He wouldn't have to worry about basic necessities, nor would he have to live in fear of Julian's threats.

Just as he was contemplating, Evan's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, only for a string of unread messages on the screen to instantly drag him back to a harsh reality.

*Evan, where are you? Come back soon. I bought you a new dress.*

*Evan, I'm flying back from the resort tomorrow on the 5 PM flight.*

[Photo]

*Evan, are you mad? I never said I didn't want you, I mean it.*

*Evan, don't be so ungrateful.*

[Photo]

*Do you want everyone to see this photo? I'm giving you ten minutes to call me back.*

The last message was sent five minutes ago. Evan didn't tap into the chat interface—he really didn't want to open those hideous, degrading images with the entire Christian family present. Every second they served as a relentless reminder of how bizarre and tainted his body was.

Evan locked his screen, cold sweat sliding down his forehead. His fingers trembled as his gaze went blank, his mind falling into a chaotic, empty void.

He had no idea what to do to escape Julian's looming shadow, nor could he comprehend why Julian continued to torment him even after getting engaged to his fiancée.

"I don't owe you anything..." Evan muttered under his breath, his fingernails digging deeper into his palms as his thumb nervously traced the raised patterns on his phone case.

"What did you say?" Christian's voice suddenly sounded from his side. Evan shuddered violently, pulling his scattered thoughts back into his body in an instant.

He forced a weak smile, avoiding Christian's watchful gaze. "N-Nothing, I'm just a bit tired..."

Before Evan could finish his sentence, Christian's phone resting on the side table suddenly rang out loud. Evan's heart skipped a beat at the sound. Before Christian could reach for it, Evan instinctively stood up, picked up the phone from the table, and handed it to Christian.

However, the name flashing across the screen caused Evan's heart to leap back into his throat.

Julian... Julian again... Evan took a deep breath, trying to act calm as he sat back down beside Christian.

*Now is not the time to despair,* he told himself silently. Having been given a second chance at life, there was no way things could end up worse than his past life.

Evan picked up his water glass and took a small sip of warm water to hide the bitter smile on his face, though his attention remained fixed entirely on Christian's phone.

---

After dinner was the family chatting time. Serena sat among the elders, animatedly explaining how she had brought Evan over. Evan and Christian sat together on the small sofa, while Vincent sat alone on a single-seater armchair, holding a tablet computer and scribbling away with a stylus.

The cozy atmosphere had returned to how it was before Vincent entered. Noticing the old master's gaze falling upon him from time to time, Evan deliberately leaned his body closer toward Christian, putting on an act of cozy intimacy.

Christian lowered his voice to speak a few brief words to Julian before hanging up. With a swift movement of his long arm, he set his phone down on the table, casually wrapping an arm around Evan's shoulder to draw him closer into his chest.

"Evan, are you staying over tonight?"

Surprised by Christian's invitation, Evan froze slightly. Looking into Christian's eyes and sensing a clear affirmative signal from his gaze, Evan finally gathered his courage to say, "Sure."

A satisfied smile appeared on Christian's face. "Then... how about staying here permanently from now on?"

*Stay here permanently...*

Evan hesitated for a few seconds before looking up, asking tentatively, "You mean... living here together with you?"

"Of course," Christian leaned back against the sofa, his tone gentle. "Mom, Dad, and Grandpa all like you very much. What do you say to staying?"

"To let someone like him move into our home—Christian, is there something wrong with your head?" Before Evan could answer, a harsh, deep voice abruptly shattered their conversation like a sharp blade slicing through the warm air, causing Evan to gasp in cold air.

The elders chatting across the room turned their attention toward them at the same time. Sitting wrapped in Christian's arm, Evan felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

"Vincent, who I choose to be with is my freedom. You have neither the right nor the standing to dictate that." Christian's words were blunt and direct. Evan opened his mouth, anxiously stealing a glance at Vincent's expression, only to hear Christian continue: "Or are you saying, Vincent, that you not only want to control my career, but even want to meddle in my marriage?"

Evan acutely picked up on the tension in Christian's words. Having one's "career" controlled was a humiliating grievance for any adult man, especially for someone as proud and dignified as Christian.

Vincent set down his tablet, holding the white stylus loosely between his fingers. Standing elegant and tall, his gaze behind his glasses turned terrifyingly dark as he looked at Christian.

Evan even felt as though a heavy storm cloud had gathered over his and Christian's heads—a single crack of thunder, and a torrential downpour would come pouring down.

Vincent adjusted his glasses, raising his voice slightly. "Are you blaming your brother for caring too much?"

"How could I..." Christian's handsome almond eyes curved slightly, his tone losing its initial sharp edge. "I simply believe marriage is a personal matter. I don't treat it as a game, and I hope you can respect me and my partner."

Respect was mutual. Evan mustered up all his courage to meet Vincent's intimidating gaze, curling his lips into a polite smile. "Vincent, Christian and I truly love each other. You might not know much about me, but I've always admired you. In fact, you could say I indirectly received your charitable support growing up."

Evan's words made Christian knit his brows slightly. He didn't stop Evan, choosing instead to look down silently, curious as to how Evan intended to resolve this tense deadlock.

"...The orphanage I lived in as a child frequently received charitable donations from the Grand Horizon Estate. Later, when I studied design, I learned that Grand Horizon Estate is the largest silk production base in the country and a subsidiary of the Christian family—and coincidentally, an enterprise under your name."

When Evan was young, a group of enterprises would hold annual charity events at the orphanage. Grand Horizon Estate was always the lead donor, giving the most money, though none of those funds directly reached Evan.

They were meant for healthy children to attend school, or invested into the orphanage's development.

Evan, along with a group of children discarded due to physical flaws, would often secretly watch the charity events from behind the iron fence, dreaming that they might pick up a few leftover scraps of bread or fruit on the lawn after the event ended.

It was in such an environment that Evan learned how to navigate life smoothly to survive.

"...If Grand Horizon Estate hadn't initiated those charitable events that supported my education back then, I wouldn't have been able to meet Christian. Perhaps this is what they call destiny..."

At this exact moment, Evan turned to meet Christian's deep, dark eyes. He didn't catch much emotion in Christian's gaze, but pressed by the current situation, Evan reached up, wrapping both arms around Christian's neck. Raising his upper body, he leaned in and voluntarily kissed the corner of Christian's lips, catching a subtle whiff of leather and tobacco scent that was entirely distinct from Julian.

"Since it's destiny, there's no reason not to accept it."