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."

Chapter 7: Wrong to Live, Unable to Die

No one can truly empathize with another person's plight; all Evan could do was try his best to close the distance between himself and the Christian family.

Vincent took a deep, searching look at Evan. Doubts still lingered behind his narrow, glass-framed eyes, but Christian's hostile and domineering stance forced back the words he had intended to say.

"Evan, are you tired? Should I carry you upstairs?"

Evan curled his lips into a light smile. "No need, I can walk up myself."

With Vincent falling silent, the atmosphere in the living room gradually softened. The others resumed their conversation, while Christian's phone lit up repeatedly as messages kept flooding in. Evan nudged Christian, gesturing for him to let go, but the hand around his waist only tightened.

Evan turned to meet Christian's gaze. Catching the playful tease glinting in the depths of his eyes, Evan froze and averted his face awkwardly.

Christian definitely knew something. Evan nervously picked at the dead skin on his fingers with his fingernails, his mind tangled in a chaotic mess.

Truth be told, Evan deeply repented being held in someone's lap.

Before his rebirth, Julian loved nothing more than forcing Evan's petite frame into Lolita dresses, flaunting ambiguous intimacy under everyone's watchful eyes. What Julian did most often was nestle Evan into his arms, feeding him fruits and wine.

The fresh scent of fruits blended with the rich aroma of fine wine had become Evan's ultimate nightmare. He used to wonder why such wonderful things could turn so repulsive, but when he was tossed high into the air and crashed onto the cold ground, Evan suddenly understood.

Beautiful things are only beautiful under the premise of freedom.

Without freedom, no matter how exquisite something is, it is nothing more than bait thrown into a cage.

A creature kept and fed in captivity is no longer a pure living being, but a plaything—you must do whatever your master demands of you.

Evan raised his head, taking in everyone in the living room. He knew crystal clear that every single person in this room was someone he couldn't afford to cross; before them, he was nothing more than an ant.

He didn't want to die at the age of twenty-five like he did in his past life.

"Mr. Christian, can we go upstairs?"

Christian, who was checking his phone, knit his brows slightly. "Evan, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Evan lowered his eyes, glancing at the faint wrinkles on Christian's dress shirt before reaching out to gently smooth them for him. "I have something to tell you."

Seeing that Evan had made a request, Christian showed no intention of refusing. He finally released the arm that had been holding Evan captive. After bidding goodnight to the family, the two walked into the elevator, one after the other.

As they walked toward the elevator, a cold, piercing gaze remained fixed on Evan's back, sending a shiver down his spine. Yet when he turned around, that gaze had vanished without a trace.

*Perhaps someone in this family really doesn't want me to be with Christian.*

Evan shrugged internally—anyone would feel unwilling to see the young master they secretly admired stolen away by an unknown outsider like him.

---

The Christian family's grand mansion had five stories. The elevator came to a halt on the third floor. Christian gallantly held the elevator door open with his hand, allowing Evan to step out first.

Left alone with him, Evan still felt a lingering trace of fear. Scenes of them being "completely candid" that night kept flickering across his mind, yet Christian maintained an entirely composed expression as he led Evan straight into his bedroom.

The lights weren't on inside the bedroom. The moment Evan stepped in, Christian pinned him against the back of the door. The sound of the door shutting with a firm click made the color instantly drain from Evan's face.

In the dark, the distance between them was dangerously close—so close they could feel each other's warm breath.

"M-Mr. Christian... are you usually this frugal?" Evan tilted his head up, forcing a dry laugh. "Why didn't you even turn on the lights?"

Before his words fully faded, the pressure on Evan's arms tightened slightly, and Christian's breathing turned heavier.

Evan blinked. He figured Julian must be going completely insane by now—because the plaything that had always been submissive had finally betrayed him. Julian might leak all his nude photos to the public, or spread those secretly recorded videos across the internet.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Evan didn't struggle against Christian's grip. Instead, he offered a quiet warning out of kindness: "Mr. Christian, if we keep going, neither you nor I will be able to turn back."

Christian's eyes gleamed brightly, the soft contour of his gaze replaced by a sharp, ruthless glint.

"I know," he leaned down and gently kissed Evan's forehead, his tone unwavering. "Julian must become my stepping stone."

Evan didn't know what he meant by "stepping stone." He could only sense the surging hostility suppressed beneath Christian's calm exterior, yet he couldn't fathom where such intense malice originated from.

"What do you want to learn from me?"

"Everything about Julian's company."

Hearing this, Evan let out a bright, bitter laugh, his fingers trailing onto Christian's arm. "I don't know any trade secrets. Julian never allowed me to touch those."

Christian let out a soft chuckle, grabbing Evan's restless fingers and intertwining their hands, pinning Evan firmly against the door once more.

"Julian isn't surrounded entirely by useless fools. For you to stay by his side for so long, you must possess extraordinary abilities of your own."

Evan had thought Christian could truly locate Julian's weakness, never expecting him to offer a compliment in disguise.

Evan shook his head in self-deprecation. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Mr. Christian. I really don't have any extraordinary abilities. Bringing me along to meet those clients was purely to amuse himself at my expense."

Having his scars ripped open time and time again, Evan had long come to terms with this unalterable reality.

"The deal between the Julian family and the Golden family was secured by you, and you participated in the marketing for their overseas subsidiary as well," Christian raised his chin, locking eyes with Evan, who tried to look away. Unmoved, Christian stated flatly, "If it were purely for amusement, Julian had plenty of options—you weren't his only lover."

Christian had clearly conducted quite a bit of research. With his body resting entirely against the door, Evan's tense nerves finally relaxed, letting out a faint chuckle.

"What can Mr. Christian offer me in return?"

"A future," the intertwined fingers between them felt warm and dry, and Evan could feel the strength conveyed through those hands. He heard Christian pause briefly before continuing softly, "and freedom."

*A future and freedom...*

During his darkest hours, Evan had believed such things didn't even exist in this world, to the point that Christian's words sounded almost naive now.

"Could Mr. Christian be a bit more specific?"

"Alright."

Christian released Evan, his expression turning solemn. Raising his volume slightly while keeping his tone exceptionally low, he said, "Marry me, help me shut everyone's mouths, and I will hand you the Julian family as your bride price."

To receive the Julian family as a bride price—Evan didn't quite believe it. In his heart, he felt Mr. Christian was still too young; the Julian family's foundation wasn't much weaker than the Christians', and bringing them down would require immense effort.

He didn't ask Christian why he insisted on choosing him when there were countless others who could assist him in business. For now, he merely attributed Christian's actions to pity and sympathy.

"Since Mr. Christian has made up his mind, I have no objections."

Christian was satisfied with Evan's swift acceptance. As he looked down at Evan's face, the complex emotions in his eyes left Evan somewhat puzzled.

"I'll have my assistant bring over the contract tomorrow. During the contract period, you'll live here with me—you won't have to worry about Julian at all."

"Mm."

"Tomorrow, Julian and his fiancée will be coming over for a visit."

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

Christian shook his head. "Just stand by my side."

It was the first time anyone had ever told Evan, "Just stand by my side." Being treated as an equal—something so ordinary to others—left Evan feeling profoundly overwhelmed.

Too many pleasant surprises had come his way today. Evan even felt that, aside from the messages that scoundrel Julian had sent him, this was the warmest day he had experienced since his rebirth.

*BZZZ... BZZZ...*

The phone vibrated once more. Evan froze, his body—which had just warmed up—turning icy cold in an instant.

In Evan's contacts, only Julian's incoming calls carried a unique ringtone.

"Answer it."

Christian's voice broke through Evan's scattered thoughts. Not understanding what Christian intended, Evan could only watch helplessly as Christian took his phone away, swiped the screen, and answered the call.

"...Evan?" The familiar voice resonated through the speakerphone, sounding eerie and spine-chilling in the cold, empty room.

"Evan, speak! Hello? Evan, are you fucking looking to die? Talk to me!"

Julian roared into the phone like a rabid lion. Christian held the phone before Evan, his brow furrowing deeply as he watched Evan's face turn as pale as paper.

"...Evan, you've gotten pretty bold, haven't you?! Believe it or not, I'll fucking... when I get back! How dare you give me attitude—know your damn place..."

Julian had clearly been drinking; toward the end, his slurred, erratic ramblings dissolved into senseless cursing. Evan held his breath, pressing his back tightly against the door.

He was terrified Julian might burst right out of the phone. If Julian actually showed up, he would pull open the door and run without hesitation.

Yet in the very next second, before Evan could even process what was happening, a perfect arc flashed across his eyes—the phone he had used for years soared through the air and flew straight out the open window.

Carrying Julian's enraged curses with it, the phone vanished into the pitch-black night.

With Julian's noise abruptly silenced, the stillness of the night felt even deeper.

After minutes of paralyzed silence, Evan suddenly snapped awake from the nightmare named "Julian." He frantically wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling as though he had just died all over again.

—Julian was the very demon who had strangled him to death with his own hands.

Gasping for the chilly air, Evan looked up nervously, only to feel a chill run down his spine under Christian's scrutinizing gaze.

"...I never slept with him. He actually despised me, and my body... To him, I wasn't important at all," Evan paused, a single tear slipping from the corner of his eye and dissolving into the dark. "Compared to humiliating me, he preferred hitting me."

"Getting beaten at least made me realize I was still a man," Evan forced back his grief, a bitter smile curling on his lips as memories of his desperate struggles against Julian's touch surfaced in his mind, his voice trembling slightly. "If I had actually slept with him, I wouldn't even count as a man anymore."

*Anyone can humiliate me, but I will never humiliate myself*—that was Evan's final shred of dignity.

Yet his hatred and terror toward Julian were deeply etched into his heart. He felt fortunate to have a second chance at life and the power to make different choices.

Since his rebirth, Evan had recalled his past self more than once.

That young boy, coaxed by Julian's sweet-talk into wearing red dresses, heavy makeup, and posing for nude photos, was still crying endlessly in a dark corner.

In his nightmares, Julian would call out "Evan" again and again with affectionate warmth, his smile both gentle and hideous. Every call of "Evan" felt like a sharp blade, carving away his dignity piece by piece.

At every single waking moment, it felt wrong to live, yet he was unable to die.

Chapter 8: My Person, I'll Manage Him Myself

Lying on the plush, spacious bed next to a quietly sleeping Christian, Evan found himself thoroughly awake despite the late hour.

He lay far from Christian, huddled practically against the edge of the mattress, his body curled inward to face the floor-to-ceiling windows draped in heavy curtains.

The thick fabric blocked out all light, leaving Evan unable to guess how long it would be until dawn.

Holding one posture for too long made his neck and arms ache. Just as he was about to shift slightly, a warm hand lightly rested over the small of his waist.

The hand hovered loosely above his lower back, and then the mattress sank slightly as a warm body pressed close behind him.

"...You're so pretty..."

Christian's sudden, nonsensical murmur echoed softly right by his ear. Evan turned his head in shock, only to find Christian's eyes still tightly shut; the words seemed to have been nothing more than sleep-talk.

Truth be told, Evan rather disliked being told he was "pretty." Back at the orphanage, prospective adoptive parents would always praise his appearance when they first saw him—yet after learning about his body's flaw, not a single one ever spoke to him again.

People always shrank back from anything out of the ordinary.

Not that he blamed them, though. Evan gently moved Christian's hand aside, shifted into a more comfortable position, and resumed staring blankly at the ceiling.

It wasn't just others who despised this body; even Evan himself felt a surge of deep disgust whenever he caught sight of that extra feature below during showers.

When he was little, he had even entertained the wild thought of taking a needle to sew that pale trace shut.

*Once I finish helping Mr. Christian, I'll take the money and get the surgery,* Evan suddenly realized. Under Julian's threats in his past life, he had never dared to go to a hospital for an examination, thus missing the optimal window for treatment. But things were different now; he finally held the power to make his own choices.

---

Evan kept his eyes open until dawn broke, when Christian's phone on the nightstand began to ring. Hearing the rustle of fabric behind him, Evan hastily closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

"Evan."

Christian called his name softly. Seeing no response, he headed into the bathroom alone.

Only after listening intently and hearing the bathroom door click shut did Evan let out a complete breath of relief. He rotated his stiff, aching neck and gently stretched his muscles.

He knew that today was bound to be a hard-fought battle.

When Christian stepped out of the bathroom with only a bath towel wrapped around his waist, his gaze landed on Evan wrapped in the duvet, a pale, slender calf dangling carelessly over the edge of the bed. Christian felt a sudden tightness in his throat and hastily averted his eyes.

Completely oblivious, the culprit continued to swing his bare foot lightly. Catching sight of Christian walking over, Evan's eyes lit up as he raised his voice, "Mr. Christian, it seems you put on the wrong bathrobe earlier."

Christian's footsteps froze. The faint stir of emotion that had just flickered in his chest vanished instantly, leaving him somewhat speechless—he had thought Evan was acting so attentive because he had a request to make, only for it to be over a bathrobe.

"Ah, and the slippers seem to be mixed up too. Even though they're both one-size-fits-all, mine have a little red flower on them."

Christian pinched the bridge of his nose, knitting his brows in exasperation. He couldn't fathom why Evan paid such intense attention to slippers and bathrobes.

Noticing Christian's shift in mood, Evan paused, shifting his gaze down to his neatly trimmed toes, curling his lips into a bitter smile.

"Things I've used... other people won't touch them anymore. They think it's unclean," Evan paused, looking up. "I know Mr. Christian didn't mean anything by it, but to avoid conflicts down the road, it's better to be mindful."

Evan vividly remembered back in college when a classmate used his belongings without a word, only to unleash a torrent of vile insults upon discovering his body's flaw.

To prevent such friction from ever happening again, he chose to wall himself off first.

Looking at Evan's despondent figure, Christian offered no reply, stepping into the walk-in closet to change directly into sportswear.

He went out for a morning run every day, and today was no exception. But as he reached the bedroom door and prepared to open it, something crossed his mind. Halting his steps, he turned back slightly. "Mom and Serena both love Yangchun noodles. You could give it a try."

Making noodles was Evan's specialty, and Yangchun noodles were an absolute piece of cake for him. Evan nodded, looking up at Christian. "Thank you."

---

By the time Evan walked downstairs, no one else had woken up yet. He checked the wall clock—there was still more than half an hour before the usual breakfast time Christian had mentioned.

He headed into the first-floor kitchen, where early-rising cooks were already preparing char siu. Seeing Evan enter, they greeted him warmly.

When Evan explained his intention, several kitchen maids gathered around enthusiastically to offer help, even bringing over a pot of rich bone broth brewed early that morning.

He fried the scallion oil using red onions, beat eggs evenly to fry into thin sheets before slicing them into delicate ribbons to top the boiled noodles, and finally poured the steaming broth into the bowls. An intoxicating aroma immediately filled the kitchen.

Serena was the very first to rush downstairs, guided entirely by her nose. Leaning against the doorframe with disheveled hair, she took a deep breath of the savory air, her stomach letting out a loud rumble right on cue.

"Did you make this?"

Realizing something might be amiss, Evan took a cautious step backward.

"Uh... yes."

Before he could turn and flee, Serena scooped him up under her arm, ruffling his soft, smooth hair into a complete mess.

"Evan, you know me way too well! I'm telling you, this is my absolute favorite! Having you around gives me such a sense of security! I promise I'll eat breakfast properly from now on..."

Serena's deafening "declaration" was almost too much for Evan to handle. He offered agreeable nods while trying to wriggle free from her grip, only to be dragged into taking a selfie together in front of the noodles.

It wasn't until the elders heard the commotion and came downstairs that Evan finally caught a breath.

Returning from his morning run, Christian passed by the dining room. Hearing the warm laughter echoing from within, he paused to take a distant glance, then reined in the emotions in his eyes and walked toward the elevator.

---

When the sound of a car engine dying echoed outside the entrance, Evan was currently in the Christian family's backyard garden searching for his phone.

The pond in the courtyard wasn't deep, but it was filled with dense water lilies. Blooming vibrantly in this season, Evan pushed aside the disk-like lily pads, reaching his hand into the water to feel around, yet touched nothing.

Hearing the news that Young Master Julian had arrived with his fiancée for a visit, Evan stood with half his arm still submerged in the water. Letting out a soft sigh, he gave up on finding the phone.

Stepping off the small wooden bridge, Evan immediately caught sight of Christian standing by the screen partition, gazing quietly at him.

"Julian is here. If you want to decide whether to face him or not, it's still not too late."

Evan lowered his eyes, his expression dimming. Water droplets on his arm slid downward before he could wipe them away; seeing this, Christian grabbed his hand and led him into the washroom.

The bathroom mirror reflected both their figures. Looking at his obedient reflection as Christian dried his arms with a clean towel, Evan's expression softened considerably.

*Even if it's just a transaction...*

Evan bit his lip, taking the towel from Christian's hands.

By the time the two stepped out of the washroom, the color on Evan's face had restored significantly. Holding Christian's hand, he walked through the winding corridors and straight into the living room.

For those few short steps, Evan almost wished he could walk alongside Christian for a lifetime.

Yet at the end of the corridor stood Julian. The moment that radiant, glowing man caught sight of Evan, his smile instantly turned icy and sinister, his eyes brimming with dark malice—so much so that even the sunlight spilling onto Evan's back felt a few degrees colder.

"Evan? What are you doing here?"

The old master of the Christian family set down his teacup. "Young Julian, you know Evan?"

"More than just know—"

"This must be sister-in-law. We met briefly at the engagement banquet and felt a sense of familiarity," Christian cut in smoothly with a light laugh. "Does sister-in-law often travel abroad for Fashion Week?"

Surprised at being suddenly mentioned by Christian, the woman's eyes flashed with a hint of fluster. She offered an awkward smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Your sister-in-law just loves a good bustle! It's perfectly normal if you've seen her abroad..." Interrupted by Christian, Julian let out a loud laugh, making no attempt to hide the doting tone in his voice. "Knowing Miss Serena is also a regular at fashion shows, Valerie has been wanting to come pay a visit for a while."

Hearing that Valerie frequently flew abroad for fashion shows, Serena warmly invited her up to her second-floor studio for a look.

Valerie gladly accepted the invitation. Watching the two ladies walk into the elevator, Evan didn't even have time to relax his tense nerves before Julian's tight-jawed interrogation echoed in his ears: "Christian, what exactly is your relationship with Evan..."

Silence fell over the living room for a few seconds. Evan's fingers holding the teacup trembled slightly. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Christian's left hand rested over his wrist, offering him a reassuring glance.

"Evan and I are currently in a romantic relationship. We'll be getting married before long."

"PFT—" The tea Julian had just taken a sip of burst straight out of his mouth. As if hearing the biggest joke in the world, he grinned and laughed in total loss of composure, "Him? Hahaha... Christian, are you serious?!"

Evan's fingers clenched tighter and tighter. Keeping his head down, he bit his lower lip hard, not daring to look up at Julian's cold mockery, nor at the Christian family's reaction.

"Yes," Christian's fingers brushed across Evan's wrist, intertwining their fingers together. He offered a faint smile, raising an eyebrow casually. "Him."

The laugh on Julian's face froze instantly. He stared at the two in sheer disbelief, his chest heaving violently.

His relationship with Christian wasn't close enough to crack jokes casually in front of family, and looking at Christian's demeanor, it didn't seem like a joke at all.

"Good, very good," Julian repeated in quick succession before sneering sneeringly, "Evan is quite a famous beauty, after all... plenty of eyes are fixed on him..."

Christian let out a soft chuckle, leaning slightly closer toward Evan's shoulder. "Young Master Julian doesn't need to worry. My person, I'll manage him myself."

Julian's gaze fixed on Evan was practically shooting flames. Furious to the point of laughing, he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Better be."

When the heir of the Julian family visited with his fiancée, there was no reason not to host them for lunch. Christian's mother, who enjoyed cooking personally, hurried off to the kitchen to inspect the dishes. The old master, getting up in age and prone to fatigue, was escorted upstairs by Christian's father, leaving only Julian and Christian in the living room.