Volume One, Chapter One His love for her, and her love for him, were not the same.

The airplane wing sliced through the clouds, and the cityscape below gradually grew larger. Lin Yuxia gently caressed the pendant around her neck and whispered, “Brother, I’m home.”

The international flight landed smoothly. Lin Yuxia dragged her suitcase, slowly making her way out of the airport with the stream of passengers.

“Sis!” A girl not far away waved her arms excitedly at her.

Lin Yuxia looked in the direction of the voice and recognized Lin Hanhan—the last person she wanted to see, yet the one she had to face. Lin Hanhan acted as if she hadn’t noticed Lin Yuxia’s reluctance, rushing forward to give her a forceful bear hug.

Then, with a beaming smile, she shoved a bouquet of perfumed lilies into Lin Yuxia’s arms. “Sis, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!”

Lin Yuxia forced a smile, but before she could respond politely, Lin Hanhan’s smile abruptly faded as she turned to a man nearby holding a phone. “Did you get it?”

The man respectfully returned the phone to Lin Hanhan. “Yes, Miss Lin, it’s done.”

With a few rapid taps of her perfectly manicured fingers, Lin Hanhan sent the video straight to the family group chat. The video showed her enthusiastic greeting and heartfelt embrace at the airport. Then came a message from the account named “Han”: [Dad, I’ve picked up my sister!]

Only then did Lin Yuxia understand her stepsister’s sudden performance—she was putting on a show for their father. Four years apart, and her tea art had only grown more refined.

Having completed her staged act, Lin Hanhan immediately reverted to her usual arrogance. “Lin Yuxia, weren’t you living just fine abroad? Why come back?”

Such a “grand” welcome right after landing was enough to ruin anyone’s mood. Lin Yuxia didn’t bother to pretend either, replying with a smile, “I came back because I wanted to. The Pacific Ocean isn’t yours to manage, is it?”

She brushed past her stepsister, walking straight toward a trash bin and tossing the large bouquet of lilies inside.

Lin Hanhan’s perfectly made-up face cracked, and she hastily started recording on her phone. “What’s with the attitude? I’ll record this and show Mom and Dad!”

Lin Yuxia was unfazed. “My dear sister, if I’m not mistaken, we’re the same age. Why do you act like a child, running to the parents at every little thing?”

“And if you’re going to put on a show, try at least to be convincing. I’ve been allergic to lilies since childhood—Dad knows that.”

With that, Lin Yuxia dusted off her hands in distaste, flashed her stepsister a bright smile, and strode out of the airport.

She hailed a taxi home, watching the familiar streets roll by. Four years weren’t enough to erase the memories she’d built in this city over eighteen years.

The taxi stopped in front of a luxurious villa. Lin Yuxia got out and had just reached for the doorbell when Lin Hanhan stepped out of her pink sports car, grabbed Lin Yuxia’s arm without warning, and whispered a warning, “Don’t try anything funny.”

Lin Yuxia rolled her eyes inwardly but didn’t shake her off. After all, it was her first day back—she didn’t want to upset everyone because of herself.

Jiang Lan—Lin Yuxia’s stepmother—opened the door. With a bright smile, she took the suitcase, ushering Lin Yuxia inside while scolding, “Hanhan, you’re always sticking to your sister. Couldn’t you help her with the suitcase?”

Truly, no two gourds grow from the same vine, but this mother and daughter put on quite the matching act.

Lin Yuxia returned the flawless, insincere smile. “Thank you, Aunt Jiang.”

Jiang Lan’s expression flickered with displeasure at the title, but she quickly smothered it beneath a layer of affectionate chatter.

Lin Yuxia entered the living room and saw her father. He was just past fifty, but years of overwork had turned his hair gray, making him look far older than she remembered. A wave of melancholy washed over her. “Dad.”

“Yes,” Lin Muheng nodded, his expression unreadable. “It’s good that you’re home.”

Her stepmother quickly chimed in, “Xiaxia, now that you’re back, you won’t be leaving again, will you?”

Her stepsister echoed with feigned warmth, “That’s right, Sis, stay with us. It’s only lively when the whole family is together.”

Lin Yuxia looked at the three of them, playing their parts as if reciting a comedy sketch. Yet four years ago, it was these very three who had secretly prepared her study abroad documents and forced her onto a private jet bound for America.

She had no patience for their “tea ceremony.” Picking up her suitcase, she said, “Dad, I’ll take my things upstairs first.”

In four years, all the servants had changed and the décor was different, but her room remained untouched.

She went up to the second floor and into her bedroom, the fake smile finally slipping from her lips. A thick layer of dust coated the floor—hardly what one would expect from people eagerly awaiting her return.

She walked to the desk and picked up a photo frame, gently wiping away the dust. Beneath the crystal glass was a photo of two people—a handsome young man in his early twenties, and a girl of about ten, clinging to his arm with her head resting affectionately on his shoulder. The man’s features were cold, but the girl’s playful gesture had softened his expression, bringing a rare warmth to his face.

Lin Yuxia gazed at the picture of Shen Yan and herself from years ago, a smile unconsciously appearing.

Suddenly, her stepmother’s voice came from the doorway. “Xiaxia, the servants are all busy—could you tidy up your room yourself?”

Lin Yuxia frowned, not at the request, but at having her memories interrupted. She set the photo frame down and replied curtly, “Okay.”

“Oh, and I know you’re sentimental. Everything in your room is just as you left it four years ago—nothing’s missing. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Lin Yuxia didn’t want to prolong the conversation. “Alright.”

Jiang Lan lingered at the door, clearly searching for a way to say something both dignified and hurtful. Lin Yuxia, weary of the charade, said, “Aunt Jiang, I’m jetlagged and a bit tired. Can we talk tomorrow?”

Jiang Lan sniped back with a sarcastic smile, “Yale graduates really are more particular than us locals, aren’t they?”

Lin Yuxia had no interest in sparring. She simply found a cloth and began cleaning.

Jiang Lan, finding no further amusement, finally left.

By the time Lin Yuxia finished, it was already dinnertime.

She showered and headed downstairs for dinner, but at the top of the staircase, she overheard her father ask, “Where’s your sister?”

Lin Hanhan answered without hesitation, “I called her. She’s sleeping—jet lag.”

Lin Yuxia smiled to herself and turned back to her room. Perfect—they’d found her an excuse. No need to waste time pretending with them.

At midnight, Lin Yuxia lay wide awake in bed. She picked up her phone and opened her only pinned chat in WeChat, typing:

[Brother, I’m back.]

No, too abrupt. Delete, delete.

She tried again: [Brother, are you still awake?]

But it was already past midnight—too late. Delete again.

As she hesitated, a video call request popped up from the other side.

Lin Yuxia shot upright, quickly smoothing her messy hair before answering.

A handsome, refined face appeared on the screen, followed by Shen Yan’s pleasant voice: “You came back and didn’t even tell me?”

His words sounded reproachful, but there was a hint of indulgence.

Lin Yuxia couldn’t help but smile. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Shen Yan’s tightly pressed lips curved in a barely-there smile. “Troublemaker.”

Even being scolded made her happy.

She asked sweetly, “Brother, why are you still up? It’s past midnight.”

“I knew you’d have jet lag and couldn’t sleep, so I called you at this time on purpose.”

A warm feeling blossomed in her chest. “Brother, you’re always the best to me.”

She gazed at the man behind the camera, unable to hide her joy. If there was only one person left in the world who truly loved her, it would be this brother with whom she shared no blood ties.

—Even though his love for her was different from the love she held for him.

“Xiao Yu…” The night was quiet, and Shen Yan’s voice was soft, like a lover’s murmur at the bedside. “Go to sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

Lin Yuxia had so much she wanted to say, but knowing there would be plenty of chances in the future, she obediently slipped under the covers.

“Brother, what about you?”

“I’ll sleep after you do. I won’t hang up until you’re asleep.”

Lin Yuxia closed her eyes, feeling as if she were a child again, and soon drifted into sleep under Shen Yan’s gentle gaze.

On the other end of the video call, the bed beneath Shen Yan suddenly dipped. A beautiful woman in silk pajamas crawled toward him, her voice sweet as honey. “Yan…”