The moment the livestream camera turned off, Lin Jingxuan's phony smile vanished along with it.
He stared at me, his gaze no longer holding the familiarity of a brother, but a look of scrutiny and suspicion.
Zhou Wanqing sensed the shift in atmosphere. Her hand clutching Lin Jingxuan's arm tightened, and she looked at me with a flicker of unease.
In my past life, I was a fool, completely oblivious to the daggers hidden in their glances.
But now, I found it all laughable.
I scratched my head, putting on a simple, slightly aggrieved expression. "Jingxuan, why were you looking at me like that? It was kind of creepy."
My acting was just right—a touch of hurt from being suspected, mixed with a hint of naivety.
Sure enough, the sharpness in Lin Jingxuan's eyes softened. He probably thought he was overthinking it. What tricks could a loser he had wrapped around his finger possibly pull?
He plastered on that buddy-buddy smile again and slapped my shoulder hard. "What are you thinking about, brother? I was just messing with you because you were spacing out!"
"Oh…" I let out a long sigh of relief, as if I genuinely believed him. "That's good. By the way, to thank you for helping me with the investment, my treat tonight. Let's go out for a good meal! Bring Wanqing along. It's been too long since the three of us got together like this."
I made the invitation enthusiastically, my gaze shifting between them, open and sincere without a trace of anything else.
Zhou Wanqing's expression changed slightly, a hint of resistance flashing in her eyes, but Lin Jingxuan agreed immediately. "Sure! We can celebrate our Wanqing becoming a big star!"
He wrapped an arm around Zhou Wanqing and whispered something in her ear. Only then did the tight line of her lips reluctantly relax into a forced smile for me.
The dinner was set in a private room at an exclusive restaurant. The lighting was intimate, but the atmosphere was strange.
Lin Jingxuan and I toasted and drank, reminiscing about our 'deep brotherly bond' from the old days. Zhou Wanqing sat to the side, as silent as a mannequin, her eyes restlessly flitting between me and him.
After a few rounds of drinks, the main event began.
Suddenly, Zhou Wanqing picked up a piece of abalone and placed it in Lin Jingxuan's bowl, her voice sweet and cloying. "Jingxuan, you've been working so hard for us lately. Eat more."
Under the table, her foot gently brushed against Lin Jingxuan's leg.
It was a small gesture I knew all too well.
They were testing me.
Lin Jingxuan's chopsticks paused mid-air. He looked up at me, a challenge in his eyes.
I acted as if I hadn't seen a thing. Instead, I raised my glass with a hearty laugh. "Exactly! Wanqing is right! Jingxuan, you're our family's great benefactor! I toast to you! From now on, I'll be counting on you to take good care of Wanqing!"
I downed the drink in one go, my face a mask of complete trust and gratitude.
The air seemed to freeze.
The expressions on Zhou Wanqing and Lin Jingxuan's faces were priceless. There was shock, confusion, and even a hint of… disappointment?
They had probably hoped I would fly into a rage and have it out with them. That way, they could be together openly and stand on the moral high ground, accusing me of being petty.
But I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
The more generous I appeared, the more unsettled they became.
"Ming Qian," Zhou Wanqing couldn't help but ask, her tone a careful, probing whisper, "you… you really don't mind?"
"Mind what?" I looked at her through a drunken haze as I refilled her glass. "Mind that Jingxuan is helping you? Silly girl, he's my best friend. Helping you is the same as helping me! Come on, let's toast to Jingxuan together!"
I grabbed Zhou Wanqing's hand, forcing her to raise her glass. Her hand was cold, and I could feel it trembling slightly.
Under my relentless toasts, they soon couldn't take it anymore. Zhou Wanqing, her cheeks flushed and eyes glazed over, leaned against Lin Jingxuan, mumbling incoherently about how hot she felt.
Lin Jingxuan was drunk too. He held Zhou Wanqing and slurred to me, "Ming Qian, Wanqing… she's had too much. I'm going to help her to the bedroom to rest."
"Go on, go on. Take good care of her." I was slumped over the table, waving my hand dismissively, the very picture of someone dead drunk.
I listened as they stumbled into the bedroom together, listened to the *click* of the door shutting behind them.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
There wasn't a trace of drunkenness in my eyes anymore—only a coldness as deep as a frozen cavern.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small black object, no bigger than a fingernail.
I walked to the bedroom door but didn't stop. Instead, I went into the study across the hall. On the wall hung a framed photo of the three of us, directly facing the bedroom door.
I skillfully took down the picture frame and embedded the miniature camera into its edge.
The angle was perfect.
Hanging the frame back in its place, I stared at the closed bedroom door, the corner of my mouth twisting into an icy smirk.
Zhou Wanqing. Lin Jingxuan.
Enjoy your last private moment together.
The cameraman for this grand performance is in position. Soon, I will invite an audience of the entire internet to enjoy your 'passionate performance.'