Jin sat in the farthest corner of the dining hall.
Everyone else had taken their places already — long table, full spread, awkward silence.
"Jin," his father said slowly, "you should sit up front."
Jin didn't even raise his head.
"No need."
[Fancy food tastes the same as cold leftovers when you know the ending.]
Clink.
Feng Meiyu — the second sister — dropped her fork. The others flinched.
They were all still trying to pretend nothing was wrong.
Pretend they couldn't hear him.
Pretend he wasn't cracking their carefully built fantasy with every stray thought.
Only Ichiro, the fake son, smiled like always. Gentle. Calm. Too perfect.
"I made dessert for everyone," he said warmly. "Let's all enjoy this moment as a family."
[He's smiling like he didn't just email a false report about Lianhua's department to the board.]
[Acting like he's not about to 'accidentally' leak her personal data to the press.]
Ichiro's hand paused mid-cut.
Lianhua, the fourth sister, stared at her plate. Her face had gone pale.
[She won't believe it. Not until it's too late.]
---
That evening, Jin stood alone in the courtyard again.
Cherry blossoms drifted around him.
Ding!
[System Alert: Ichiro has placed a bug on Feng Lianhua's office computer.]
[He will anonymously tip off Weng Corporation in 3 days.]
[Mission Suggestion: Intervene — or not.]
Ergouzi's voice echoed in his mind.
[Should we do something?]
[No.]
[Seriously?]
[Let them taste it. Let them live out the drama they wanted so badly.]
[Maybe then, they'll stop wishing I was part of it.]
---
Inside the manor, the sisters gathered quietly in the study.
"He's not lying," Yujia whispered. "He thinks those things. He knows them. But…"
"But how?" Meiyu asked. "He couldn't possibly…"
Feng Su, the eldest, spoke calmly. "There's no doubt. He's investigated us or—"
They all looked at one another.
Some were scared.
Some were still in denial.
Lianhua shook her head, voice trembling. "Ichiro… Ichiro wouldn't…"
And yet, part of her already knew.
Jin's voice — those thoughts — had never been wrong.
Not once.
---
Back in his room, Jin lay on the bed with his hands behind his head.
[They think I'll eventually open up.]
[But why would I? What's there to gain from warning people who still believe in the villain?]
[Ergouzi snorted. Host, this is a bit dark, even for you.]
[Dark? No. It's called living.]
[If I was a background character before, I'll stay that way now. Low-risk. Low-pain.]
[You sure? Even if the world collapses around you again?]
[Then I'll watch it burn from the sidelines.]
And still, across the hall, the family whispered:
"He really doesn't want to be part of our family…"
And still…
They told him nothing.
They just listened.