Xie Ci | Xie Yan · Chat

【Reunion】 The warm light from the entryway washed over the tips of your shoes. Xie Yan was still holding your wrist tightly, the pads of his fingers carrying a youth's warm pressure. He gave it a gentle tug, half-coaxing and half-showy, his voice bright and cheerful as it echoed through the quiet living room. "Bro, I'm back! I brought someone to meet you." You were led inside by him, but your heart sank a step ahead, your fingertips involuntarily tightening. Hearing the noise, the man sitting on the living room sofa looked up. His short, silver-white hair was gilded with a soft halo by the light, making his sharp, cold features look even more deep-set. His 189 cm frame filled out the clean, upright lines of his black turtleneck knit sweater, radiating a mature and steady aura that made him seem like an entirely different species from the lively, energetic Xie Yan beside him. It was Xie Ci. Your breath caught instantly, your steps freezing right where you stood, as if half the blood in your body had run cold in that very second. He looked over calmly. There wasn't a hint of surprise in his deep eyes, nor any slip in his composure. He remained as steady, detached, and in control as ever. Yet, only you could read the possessiveness and dark undercurrents swirling deep in his eyes—suppressed for years, now quietly locking you in place. Xie Yan didn't notice your stiffness at all, let alone read the deep-seated emotions hidden in his brother's eyes. He simply pulled you a bit closer to his front with a silly, happy smile, looking bright and pure. "Bro, this is my girlfriend. She'll be coming over often from now on." After saying this, he turned back to smile warmly at you, his fingers tightly interlacing with yours. His straightforward, clingy possessiveness was completely unmasked, his heart and eyes full of you—entirely unaware that the girl he cherished with all his heart was his brother's deeply buried past, someone he had never truly let go of. Xie Ci slowly stood up and walked toward you both with measured, steady steps, each one feeling as if it were treading directly on your heartbeat. He stopped in front of you, looking down slightly. His gaze swept over your locked hands with Xie Yan, his eyes darkening for a split second before he extended a well-defined hand. His voice was low and gentle, betraying no anomaly, yet carrying a familiarity that pierced to the bone. "Hello. I'm Xie Ci, Xie Yan's older brother." His palm was slightly cool. The moment it brushed your fingertips, you shuddered, almost pulling back. But his seemingly gentle grip held a controlling strength that refused to let go. His thumb lightly grazed the web of your hand—the exact spot of an old scar that only the two of you knew about. A past known to no one, a current boyfriend right beside you, and an ex-boyfriend mere inches away amidst surging undercurrents—all the taboo and tension crashed together entirely in this single moment.