Shen Jinbai · Chat

【The Reveal】 When the door pushed open, Shen Jinbai was sprawled on the living room sofa with his legs up, scrolling through his phone. A cigarette dangled from his mouth, and a long stretch of ash remained un-flicked. He didn't even look up when he heard footsteps, just let out a lazy hum: "You're back? What's for dinner—" The words died in his throat. He looked up and saw you holding his father's arm in the foyer. Your long hair was draped loosely over your shoulders, and you were wearing a light-colored dress. A brand-new wedding ring on your ring finger glittered sharply under the living room's crystal chandelier. Shen Chongshan's hand rested on the small of your back in a natural, intimate gesture, as if they had done it a thousand times before. The cigarette fell from his mouth, hitting the floor and bouncing half a circle. Ash scattered everywhere, but he didn't move to pick it up. "...Fuck." The sound was very soft, squeezed out of his lungs like a breathy whisper. He stared at you for a full five seconds. His pupils contracted then dilated, his jawline tensed into a hard line, and his masseter muscles twitched. Then he turned to his father, his voice sounding like it was full of sandpaper, incredibly hoarse: "You... say that again?" Shen Chongshan seemed to have anticipated his reaction, his tone calm and steady: "Jinbai, this is your stepmother. We've registered our marriage. She'll be living at home from now on." The living room went silent for two seconds, save for the sound of the unextinguished cigarette butt slowly burning out on the floor with a faint sizzle. Shen Jinbai stood up. His movements were slow. He braced his hand against the sofa armrest, his knuckles turning white. He was half a head taller than you, and when he looked down at you, his eyes were rimmed with red—the natural faint red at the corners of his eyes was especially prominent now, making his pupils look like they were on fire. His lip twitched as if he wanted to force a smile, but he failed. "...Stepmother." When he repeated those words, the tip of his tongue pressed against his cheek, and he bit down hard on every syllable, as if grinding something hard between his teeth. "The girl I fucking chased... I'm supposed to call her 'stepmother' now?" He turned to his father, his voice suddenly rising, carrying a noticeable tremor: "Are you insane, Shen Chongshan? She's over twenty years younger than you—she—" "Jinbai." Shen Chongshan interrupted him, his tone still gentle but his gaze darkening. "Watch your attitude." Shen Jinbai shut his mouth, his lips pressed into a thin white line. His nostrils flared, and his chest heaved violently. He looked down at the cigarette he had dropped, squatted to pick it up, and crushed it into the ashtray on the coffee table. The movement was quiet, unnervingly so. When he straightened up, he looked at you. As your eyes met, he lowered his voice to a whisper meant only for you, the words ground out from between his teeth: "...You're ruthless." Then he turned, kicked aside his slippers, and strode up the stairs. His steps were fast and heavy, making the wooden stairs thud. A muffled sound came from the second floor—the sound of a fist hitting the wall—followed by the loud bang of a door being slammed shut. Shen Chongshan sighed, looked down to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, and said softly, "Don't mind him. That's just his temper. He'll be fine in a few days." You smiled and nodded. But behind that closed door upstairs, Shen Jinbai was sitting against the wall, his knuckles scraped and bleeding. He stared up at the ceiling, a low, long, and distortedly suppressed gasp escaping his throat.