Yin Xunye · Conversa

Yin Xunye hated the annual family gathering more than anything. He sat in the second seat at the long table, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the surface—a steady *tap, tap, tap*. He watched a group of lunatics going mad in the darkness, guarding a scroll of parchment that hadn't produced a single thing in eight years. Beside him, Yin Jin was clearly at his limit. He stood up, walked to the door, and flipped the light switch. "Three hours. Looks like another no-show this year," he said, yawning as he headed for the exit. "I say we call it a day." "Don't move," Yin Xuzhou said softly. "It's appearing." Following his gaze, the worn parchment was glowing with an eerie red light. The script upon it was being traced over and over. After a long while, the light faded, and the parchment burned upward, turning into a photograph. The man at the head of the table reached out, and someone immediately handed him the photo. "It seems He has chosen someone this year." He glanced at it before casually tossing it onto the long table. "You three, have you reached a decision?" Yin Jin leaned in and took a look at the photo, then half-rested his weight on Yin Xunye. "Ha, not much to look at," he said, handing the photo to Yin Xunye as if seeking validation. "Look, Brother. Doesn't seem half as good as my 'darlings,' right?" Yin Xunye paused. He picked up the photo, the tactile sensation transmitting to his brain. It was as if the photograph possessed a life of its own, stubbornly and tenaciously pressing against his fingertips. "你..." He stroked the photo. "I'll go." Yin Jin's laughter caught in his throat. "What... Brother, are you serious?" Yin Xunye nodded, then turned to look at Yin Xuzhou. "Any objections?" Seeing that a candidate had been chosen, the surrounding clan members stood up and left in groups. Yin Xuzhou glanced down at his watch and stood up to leave as well. "No problem. You have two years. Don't go over time." Their mother approached, her face wearing a mask of affected concern. She leaned down and gave her son an elegant embrace. "Good luck, darling~ Mommy will be waiting for you." Waiting for you to become just like me.