I transmigrated into the villain's white moonlight, but the protagonist is my brother.

Xie Yan is already very familiar with the Gu family's kitchen.

However, this was the first time I had cooked in the kitchen during the day; before, I would always quietly get up at night to make some late-night snacks.

Xie Yan stared at the rice cakes in the pot with a straight face, but she wasn't really angry anymore.

Thinking back, Xie Qingyu had been here for a month or two, working every day without weekends or holidays, without a single day of rest, and only able to sleep four or five hours a day. This had been going on for dozens of days, and he hadn't really bothered her much.

It is indeed very hard.

He, a high school student, was suddenly forced to wear a suit, pretend to be an elite, and socialize with all sorts of people. He worked at full intensity every day, so it wouldn't be a bad thing for him to relax and take a few days off.

The main reason was that she was furious when she saw his dead body as soon as she got home, but now that she has calmed down and put herself in his shoes, she can understand it.

Xie Yan glanced at him expressionlessly, "Why aren't you thinking about your public image right now? Aren't you afraid someone will see you eating what I made?"

Xie Qingyu stood at the door, his tall figure leaning against the door, his face full of frustration.

"You're moving out soon and I haven't even tasted your cooking yet. Is that reasonable? Is that fair?"

Speaking of this, Xie Qingyu got even angrier. "Shen Yan definitely did it on purpose! How many times have you done it? How come he always manages to catch you? I'm speechless!"

It can be said that Xie Qingyu's dislike for Shen Yan stemmed largely from the grudge of having his meal taken away.

The rice cakes still needed to cook for a while, so Xie Yan turned around to look at Xie Qingyu.

The red mark on his left cheek had faded. She hadn't used much force; she was just trying to wake up that dead pig from his sleep.

"Anyway, I don't have any romantic feelings for Shen Yan. I treat him like a younger brother, just like you. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would end up like this. Besides, it was raining heavily that day. We were in two different bedrooms under the same roof, so it was just a temporary stay. I left the next day."

Xie Yan patiently explained a lot.

However, what Xie Qingyu cared about was, "The same as me??"

He pointed at himself in utter disbelief, "No, sis, how long have you been here? How many times have you met him? How come you already treat him like a younger brother?"

"..."

Xie Yan pursed her lips, unsure of what to say. "Keep your voice down, or you'll attract attention again."

Xie Qingyu, like an angry hippopotamus, glared and muttered in a low voice.

"How many younger brothers do you have?! Aren't I your only brother?!"

……

Xie Yan was convinced.

She frowned. "Why are you asking me this? Don't you know how many days you've been playing? Do I need to go over it with you again, my dear brother?"

Xie Qingyu immediately muted his microphone.

Okay, let's stop arguing.

After the rice cakes were cooked, they were cut into sections and set aside. Xie Yan then turned around and chopped the kimchi into small pieces, as well as the scallions and garlic.

Then, skillfully, vegetable oil was added, scallions and garlic were stir-fried, kimchi was stir-fried evenly, water and salt were added, rice cakes were added, and simmered over low heat until thoroughly cooked.

Finally, reduce the heat to high to thicken the sauce, coating the rice cakes. The bright red color alone is enough to whet one's appetite.

Xie Yan was lost in thought as she made the dish; the last time she made stir-fried rice cakes was when she was with Yang Huiyun.

Ugh.

There were no maids or nannies in the living room at the moment, and Xie Yan and Xie Qingyu sat crouching at the dining table, ready to finish quickly.

Even though I was at home, I felt strangely guilty.

Xie Qingyu finally got to eat his first bite.

His eyes were closed, and his expression was so distorted and painful that he looked like he was about to ascend to heaven.

"Sis, it has to be you! No one else can make this flavor like this, it's so authentic!"

Xie Yan buried her head in her food and ate quickly, saying, "Don't talk, just eat."

Just as the two had taken a few bites, Xie Yan looked up at the direction of the stairwell, her expression freezing.

Xie Qingyu paused, then his alarm bells rang loudly: [No way! No way! Shen Yan isn't here again! He looks like a ghost!]

Sure enough, before Xie Yan could reply, a familiar "Big Brother" came from behind Xie Qingyu.

"..."

People can actually laugh when they're extremely speechless.

Xie Qingyu actually let out a cold laugh.

"Senior, I think I left my phone on the table."

Shen Yan didn't seem to care whether the scene of Xie Yan and Xie Qingyu sitting together was awkward; he was only concerned about his phone right now.

Xie Yan quickly looked at the table and said, "It's here, take it."

Shen Yan took the phone, his eyes glancing at the plate on the table. "Spicy kimchi stir-fried rice cakes? Did Big Brother make this?"

Xie Qingyu snorted coldly and started acting again.

"It's just a little trick she used to please me. The taste was fine, but the method was too low-level!"

Xie Yan rolled her eyes inwardly, but wore a nonchalant smile on her face.

Thankfully, the engagement is being called off today. She's had enough of this kind of mood swings, which are faster than turning the pages of a book and are practically insane.

Shen Yan seemed a little surprised, "Senior, you actually know how to make these kinds of street food."

Xie Yan laughed it off, "I just learned it randomly."

Xie Qingyu rolled his eyes and looked at Shen Yan with a cold expression. "What, do you want to try some?"

You love to eat, don't you? Come on, eat up!

Who can outeat you, you gluttonous potato?!

So another pair of bowls and chopsticks appeared on the table, and Shen Yan sat down as well.

The bright red rice cakes are soft, sweet and sour, with a great texture, and the perfect sauce is even more delicious.

Shen Yan lowered his eyes and ate with extremely refined manners, holding the small bowl and eating bite by bite without saying a word.

"How is it? Is it delicious?" Xie Yan looked at Shen Yan, her expression a complex mix of emotions.

Shen Yan nodded, his dark eyes revealing an equally unreadable emotion.

Xie Qingyu ate voraciously while making sarcastic remarks, managing to eat while acting.

His eyes darted around, his gaze constantly shifting between the two of them.

Why does the atmosphere feel so strange? Is it just my imagination?

Xie Yan glared at him speechlessly. "Isn't this all your acting? Before you were here, Shen Yan and I had a really nice late-night snack together."

【Aaaaaah, I don't want to hear it! ...————】

Xie Qingyu was acting, eating, and chatting with Xie Yan all at the same time. He was so busy that he had to divide his attention into three parts. He was exhausted.

Fortunately, he had almost finished eating when his phone rang, so he made an excuse to slip away.

Only Xie Yan and Shen Yan remained at the table.

Xie Yan just made a pot, and most of it has already been eaten, with not much left.

Shen Yan ate in silence with his head down, not saying much.

Xie Yan felt uneasy for some reason.

"Eat less, Shen Yan. Rice cakes are not easy to digest, and eating too much will upset your stomach."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yan slowly put down his chopsticks.

The boy's brows were slightly furrowed, his expression restrained, his pointed chin was fair and thin, and his eyes were slightly red, as if he was about to cry due to emotional turmoil.

Xie Yan was startled. "What's wrong? Why do you look like that? Are you feeling unwell?"

He shook his head and forced an ugly smile, looking fragile and pitiful, which was very distressing.

"It's nothing, I just remembered that when I was little, there was a kind aunt who was very good to me and often made rice cakes. I just suddenly thought of her."

Xie Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Without even thinking, Shen Yan must be talking about Yang Huiyun!

Her heart suddenly started racing, and she tried to control her expression, making herself as natural as possible.

"Oh? What does that lady do for a living? Is she a chef?"

The boy smiled and said, "No, Auntie moved there to be with her daughter. She set up a fried rice cake stall, and I heard the business is very good."

The water in the glass had gone cold, and Xie Yan picked it up and drank it all in one gulp.

Her hand, hidden under the table, clenched into a fist imperceptibly, her fingertips turning white with tension.

But his expression was natural and curious.

"And now? Is that aunt still selling rice cakes?"

After speaking, Xie Yan pursed her lips and stared intently at Shen Yan's face, as if awaiting his judgment.

She never imagined that she would eventually have to ask Shen Yan in person about Yang Huiyun.

Shen Yan lowered his head, his bangs covering his eyebrows and eyes, and his voice was also lower, unlike his usual clear and bright voice.

"My aunt's daughter passed away from heart disease, and my aunt also..."

He paused for a moment, as if he was too sad to continue.

"After handling her daughter's funeral arrangements, the aunt also committed suicide and died despite attempts to resuscitate her."

Xie Yan was stunned.

He died despite all efforts to save him.

Resuscitation efforts... were unsuccessful...

In an instant, Xie Yan felt like a prisoner sentenced to death, as if all her strength had been drained away.

The words "all rescue efforts failed" kept echoing in her mind, robbing her of the ability to think.

...Was the letter she left useless?

Did Yang Huiyun ultimately end up following her daughter in death...?

Xie Yan felt as if her heart was being squeezed tightly, and she felt like she couldn't breathe. She could only pinch her thigh hard to try to maintain her dignity.

Fortunately, Shen Yan was lost in thought with his head down and probably didn't notice her.

“I heard that my aunt was eventually buried in a cemetery by the lake in Yancheng District, next to her daughter.”

"Alright, Shen Yan, I'll wash the pot. You go and do your thing."

When Shen Yan looked up, he saw Xie Yan looking normal, smiling as she spoke to him, though her eyes were red.

"Okay, then thank you for your hard work, senior."

Shen Yan stood up, but as he turned to leave, he looked back at Xie Yan.

"Senior, if I want to eat this again in the future, can you still make it for me?"

Xie Yan had already turned her back to clear the dishes, so all I could do was nod.

Anyway, she's moving out, so we probably won't see each other much anymore.

Shen Yan smiled faintly, his expression warm, "Thank you."

During dinner that day, Gu Jinhua directly announced at the table that the engagement between the Gu family and the Xie family was to be dissolved.

His tone was stern and left no room for argument.

Fortunately, Shen Yan wasn't there.

Before Xie Qingyu even started the performance, he noticed that Xie Yan had already covered her face and started crying.

Large tears streamed down her face. She kept covering her eyes with her hands, but the torrents of tears still kept falling through her fingers.

No matter how hard she wiped, she couldn't get it clean.

Xie Qingyu was dumbfounded and immediately activated his brainwaves.

[Sis, are you alright? Your acting was so realistic, you scared me!]

But this time Xie Yan didn't reply to him. Her mind was silent, with only Xie Yan's suppressed and incessant sobs remaining.

Xie Yan was in a state of confusion.

My mind went numb.

Having held back all afternoon, not daring to reveal anything, I can finally explode at this moment.

All hopes have been dashed, and all beautiful fantasies will ultimately prove to be nothing but illusions.

It was just a beautiful fantasy of hers to begin with, so why was she still so sad after hearing about her predetermined fate?

...But that's her mother.

It was her mother who had to go out to sell breakfast during the Chinese New Year to help her earn money for surgery.

Of her three lives, she was the only mother who truly loved her.

Once again, she had no mother.

Xie Qingyu was genuinely frightened this time.

He sat there dumbfounded, staring blankly as he asked 2222.

[Second brother, did something happen without my knowledge? Why is my sister crying like this?]

2222: [I don't know either, maybe it's acting. You can tell from Gu Jinhua's expression that she believes it.]

Xie Qingyu turned his head to look.

Gu Jinhua crossed her arms, her face expressionless, her brows furrowed.

Xie Qingyu looked at his face, which remained completely unmoved by anything. [You call this obvious belief? There's clearly no expression on his face!]

2222: [This is the way he looks at women.]

That's right.

Gu Jinhua has loved to play since he was young. Back then, he was full of vigor and loved to play, and he didn't care about women at all.

They're all just toys, after all.

Some women, having only had a fleeting affair with him, would cry and even threaten suicide to follow him, but that's impossible!

Not to mention, some even secretly had children for him.

These women undoubtedly all want to marry into wealthy families and rise to the top in one fell swoop.

Gu Jinhua had seen too much, so she had become numb to it.

It's just crying, so let him cry.

It's all the same old stuff that their generation had already done.

"Xie Yan, you are a sensible child. I hope you know what you should and shouldn't do."

Gu Jinhua took out a check from her pocket. "I know you're not a biological son of the Xie family, and you're in a difficult situation right now. Consider this million a personal bonus for you. Please accept it."

After venting her emotions, Xie Yan finally raised her head, her face streaked with tears, and looked at the check on the table. After a long pause, she said blankly, "It's okay."

Gu Jinhua could only sneer, thinking that she was just trying to pretend to be affectionate and not materialistic in front of Gu Qingyu.

After several refusals, Xie Yan ultimately did not accept the money.

She went back to her room to pack her luggage, filling all her already meager belongings with it, so she could leave.

Xie Qingyu was still unable to see her off, and could only stand by the window and watch her go in silence.

As Xie Yan sat in the taxi, she felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Her head was throbbing, and she felt even more exhausted than after staying up for two consecutive nights.

She hadn't bought a house, and at that moment she truly felt as if she had nowhere to belong in this vast world.

That feeling was truly awful.

***

The news of the Gu and Xie families breaking off their engagement spread the very next day and was widely publicized.

Of course, all of this was done by Gu Jinhua.

Gu Jinhua was already very unhappy about her excellent eldest son being associated with the Xie family's fools; it was just a temporary expedient at the time.

But now it seems that this method has no effect on his outstanding eldest son.

Not long ago, the young girl who was a bar waitress has now been signed by him to work for the company.

It's just nonsense.

Of course, these are all problems that need to be solved gradually later, but Xie Yan's problem can be solved immediately.

First, we need to sever ties with the Xie family! Otherwise, some people might take advantage of our power and think they're so great!

Xie Yan barely slept another night.

As soon as she closes her eyes, Yang Huiyun's face appears in her mind, making it impossible for her to fall asleep peacefully.

After getting up, she managed to apply an ice towel to her eyes and then forced herself to go to school.

As soon as Xie Yan arrived at school, she felt gossipy eyes coming from all directions.

The news that she had been kicked out of the house seemed to have spread throughout the morning.

Some people didn't believe it at first, but they understood after seeing Xie Yan's swollen eyes.

It's unclear who leaked the fact that she wasn't Xie's biological daughter, and even the fact that she was terminated from her contract with Starway Entertainment is already known to some.

Xie Yan even learned from other people that she had been unilaterally terminated.

Not wanting to work and being fired are two completely different feelings.

Things are different now. Xie Yan seems to have gone from being the enviable Mrs. Gu who married into a wealthy family to a pitiful woman unwanted by both her husband's and in-laws overnight.

I even lost my job; I really lost everything.

They were really cannon fodder.

Ignoring the stares, Xie Yan arrived at the door of the head of the Department of Intelligent Systems.

She was there to fill out a competition registration form.

Just then, a strange male voice came from the side, full of laughter.

"Oh my, isn't this our beautiful Xie Yan?"