Why should an alien like me care about any of this? It's not as if I'm truly Ye Xiyang.

Why, if he loved so much, did he marry another woman so quickly? Was it because he couldn’t endure loneliness? And now, for the sake of consolidating the company’s interests, he even had to forge a marital alliance. Truly...

A tangle of emotions surged in Yichen’s heart—anger, mockery, regret—a torrent of negative feelings crashed over him. The pain was like a knife twisted in his chest. His brows drew together slightly; even at such a young age, he had to control and hide his emotions and his amnesia, yet his father never noticed anything amiss.

Perhaps it was for the best that his father was oblivious, for otherwise, things would likely have been far more dire for him by now.

The office was utterly quiet, and for a moment, Yichen couldn’t bring himself to focus on work. He pulled out his phone and dialed Xiao Qi.

It took a long time for her to answer, “President Lin, what is it?”

Hearing her cheerful voice, Yichen’s mood lightened a little.

“Are you out delivering food?”

“Yes! Oh, come on, don’t distract me from making money if you don’t have to. Hurry up, hang up, bye!”

Yichen felt much better. Then the villa’s security called, “President Lin, the young master is causing a commotion.”

Yichen rubbed his brow, “Let him be.”

After work, Yichen didn’t expect to run into Xu Lu at the company entrance.

She walked over and knocked on his car window.

As the window rolled down, she said leisurely, “You helped Yiyang organize his art exhibition and fulfill his dream. You’re quite the good brother!”

Yichen replied blandly, “I’m his brother. It’s only right that I’m good to him.”

Xu Lu let out a cold laugh, her tone sharp, “I’ve seen right through your little schemes long ago. You just don’t want Yiyang to join the company and compete with you for power. Let me share a little secret with you—over all these years, your father’s feelings for you have always been lukewarm. He may have let you sit in the president’s seat, but he favors Yiyang and likes him more. You’d better not slip up, or your position could be lost at any time.”

“Since Auntie Xu is being so frank, I’ll be direct too. Whether Yiyang joins the company or not, whether I make mistakes or not, he’ll never pose a threat to me—not now, not ever. Just as you will never replace my mother in my father’s heart—not now, not ever.”

With that, he closed the window and drove away.

Impossible, is it?

Xu Lu’s lips curved into a mysterious, unfathomable smile.

Though his mood was low, his work was even busier than before.

Lin Bosen entrusted the company to Yichen precisely because he saw how diligent and outstanding he was, and felt at ease handing it over to him.

Ultimately, he could see that his younger son had no interest in business, while the elder possessed a keen business mind.

On this point, all three—father and sons—were well aware.

Yichen lifted his gaze to the floor-to-ceiling window. The moon hung high, stars sparse, the sun setting in a blaze of clouds. He was surprised to find himself in the mood to appreciate the sunset.

Perhaps it was because Xiyang had returned, because she was now within his sight.

After gazing at the sky for a while, he immersed himself in work again.

Yiyang poked his head into the study, unsurprised to find its occupant buried in work.

He knew better than anyone how diligent his brother was.

Outsiders saw a young, successful man and envied him, never realizing how much effort he devoted behind the scenes.

Though their family was affluent, his brother had achieved what he had entirely through his own ability.

He knew all too well how his mother treated his brother.

Yet there was nothing he could do.

His brother was never one for many words, but no one understood better than Yiyang just how much kindness he had received.

Knowing his fondness for painting, his brother organized an art exhibition for him.

Yet for this, their mother misunderstood, thinking his brother purposely kept him out of the company…

His mother—truly, reasoning with her was pointless.

Yichen, still focused on his work, suddenly found a glass of milk placed by his hand. He looked up.

“Brother, have some milk. It’s good for you.”

Yichen raised an eyebrow, “Such attentiveness for no reason.”

“…”

The glass was snatched away, “Brother, you’re too suspicious!”

Staring at his now empty hands, he suddenly thought of Xiyang.

It felt as though time had turned back.

He remembered his university days—juggling studies, part-time jobs, and student council work. Xiyang always managed to wedge herself into his busy schedule, often bringing him snacks, mostly chocolate. He used to joke, “Are you trying to ruin my teeth?” She’d snatch the treats back, scoffing, “You’re too suspicious!” In the end, she would eat them herself.

Now, it seemed, old habits resurfaced—though this time, it was his younger brother.

Yichen took the milk back, sipped, and said, “For the sake of this glass of milk, I won’t hold your sneaking out against you. But…” His eyes sharpened, “Business is business. Give me an explanation—why act out? Why sneak out?”

“What’s there to explain?” Yiyang replied nonchalantly, “I’m locked up in here every day. Of course I’d want some fresh air.”

Yichen scrutinized him, then spoke with a calm tone, “If you keep this up, the exhibition is off.”

He shrugged, “Whatever. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Yichen’s gaze deepened; Yiyang met his eyes.

Their eyes met—Yiyang’s showed a flicker of guilt.

“Brother, I know you’ve put in a lot for me, but I don’t want my paintings to be sold with price tags. It tarnishes my dream as an artist.”

“If your paintings don’t sell, why paint at all?” Yichen’s voice grew colder, “Don’t even think about sneaking out again. Next time, I’ll have you brought back by force. And stop bothering Xiyang—she’s busy making deliveries every day.”

Yiyang pouted, “Brother, don’t tell me you’re afraid that Xiyang, with her amnesia, will fall for me, so you won’t let me see her.”

Yichen replied impassively, “You’re not that charming.”

“…”

#

Xiao Qi had just woken up and sat up abruptly, checking her skin suit.

She breathed a sigh of relief—it was still on.

Yesterday, after searching for ages, she’d found it under the dining table.

She kept wondering why, after she activated her frozen defense system and Lin Yichen held her like that, he’d remained unscathed.

Could he, like her, not be an Earthling but an alien? Or perhaps not an ordinary human at all?

No, she had to test him.

Standing at the entrance of a skyscraper, she hesitated.

If she teleported straight into his office, he’d surely drag her off to his research department.

But without her powers, there was no way to get in.

What to do?

No matter—she’d just go in first and see.

She appeared in the president’s office and saw the man’s tall figure. He stood by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, his entire posture radiating desolation…

Xiao Qi had always thought of Lin Yichen as confident and composed—why did he now seem so forlorn?

She recalled his words: “I surrendered to the comfort of reality, so I’ll accompany you for the rest of your life.”

She hadn’t responded at all—was that why he was so despondent?

Xiao Qi shook her head. Why should an alien care about these things? She wasn’t really Ye Xiyang.

Since he had his back to her, it was the perfect chance to test him.

She crept forward, about to remove her skin suit, when the man suddenly turned around.