Yè Yī's Apartment — Evening
The plate was empty.
Completely.
Violet leaned back in her chair, one leg stretched out slightly, looking… satisfied. Not relaxed—she was never really that—but settled.
Yè Yī sat across from her, arms folded, watching.
Not openly.
But enough.
There was a pause.
Then—
Only then—
Violet looked up.
"You've eaten?"
The timing made him blink.
"You're asking now?"
She nodded once.
"Yes."
He opened his mouth—
"I have—"
"Don't say you've eaten."
The words cut in clean.
Yè Yī stopped.
Mid-sentence.
His brows pulled together.
"…Excuse me?"
Violet leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table.
Her tone wasn't mocking.
It was precise.
"I didn't talk to you while eating," she said, "because there was something you needed to think about."
Yè Yī stared at her.
"What are you—"
"You panicked."
Silence.
Just one word.
But it landed.
His expression tightened immediately.
"That wasn't—"
"You panicked," she repeated calmly. "Before you thought. Before you assessed. Before you decided anything."
She tilted her head slightly.
"That doesn't match you."
Yè Yī didn't answer.
Because she wasn't wrong.
And that annoyed him.
Violet continued like she was laying out simple facts.
"I didn't say thank you."
He frowned.
"I noticed."
"I know," she said. "You're used to hearing it."
A pause.
"Most of the time it doesn't mean anything."
That one hit differently.
Yè Yī's eyes shifted slightly.
She wasn't accusing.
She wasn't comforting either.
Just… stating it.
"You don't need empty words," she added.
"So I didn't give you any," she shrugs.
The room went quiet for a second.
Then—
Yè Yī leaned back slightly.
"You're assuming a lot."
Violet didn't blink.
"No."
That answer came too fast.
Too certain.
Which meant—
She wasn't guessing.
Yè Yī studied her more carefully now.
"You keep doing that," he said.
"Doing what?"
"Answering before I say anything."
Violet's lips curved faintly.
Not quite a smile.
More like she found something mildly amusing.
Then she lifted her hand slightly.
Not dramatic.
Just enough.
The air around her fingers shifted.
Subtle.
Like heat distortion—but colder.
Her voice dropped just a little.
"I already know the direction your thoughts move in."
Yè Yī's gaze sharpened.
"…That's not normal."
"No," she agreed.
"It's not."
The faint shimmer faded as quickly as it came.
Like it was never there.
But the implication stayed.
Violet leaned back again.
Casual.
Like she hadn't just said something insane.
"Ah…"
She glanced toward the door.
"Get Qiū Huà Bǐ over here."
Yè Yī frowned.
"For what?"
"He doesn't need to glue himself to his computer screen trying to hack them down."
Her tone was dismissive.
Like she already knew exactly what Qiū Huà Bǐ was doing.
Yè Yī exhaled.
"You assume he's hacking."
"He is."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"…Right."
He paused.
Then added—
"I don't even have his number."
Violet looked at him.
Blank.
Then—
"Right."
A beat.
Then she gestured lazily toward the door.
"Get up, sworn brother."
Yè Yī didn't move.
"…You want me to go knock on his door?"
"Yes."
"That's inefficient."
"So is letting him waste time."
Yè Yī stared at her.
Then shook his head slightly.
"I don't remember agreeing to this part of the sibling contract."
Violet shrugged.
"You agreed to responsibility."
"That's not the same thing."
"What are you going to do then? "
He almost argued.
Almost.
Then stopped.
Because somehow—
He already knew arguing wouldn't change anything.
He stood up.
Slowly.
"…I really can't believe this."
Violet gave him a small thumbs up again.
"Chop chop."
He paused at the doorway.
Turned back slightly.
"You're not coming?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
Her answer came simple.
"Do I need to?"
Yè Yī narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You're manipulating this."
"Yes."
At least she was honest.
He left.
Door closing behind him.
Violet sat in silence again.
The room felt different now.
Quieter.
But sharper.
Her gaze shifted toward the window.
Distant.
Focused on something beyond the apartment.
"Don't rush it…" she murmured under her breath.
"Let them move first."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
---
Outside — Hallway
Yè Yī stood in front of Qiū Huà Bǐ's door.
Staring at it.
"…This is ridiculous."
He knocked.
A pause.
Then from inside—
"Door's open."
Yè Yī pushed it open.
Qiū Huà Bǐ sat in front of three screens.
Code running across all of them.
He didn't even turn.
"Let me guess," he said.
"She sent you."
Yè Yī sighed.
"…Yeah."
Qiū Huà Bǐ leaned back slightly.
Finally turning.
He grabbed his jacket without another question.
"Let's go."
Yè Yī frowned.
"You're not even going to ask why?"
Qiū Huà Bǐ smirked.
"Do I need to?"
He stood up.
Yè Yī paused.
Then shook his head.
"…You're both a problem."
Qiū Huà Bǐ grinned.
"And yet you're the one doing the walking."
They stepped out together.
---
Violet didn't look surprised when the door opened again.
She didn't even turn immediately.
Just said—
"Sit down."
Qiū Huà Bǐ stepped in.
"You're welcome."
Then he glanced at Yè Yī.
"…You weren't kidding."
Yè Yī dropped into his seat.
Violet finally looked at both of them.
Calm.
Focused.
"Good," she said.
"Now we can start."
And just like that—
Whatever came next—
Was already waiting.