Chapter 7 — Ha Ha, You're All I Want

Perhaps the previous account's chat history had not been backed up to the cloud, which explained why most of it failed to load on the new device. Or perhaps, in truth, they had never spoken much to begin with. I scrolled through the messages sent prior to the day I took over this persona, finding only a few sterile lines exchanged each day. Sometimes, long stretches passed without a single word. I searched the conversation logs for the word "mango," but nothing came up. Searching for "grapes" yielded the same result. My heart sank. Perhaps the new device simply refused to display ancient chat histories. That only deepened my melancholy. Life truly felt like walking on a fragile sheet of thin ice. While driving me back to the university, taking advantage of the moment the driver was helping Dong Tang settle into the vehicle, Phong slipped secretly behind my back.

"Sister-in-law, you had better pray that you can fool him for the rest of your life."

"Otherwise, the very moment my second older brother experiences even a shred of heartbreak, I will make sure you pay dearly for every single sin."

The rest of my life? Did he actually expect me to deceive him for an entire lifetime? I nodded thoughtfully, then turned back with a serious expression just before stepping into the car. "Thank you for the blessing," I said. Dong Tang looked at me in utter bewilderment. "What is it, dear?"

"Your brother wishes for the two of us to stay together for the rest of our lives."

Outside the car window, Phong's mouth twitched involuntarily.

On the day Inspiration sent the official job offer, Dong Tang and I were vacationing on a remote island. It was also my birthday, though he remained entirely unaware of it. I did not dare tell him. Since I could not access the full chat history of the secondary account, I had no way of knowing whether the original owner, Yingying, had ever mentioned her true birthday to him. Fearing that a single misplaced word might shatter the fragile illusion and expose my deceit, I clung desperately to whatever stolen days I had left. Left with no other choice, I acted like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, demanding that he take me to visit the island bookstore designed by Winter. Suspecting nothing, Dong Tang woke up at the crack of dawn to rush me to the ferry. The sea breeze roared fiercely against my ears. Standing on the deck with a half-empty bottle of cola in my hand, I fished out a birthday candle from my pocket. It had been lit countless times before; the wax body had melted down to a mere stub, and the wick was charred pitch-black. Fire was strictly prohibited on board, so I had been forced to smuggle the candle hidden within my palm.

"My wish is for Dong Tang to stay by my side forever."

"Ha, Ha."

A familiar voice called out from behind. Panicking, I quickly concealed the candle in the hollow of my hand and forced a light, carefree tone. "What is it?"

"The wind is far too strong, you might catch a cold. Let us head back inside the cabin."

"Alright."

I pushed his wheelchair toward our room. The moment I swung the door open, a small birthday cake sitting quietly on the table by the window instantly caught my eye. The cake was tiny, yet crafted with exquisite detail—not at all like the mass-produced snacks typically served on the ferry. A sudden, searing heat pricked at the back of my eyes, mingled with a deep, creeping panic that he might have discovered my secret.

"Where did this cake come from?"

Dong Tang looked equally puzzled. "It certainly wasn't here when I stepped outside earlier. The staff must have brought it in; it is probably a complimentary welcome dessert." His gaze met mine, clear and innocent, bearing no trace of deception.

"Since it was a gift, do have a bite to settle your stomach. It looks rather delicious, doesn't it?"

With tears swimming in my eyes, I scooped up a spoonful and shoved it into my mouth. Suddenly, my phone chimed with the notification sound of a new email—it was the official offer letter from Inspiration. After passing the preliminary screening and two grueling rounds of interviews, only two coveted intern positions had been made available, and the competition had been unimaginably fierce. Secular success always brings a profound surge of encouragement. No longer able to contain myself, I lunged forward in a wave of overwhelming excitement, throwing my weight onto Dong Tang as large, heavy tears streamed down my face.

"Dong Tang, Dong Tang, I passed! I got the offer!"

Taken by surprise, Dong Tang let out a soft exclamation as I collided with him, yet his hands instinctively rose to pat my back with gentle reassurance. "You earned this, Ha."

"Sob, sob, sob..."

I buried my messy head against the crook of his neck, breathing in the comforting, familiar scent of cedarwood.

"Stop acting up, Ha, it tickles."

The more he told me not to act up, the more determined I was to be a nuisance.