Leansei woke up early, the morning light slicing sharply through the heavy curtains of his bedroom. He checked his phone and found a brief message from Xeilin, explicitly telling him that he was permitted to arrive at the venue later in the afternoon; the student council president had already coordinated the logistics crew, ensuring every single decoration, sound rig, and itinerary block was perfectly arranged and set for tonight's grand event.
With the rare luxury of a free morning, Leansei took his time. By mid-afternoon, he stood motionless in front of the massive cheval glass mirror inside his quarters at the Ferech estate, quietly looking at his reflection. He was wearing a custom-tailored dark blue navy suit that hugged his slender frame flawlessly. His dark ash-gray hair was styled perfectly, accentuating the sharp, attractive contours of his face. The only element missing from the high-society ensemble was his formal necktie.
He turned on his heel, ambling over to the open wardrobe to select a matching silk tie from the racks. But as his fingers brushed the interior panels, his coordination slipped, and he flinched when a small, unmarked wooden box suddenly fell down from the very top drawer of the wardrobe, clattering softly against the lower shelf.
Leansei blinked through his lenses, thoroughly confused. He bent his torso down, retrieving the object and turning it over in his hands to glance around the worn edges of the box. Slowly, deliberately, he lifted the latch and opened the lid.
The candid, stolen photographs felt like a dangerous intrusion into a history he hadn't been permitted to cross. He leaned closer, his fingers trembling slightly as he spread the physical gloss sheets across the mattress. In every single snapshot, the framing was meticulously designed to obscure the identity of the other male figure—capturing only the broad line of his back, the texture of his skin, or their locked hands tangled together across various luxury locations. But it was the final, unmasked photograph that made the blood run completely ice-cold in his veins.
The real Kean was looking directly down into the camera lens with a genuine, raw smile that Leansei had never once witnessed on his face before. He was completely shirtless, his torso resting flat against the broad chest of a towering guy whose face remained clipped out of the frame. Dangling from the stranger's neck was a distinct silver necklace holding two interlocking metal bands—one pristine silver, the other washed in a dark, textured black, etched with elegant script. Leansei's pupils narrowed as he tried to decipher the microscopic engraving, tracing the phantom outlines of the words Eternity and Always.
' Who exactly is the person Kean was leaning on? This necklace... it looks so incredibly familiar. Where on earth have I seen that design before today?— '
SLAM.
The abrupt, violent rattling of the master bedroom door handle shattered his train of thought. Moving on pure survival instinct, Leansei hoarded the physical photographs back into the cardboard box, aggressively shoving the archive deep into the recesses of the top wardrobe drawer before whirling around to face the entryway, his heart rate skyrocketing.
Felean stood rigidly at the threshold, looking exceptionally sharp and handsome in a sleek charcoal gray suit, his hair perfectly coiffed. But the aesthetic elegance was ruined by the hard, suspicious scowl darkling his features.
"What? hiding something?" Felean sneered, his light brown eyes scanning the bedroom parameters.
Leansei sharply adjusted the lapels of his dark blue navy suit, forcing a cold, detached mask onto his face to hide his panic. "Don't you even know the basic etiquette of knocking before entering a private room?"
"Don't you possess working eyes and ears? The estate's head maid has been calling your line from the hallway for the past five minutes."
"You could have easily left the message with her. Why on earth did you find it necessary to step across this threshold yourself?"
Felean let out a sharp groan of disgust, crossing his arms over his chest. "Don't act as if I actually wanted to enter your space. Mom explicitly instructed my line to fetch you downstairs because the family limousine is secured on the driveway. I am merely performing my filial duty to look like a respectful son."
Leansei let out a quiet, mocking scoff. "Fake, rather."
Felean's jaw clenched into a hard line, his shoulders tensing violently. "What the hell did you just say to me?"
Recognizing that Felean's fragile patience and massive ego were on the dangerous verge of detonating a scene, Leansei tightly sealed his lips. He refused to let a physical altercation ruin his focus before the grand gala. Bypassing his brother's broad shoulder, he strode out of the bedroom, his dress shoes clicking crisply against the marble panels of the hallway as he descended the sweeping grand staircase.
Waiting for them in the central foyer was Mrs. Ferech, looking utterly radiant and elegant in a glittering designer dress, a brilliant maternal smile breaking across her face the exact microsecond she spotted her twin sons descending the steps in their tailored suits.
"The two of you look absolutely cute and incredibly handsome tonight!" she cheered enthusiastically, her hands lifting a professional camera into the light.
Felean let out a low huff of annoyance under his breath, while Leansei could only force a faint, highly artificial smile onto his lips.
' Please tell me she isn't actually preparing to execute a brothers photoshoot right now, ' Lean prayed silently behind his teeth.
"Thank you so much for bankrolling these suits, Mom. The tailoring metrics are completely flawless," Felean pivoted smoothly, reassembling his charismatic, loving mask for her benefit.
"Of course they are, Felean dear! A prominent high-society function like tonight requires the highest standard of elegance for my boys. Now... stand together," she crooned, raising the lens to her eye. Felean immediately checked his stance, scrambling to manufacture a polite excuse to slide out of the frame; he clearly had zero desire to stand next to his brother, yet he refused to let his mother feel rejected or disappointed in any way.
"Oh, look at the time, M-mom," Leansei intervened cleanly, pretending to study the ticking hands of his luxury wrist watch. "The schedule is incredibly tight, and the council requires my immediate presence. We should probably head out to the vehicle."
Mrs. Ferech's features softened instantly, a heavy shadow of pure disappointment lowering her lifted hands as she cradled the camera against her chest. Looking at her sad expression, a sharp wave of mutual guilt struck both boys, forcing them to let out a synchronized, fake laugh to repair the damage.
"Well... I guess we can spare a brief second," Leansei murmured, shifting his weight.
"Yeah... a single quick shot won't ruin our transit schedule," Felean grumbled quietly, stepping back onto the foyer rug.
Their mother's face illuminated in a fraction of a second, her compliance returning as she raised the device yet again. "Wonderful! It has been an absolute eternity since I was last permitted to capture a memory of my two boys together. Now... pose for me!" Leansei offered an awkward, stiff smile through his lenses, keeping a clear physical distance from his brother. Beside him, Felean plastered a synthetic, strained grin onto his features.
Mrs. Ferech frowned through the viewfinder. "The two of you look exactly as if you are being brutally robbed for a ransom payment! Felean, don't look so detached—put your arm securely around your older brother's shoulder."
Before Felean could utter a single word of protest, his mother smiled ear-to-ear at him, her gaze unyielding. Letting out a long, defeated sigh, Felean aggressively threw his heavy arm over Leansei's neck, forcing his smile to widen for the lens. Leansei merely raised his right hand, flashing a simple two-finger peace sign toward the flash.
Click. Click. Click.
"Perfect! That is absolutely spectacular! I will make sure your father sees these images later tonight," she announced happily, her fingers flying across the digital preview panel to admire the results.
The exact millisecond the session concluded, Felean violently yanked his arm back off Leansei's neck. He turned his torso away instantly, completely breaking the contact as an absolute, freezing silence slammed down between the two brothers.
"I'll go occupy my seat in the limousine first, Mom. I have a few specific queries I need to discuss with the private driver regarding the return route," Felean stated smoothly, stepping closer to press a gentle, loving kiss against his mother's cheek.
"Alright, dear. Make sure you have an exceptional amount of fun tonight," Mrs. Ferech murmured, her eyes still perfectly fixed on the digital camera interface. Felean cast one final, lethal glare of pure displeasure across the foyer at Leansei, before turning on his heel and marching through the heavy front doors into the afternoon sun.
Leansei stood solitary near the stairs, offering his mother a respectful bow. "Then... I shall dismiss myself to join him, M-mom—"
"Wait," Mrs. Ferech cut him off cleanly. She lowered the camera, walking toward him with a calculated, old-money elegance. Her manicured hand reached out, firmly locking around Leansei's fingers as her eyes darted anxiously toward the open front door where Felean had just vanished.
She let out a long, deeply troubled sigh from her chest. "Your younger brother has been acting uniquely off lately, Kean. I actually heard a report from the estate's head mayordoma that he has been suffering from severe, terrifying nightmares almost every single night, and he has been commuting back to the estate dangerously late. I am genuinely, deeply worried about his mental well-being... can you please check on him tonight? Keep a close eye on his movements during the gala for me."
Leansei offered a silent, understanding nod. "Yes, M-mom. I will make sure to monitor him. I'll head out now."
Mrs. Ferech released her grip, her sweet smile returning. "Alright, sweetheart. Take proper care on the road, and make sure the two of you have fun, okay?"
Stepping out onto the gravel driveway, Leansei's mind spun into an absolute frenzy.
' Mrs. Ferech is already starting to notice his behavioral decline? And wait... he's actively suffering from severe nightmares? Is Felean genuinely in some kind of hidden danger? Even though he treats my presence with absolute malice, the biological reality remains unyielding—he is Kean's twin brother. '
The private family driver stood by the rear chassis of the luxury vehicle, holding the passenger door wide open. Leansei offered a quiet word of thanks as he climbed inside the leather cabin, the door clicking shut securely behind him. Felean was already occupying the far end of the seat, his face locked in a completely cold, indifferent expression as he stared blankly out the tinted window glass at the passing scenery. The driver engaged the transmission, and the limousine glided smoothly onto the asphalt lanes toward the university.
Throughout the entire transit duration across the city blocks, neither Leansei nor Felean made a single attempt to break the stifling, heavy silence between them. The moment the car slowed to a final halt in front of the university's main entrance gates, Felean didn't wait for a single second. He aggressively threw the door open himself, stepping out onto the pavement without leaving a single parting message or waiting for the family driver to execute his protocol.
Leansei adjusted his blazer, turning to address the front seat. "Thank you for the drive. Listen, you don't have to return to the campus to fetch my line later tonight. Focus entirely on transporting Felean back to the estate; I am commuting back to my private condo after the gala wraps up."
The driver's brow furrowed in confusion, his eyes catching Leansei's reflection in the rearview mirror. "But young Kean, who exactly is scheduled to drive you back to your condo safely at midnight?—"
"Exactly what we discussed during our last transit session," Leansei interrupted smoothly, a disciplined, assured look written across his features as he thought of Xerchin's promise. "I possess my own private ways to return to my apartment safely. You don't have to monitor my movements all the time. I will personally call your line if an emergency requires your assistance."
The driver checked his inputs before lowering his head in a respectful bow. "I will note your parameters, young Master Kean. Will that be all for the afternoon?"
Leansei nodded firmly. "Yes. Please take proper care on your way back home."
The driver bowed yet again before accelerating the luxury vehicle down the lane, the limousine rapidly blending into the city traffic.
The exact microsecond the car vanished from sight, Leansei sprinted down the concrete paths straight toward the Student Council office floor. Pushing the heavy doors open, he found the central room entirely empty, the officers having already deployed to their respective battle stations. Without wasting a single millisecond, he whirled around and marched directly toward the main university gymnasium.
The entrance of the grand hall was already a chaotic sea of high-society luxury. Elite students were parading across the tiles, loudly boasting their exceptionally expensive, custom-tailored designer gowns and sleek formal suits. Delia was stationed directly at the front reception counter, neatly collecting the printed tickets from the incoming guests.
"Vice!" she gasped happily, spotting his blue suit. "The President has been frantically waiting for your arrival inside the inner court. The grand showcase is officially scheduled to start in exactly ten minutes!"
"Hey, Delia. Fantastic work," Leansei noted, checking his notes. "Are you perfectly capable of managing this massive entrance registry by yourself? I can easily command a few of the junior council members to assist your line—"
"There's absolutely no need, Vice. I have the entire registry secured under my parameters. Go should head inside now."
"Alright," Leansei nodded, pushing through the heavy inner double doors.
The main gymnasium had been completely transformed into a historic Victorian masterpiece. Xeilin was pacing near the center table, dressed in his absolute best formal suit, though his dark hair was slightly messy from the stress. The exact microsecond his eyes locked onto Leansei, he frantically waved his clipboard to call him over.
"The executive tech team is explicitly waiting for your directives near the control boards, Kean!" Xeilin explained rapidly, his breathing tight. "The performers are already stationed backstage, and the security lines are completely settled. We have mere minutes before the opening curtains. I am going to step out to the restroom real quick to fix my appearance before the hosts take the stage."
"I'm incredibly sorry, Xei. I should have come down to the floor much earlier to help you manage the load—"
"No, don't worry about it, it's perfectly fine!" Xeilin interrupted cheerfully, flashing him a grateful look. "I explicitly told your line yesterday that I had the parameters under control. Now, hurry over to the tech team and lock in the cues."
Leansei nodded firms, navigating his way through the decorated aisles toward the massive technical command center stationed in the center of the gymnasium floor, where the specialized university crews were managing the complex lighting rigs, the audio mixing boards, and the towering LED backdrops. The moment he approached, the tech engineers immediately greeted him, lowering their heads in deep, respectful bows to the Vice President.
"My apologies for the delay, team. Am I late to lock in the final cues?" Leansei asked, pulling out his clipboard.
"Not at all, Mr. Ferech. We were just waiting for your executive approval," the lead technician replied smoothly.
"Alright, let's run through the directives one final time to maximize our accuracy..." Leansei commanded flatly, his real-life focus anchoring his voice. He methodically detailed the exact operational parameters for the evening—mapping out precisely where the main spotlights should follow during the Solo dancing block, the fluid transitions required for the Duo dancing set, the wide atmospheric washes for the Troupe dancing showcase, and the sharp, dramatic illumination needed for the Solo singing, the Duo singing, and the live student bands.
.
The heavy baseline of the opening track suddenly thundered through the hidden subwoofers, signaling the official launch of the grand acquaintance gala. The sea of wealthy students rapidly streamed through the doors, completely occupying every single formal table while the rest of the crowd packed the first and second tiers of the gym bleachers.
The entire venue was cast into dim, romantic ambient lighting, with only a sharp, brilliant white spotlight cutting through the darkness to illuminate the main hosts standing center stage. The cavernous room was a stunning display of elegant, high-class decorations, shimmering fabrics, and priceless designer gowns and suits as the campus royalty held court.
Leansei stood directly behind the main tech console, his eyes locked onto the stage manager's hands as he raised his fingers to count down the opening cue.
"Alright, crew," Leansei commanded flatly, his gray eyes flashing with absolute focus under the console lights. "Spotlight activation in three... two... one... GO!"
The host bounded onto the center stage, the microphones amplifying his infectious energy across the room. "Wow, Vcherian students! Wow, this is absolutely, purely wow! Let's give a massive shoutout and thanks to the student council officers for the hard work they poured into creating this beautiful event! However, we are still right in the middle of the itinerary. I know for a factual record that most of you are aggressively waiting for these specific performance blocks, are you?!" The massive crowd of students erupted into a synchronized scream that echoed violently off the gymnasium walls.
"I am personally just as thrilled to see what kind of numbers they have prepared for us tonight," the host teased lively, checking the crowd. "Especially... the two brothers—" The host was cut violently short as the students immediately began cheering at the top of their lungs just for those two words.
"Woah, easy, easy—hahaha! They possess a massive wall of dedicated fans, huh? Well, how about our live student bands—" The host was cut short for a second time as another wave of explosive cheers rippled through the bleachers. "Okay, okay, I know you are all intensely excited, so without further ado, let's officially commence the showcase! Please welcome our first solo dancer—give her a warm round of applause!"
Leansei immediately shifted his weight, his fingers flying across the technical console. "Okay, crew, lights OFF! Wait explicitly for my signal," he commanded flatly. The exact second the opening track thundered through the subwoofers, he raised his hand. "One, two, three, SPOTLIGHT!"
The stage illuminated perfectly. Leansei watched the dancer's live dance, but his focus was broken as his phone vibrated violently inside his pocket. He quickly pulled the device out, his gray eyes widening as his gaze locked onto a fresh message from Xerchin.
____
from: <3
No good luck kiss for my line before the set begins?
(Sent just now)
_____
A genuine, private smile formed beautifully onto Leansei's treated lips, and he slowly shook his head in absolute amusement at the athlete's unyielding audacity. His fingers flew across the keyboard to type a rapid response.
_____
To: <3
No. Maybe if you execute a completely flawless performance tonight, I might consider granting your request.
(Sent just now)
_____
A few short minutes ticked by before the device roared back to life against his palm. He slid the interface open instantly.
_____
From: <3
You explicitly said that. There are absolutely no take-backs tonight, Mooncalf.
(Sent just now)
_____
His attention was violently pulled back to the floor as the solo dance performance officially concluded. "Okay, tech crew, lights off! Then execute the central spotlight shift right on cue."
"Wow, that was an absolutely spectacular performance to open the floor," the host announced, stepping back into the light. "We will skip the unnecessary small talk and move straight to the next performer! Let's welcome our highly anticipated duo couple dance! Del and Vio, please offer them a warm round of applause!" The students immediately cheered as the couple stepped onto the court floor.
Leansei raised his hand to guide the console operators. "Lights off... lights on in one, two, three, GO!"
The performance initiated smoothly. Even though Leansei had meticulously scanned their routine numerous times during the grueling afternoon rehearsals, the sheer execution of Del and Vio's live dance completely managed to capture his absolute focus. They didn't merely bring the narrative storyline to life through their clean footwork; the raw, heavy aura of emotion the couple radiated was entirely mesmerizing. They danced with pure, unshielded feelings and graceful coordination. A proud, genuine curve formed onto Leansei's lips as he watched them move, knowing with absolute certainty that their endless, exhausting rehearsal hours had bloomed beautifully and had not gone to waste.
Before he could sink any deeper into the beauty of their routine, a sudden hand tapped firmly against his shoulder, causing him to jump in startled panic. He whirled his head around, finding Xeilin standing right beside his chair, a quiet laugh escaping the president's lips. Xeilin had changed out of his messy work gear, clad now in an exceptionally sharp, custom-tailored suit with his hair perfectly styled.
"You look completely, utterly drained, Kean," Xeilin noted softly, checking his clipboard. "Go run down to the floor and eat something first. I've already consumed my meal, and the other council members have finished their break rotations as well. I'll swap duties with you and handle your technical workload for a bit."
"But, Xei, the transitions for the bands—"
Xeilin didn't let him finish the protest, his hands firmly catching Leansei's shoulders to turn his body around, before gently pushing him away from the main console. "Just go, Kean. I promise you I can manage these cues perfectly. Move."
Leansei sheepishly scratched his temple, yielding to his authority. "Okay. I'll ensure I'm back at the desk shortly."
He stepped away from the tech center, fully intending to navigate his way toward the lavish high-society buffet tables, but his footsteps came to a violent halt. His gray eyes locked onto Felean, who was currently walking toward the back exit doors, a look of pure, agonizing anxiety written across his features. Leansei checked his stride, his mother's warning to keep a strict watch over his twin echoing behind his lenses. Forgetting his hunger, he altered his route, quietly slipping through the exit to follow him.
He opened the heavy door, stepping onto the narrow, concrete back exit corridor. He checked his pace, stopping abruptly right around the corner as Felean's frantic voice began to echo through the quiet alleyway.