Stolen Freedom

Chen walked into his room, his mind full of thoughts from earlier conversations. He dropped onto the sofa, feeling the cushions sink beneath him, and started to think. But peace didn't last long. He grabbed his phone and called someone urgently.

When the call connected, Chen quickly said, "Hello, do you have any news about that actress?"

"Yes, sir," the voice replied, slightly nervous. "She's just a minor actress who's had small roles in a few dramas. Not very famous at all. Sir, maybe... maybe she did this to get attention, you know, to gain more publicity."

"Find out everything about her," Chen said sharply. "Every single detail." With that, he hung up, determination set in his jaw.

Furrowing his brows, Chen muttered to himself, "If she's not an A-lister, how did she get invited to a party full of top actors?" His suspicion deepened. Someone must have called her there...

As he opened his phone, his heart sank. A trending news article plastered with pictures—of his house, his room, and even his bathroom—greeted him. There was a selfie of the actress in front of the mirror and another of her lounging on his bed. Her face wasn't visible, but the caption read: "Attending a luxurious party at my boyfriend's house... His room is so cool."

The comments section exploded with activity, a digital chorus mocking him.

Wait… is that Yi Chen's place?

She thinks she's the lady of the house now?

"Yi Chen, you have better taste than this! She's clearly using you for clout. Lmao!"

"Is she even real, or did Yi Chen accidentally summon a ghost with terrible fashion sense? "

"I can't believe Yi Chen's involved with her. Doesn't match his high-profile vibe at all."

"This girl's delusional. Yi Chen's way out of her league. Who invited her to that party anyway?"

"Does Yi Chen even know she's in his house, or did she sneak in? I wouldn't be surprised. "

"Imagine waking up and finding out the whole internet thinks you're dating a random Z-list actress. Poor Yi Chen. "

Chen's jaw clenched as he scrolled through the mocking comments. "I won't let you get away with this," he muttered angrily. "Someone's trying to use me as a stepping stone, and I won't let that happen."

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the door open until his younger brother, Yi Zi Hao, strutted into the room like he owned the place. Upon seeing him, Chen's mood darkened further. "If you're here to ask for something again, you'd better leave right now," Chen snapped, crossing his arms.

"Brother, hear me out!" Yi Zi Hao pleaded, his face a picture of exaggerated desperation. Chen shot him a pointed glare, ready to toss him out, but Zi Hao hurriedly added, "You're the only one who can help me, please!"

With an exasperated sigh, Chen asked, "Fine. What is it this time? And don't tell me it's about my clothes and shoes again. You're like a charity case every time you come here."

Zi Hao puffed out his chest, pretending to be offended. "Sometimes I borrow them… and that's because you've got good fashion taste, okay?" he said defensively. "You should be proud! Your little brother, a top singer, is rocking your outfits! People stand for hours just to see me on stage!"

Chen rolled his eyes. "And what's that got to do with anything? Cut the praise and get to the point."

Zi Hao hesitated for a second, then blurted out in one breath, "I have a concert in three days, and I need your help."

"A concert? Three days from now? Wait a second..." Chen's eyes narrowed as realization dawned. "That's on Grandpa's birthday."

Zi Hao blinked, feigning innocence. "Grandpa's birthday? Oh right! Totally slipped my mind. But here's the thing, bro.I can't skip my concert. The fans are expecting me, tickets are sold out, and you know… fans mean income, and income means… well, you get it."

Chen folded his arms, his voice icy. "You're not seriously planning on ditching Grandpa's birthday for a concert, are you?"

Zi Hao scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, kinda… but I'm not ditching! More like… multitasking."

Chen stared at him incredulously. "Multitasking? You know the house rule: everyone has to be present for Grandpa's birthday. Skipping that means trouble—BIG trouble. And after the mess this morning at breakfast, I've had enough drama for a lifetime. I don't need more." He pointed toward the door. "Now, get out of my room."

Zi Hao clutched his heart dramatically. "Brother! Wait! Listen to my full plan first! My concert is in the evening, and Grandpa's birthday celebration is at night. I can totally make it back in time."

Chen gave him a skeptical look. "And how are you going to pull that off without getting caught?"

Zi Hao smiled mischievously. "Easy! Every year, Grandpa goes to the temple in the morning. Dad and Tai jun will be busy with company stuff, and Mom will be tied up with party prepration. So here's what we'll do: you'll tell Mom that I'm helping you with some charity event—you know how she always makes you go to the orphanage for these things."

"So I thought, what if we sneak out in the afternoon, you go to the charity event, and I attend my concert, then we sneak back just in time for the party? No one would even notice we were gone!"

Chen shook his head in disbelief. "And you think this ridiculous plan will work?"

 "Tell your mother to talk to Mr. Yi Yong Zheng; who knows, he might agree..."

"Brother, you know that Dad doesn't like me being a singer, and if Mom asks him, she'll hear things and get insulted... And I can't ask Yi Ru Xuan for help; she will immediately tell Dad..."

"She is right; you deserve this," Chen said flatly.

"Brother, are you on my side or hers?" Zi Hao exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"I'm not on anyone's side," Chen replied, his tone firm. "

This whole issue happened because of her. I can't even believe that someone as nerdy as her is my twin. She went off to medical college after studying so much and made my life difficult. It's not necessary that just because we're both twins, we should have the same interests..."

"Please, brother! This plan is perfect!"

Chen raised an eyebrow. "Let me get this straight: You want me to cover for you with some charity event so you can slip away to your concert?"

"Exactly!" Zi Hao beamed proudly as if he'd just solved a world crisis.

Chen rubbed his temples. "I'll think about it. But don't push your luck."

As Zi Hao started to leave, he turned around with a mischievous grin. "Can I borrow that jacket you got from the US? And maybe those shoes too?"

Chen stared at him in disbelief. "I knew it. I knew you'd bring that up again. You can't just keep—"

"But brooooo! Dad won't let me wear casual stuff! My closet's packed with boring three-piece suits! I'll look like I'm attending a wedding on stage. Pleeeeease!" Zi Hao gave him the puppy-dog eyes.

"Absolutely not."

"Pleeeease! My fans expect me to be stylish! I can't wear my boring suits again—they'll think I've lost my edge!"

Chen sighed, exasperated. "I can't believe you. You're seriously using me for my shoes now?"

He rubbed his temples, exhaling deeply as if the conversation had drained the last bit of energy out of him. "Fine," he finally said, resigning himself to his brother's antics. "But if this goes wrong, I'm throwing you under the bus. And I swear, if you ruin my shoes, you're buying me new ones."

Zi Hao practically jumped for joy. "Deal! You're the best, bro!"

***

The bus for the school trip screeched to a halt, jolting the students awake from their drowsy slumber. The air buzzed with excitement as everyone began piling out, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the atmosphere. Xin Yi, Mei, and Lan stepped off the bus, stretching their legs after the long ride, the sun shining brightly above them. While fatigue clung to the edges of their energy, the thrill of the day ahead was palpable.

Li Wei approached Xin Yi, his charming smile lighting up his face. "You made the right choice coming on this trip," he said, his voice warm and inviting.

Xin Yi felt her cheeks flush as a wave of shyness washed over her. "Oh, uh, thanks… it's no big deal," she replied, her words tumbling out awkwardly, her heart racing at the attention.

Just then, Li Wei's friends called him over, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the crowd. "Catch you later!" he waved, his grin lingering in Xin Yi's mind as he walked away.

Mei nudged her playfully, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Someone's got a crush!"

"Oh, stop it!" Xin Yi laughed, hiding her face in her hands, her heart pounding with a mix of embarrassment and delight.

As they settled down, the teacher gathered the students, her voice rising above the chatter. "Alright, everyone! Girls on the second floor, boys on the first. Get some rest before we head out for our activities!"

With excitement bubbling inside her, Xin Yi, Mei, and Lan rushed to their room, throwing their bags onto their beds and unpacking with eager hands. "I can't wait to take pictures!" Mei exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "This is going to be epic!"

After a brief rest, they gathered their belongings and headed to their first destination—the museum. The walk there was filled with animated conversations, the air tinged with the scent of fresh flowers from nearby vendors. As they entered the museum, Xin Yi felt a wave of awe wash over her, the vastness of the hall echoing with the whispers of history.

"Isn't this amazing?" she remarked, her eyes wide as she gazed at an ancient artifact displayed in a glass case. The intricate designs and stories etched into the relic captivated her imagination.

"Totally!" Lan agreed, her camera poised and ready. She snapped photos with her new camera, the shutter clicking as she captured the beauty of each exhibit.

Mei pulled out her phone, her excitement infectious. "Say hi to my followers! We're at the museum, and it's lit!" She pointed the camera at her friends, her energy lighting up the space around them.

"Um… hi!" Xin Yi laughed nervously, waving at the camera, feeling a rush of joy mingled with anxiety. It was a small moment, yet it felt monumental—she was part of something vibrant and alive.

After the museum, they headed to a nearby café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafting through the air. "I'll treat you guys to ice cream!" Xin Yi declared, her heart swelling with generosity.

"Yay!" Mei cheered, her face lighting up like a firework. Lan clapped her hands in delight, her smile infectious.

As they settled into a cozy corner of the café, the afternoon was filled with laughter, joy, and the sweet taste of ice cream melting in their mouths. They savored each scoop, the coldness a delightful contrast to the warmth of the day. Conversations flowed effortlessly as they chatted about everything and anything—school, dreams, and silly jokes that sent them into fits of giggles.

"Remember that time in class when you accidentally called the teacher 'Mom'?" Mei teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Oh my gosh, don't remind me!" Xin Yi replied, laughing so hard that a small drip of ice cream slipped from her cone. "That was so embarrassing!"

The sound of their laughter echoed through the café, a beautiful melody of friendship and carefree moments. In that little slice of time, surrounded by her friends and the sweetness of their shared experiences, Xin Yi felt a warmth blossoming in her chest—a feeling of belonging, of happiness, of memories being crafted that she would treasure forever.

By the end of the day, their camera rolls were packed with memories—funny poses, goofy faces, and even a couple of group shots with Li Wei and his friends. It was a day filled with joy and carefree fun, the perfect escape from their usual routines.