1 I

City M. Gao Family Main House.

In a room made to resemble a private hospital room, with equipment varying from each other, and an atmosphere comparable to a tense emergency room, an old man spoke in a sluggish and boring voice.

"The chairman expects Master Ming's full cooperation." Assistant Cha kept his sight at the man reclining on the bed, his gaze carried a deep meaning within. "Maybe, what the eldest master indeed needed, is a companion to assist you."

Listening to every detail, from the start until the end, Gao Ming retained his apathetic expression. He opened his mouth before shutting them tight, falling into a helpless struggle. The dull look in his eyes became his silent reply.

"If the eldest master has no opinions then I shall take my leave." Assistant Cha, concluding he had done his task, gave no intention to sympathize and left at once.

After the front door closed, the connecting side door creaked open with gloom. Followed by a depressed Gao Ning. The dejection he carries could compete with the actual patient stuck at the death bed.

"Chasing away bad luck with marriage?" Gao Ning gritted his teeth and sneered, "Attempted murder is considered bad luck?!"

When Gao Ning paced back and front in the room, acting like a caged beast, Gao Ming closed his eyes and played dead.

The already distressed Gao Ning further had his nerves stretched seeing his brother languid face. His sight swept through the bandages wrapped on Gao Ming's head, then to the IV drip connected into the back of his hand, and the small monitors set around his bed. A long reddish wound runs across his brow towards more than half of his left cheek, destroying Gao Ming's face, and stressing Gao Ning at the very sight of it.

The person who looked so similar to him, whom he shared every feature with, was no more.

Once the family's carefully cultivated heir met a mishap, they hurriedly called back the disregarded son. Back then, they lacked conscience, and even now, they couldn't wait to completely wash off their hands, throw his brother's welfare to some random woman, and call it quits, rendering their responsibilities done. 

He could only stare with reddened eyes at his brother. "If you don't want to, I won't let them force you."

"They already announced that I'll be attending the party. You know that I can't go against the family..." Gao Ming touched his face with trembling hands. A bitter smile tugs on his lips and helplessness lingers in his following words. "I'm only afraid that I look so hideous..."

The Gao Family has always been a prominent clan in the world of the elites. As one of the leaders in today's business and finance, with a wide range of industries under them and further investments overseas, the Xinling Group they own had long become an unshakeable giant in just a few short generations.

And simply because they are giants at the top, with many eying their position and awaiting for their stumble that they couldn't be lenient. They must be stable, swift and resolute, even if it's towards their own kin.

Gao Ning paused and within the silence, Gao Ming tensed.

Just when he could no longer hold on, Gao Ming finally heard his brother declaring, "I'll go," with utmost determination. "With me there, I'll make sure no one questions you."

Without knowing the ruthless intent hidden within those simple words, Gao Ming clenched his fist under the covers.

"...Gao Ning… You don't have to…"

"It's decided." Gao Ning turns to leave. "It's late. Rest well and don't bother about what grandfather said anymore."

After losing both of its visitors, the room slowly accumulated a desolated aura. The only sounds left on this cold night were the mechanical beeping of medical equipment and Gao Ming's steady breathing.

In a while, the third person entered the room. Observing the silence, the man tactfully closed the door with the gentlest care and stood aside. 

Gao Ming impatiently broke the calm."Is he gone?" 

"Gone," the butler answered.

"Both are gone?"

"Both are gone."

Gao Ming inhaled sharply. "..." Then burst out, "Aiyo, that brat is so tense, he's destroying a beautiful face. It's him who should find a wife and take life easy."

"..." Full of black lines, the tired butler stirred his gaze to the side.

"Look at him frown using 'my' face! Such unparalleled beauty was crumpled in his hands, it's making my heart bleed. Are we really twins? What a bad identical twin, I'm giving a bad review. Clearly, my face was so pleasant…" 

Every last trace of the 'tragic bedridden' master, heartbroken, and in depression, pop out like bubbles in the wind. His image was collapsing faster than an avalanche.

For the next few more minutes, Gao Ming rambled non-stop about how Gao Ning was doing a bad job being a 'mirror'. He kept scowling that it destroyed his reminiscing. Scary! That was a look of a villain ready to throttle someone! 

"So evil, ah! Laozi is beauty and grace. Just a smile could destroy cities; such a devastating beauty!---"

Alex moved to leave.

"---Ok, ok. I'm just joking. Humor me a bit, Alex… Ouch, I pulled my wound open--- I think?... Fine, I'll be serious. Let's go to the proper business." 

After acting so temperamental, Gao Ming still hasn't received the reaction he wanted. He could only throw the flag in the face of a very tight-lipped Alex.

Thus, a very, very serious Gao Ming reached under his pillow and pulled out a medicine bag. 

Though, nothing that resembled a medicine was kept inside.

"Come, receive these," Gao Ming said using his business tone. If only it was as proper as a legal business project. "Give these peephole cameras to the bodyguards. Oh, one for Assistant Wong as well. I cannot miss a good show at the party."

"..." Master, where did you get those and where are your actual medicines?!

"Gao Ning must not know a thing." He emphasized in earnest.

In a room made to resemble a private hospital room, the patient was not behaving like a real car crash victim at all.