Familial Fractures

The opulent dining room of the Feng mansion was a study in contrasts, the polished surfaces and ornate decor serving as a stark backdrop to the palpable tension that hung in the air like a miasma. At the head of the table, Feng Zhengzhi sat in stony silence, his features carved from granite as he regarded the assembled members of his fractured family with a mixture of disdain and resignation. 

To his left sat the twins, Feng Meiling and Feng Xiuying, their features twisted into matching masks of barely contained fury as they traded scathing glances across the table. Beside them, their younger sister Feng Airi sat in silence, her gaze downcast as she studiously avoided the crossfire of their heated exchange.

Opposite the twins sat Feng Zhaoxuan and his wife Qiao Yingyao, their expressions inscrutable as they surveyed the proceedings with a mixture of amusement and anticipation. Beside them, Feng Guiren and his wife Zhang Lihua watched on with thinly veiled concern.