The alcohol burns in my throat as I stare across the table at Zhuge Jin. My twin brother, my other half, the man who's spent years judging my choices. His眉头 is furrowed as usual, those fine lines etched between his brows only deepening with each word I speak. "You need to come home," he says again, voice tight with frustration. The scent of wine hangs heavy in the air between us, mingling with the faint aroma of ink from the scrolls scattered on his desk. "Stop this foolishness with the traveling theater and accept your responsibilities."

I laugh, too loudly, and push my cup away. "Responsibilities," I repeat, the word bitter on my tongue. "Is that what you call this life you're living, brother? Slowly suffocating under the weight of expectations?"

His fingers tighten around his own cup, knuckles whitening. The tension in the room is palpable, thicker than the wine we've been drinking. I can see it in his eyes - the same eyes I see in the mirror - a mixture of anger and something else... something he refuses to name. As I reach across the table, my fingers brushing his hand, I know tonight will change everything between us forever.