My Soul card is a Reaper

Everyone immediately retreated, laughing awkwardly and pretending the conversation had never happened. There were very few people in the industry bold enough to challenge JJ's infamous temper.

Unfortunately for them, they were not on that list.

"Hmph," JJ muttered. "Just a bouquet toss and they're acting like they witnessed a live sex scene. Bunch of gossipmongers."

The supposed gossipmongers stared straight ahead, pretending they hadn't heard a word.

DJ Song rubbed his forehead.

Elena chuckled softly together with him while JJ continued grumbling.

Then, before sitting down, Elena instinctively glanced toward the front row.

Her smile froze.

Jin Di was looking at her.

His expression was dark.

Cold.

Dangerously menacing.

Without hesitation, Elena dropped the bouquet of roses onto her seat like it had suddenly turned poisonous. Then she lifted her eyes again and smiled sweetly toward him.

The frost in Jin Di's gaze melted slightly.

Just slightly.

He gave her a tiny nod before turning back toward the stage, resuming his statue-like posture.

Only Elena noticed the gesture.

The tension immediately drained from her body.

She released a quiet breath of relief.

She understood jealousy now.

After realizing her own possessiveness toward him earlier, she knew exactly how unpleasant it felt.

She didn't want him to experience that same feeling because of her.

As she finally sat down, the bouquet got crushed awkwardly beneath her.

A dangerous thought flashed through her mind.

I should strangle Jin Yang.

Because of him, her darling had been forced to feel jealous.

Her mood instantly sank.

DJ Song leaned closer and whispered carefully.

"Elena, the whole world is watching. If you keep treating those roses like that, Jin Yang's fans will tear you apart."

"Hmph," JJ grumbled under his breath. "If you don't like it, throw it in the trash. Or better yet, burn it."

"You—" DJ Song sighed helplessly. "Old J, Elena is a sensible person unlike you. As her producer you should be helping her protect her image."

JJ opened his mouth to argue.

But Elena quickly intervened before another shouting match began.

"Thank you for the reminder, DJ Song."

She picked up the poor squashed bouquet and placed it carefully on her lap.

*

At that exact moment, Jin Yang returned from backstage.

He greeted nearby celebrities with his usual charming smile.

Only he knew that cold sweat was soaking through the inside of his expensive pinkish-grey suit.

He had seriously considered not coming back.

But running away from his seat would only make things worse.

What are you afraid of? he told himself sternly. He's your brother.

The moment he sat down beside Jin Di, the icy aura surrounding his brother hit him like a blizzard.

He almost choked.

It wasn't only him.

Several people sitting nearby suddenly began shivering without knowing why.

"Big Bro… I can explain," Jin Yang whispered nervously.

"Speak."

Jin Di's voice sounded cold enough to freeze hell.

Jin Yang leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Because of the bombshell you dropped earlier, everyone online is hunting for your fiancée tonight."

He continued quietly.

"On the internet, sister-in-law's name has already been removed from the suspect list. But backstage some staff are starting to guess correctly. They think the two of you might actually be engaged."

Jin Di's gaze sharpened.

"A few of them are even comparing your body shape on camera with that photo sister-in-law showed during her interview with Madam Feng Jiu," Jin Yang added.

The hostile aura eased slightly.

"Continue," Jin Di said.

"Because you're wearing a suit tonight, it's hard to clearly see your body shape," Jin Yang explained. "And there aren't many recent photos of you in casual clothing online. Most public photos are from when you were in your early twenties."

He paused.

"You were slimmer back then."

"Some people aren't sure if you're the same person from the photo she showed. But a few think it might actually be you."

Jin Di unconsciously rubbed the LX bangle hidden beneath his sleeve.

If he raised his arm now, the bracelet would be visible.

And the photo Elena had shared clearly showed that same bangle.

For a brief moment, temptation surged inside him.

He wanted to reveal it.

To proudly announce to the world that Elena Long belonged to him.

But he forced the impulse down.

He wouldn't reveal their relationship without her consent.

He refused to give her any reason to leave him again.

Jin Yang finally finished his explanation.

"So you see, Big Bro… I did that whole bouquet stunt to redirect everyone's attention toward me and sister-in-law."

He smiled weakly.

"Instead of letting people keep speculating about the two of you."

He puffed his chest slightly.

"In other words… I sacrificed myself to help you both."

"An unnecessary favor."

Jin Di's voice cut through the air like ice.

"If people discover my relationship with Xiulan on their own, then so be it."

He didn't even look at his brother as he spoke.

"We are hiding it because the timing isn't right yet. But we never planned to deny it if the truth comes out."

Only then did his gaze shift sideways.

"Don't interfere again."

*

At that moment, Jin Yang felt like crying.

Wuwuwu!

He had just risked his life distracting the entire internet for them, and this was the thanks he received?

But Jin Di wasn't finished.

"You should be grateful we're brothers," he added calmly.

"If not for Mother, I would've already beaten you into a pulp."

His voice lowered even further.

"Xiulan is mine."

*

Inside his head, Jin Yang wailed.

How brutal! Am I still your brother or not?!

He regretted it now.

He really should not have thrown that bouquet at Elena during the performance.

He had genuinely believed he was helping them.

But instead of appreciation—

He got threatened.

"Fine," he muttered miserably.

Then he crossed his arms and sulked.

*

Jin Di glanced briefly at him.

After a moment, he spoke again.

"Great performance."

Jin Yang blinked in surprise.

"Thanks," he replied, his mood improving slightly.

Jin Di nodded.

Then he added calmly:

"But my wife's performance was still the best."

*

Jin Yang's expression went blank.

He stared ahead for several seconds.

Why does this feel familiar…

Then it hit him.

Earlier that year at MusicFest Tonight, Jin Di had said something almost exactly the same after Elena and Jin Yang debuted their new songs.

Realization dawned.

"I get it already," Jin Yang gritted out. "Your wife will always be number one."

He shot his brother an irritated look.

"You don't have to rub it in my face every time."

"En."

Jin Di nodded with satisfaction.

Finally.

His brother understood.

*

If the cameras hadn't been pointed in their direction, Jin Yang might have burst into tears from being emotionally abandoned by his own family.

But despite everything, he didn't resent them.

Not really.

When he thought about Elena Zhang—her beauty, her talent, her charisma—it became painfully easy to understand why his brother loved her so much.

He sighed.

What a pity.

The Elena he had met years ago had been a chaotic little troublemaker who constantly annoyed everyone around her.

Now that she had matured into someone extraordinary…

His brother had already claimed her.

Life really is unfair, he thought bitterly.

*

The show resumed, interrupting his thoughts.

Jin Yang quickly pulled himself together and focused on the stage again, letting the next performances distract him.

Eventually, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.

The awards presentation.

Excitement spread through the arena.

The nominees grew visibly nervous.

This was the moment that determined everything.

*

The female host stepped forward.

"The voting polls for the People's Choice Awards are now officially closed! Thank you to everyone who voted!"

The male host continued with a bright smile.

"And now it's time to announce our winners!"

Applause rippled across the audience.

The ceremony for the People's Choice categories began.

Several minor awards were presented first.

Each winner delivered a speech.

Fans cheered loudly.

But everyone knew the most important prizes were still coming.

Finally—

The last two categories appeared on the screen.

*

The female host opened the envelope dramatically.

"And the winner of the Most Popular Female Artist Award is—"

Both hosts shouted together.

"Elena Zhang!!!"

*

The arena exploded.

Everyone stood up again, clapping and cheering.

Elena exchanged a quick glance with JJ and DJ Song before standing.

Congratulations surrounded her as she walked toward the stage.

The male host politely offered his hand to help her up the steps.

He had no idea that somewhere nearby, a certain CEO drowning in vinegar was already mentally decapitating him for touching his baby girl.

*

An official from the Harmony Music Awards handed her the trophy.

It was a heavy golden sculpture shaped like a treble clef.

The cheers slowly quieted as she stepped up to the microphone.

"Thank you so much!"

Her voice carried clearly throughout the arena.

She lifted the trophy slightly.

"Wow… this is really heavy."

The audience laughed softly.

"But it's nowhere near as heavy as the overwhelming support all of you have given me."

Her expression softened.

"I dedicate this award to my fans—the Black Stars."

Cheers erupted immediately.