“Sure.”

  “Sorry.” Aiden snapped his head up. Heart pounding, heat creeping, and hands clenching harder, he fixed his eyes forward toward all the upcoming lights. "I'll watch him from now on."

  “Nah, it’s not your fault. If only the driver were better.” Javier reached over and hit Brendan slightly on the head.

  Brendan glared back. “You're not helping me either.”

  The air squeezed around Aiden. “I’m really sorry.” His pounding heart sent shivers across his body, dragged like nails across a chalkboard. His hands began to quiver, but clenching his jaw, Aiden forced them still while keeping his eyes on the road.

  For a second, he thought he heard his stepmother’s voice whispering in the back.

  The banter between Brendan and Javier petered out.

  A warm hand squeezed Aiden’s shoulder, pulling his focus away from the lights. Aiden turned to look at Brendan in surprise. The president of the photography club was smiling. His left hand tapped the side of his steering wheel while he hummed lightly. “Oh yeah. We never actually introduced ourselves in the stereotypical way.”

  “Is that really necessary?” Christina asked.

  “I think so. Our name and major. That’s all.”

  “Oh, I’m going first then!” Javier raised his hand. “I’m Javier, and I’m majoring in biological engineering!”

  His heart jolted, instantly ceasing its drumming. He looked back with wide eyes. “Wow, that’s difficult.”

  “Thank you. I like a good challenge.” Javier puffed out his chest. “Oh, and I’m also minoring in history.”

  Aiden smiled. “That’s right, you like to take pictures of architecture. Art and history are very similar.”

  With the face of a smug cat, Javier leaned forward and placed a heavy hand on Aiden’s shoulders. “You understand me.” He wiped a nonexistent tear away.

  “Anyway.” Christina pulled Javier back into his seat. “I’m majoring in marketing right now, but I really just chose business on a whim. I have no idea what I actually want.”

  The uncertainty in Christina’s future made Aiden’s own heartbeat spike. His hand clenched the side of the car seat. “What if it’s not what you want?”

  “I’ve got four years to figure it out. I’ll get to the right place eventually.”

  “Aren’t you scared?”

  She didn’t even consider his question. “Nope. I’ll figure things out when I figure things out.”

  “Well, I’m with Aiden. I’d be freaking terrified if I didn’t know what I wanted,” Javier interrupted.

  “Aiden, tell them what you’re studying to be,” Brendan said.

  Aiden blinked. He fiddled with his fingers. “A schoolteacher. I’m majoring in education.” It’s okay if they think it’s stupid. I’ve already gone through hundreds of the worst responses. His stepmother scornfully looking down at him with a scowl. His stepmother casually dropping facts about the lack of financial support he would find in the career. Sometimes, his stepmother would lead him to answer her about his passion for teaching, and He Bao did the laughing out loud for her.

  Christina whistled. “That’s not gonna be easy. I’m impressed. I cannot handle children. Or even my younger siblings.”

  “Do you know what year you want to teach?” Javier leaned forward again in his seat.

  “Actually, why did you choose that to be your dream job? I didn’t ask you last time we talked.” Brendan’s eyes constantly switched from him to the road.

  Suddenly, words easily rolled from his tongue. His brother’s lessons, pounded into his soul through lectures and trainings, dissolved from his memories. He didn’t bother to look or hear or dissect the way they reacted. He answered the first thing he thought of. Christina reacted in blunt yet kind ways, Javier always responded back in eager encouragement, and Brendan almost missed more lights while continuously watching him from the corner of his blue eyes. All enraptured by his boring, story-less answers.

  It made little sense to Aiden, but he didn’t care to make sense of it. The car rolled along, and by the time they arrived at the garden, he had already forgotten his initial fear of entering the last thing his brother sat in before dying in an explosion.

  • • •

  “All right, everyone, let’s just take photos of whatever we want today, and then we can reconvene to figure what we want for lunch.” Brendan clapped his hands, and the club members dispersed. Aiden looked at the map while one pair headed in the direction of the rose bushes. Javier dashed off for the hanging plants, and a larger group made their way toward a statue collection.

  Beside him, Brendan lowered himself to his knees and snapped a photograph of the first flower greeting them by the entrance. He shuffled his way over, took a picture of the next flower, and continued down the line. One by one, Aiden followed and watched. For the brighter flowers, Brendan zoomed out to capture more of the cooler hues to offset the glow. For the smaller flowers, he zoomed in and focused on the center. His eyes brightened at the sight of a butterfly landing gently on the flower beside him, and he moved at glacial pace in fear of disrupting the insect. As the butterfly opened its wings, Brendan captured the second before it flew off for its next conquest.

  He stood up and smiled at the picture. Aiden peeked over his shoulder, heart fluttering at the vibrant yellow and red captured on the wings of a fragile butterfly that suddenly looked so strong. “You’re really good at this.”

  “Thanks. I love taking photos of animals.”

  Smiling, Aiden watched Brendan flip through the photos in his camera. “Can I guess?”

  Brendan turned with those clear, blue eyes. “Guess what?”

  “Guess your major? You never shared yours.”

  “Oh!” Brendan hung the camera back around his neck. “Sure.”

  He could only think of one thing with Brendan’s attention to living things—in both animals and people. “Are you majoring in something related to taking care of people or animals? Like a vet?”

  Brendan blinked. A smile brighter than the sun crawled onto his face, and he laughed loudly. “Good job! You’re kind of there, but not quite. Not a vet, but I’m studying pre-med right now. I want to become a doctor.”

  Aiden’s heart continued to flutter. He walked beside Brendan, watching the president take another photo. “What kind?”

  “Haven’t decided yet.”

  “I bet your parents are super pleased you picked such a prestigious dream job.”

  “Mmmm.” Brendan shook his head, much to Aiden’s surprise. “They said that as long as I don’t do stupid things in college, they’re okay with whatever I end up choosing.”

  Aiden stopped walking, his mind tilting at the very concept. “What do your parents do?”

  “My dad’s a prosecutor who takes up a bunch of crazy dangerous criminal cases. He’s been working on one for what feels like forever, and I have no idea what it’s even about because, apparently, it’s just that dangerous. My mom’s the CEO of a small game company. Both very successful people.” Brendan stopped walking, tipping his head. “You coming?”

  “Oh, yes. Can you show me your last photo?”

  “Sure.”

  Don’t successful people like that want their kids to follow in their footsteps in some way? The pink blazed stronger in Brendan’s camera than the naked eye could capture. His fingers lingered above the photo, but he pulled away. “And they don’t pressure you on anything?”

  “They don’t.” Brendan continued his walk further into the garden. He remained smiling, but his eyes didn’t shine. “I do. I’m all too aware that I’m not as smart as my parents.”

  Aiden stopped in his tracks. That can’t be true. Ge trained me to read and how to best interact with people in engaging ways. He just does it like it’s instinctive. Upon seeing Brendan had stopped again for him, he briskly caught up, and the two continued strolling. “I’m sure you’re just talking down on yourself.”

  Brendan laughed sardonically. “That’s a nice thought, but I’m not delusional enough to believe that.” A dark cloud hung over Brendan’s head.

  His heart twisted at the familiarity. “You don’t want to disappoint them.” Aiden screeched to a stop. Oh god, why did I say that without thinking?! He opened his mouth to apologize, but Brendan stopped beside him.

  “No, I don’t. But,” he looked at Aiden, “I feel like that’s most people.”

  Aiden blinked.

  Brendan moved elsewhere, but Aiden stayed rooted. His heart quickened in excitement and slowed in its acceptance. So it’s not impossible for me. I can be normal. Aiden lowered his face and grinned.

  “Aiden, look over here.”

  Brendan gestured to an open field.

  A few families picnicked on the grass. Children chased each other and tumbled onto the ground. A couple enjoyed their food as they remained engrossed in conversation. Flowering bushes lined the open grass with varying colors of red, pink, purple, and yellow. Each bench that dotted the side was unique with an artist’s plaque, all made to resemble plants.

  People were happy.

  It was the most beautiful thing Aiden had ever seen.

  He reached for his camera and snapped a photo of the view. At the corner of the field, he spied Christina and Javier comparing pictures. He snuck a photo just as Javier’s jaw dropped at whatever Christina showed him.

  He lowered the camera and closed his eyes. A soothing wind passed through his hair, and he smiled at the joyful chatter that conducted itself like a symphony in his ears. Brendan really does have an eye for photos.

  “It’s a good garden, isn’t it?” Brendan called from behind him.

  Aiden looked back, catching sight of Brendan on a nearby bench. He tried not to dash and sat down beside the president.

  Wordlessly, Brendan offered him a water bottle.

  “Thanks.” Aiden accepted it.

  Brendan opened his own water bottle and dug his phone out of his pocket. “What’s your Instagram?”

  Aiden shook his head. “I don’t have one.”

  “Then anything else? Twitter? Discord? Tiktok?”

  He shook his head again. “I’m not on any social.” It’s too dangerous to have them.

  “In that case, can I get your number?”

  Heart fluttering, Aiden smiled and nodded. He typed in his number faster than writing his stepmother’s name.

  “Thanks. Let me text you.”

  Aiden’s phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a photo of an albino squirrel dropping its acorn. “You caught a picture of it after all!” he exclaimed, looking up to see Brendan level his phone to take a picture of him.

  Pounding steamrolled his fluttering heart.

  He raised his arms, almost throwing the water bottle aside, and covered his face. “No pictures!” He squeezed his eyes shut. “None whatsoever.”

  “Oh geez—sorry. Truly. I didn’t think to ask—that’s on me. Sorry about that.”

  He tepidly brought his arms down. Is he going to ask why? Aiden wondered. How do I explain?

  “Are you okay?” Brendan shifted closer, now hovering in reaching distance. “I’m really sorry.”

  His pounding heart refused to settle.

  “Brendan!”

  Jumping, Aiden snapped around to see Christina jogging over.

  “We should’ve brought food here.” She stopped in front of their bench. “This would’ve been a perfect time to have a picnic.”

  “Yeah, I know. I didn’t think that far ahead. We’ll just eat somewhere nearby.” Casually, Brendan moved away and stood up from the bench. “Where are all the others? I’m starting to get hungry.”

  Aiden’s phone rang. He glanced at the name on the screen. His eyes widened, his breath quickened, and his shoulders stiffened at the sight of his stepmother’s number.

  “Excuse me,” he mumbled, dashing out of earshot. He ducked underneath a hanging plant, looking around three times before answering. “Yin Mei? Is something wrong?”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m out right now. With the photography club.”

  “Come back.”

  He blanched. “Buy a bus ticket now?”

  “No. Come back to your place.”

  Aiden blinked. “…why?”

  “Because we’re waiting outside your apartment right now. Hurry up.” The phone clicked off.

  The pounding heart transformed into a hammer on fire. He dug his nails into his palm, clenching and unclenching his hands, but the heat consuming his body only roared louder. What does she want? Is it about the will? Is she going to force me back? Maybe they found out who murdered my brother?

  The questions drowned out the growing voices of the photography club nearby. With his hands in his pockets, he walked back as normally as he could, keeping his face neutral with steady control. Brendan gestured to him. “Is everything okay?”

  He forced a smile.

  Swallow first before you speak. It evens out the voice.

  His brother’s training never failed him.

  “Sorry, something’s come up. I gotta go.”

  “Do you need a ride back?”

  Aiden shook his head. He turned away from the group and walked briskly toward the exit. What if this is the last time I see him? He slowed, stomach sinking. With his years of practiced smiling, he turned and waved at Brendan. “I'll call an Uber. Thanks though!”

  Aiden didn’t miss the concern flashing on Brendan’s face when turning away.

  • • •

  Aiden watched the numbers flash on the elevator. His feet echoed in the metal box. Agonizingly, the light shifted from the second to the third floor. Just one more. He tapped his fingers against his sides. Was it always this slow? Aiden counted seconds to the change from third to fourth floor, heaving when the doors finally dinged open.

  He dashed to his apartment door, coming face to face with his stepmother, already with brows furrowed. Beside her, He Bao snickered and Zhu Zhu remained empty. A pile of suitcases was stacked around them like the moat of a castle. What is going on?

  “You should always be on alert for my calls,” she snapped.

  “I don’t understand why you’re here?”

  “Just let us into your stupid apartment. We were waiting for way too long.” He Bao kicked at the door.

  “Okay—just stop that.” Aiden’s hand shook when grasping the key and unlocking the door.

  He Bao slammed his way into the apartment, dragging the suitcases into the living room and watching them topple over. “You’ve been living here? It’s tinier than anything I’ve ever lived in! Ma, please tell me we are not living in this trash pile.”

  “Not permanently. We shall go house hunting tomorrow while you and Zhu Zhu work with your tutors here.”

  “I’m sorry—what is going on?” Aiden asked.

  Zhu Zhu slipped her way past the group to head straight for the restroom.

  “Have you already forgotten our predicament? You cannot run away from your duties.” His stepmother gestured toward the open door. “Quickly now. And do make sure to close all the blinds.”

  Of course, of course. Aiden tripped over the suitcases.

  “How do you even survive here?” He Bao tugged the fridge open.

  Before Aiden could stop his stepbrother from grabbing anything, his stepmother sat down on the couch, making a show of coughing and dusting the air around the couch. Brows furrowed deeper, she slipped off her designer sunglasses. “Hui Lang. I don’t know how else to break this to you, but we are, to put it simply, in trouble.”

  “We’re completely fucked.”

  “He Bao!”

  His stepbrother shrugged and returned to a carton of ice cream.

  Brother’s dead. What can be worse than that?

  Drawing out a never-ending sigh, she leaned forward. “Hui Lang. Hui Ye made an error. The location of the will was false. There was nothing there.”

  The world tilted. “Are you certain?”

  “Yes. We looked everywhere, but we found nothing. You understand, don’t you? Without the will, we’re not guaranteed the businesses or the money. We could be living in poverty for the rest of our lives.” Her voice broke. “And what will happen to Zhu Zhu and He Bao? We must think of their futures.”

  “That—that doesn’t make sense.” He stumbled backward, reaching for a chair in time to lower himself onto it. “Ge’s too careful to let something like that happen.”

  “Do you know something?”

  “No! I just don’t think this sounds like his doing.”

  “Someone might’ve stolen the will. Regardless, he likely left everything to you. From today onward, we are dependent on you. I will speak to the other families to acclimate you to the work—do not worry, I will take care of everything. No matter what, we must stick together. That is why I’ve decided to buy a house closer to your college. It’s a manageable distance from the other families anyway.”

  Who would want it? A beat later, he shook his head. What a stupid question. So many people would want it. A breathlessness rushed through Aiden, exacerbated when he looked up to see his stepmother watching him. Her eyes roamed his face, down his body, and back to his face. Searching. Exactly like how Ge taught me. Exactly like how everyone operates in Infinite. Confusion settled in. Does she think I know more than her?

  He thought further of her words, blinking. “Why…are you buying a new house then?” he asked instead. "If you’re essentially saying that our family fortune is no longer guaranteed?”

  She blinked back. “Surely that is obvious. We cannot live in such a dump as here. Zhu Zhu and He Bao are growing children. They need to be as comfortable as they can, so that they can grow up as handsome and beautiful as possible. You are already in college. You have no chance of growing more beautiful. Or taller.”

  He opened his mouth to inquire about the other house, but she looked away. “For that reason,” she continued, “while we find the perfect house to live in, you must now sleep out here. It is the right thing to do as an older brother. Now, come help an older woman carry her stuff into her room. We are tired.”

  Before Aiden could blink, he found himself ushered into grabbing the suitcases and stumbling into his room. As he mindlessly returned to the living room to grab the remaining items, he saw Zhu Zhu sit down on the living room floor, scrolling through her cell phone without sparing him a glance.