A young man in his late twenties stood frozen by the doorway.  He had clearly heard the girl's acknowledging comment, yet he could not make his legs walk forward.

It was because of the presence of the other young man in the room - Chen Linyun, the person who was like a thorn in his flesh.

s.h.i.+ Fan Hai glared at Chen Linyun, and Chen Linyun did the same.

Kang Sola looked at them alternately.  She could not tell what specifically was wrong, but she could sense the animosity in the taut atmosphere.  There were humungous question marks in her mind right now while the two men were alertly waiting for the other's 'attack'.

"Sola, don't tell me you know him, too?"  Chen Linyun inquired, irritated.  "I told you if there's anything you want to discuss with me, I would be all ears."

"Uhm… Linyun-ge, it's not what you think it is."  The girl became nervous at her older brother's tone.  It felt as if she was getting scolded. 

"I met Fengyu-Oppa in Korea years ago.  We became friends since I was a lot younger, but ever since I went here to study I have not seen him.  It's a big surprise for me too that he showed up today."

She turned to the older, seasoned gentleman.  "Is he… Is he my brother, too?"

"Yes.  He's your half-brother."

"Awesome." Kang Sola grinned from ear-to-ear.  She stood up, walked, and stopped right in front of the man. "Have you known that we are related?  You should have told me sooner.  You're my real Oppa now!"  She bared her teeth at him in a happy grin.

s.h.i.+ Fan Hai felt comfortable.  His face mellowed, but could not completely lose his frown.  Instead, he tapped the girl's head once, then with his other hand, he shoved a small box to her. "Your gift."

"Wow!  You even prepared something!  Thank you so much, Oppa!"

All this while, Chen Linyun fought the urge to puke.  His gut turned upside down upon witnessing this exchange.  He felt jealous that Kang Sola was so much closer to him.  He also felt disgusted by this new revelation.  In addition to all this, on top of everything, he could sense anger simmering inside his system.

"Seriously?!  It's just a show, Sola!  Get your things, and let's leave now.  NOW!!!" Chen Linyun barely lost his cool, but this time, he couldn't lower his voice.

Kang Sola jerked backward as she gasped in astonishment. "But… But…"

"I don't wanna hear your selfish reason of getting your family members together and share a meal.  I am your guardian, and when I leave, you will leave with me.  And I say, it's now.  So get your things, and let's get going."

"I know it's your birthday, but Sola, your actions are way overboard.  You should have discussed this with me first."

The older man sighed as he dabbed his napkin over his mouth calmly. "Chen Linyun, I advised your sister not to tell you anything because I know that this would happen.  You wouldn't even be here if you knew.  I am correct, am I not?"

"Just like your sister, I would want all of you to come to terms with each other.  But if I were to choose between you and that b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I would have chosen you."

s.h.i.+ Fan Hai blanched at his ruthless father's statement.  It was not enough to make him feel unwelcome in this strange dinner.  His father even put it bluntly out there where and to whom his preference lies.

'I'm dispensable.' He glumly thought.  He said out loud, "That being said, Father, I'll leave you to enjoy the rest of the dinner.  Sola, Happy birthday."

"No, don't leave yet!" Kang Sola tried to stop him.

"Sola, let him be!" Chen Linyun exclaimed.

"No!!!" Kang Sola stubbornly showed resistance.  With brows knitted together, she went against Chen Linyun.  It was their first time to ever disagree on something.  It was the very first time that Kang Sola went against her older brother's wish and intention, and the first time she had spoken her mind, because most of the time, she just went with the flow.  Mainly it was because she felt obliged to just obey since he and his wife had offered their home for her - the homeless one, and took her in.

But now, she felt that she had to speak for what she strongly felt. 'Just today.' She thought.  Her birthday wasn't every day.  It's not even possible to convene everyone right away.

She was pleasantly surprised that someone she knew from her childhood was actually a blood relation. 'He's someone I relied on when I was a lot younger.'

'He's special to me.'

'They're both special to me.'

'Father clearly chose between them, but why should I?  They're both my brothers, and I would love having them both in my life.  Why would I choose?'

It was a stalemate.  At this point, each of them preferred something which was not entirely widely accepted by all.

Who would emerge triumphant in pus.h.i.+ng what he or she believed in?

At this point, s.h.i.+ Fan Hai sided with Kang Sola. "If you want me to stay, I'll stay.  And you, Chen Linyun, stop bossing her around.  She has a mind of her own.  She's not your property.  How dare you impose on her?!"

Kang Sola nodded in agreement, but at the same time, she felt guilty and wicked.  She didn't want to team up with anyone to be against any of them.

At the end of the day, she would have to leave with Chen Linyun and go home with him.

"Shut up." Chen Linyun didn't even spare him any eye contact.  He fixed his gaze onto the young girl. 

"All of you, snap out of it, will you?  Chen Linyun, save your energy for later.  Sola, calm down, dear.  And you, do what your sister wants."

"Let's have this dinner and settle the dispute after."

"Not happening." Chen Linyun sauntered a few steps towards the door before speaking to Sola, "I'll wait for you in the car.  Don't take too long."

On his way out, he inevitably brushed shoulders with s.h.i.+ Fan Hai.

The girl bowed her head as she pursed her lips, her brows furrowed, still in disagreement.