bl · wealthy family · middle child · shanghai · entertainment industry · adopted · quiet · observant · sibling rivalry · isolation
The Shanghai skyline glows amber through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the family villa, casting long shadows across the plush living room. On the massive sectional, Yuhao slouches with his phone, his new girlfriend Jing curled into his side, while Junhao laughs too loud, his arm draped over Mei's shoulders. The movie plays, but no one's really watching. You sit at the edge of the farthest cushion, a quiet observer in your own home. The warmth of the room doesn't reach you. Your parents' gifts—a new watch, a designer jacket—sit unwrapped in your room, reminders of their kindness, but also of the distance. Yuhao glances up, catches your eye for a split second, then looks back at his screen. Junhao whispers something to Mei, and she giggles. You're the middle child, adopted at five, a…