The rain had not stopped since midnight. It lashed against the windows of Qin Yue's apartment, a relentless drumbeat that mirrored the unease twisting in her chest. Sleep was impossible. Every shadow seemed to move, every creak in the building made her pulse quicken.
Li Feng's words circled endlessly in her mind: No matter what happens, don't leave my side.
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, but warmth would not come. She wasn't afraid of being hurt—she was afraid of being used. What if she became the weakness that brought him down?
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't Li Feng. It was Qing Feng.
[Yue! Are you okay? You didn't answer me yesterday. Everyone at the shop is asking about you.]
Qin Yue's heart softened. Her best friend had always been her anchor in the chaos.
[Qin Yue]: I'm okay. Just… busy.
[Qing Feng]: Busy or in trouble? Tell me the truth.
Her throat tightened. She wanted to tell her everything—the stranger in the alley, the shadows following her, the storm brewing around Li Feng. But if she did, Qing Feng would only be dragged in too.
[Qin Yue]: Don't worry about me. I'll explain when things settle. Promise.
Her finger hovered before she hit send. If they ever settle.
---
Morning came with gray clouds and wet streets. The car was waiting downstairs again, the driver opening the door with his usual bow.
Qin Yue slid inside, her reflection ghostly in the tinted window. She could already feel the day's weight pressing down on her shoulders.
When she stepped into the office, the air was different. Charged. On edge.
Secretaries whispered in corners. Department heads rushed past her with pale faces. Even the security team had doubled at the entrance.
And at the center of it all, behind glass doors, stood Li Feng.
He was on the phone, his tone low and controlled, but the tension in his jaw betrayed him. His suit jacket was discarded over the chair, his sleeves rolled up, veins standing sharp along his forearms.
"Pull the contracts now. If they won't cooperate, we'll find new suppliers. No compromises." He ended the call, his gaze shifting immediately to her.
"You're late."
Her brows shot up. "It's eight-thirty. I—"
"I said seven yesterday."
Her lips parted, but the flash in his eyes silenced her. He wasn't angry about the time. He was angry because the world around them was slipping from his control.
She set her bag down quietly. "What can I do?"
For a heartbeat, he simply studied her. Then, to her surprise, his voice softened. "Stay close. Don't speak to anyone you don't know. If something feels wrong, call me immediately."
Qin Yue's chest tightened. He had never spoken to her like this before—not like an employee, not even like a responsibility, but like something far more fragile.
---
The first explosion of the day came in the form of a shareholder meeting.
Half the boardroom was already in uproar when Qin Yue followed him inside.
"This is reckless, Li Feng!" Director Wu slammed his fist on the table. "You're risking the company's entire East District project over pride!"
Li Feng's gaze was ice. "I don't negotiate with traitors."
"They're not traitors—they're businessmen! The Zhao family offered them better terms. We can't expect loyalty when you—"
"Enough."
His single word cut through the noise like a blade. The room fell silent.
Qin Yue clutched her notebook, her knuckles white. The atmosphere was suffocating, every gaze sharpened with greed, fear, or quiet calculation.
Li Feng leaned forward, his voice dangerously calm. "The Zhao family thinks they can choke us. They're wrong. We will move suppliers overseas if we must. And anyone here who sides with them will no longer have a seat at this table."
A chill ran through Qin Yue. He wasn't just drawing a line—he was daring them to cross it.
When the meeting ended, the directors filed out in uneasy silence. Qin Yue lingered, her voice low. "Do you trust them?"
His lips curved in a humorless smile. "Trust is for people who can afford betrayal. I can't."
Her heart twisted. For all his power, for all his control, he was utterly alone.
---
That evening, Li Feng insisted on driving her home himself.
The rain had eased to a drizzle, the city lights smeared across wet asphalt. Inside the car, silence stretched between them, broken only by the hum of the engine.
Finally, she spoke. "Why me?"
His hands tightened on the wheel. "What do you mean?"
"You said they'll use anyone near you. But I'm no one. Why would they bother?"
The car slowed as he pulled to the curb. For a long moment, he didn't answer. Then he turned, his gaze pinning her in place.
"Because you matter."
Her breath caught. "To you?"
His silence was louder than any confession.
Her heart pounded painfully, but before she could reply, a sharp thud hit the car window. She gasped, jerking back—only to see a man dart away into the alley, vanishing into the dark.
Li Feng's hand was already on his phone. "Follow him."
The driver leapt out, sprinting into the rain. Qin Yue's pulse thundered in her ears. "Was that—?"
"Yes." Li Feng's jaw was tight. "They're watching us."
Her fingers trembled in her lap. The shadows weren't just following her anymore—they were taunting him.
When the driver returned, empty-handed, Li Feng cursed under his breath. Then he turned to her, his voice low but unyielding. "Pack a bag. You're staying at my place."
Her eyes widened. "What? I can't—"
"You can, and you will. Until this ends, you don't leave my side."
Her lips parted in protest, but the intensity in his gaze stole her words.
In that moment, she realized this was no longer about contracts or conditions. This was survival.
---
Hours later, Qin Yue stood frozen in Li Feng's penthouse.
It was breathtaking—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline, sleek black-and-silver furnishings, everything exuding quiet power. Yet for all its beauty, it felt… empty.
He tossed his jacket over the sofa, loosening his tie. "The guest room is upstairs. You'll stay there."
She nodded, clutching her bag to her chest. "Thank you…"
His eyes softened briefly. "Lock the door at night."
Her chest tightened. For the first time, she realized how much danger he lived with every single day. And now, that danger had wrapped itself around her too.
---
She couldn't sleep. Hours later, she padded into the kitchen for water, only to stop short.
Li Feng was there, leaning against the counter, a glass in his hand. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, his tie discarded, his eyes shadowed in the dim light.
"You should be asleep."
"I could say the same to you," she whispered.
His lips curved faintly, but there was no humor. "Sleep doesn't come easy when enemies are circling."
Qin Yue hesitated, then stepped closer. "Li Feng… how long have you been fighting them?"
He studied her, as if debating whether to answer. Finally, he said quietly, "Long enough that I've forgotten what it feels like to be at peace."
Her heart ached. Slowly, she reached out, her fingers brushing the edge of his sleeve. "Then maybe… you don't have to fight alone anymore."
For the first time, his composure cracked. He looked at her as though she had spoken something impossible, something dangerous—and yet, something he wanted to believe.
Their eyes locked. The space between them shrank.
But before either could move, his phone buzzed sharply on the counter.
He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening. "Another attack. This time at the docks."
Qin Yue's stomach dropped. "The Zhao family?"
"Who else?"
He grabbed his jacket, his movements quick and controlled. Then he paused, looking at her.
"Stay here. Don't open the door for anyone but me."
Her chest clenched. "Li Feng—"
But he was already gone, leaving her in the silence of his penthouse, her heart pounding with dread.
---
She stood at the window long after, watching the rain blur the city lights.
She had promised not to leave his side. But how could she keep that promise, when the shadows were clawing closer every day?
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
As Li Feng's enemies close in and Qin Yue finds herself drawn deeper into his world, will she be able to protect her own heart—or will the price of standing by him be more than she can bear?