A sharp gasp tore from Guo Min's lips as her back hit the bed, the sheets crumpling beneath her. Shock flickered across her face, but pride refused to let her cower. She sat up quickly, spine stiff, eyes locked on him with fragile defiance.
Then came the quiet click of the door lock.
The sound alone made her heart stumble. Instinctively, she edged backward until the carved headboard pressed against her spine. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice a mixture of defiance and trembling restraint.
Zihan didn't answer. His movements were deliberate, unhurried. He loosened his tie, the silk sliding soundlessly through his collar, then set his blazer on the chair. Rolling his sleeves with steady precision, he lifted his gaze to her ...dark and unwavering.
The distance between them crackled with tension.
Guo Min swallowed hard, her breath shallow. The silence pressed on her, heavy and suffocating. He wasn't shouting, wasn't angry but that calmness was worse. It was the silence before a storm.
She shifted, about to slip off the bed and make for the door when his hand shot out fast, and firmly wrapping around her ankle.
"Where do you think you're going?". His voice was quiet. Too quiet.
Her breath caught as their eyes met his, a storm of restrained fury. Hers, a flicker of fear buried beneath fragile pride.
Hours later, the door finally opened. The silence that followed was heavy, almost fragile. Zhu Zihan stepped out, his expression unreadable, his movements composed yet faintly weary. In his arms, Guo Min rested quietly, her head leaning against his shoulder.
The hotel staff looked on, their curiosity barely hidden behind polite smiles. No one dared to ask questions. Whatever had unfolded behind those closed doors was none of their concern, though the sight of their boss, peaceful in sleep, was enough to silence even the boldest whispers.
Zihan adjusted her gently in his arms and walked toward the exit, his strides steady. The evening air outside was cool and sharp, brushing against his face as he opened the car door and placed her carefully in the passenger seat. He fastened her seatbelt, his touch brief but careful, before circling around to the driver's side.
The road to the Zhu Villa was quiet, only the hum of the engine filling the silence. From time to time, he stole a glance at her and the faint crease in her brows even in sleep, at the exhaustion that softened her usually sharp features. His jaw clenched. He didn't regret bringing her away from danger, but the way he'd done it… he isn't satisfied with it.
Zhu Villa.
The grand doors opened without sound as he stepped inside, still carrying her. The maids quickly stepped aside, bowing lightly as he passed. The moonlight filtered through the tall windows, painting the hall in silver tones.
He pushed open the door to their room and walked to the bed, lowering her onto the soft sheets. She stirred faintly but didn't wake.
For a long moment, Zihan just stood there, watching her.
The steady rise and fall of her chest. The quiet that now replaced their arguments.
He reached down, pulling the duvet over her shoulders, tucking it lightly beneath her chin. His fingers lingered for a second long enough to feel the warmth of her skin before he stepped back.
His gaze softened, but only slightly.
"…Sleep, Guo Min," he murmured quietly, more to himself than to her, before turning away and leaving the room.
The next morning.
Warm hues of the sun filtered through the curtains, touching the edges of the room with a faint glow. Guo Min stirred, blinking away the remnants of sleep. Her head ached faintly, and her thoughts were a blur. She sat up slowly, letting out a small yawn before glancing around the quiet room.
After a few moments, she slipped off the bed and headed for the bathroom to freshen up. The sound of running water echoed softly as she washed her face, brushed her hair, and changed into something simple for the mini get together at Yufan's residence.
When she finally emerged, her steps halted abruptly. Standing by the door tall, calm, and impossibly composed was the very person she had been trying to avoid.
Zhu Zihan.
Before she could speak, he reached out, his hand wrapping around her wrist with a gentleness that still held authority. Without a word, he guided her back toward the bed and made her sit down.
"Wifey," his tone carried a quiet tease beneath its calmness, "aren't you tired of giving me the silent treatment?"
She looked away, saying nothing. Her silence hung between them, fragile but stubborn.
Zihan studied her for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "...Guo Min," he said, his voice softer this time, "I'm sorry."
The words lingered in the air, heavier than they sounded. Neither of them spoke for a while.
Then he noticed it the faint twitch at the corner of her lips, the slight downturn of her brows. Her scowl was melting, turning into a reluctant pout.
Zihan's gaze softened, the corner of his own mouth curving upward. It's been so long since I've seen that expression, he thought.
"…How should I make it up to you?" he asked gently. "Please, Guo Min".
She exhaled sharply, crossing her arms, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "Tch. Fine, as long as we're safe."
They both got ready after that, Zihan took every possible opportunity to stay close to her. He brushed her hair aside under the guise of adjusting her necklace, his fingers lingering for a moment too long, helped zip her dress with care, and stole brief touches that betrayed how much he'd missed their closeness.
Guo Min only chuckled, a little shy but unable to hide how her heart softened with each of his quiet gestures. By the time she was done wearing a gown with soft pleats and elegant heels, Zihan had already changed into a tailored suit. His jacket hung loosely over one arm, the inner vest perfectly fitted, buttons fastened neatly across his chest.
When they finally came downstairs, the tension that had once hung between them had melted into something warm, playful ...almost domestic. Zihan's hand remained wrapped around hers, firm and possessive, unwilling to let go.
But that gentle mood shattered the moment Guo Min's gaze fell on someone lounging comfortably on the sofa.
Her expression darkened. "What are you doing here?"
Guo Ji stood, chin tilted high in arrogant poise. With a smirk, she waved a cream-colored envelope before tossing it onto the table. "Be sure to come," she said lightly and then, in a deliberate move, brushed past Zihan, hips swaying just enough to graze his arm as she walked out.
For a moment, Guo Min just blinked stunned before laughter burst out of her like a spark. She laughed so hard she nearly choked, clutching her stomach as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
"Are you for real?" she managed between giggles, wiping her eyes before glancing at Zihan, who looked completely lost. "My husband was being seduced right in front of me."
"Husband?... Me?" Zihan frowned slightly, still looking confused. "When?"
It wasn't that he didn't understand what had just happened, Zihan was a man who had seen all kinds of women and all kinds of games. The problem was that at that very moment, his entire focus had been on his wife on how stunning she looked, on the faint scent of her perfume that still lingered between them.
Guo Min burst into another round of laughter at his honest confusion. "So, you were being seduced and didn't even notice? You're one kind of a man, Zhu Zihan."
Zihan's lips twitched, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Well," he said quietly, "I think my wife is too beautiful for me to go searching for someone else."
That made her pause. Her laughter paused, replaced by a small, genuine smile that curved her lips. For a moment, she simply just looked at him.
---
Yufan had just stepped out of the shower, droplets tracing the sharp lines of his shoulders after another grueling session in his home gym.
He ran a towel through his damp hair, the faint scent of cedar and soap filling the air, when a soft knock sounded at the door, followed by a hesitant push.
Lixi stood there.
Her simple flowery dress brushed her knees, delicate and light, a quiet contrast to the cold, structured steel of his surroundings. For a moment, she just looked at him her gaze flickering between his face and the faint steam that still clung to the air.
"Are you not ready?" she asked softly, her voice careful, almost too polite. "Everyone will be there soon. We should arrive first, since we're the hosts."
Yufan turned, meeting her eyes for the briefest moment. "I'll be done soon," he said flatly, his tone polite but distant.
Then he turned back to the mirror, the quiet gesture making his meaning clear, it was time for her to leave.
Lixi hesitated, fingers tightening on the fabric of her dress. The air between them felt thick, not with anger, but with the cold, aching weight of distance. Finally, she turned away. The soft sound of her footsteps faded down the hall, leaving only silence behind.