Zhu Villa
Zihan slipped into the bedroom quietly, as though the violence that had unfolded less than an hour ago had nothing to do with him.
He showered, changed into comfortable pajamas, and moved with practiced calm. Each time Guo Min whimpered softly in her sleep, he paused, soothing, listening until her breathing evened out again.
Only then did he climb into bed. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her gently against his chest, fingers threading through her hair in slow, deliberate motions meant to soothe rather than claim. Gradually, her body relaxed, the tension easing from her shoulders.
For the first time in days, sleep came easily, which they drifted into together.
Yufan's Penthouse
Yufan entered his penthouse alone, locking the door behind him with a tired sigh. The lights were dim. He walked into the dining area and stopped.
Wu Lixi was asleep at the table, her head resting against the polished surface, untouched food long gone cold. For a moment, he simply stood there, staring.
Then he pulled out a chair and sat down. He ate in silence. When he finished, he rubbed his temple, exhaustion finally catching up with him. Rising, he moved toward her and carefully scooped her into his arms.
His gaze lingered on her face, then lower, where the faint curve of her belly was beginning to show. A small smile appeared. Just as quickly, he erased it.
As he turned to carry her to the bedroom, her eyes fluttered open briefly. She looked at him, really looked, before slipping back into sleep.
"I'm sorry, Yufan…" she murmured.
"I'm sorry…"
The words tugged at something deep in his chest, sharp and unwelcome. His jaw tightened. He wouldn't let himself soften. Not this time.
The Next Morning
Wu Lixi stirred slowly, her body reacting before her mind did. Half-asleep, she pressed herself closer to the warmth beside her, instinctively seeking comfort. The surface beneath her cheek was solid, broad, warm, unmistakably human.
Her brows furrowed.
Confusion seeped into her foggy thoughts. Her lashes fluttered once… twice… before her eyes finally opened.
Her scream tore through the room. "Yang Yufan?!"
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs as she scrambled backward, the blanket twisting around her legs. Her breath came out uneven, panic flashing across her pale face. For a brief, terrifying second, she wondered if this was a dream.
But then he moved. Yufan sat up beside her, the early morning light cutting across his sharp features. His expression was calm, unreadable, as though waking up beside her was the most natural thing in the world. He blinked once, eyes briefly unfocused, then they settled on her trembling form.
Silence stretched between them. He stood up without a word. "Good morning," he said finally, voice low and even, as though nothing was amiss.
Lixi froze.
He was dressed only in sweatpants, the fabric hanging loosely on his hips, the waistband peeking just slightly as he straightened. The sight made her heart skip painfully, not out of desire alone, but shock. Familiarity. Intimacy she wasn't prepared for.
Yufan reached down, picked up the shirt tossed carelessly onto the chair the night before, and slipped it on. He didn't look back at her. Didn't wait for a response. He simply walked toward the door.
"…Good morning," Lixi whispered belatedly, her voice barely audible.
The door clicked shut. Only then did she realize she had been holding her breath. Her ears burned red, warmth spreading to her cheeks as she stared at the empty doorway. Her fingers tightened in the bedsheets, her lips parting slightly. A small, fragile smile tugged at her mouth, one born not of confidence, but hope.
He stayed. He slept beside her. That thought alone made her chest ache.
But the moment didn't last. A sudden wave of nausea surged violently through her stomach.
Her expression twisted as she clapped a hand over her mouth, panic replacing warmth. She barely had time to throw the blanket aside before rushing out of bed, feet hitting the cold floor as she stumbled toward the bathroom.
She barely made it to the toilet before retching.
Her body shook with each dry heave, one hand gripping the edge of the sink for balance, the other pressed protectively against her stomach.
After washing her face and steadying herself, she forced herself to get ready, carefully dressing and tying her hair back before heading downstairs.
The dining area was quiet.
Yufan was already seated at the table, dressed neatly, posture straight, his presence filling the room without him saying a word. He was halfway through breakfast, eyes focused on his plate.
She hesitated briefly, then sat across from him and began eating in silence.
"After work today," Yufan said suddenly, breaking the stillness, "get ready. We're attending Guo Ji's wedding."
She paused mid-bite, lifting her gaze to him.
He continued chewing calmly before adding, almost as an afterthought, "I won't be home tomorrow. You can stay over at Ruoxi's if you don't want to be alone."
"…But tomorrow is Saturday," Lixi said softly, brows knitting together in confusion. Weekends were usually the only time he slowed down, especially considering his position in the army. "You don't usually...".
"Don't worry about it," he cut in flatly.
He stood, reaching for his uniform jacket without sparing her another glance. Slinging it over his arm, he walked out as if the conversation had never happened.
Lixi sat there for a moment, staring at the empty seat across from her.
She finished her breakfast quietly, her appetite long gone, then stood and headed out as well. Sliding into her car, she drove toward work.
Wu Entertainment
She parked her car neatly in the company parking lot and walked toward the elevator, returning greetings from subordinates along the way with practiced ease. Once on her floor, she headed straight to her office, quickly sorting out the files that required immediate approval before carrying them to the president's office for signatures.
"Good morning, big brother," she greeted as she stepped inside.
Xiang glanced up from his desk and smiled, then gestured for her to wait as he continued speaking with the man seated opposite him.
Out of idle curiosity, Lixi let her gaze drift toward the stranger. He had tousled chestnut-brown hair and wore a casual outfit, baggy jacket over a simple T-shirt, paired with jeans. Nerdy glasses rested on his nose, giving him the unmistakable look of a tech guy.
"He's cute," she whispered absentmindedly, the words slipping out before she could stop herself.
Xiang cleared his throat pointedly. "Lixi," he said, suppressing a grin, "this is Zhao Feng. And Zhao Feng, meet my sister."
They exchanged polite smiles and brief nods.
"I'll leave the files here then," Lixi said smoothly, placing the folder on Xiang's desk. "When you're done, just call my office. And please sign them quickly, the contracts for our next play have been on hold for too long. The actors are already getting restless."
"Alright," Xiang replied. "I'll take care of it. You can have the office back after that, I've got work to handle outside today." He waved her off playfully.
Nearly an hour later, Xiang finished signing the documents and informed Lixi to come retrieve them. Not long after, he and Zhao Feng headed down to the garage.
"They've probably already started his punishment without us," Xiang said casually as he slid into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life.
Zhao Feng merely nodded, fingers already tapping lightly on his phone, both of them fully aware that the man captured the previous night wouldn't be shown mercy.