Yueying woke up with the memory of Lu Quing's kiss still imprinted on her lips and mind. She hadn't slept. Her fingers danced along her collarbone as she lay on her side, staring blankly at the sunlight filtering through the window shield . That kiss had been nothing like the first. It was deeper, possessive, fierce.
And yet… dangerous.
"Why am I feeling this way?" she asked herself.
She wasn't the naive girl she used to be. She had been broken before. And Lu Quing—he was a man buried in secrets, drenched in blood, standing atop a tower of the world (and enemies). Was this love… or a trap disguised as affection?
She dragged herself out of bed, she felt thirsty.
---
DOWNSTAIRS
The entire villa was eerily quiet, it wasn't so strange but normally she would hear the footsteps of workers. Gu Ni wasn't in the kitchen, which was strange. She was always up earlier than Yueying. A note lay on the counter in Gu Ni's hurried handwriting:
"I've gone out for a bit, don't worry about me.
Take good care of yourself."
Nini "
Yueying frowned. Gone out? Without telling her last night? Or was it an emergency she had to handle immediately?
As she poured herself a glass of water, she heard footsteps. Lu Quing walked in, dressed in a crisp black suit. His jaw was clenched. His shirt collar was slightly unbuttoned—just enough to show the faint edge of a fresh bruise near his collarbone.
"You fought last night," Yueying said softly.
He didn't reply.
"Was it worth it?" she asked.
"Always is and always would be ," he replied, pouring himself black coffee.
They stood in silence. He didn't look at her more like she wasn't existing in his eyes.
"So, that's it?" she said bitterly. "After what happened between us—twice now—you're just going to pretend we're back to being strangers, huh?"
Lu Quing set his cup down with a clink. "I'm trying to protect you." His eyes flickered.
"From what? From you or your enemies?" she snapped, tears threatening to rise. "Or from the hell you bring with you?"
His eyes turned dark. "All."
" But I believe you wouldn't hurt me. I know you can protect me and I can also protect myself. Nothing is stopping us from being together " she said in one breath. She couldn't believe her words . She hardly knew him but she couldn't let go of him without making a move.
" Stay away from my personal life, you don't need to get involved AT ALL." Lu Quing said in a cold tone. Yueying was heartbroken, she didn't expect this response..
" Ohh okay sir " she replied indifferently, her gaze cold but Lu Quing could see the pains in her eyes. He stared at her back blankly as she left through the front door.
---
IN THE CITY
Gu Ni stood by the harbor, her long coat fluttering in the wind. Her phone rang.
"Speak," she said.
"Targets are being monitored," came the voice on the other end. "But Lin Fan is getting too close. Should we take him out?"
"No," she said, tightening her grip on the phone. "Let him get close… we need him to bring out the traitor within."
"What about Yueying?" the voice asked.
There was a pause.
"She's not part of the mission." The voice said.
"But she's getting emotionally involved." He continued.
"She's human, not a soldier," Gu Ni said coldly. "And so is he... unfortunately."
Most people in the gang didn't know Yueying was the centre figure of attention among the leaders of the other gangs.
Gu Ni ended the call.
"Sorry, Yueying, shethought. But even you don't know who you're falling for." Her boss wasn't someone to be messed with. Up till now she still doesn't know why he chose to pay more attention to Yueying and Yueying seems to be getting too attached to him.
---
BACK AT THE VILLA
Yueying stormed into the garden. She needed space, air, silence.
She looked up at the sky—its bright blue hue did little to quiet the storm within her. Then, her phone buzzed. It was an unknown number calling, she had wanted to declined the call when she accidentally pressed the answer button.
"If you want the truth, meet me at Neon Street. Come alone. 4PM.
Her fingers trembled. She didn't know who contacted her but the guy had a different aura that left her unsettling.
" Who are you please" .
No response.
She knew it was stupid. But she also knew—this might be the only chance to learn the truth about Lu Quing. About Gu Ni. About the Red Crescent and the men who tried to kill them.
She slipped the phone into her pocket and made her way towards the cafe.
---
LATER THAT DAY — NEON STREET
The place was deserted. Abandoned buildings, graffitied walls, and shattered glass windows stared down at her like haunted memories. Yueying's heart pounded wildly in her chest. She could hear her own breathing( IT WAS HEAVY AND LOUD)
Then she saw him—Lin Fan. He stood beside an old payphone, sunglasses in hand like he was a superstar.
"You came," he said, sounding impressed.
"I want answers," Yueying said, her voice firm.
"Good. Because you deserve them." He motioned for her to follow him into the crumbling remains of a church nearby.
Candles burned dimly, casting eerie shadows on the blackened walls. Lin Fan lit a cigarette.
"Lu Quing was the leader of the Red Crescent Gang," he began. "But that's not the full story."
"I know that already," Yueying said.
"No," he said, exhaling smoke. "You only know the version he wants you to hear, my darling ." He chuckled.
He pulled out a video and handed it to her.
It was an old surveillance video—Lu Quing, covered in blood, standing beside a line of kneeling men. Each man had a bag over his head. Guns aimed at their skulls.
Yueying's breath caught. What shocked her more was that most them had their limps missing. That kind of death they experienced made many what to wish for it fast and not slow and deliberate. He truly was a monster.
"That night in Shanghai… he ordered the execution of seventeen men," Lin Fan said. "One of them was my brother. He was innocent of all charges."
Yueying looked at him, shocked. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to see the monster beneath the suit. The man you're falling for doesn't just have blood on his hands—he swims in it. And you are just be a pawn in his hands" he continued with a stern face.
" Why did he kill so many brutally? It wouldn't just be about selling information especially if you guys seem close". Yueying said as she thought through.
" You're smarter than I thought sweetie " he laughed . " Lu Quing can never love you, from the information I got you're really into him. He killed many for that woman" his eyes turned cold immediately.
" Woman ? " Yueying asked, she was surprised at that word.
" Yes my little kitten. He loved one. If she points a finger at you... Boom. Lu Quing wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger at you then you would end like my brother" Li Fan laughed hysterically.
Yueying felt chills, she didn't know if it was his words or presence or the fact that Lu Quing had someone he loved to the extreme, a love that couldn't die so fast.
" Where's she ?" She asked barely audible.
" Ohhh that, news showed she was dead. An unrecognisable face, broken limp and blood all over. It was a terrible sight to see but I never believed she was dead" he paused as he looked at Yueying.
" That means she's manipulating Lu into action?" She asked .
" Yes wise kitten" Li Fan smirked. " Every one that died was her enemy before her 'death' . Every damn clues pointed to them. She's one cunning vixen" he laughed .
" That's not fair " Yueying said. She felt
" Life is not fair darling " Li Fan stared coldly at her.
---
AT THE VILLA
Lu Quing stood in front of the old wall in his private study. He unlocked the hidden compartment and pulled out an old notebook—faded, with burn marks on the cover.
He flipped through pages filled with names. Crossed out names.
One name remained uncrossed: Feng Yueying.
He stared at it for a long time.
Ta Ming entered.
"We've lost track of Lin Fan."
Lu Quing's gaze hardened. "He went after her."
He slammed the book shut.
"Prepare the car. Now."
---
IN THE CHURCH
"You think he can love you?" Lin Fan asked. "He doesn't love. He uses."
Yueying's hands trembled.
"I don't know who to believe," she whispered.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Lu Quing stood there, gun in hand, eyes blazing.
"Step away from her right now.."
Lin Fan smirked. "Always on time."
"Don't make me kill you," Lu Quing warned.
"You already did," Lin Fan spat. "When you shot my brother."
" He shouldn't be called a brother!" Lu Quing yelled. "He was a traitor—he was selling information to my enemies. You were too blind to see it. And you know what happens to people that are moles."
Yueying stood between them.
"Stop!" she cried. "Both of you! This isn't justice—it's revenge!"
" You either kill or get killed " Lu Quing said as he looked at her.
Lu Quing lowered the gun slightly, but his eyes stayed fixed on Lin Fan.
"You don't belong in this, Yueying," he said.
"Too late," she replied, tears falling. "I'm already in too deep."
---
LATER THAT NIGHT
Yueying sat in her room, staring at the photo Lin Fan had given her.
She couldn't sleep.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't think straight .
Lu Quing knocked on her door.
She opened the door slowly.
"I didn't want you to know like this," he said.
"Then why was my name in your notebook?" she asked, lifting her eyes to meet his.
His eyes widened. "You… saw it?"
She nodded. "What does it mean?"
He took a deep breath. "It means… you were meant to be protected. From the beginning."
She frowned. "Protected… from what?"
He hesitated, then said, "From yourself and your real mother's family."
" Real mother" she said more like she was talking to herself. She knew about her biological mom, she doesn't remember her face but her mo had adopted her to the
Feng family. They really did took care of her like their own daughter.
Yueying wanted to talk about the woman he killed for but she feared it would trigger his anger towards more people including herself.
' is this about me or the woman or my bloodline ' she asked herself. She was confused at the whole spiral of events.
---
SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK
The man in the white velvet suit watched everything through the surveillance feed.
"Yueying, Yueying," he murmured, swirling wine in his glass. "You were never just a normal girl. If only you knew what bloodline runs through your veins."
He picked up a photo of a woman—one who looked exactly like Yueying.
Only… older.
And maybe___dead.
"Soon," he said. "She will remember."
He lit a match and dropped it on the photo.
Everything was just the beginning.