The chandelier didn't fall.
Yet.
Jiang Yue kept staring at it like it was a coiled snake ready to strike, but it still didn't fall
" Why did you say duck and Why are you glaring at the ceiling?" Tessa asked, licking frosting off her spoon.
"Because the universe hates me," Jiang Yue muttered.
Tessa sighed. "You've been saying that a lot lately."
"Because it's true."
And then, as if the world wanted to prove her right, the café's espresso machine made a sound, no espresso machine should ever make an ominous pop, hiss and crackle.
Jiang Yue's survival instincts screamed.
"...Tessa?"
"Yeah?"
"DUCK!"
The next second, the machine erupted in a shower of steam and sparks. A loud boom! followed, and the café plunged into chaos.
Patrons screamed. Tables toppled. A tray of cupcakes met an untimely end.
Jiang Yue grabbed Tessa's arm and shoved her under the table just as a piece of flying debris whizzed past.
[System Alert: Fatality Risk 88% – Ambush Event Triggered.]
"Oh, come on!" Jiang Yue shouted at the invisible screen.
Before Jiang Yue could figure out her next move, someone grabbed her wrist, in a strong and steady grip
"Move," a deep voice ordered.
She looked up.
The man was tall, dressed in all black, and had the kind of dangerous, sharp-edged handsomeness that screamed "I eat corporate rivals for breakfast." His dark eyes met hers with a flicker of recognition.
He yanked her to her feet and out of the café's path of destruction, moving with lethal precision.
The system pinged:
[Luck Surge Detected: -25% Fatality Risk.]
They made it out just as another piece of ceiling crashed behind them.
Panting, Jiang Yue stared at her mysterious rescuer. "Who the hell—"
"Jiang Yue," he said flatly, like he'd known her forever.
She blinked. "Do… I know you?"
The man's lips quirked. "Not personally. But I've heard enough from Zhenkai."
Zhenkai?
Her stomach dropped.
"You're one of his friends," she realized.
"Qin Yunze," he confirmed, holding out a hand. "And you, little trouble magnet, are exactly as ridiculous as he said."
Jiang Yue bristled. "I am not ridiculous, wait, he talks about me?"
Qin Yunze's smirk deepened. "More than he realizes."
Her brain short-circuited for half a second.
This was… one of the three childhood friends. The ones who practically ruled the business world alongside Li Zhenkai. In the novel, Qin Yunze was the devilishly clever one, the kind who smiled like he was about to sell you out but would secretly save you instead.
He was also one of the few people who could get away with teasing the iceberg CEO.
And now, apparently, he had just saved her life.
"Great," Jiang Yue muttered. "Now my bad luck is dragging in supporting characters."
Tessa stumbled out of the café behind them, coughing but unharmed. "What—what just happened?! Did the coffee machine explode?"
"Basically," Jiang Yue sighed, rubbing her face.
Qin Yunze, annoyingly calm for someone who had just dodged death by caffeine, glanced at her. "This happen often?"
She gave him a flat look. "Define often."
He chuckled. "Zhenkai wasn't exaggerating. You really are cursed."
Jiang Yue crossed her arms. "I am not cursed. I just… have aggressively bad luck that wants me dead. Big difference."
Qin Yunze looked like he wanted to laugh again but didn't. Instead, he studied her for a moment with a gaze that was sharp and calculating.
"I can see why he keeps you close," he murmured.
Jiang Yue blinked. "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"
Before he could answer, her phone buzzed.
It was a text from Li Zhenkai.
Zhenkai: Where are you?
Jiang Yue: Not dead, thanks for asking.
Zhenkai: Why do you sound like you almost were?
Jiang Yue: The coffee shop exploded.
Zhenkai: Stay where you are.
Her stomach did a weird little flip.
When she looked up, Qin Yunze was watching her with a knowing expression.
"He's on his way, isn't he?"
"…Maybe," she admitted.
Qin Yunze smirked. "Good. I want to see his face when he finds you clinging to me."
Jiang Yue sputtered. "I am not clinging!"
Unfortunately, the system disagreed.
[Proximity Detected: Qin Yunze Affinity +1.]
"Oh, for crying out loud…"
---
Fifteen minutes later, Li Zhenkai's sleek black car pulled up to the curb.
He stepped out, immaculate as ever, and for once, his controlled expression cracked, just a little when he saw her.
Jiang Yue grinned sheepishly and waved. "Hi, boss! I didn't die again!"
His jaw tightened. His gaze shifted to Qin Yunze.
"Why are you here?"
"Rescuing your disaster magnet," Qin Yunze replied lazily, draping an arm over Jiang Yue's shoulders just to watch Zhenkai's expression darken a fraction.
Li Zhenkai's eyes narrowed.
"Remove your arm."
Qin Yunze smirked but complied. "Relax. I didn't keep her. I'm just returning your property."
Jiang Yue spluttered. "Excuse me, I am not property!"
Zhenkai ignored her, stepping closer until he was within his contract mandated three-meter range.
The system dinged.
[Luck Surge: Fatality Risk Down to 40%.]
Ah. There it was. The blessed effect of her personal human rabbit's foot.
Jiang Yue sighed in relief. "Boss, you have no idea how much I—"
"Get in the car," he interrupted, sharp and cold, but the faintest flicker of something unreadable lingered in his eyes as he looked her over, like he was making sure she wasn't hurt.
For once, Jiang Yue didn't argue.
But as she slid into the car, she completely forgot she was with her friend before he arrives, and Tessa was too busy admiring the handsome looks to remember her, and she caught Qin Yunze's amused glance.
"Oh, this is going to be fun," he said under his breath.
Jiang Yue had the sinking feeling he was right.