The police officer took Song Meiqi's statement while Wang Zi Rui stood to the side, watching her closely.
He then noticed how her fingers tightened around the pen and the slight hitch in her breath. She was scared—he could tell—but she hid it behind a faint smile and calm composure.
He furrowed his brows before looking away.
A while later, Meiqi waited by the station's exit, phone in hand as she opened the app to book a ride. At this hour, taxis were hard to come by, and it might take a while for a driver to respond.
Meanwhile, Zi Rui stepped out of the station and came to stand beside her. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before shifting to the taxi that had just pulled up, while Meiqi remained focused on her phone, frustrated as she failed to hail a ride.
Zi Rui reached for the backseat handle, ready to open it, but paused as the image of the man who had been following Meiqi flashed in his mind. He let out a quiet sigh—this wasn't supposed to concern him, and yet it did.
He turned to her, his gaze steady.
"Come on. I'll take you." he said, his low, raspy voice cutting through the chill of the night.
Meiqi stared at him, a flicker of shock and hesitation in her eyes. As his words sank in, she gripped her phone tighter and nodded.
Zi Rui opened the backseat door, and Meiqi stepped in—slightly surprised by the gesture. He then followed, and the car pulled away.
Elsewhere in H. City, Mengyao lay on her bed in her pajamas, staring at the bracelet on her wrist. The silver caught the dim glow of her bedside lamp, each glint a quiet reminder of that night—and of a certain someone.
Then, memories of that night in the Angel Bar flashed in her mind—
"Mengyao…" Si Haoran breathed, her name slipping out before he could stop it.
"Brother Haoran," she replied, just as surprised, the realization hitting her in an instant.
The pulsing beat in the background dulled to a blur as their eyes met, holding each other in a wordless trance. Then, a passerby brushed against her, the push gentle yet enough to make her lose her balance.
She stumbled forward—straight into Haoran's arms.
Haoran caught her, his hands brushing against the soft skin of her back—warm and electric.
Mengyao's heart raced as she caught the warmth of his breath, and for a moment, they stood frozen. A part of her wanted more, yet she knew it was wrong.
She began to step back, but her bracelet snagged on the fabric of his jacket, stopping her. Startled, she glanced down just as Haoran's eyes followed the movement—his gaze lingering on her hand before slowly returning to hers.
Mengyao turned onto her side, the bedsheets rustling softly beneath her. She placed a hand over her heart and smiled, her eyes flickering as those memories settled over her, warming her from within.
'She liked Haoran—and now, it was beyond her control.'
…
As the car moved through the quiet streets, Meiqi sat straight, feeling tense beside Zi Rui. The air seemed colder after discovering his true identity.
She stole quick glances at him, trying to guess what he was in his mind.
'He's not really thinking of banning me, right?' The thought made her uneasy, so she quickly shook her head to brush it away.
She then risked another glance at him and caught the faint crack along his glasses. Her chest tightened with guilt, the memory of those beer cans knocking them off flashing vividly in her mind.
Just as she was about to offer to pay for his glasses, the car slowed to a stop—they had arrived. They stepped out of the taxi and crossed the lobby, slipping into the elevator. Silence stretched between them, as they stood side by side.
Meiqi couldn't help but glance at him again while Zi Rui stood firm and calm, his posture unshaken as the elevator ascended. Yet something caught her eye—a faint, thin scratch just beneath his gleaming eyes, barely noticeable under the frame of his cracked glasses.
Her eyes widened, and she quickly looked away, a flush of guilt and embarrassment creeping over her. She had wronged and injured someone as powerful as him.
Seconds later, the elevator dinged open at the thirteenth floor, yet Meiqi remained rooted to the spot. Zi Rui's eyes flicked toward her, a faint crease of curiosity appearing between his brows—why hadn't she stepped out?
Zi Rui opened his mouth, about to ask why she hadn't stepped out yet, when Meiqi suddenly turned to face him. Her wide, sincere eyes met his, flickering with a mixture of curiosity and hesitation.
"Le—let me treat your wound… Mr. Wang?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zi Rui's gaze met hers, steady and unflinching. For a moment, the quiet between them stretched, filled only by the faint hum of the elevator. Her question, simple yet laden with concern, seemed to linger in the air, pulling at something unspoken within him.
They stepped inside her apartment.
Inside, everything felt muted—the distant hum of traffic and occasional horn pressing close, yet unable to disturb the stillness within.
Zi Rui's eyes scanned the unfamiliar space. Unlike his own orderly, meticulously arranged surroundings, hers was cluttered with a jumble of belongings, each item seemingly placed at random.
Yet, it held a quiet warmth, one he couldn't quite describe.