As the SUV with the Everbloom members inside slipped out of the exit, a few fans who had been waiting late into the night trailed behind, their shadows stretching under the dim streetlights.
Inside a nearby white van, two men watched the commotion with quiet intensity, dashboard lights flickering across their faces as their eyes tracked every movement outside. They stayed still, waiting—then a BMW emerged from the exit.
Both of the men look at each other with a knowing look. They started their car, their eyes sharp determined to catch up to the van.
What they didn't know was that another car had appeared right behind it—inside were the main targets of their scoop, Si Haoran and Song Meiqi.
"Why are you here, Haoran?" Meiqi asked from the passenger seat, her voice soft, tinged with fatigue and worry.
Haoran, who was driving, glanced at her, a faint smile on his lips. "Why?… Because I miss you." He chuckled lightly, as if her question were obvious.
But Meiqi's gaze stayed fixed on him, her expression unreadable.
"You shouldn't be here," she murmured, her fingers curling over the edge of her seatbelt. "It's not safe."
Haoran's smile faltered, but only for a second before he recovered. "Safe from what? The fans? The reporters? I can handle that."
Her chest tightened. "It's not just that." She turned toward the window, watching the blur of streetlights flicker past. Then she noticed—a dark car was keeping pace behind them.
Haoran noticed her sudden stillness. "What is it?"
She hesitated, debating whether to voice her fear, when the car behind them changed lanes, closing the gap slightly. A faint shiver crept up her spine.
"Nothing," she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
The stalker fan hadn't made a move in hours, yet the gnawing sensation of being watched refused to leave her. It clung to her like a shadow she couldn't shake.
She stole a glance at Haoran—once, he had been her safe place, the one person who could steady her no matter what chaos swirled around.
Yet now, even at his side, doubt threaded through her trust. The unease sat heavy in her chest, blurring the line between fear of the stalker… and fear of what she might learn about him.
Meiqi looked away and turned her gaze to the scenery slipping past the window.
Meanwhile, several streets away, the white van closed in on the BMW—its occupants unaware their real targets were already slipping deeper into the city night.
Minutes later, the BMW pulled into a refueling station. A round-faced man stepped out from the driver's seat, catching the two men tailing them off guard.
"This…" The man in the passenger seat froze, confusion flickering across his face as he looked to his master.
"We've been tricked," the driver growled, his expression hardening into a deep frown.
…
As the night deepened, faint lights glowed within the Wang Mansion, while its residents slept in silence.
Yet, in the quiet kitchen, a man's silhouette shifted as he opened the fridge. Wang Zi Rui grabbed a bottle of cold water and closed it.
He had barely turned to the counter when a figure startled him. His chest tightened for an instant, but his composure didn't falter. Then his brows slowly arched as recognition set in—it was his sister.
"Yi… Yixiao? Why are you up at this hour?" he asked, his tone calm but touched with mild surprise.
Yixiao adjusted her glasses in the dim light, her voice drowsy yet light. "I was about to sleep, but my stomach growled, so I came for something to eat."
Zi Rui's eyes flickered with quiet amusement, and a faint smile slowly tugged at his lips. It's been a while since he saw her like this.
Soon, the rich aroma of cold sesame noodles filled the quiet kitchen. Yixiao watched him—her brother, but strangely unfamiliar. His quiet care felt entirely new.
Then, she took her first bite. A small smile spread across her lips as the sweet, rich flavor sank in. Zi Rui stood beside her, watching her eat. Her eyes gleamed through her glasses—golden brown and strangely familiar.
Unbothered by his steady gaze, Yixiao finished her last bite and slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. Then, she slid two tickets across the counter.
Zi Rui picked them up and saw they were Everbloom concert tickets. He met Yixiao's eyes, his gaze quietly asking why she had given them to him.
"You don't have to go… I just… wanted to give this to you," her voice barely a whisper. Pushing herself up, she stood and added, "Thanks for the food," then left, leaving Zi Rui in silence.
…
In the dim glow of Meiqi's apartment, two figures leaned on the couch, Haoran's lips brushing hers. Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder as his slid along her back. Yet, a flicker of unease crossed her brows.
Her heart raced, caught between warmth and caution. When Haoran deepened the kiss and his hand slipped beneath her top, a cold shiver ran through her—the same uneasy feeling from childhood.
She pulled back instantly, her eyes trembling with panic and fear—emotions Haoran Knew all too well. She always reacted this way whenever he tried to go further.
A flicker of frustration surged through him, though he kept it hidden. Then Mengyao's image crossed his mind—she had never pulled away from his touch like this, he thought.