The next afternoon, I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all.
I lay on the floor for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the heaviness in my chest to fade. It didn't.
Grandma was already awake, sitting by the window knitting, as usual.
"Good afternoon," I mumbled, sitting up.
She glanced at me over her glasses. "You look tired."
I forced a smile. "Just a long night."
She hummed but didn't press. "Mia brought lunch before heading out. Eat before it get cold"
I nodded, dragging myself up. I wasn't hungry, but I ate anyway, knowing Grandma would scold me if I didn't.
After eating, I chatted with grandma for 4 hours, had my bath, grabbed my bag which contains my work clothes and left.
I told myself I was just going to see Dre, check in before work like I said I would.
But deep down, I knew why I was really going.
I needed a distraction.
Dre's apartment smelled like alcohol and cologne when I stepped inside.
He was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone, but when he saw me, his lips curved into a slow smirk.
"Look who actually showed up."
I rolled my eyes and dropped my bag. "I said I would."
He set his phone aside and stretched, his muscles flexing under his tight shirt. "You look tense, Zhan."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, well, my life is a mess. Nothing new."
Dre studied me for a second before leaning forward. "You could relax, you know."
I met his gaze, already knowing what he meant.
And I wanted to.
Because when Dre touched me, it was easy to forget.
I didn't have to think about Wang, or Yu Bin, or the gnawing feeling in my chest that told me my life was about to change again.
So I closed the distance between us.
My hands gripping his waist as I pulled him onto my lap. His touch was rough, impatient, exactly what I needed.
No emotions. No thoughts. Just this.
I take control, he let me strip him down and press him against the couch.
For a while, I let myself drown in him.
In the heat, the hunger, the way his hands moved like he knew exactly how to pull me apart.
And for a moment—just a moment—I forgot everything else.
Afterward, I lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, my body still warm from his touch.
Dre propped himself up on one elbow, watching me. "You good?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
But I wasn't.
Because as soon as the haze faded, the weight in my chest came crashing back.
And I realized nothing had changed.
Dre leaned down, pressing a lazy kiss against my shoulder. "You should call in sick. Stay a little longer."
I shook my head, sitting up. "I can't."
He sighed but didn't argue. "Fine. But be careful, Zhan."
I didn't answer. I just got dressed, grabbed my bag, and left.
But as I stepped out onto the street, I felt it again.
That same, lingering feeling of being watched.
I turned, scanning the street, but there was no one there.
Still, my heart wouldn't settle.
Because deep down, I knew...
The club was packed by the time my shift started, music vibrating through the walls as bodies moved under dim neon lights. I kept my head down, focused on serving drinks and avoiding unnecessary attention.
But my mind wasn't here.
It was still stuck on last night.
On Dre's hands, his mouth on my cock, the way he knew exactly how to pull under me, and, even after all that, I still felt empty.
I sighed and grabbed another tray of drinks, weaving through the crowd.
Then, just as I reached the VIP section, I saw him.
Dre.
He was sitting comfortably in one of the booths, one arm draped over the backrest, his eyes locked on me the moment I noticed him.
I hesitated. He never came here.
I forced myself forward and set the drinks down, ignoring the heat of his gaze.
When I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist, his touch light but firm.
"Come home with me after your shift," he said, voice low enough that only I could hear.
I blinked. "No"
His fingers brushed over my palm, and then, suddenly, he was slipping a thick stack of cash into my hand.
"I'll pay you."
For a second, I just stood there, gripping the money, my mind scrambling to process what he was asking.
Come home with me. I'll pay you.
I pulled my hand back and tucked the money into my apron. "I don't need you to pay me, Dre."
He smirked, tilting his head. "That so?"
I exhaled sharply. "If I come, it's because I want to. Not because of this." I patted the cash.
Dre's smirk didn't fade, but something in his eyes shifted, like my answer had pleased him.
"Alright," he said, leaning back. "I'll wait."
I shook my head and walked away, heart pounding. I told myself it didn't mean anything.
I could still feel the weight of the money in my apron pocket, each step heavier than the last as I moved through the crowd. My fingers brushed against the cash, and my chest tightened.
I'll pay you.
I hated the way that made me feel — like I was something to be bought. But what scared me more was that I needed the money.
I shook the thought away, balancing the tray in my hand, my body moving on autopilot. I just needed to finish my shift, get out of here, and clear my head.
But when I glanced back at the VIP section, my blood ran cold.
Wang was there.
He sat in a shadowed corner, legs spread lazily, a glass of dark liquor in his hand. His suit was perfect, not a single hair out of place, but his gaze? His gaze was locked on me.
And I knew — he'd seen everything.
The exchange with Dre. The money. The way I didn't immediately reject it.
My stomach twisted.
Why did I feel like I got caught cheating in a relationship I never had?
I barely knew Wang. He was a stranger, a man whose house I'd accidentally trespassed into, who watched me like he was trying to figure out what made me tick.
But standing there, caught in his stare, I felt small. Exposed.
Like I'd done something wrong.
I turned quickly, my heart hammering, and forced myself to keep working. But I couldn't focus. My hands shook as I poured drinks, and I dropped a glass, cursing under my breath as it shattered.
One of the other servers helped me clean it up, but I barely heard her talking.
Because I felt him watching me the entire time.
Silent. Unmoving. Unrelenting.
By the time my shift ended, my body was drained, but my mind wouldn't stop racing.
Dre was waiting like he said he would, leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette.
"You ready?" he asked, flicking the ash away.
I opened my mouth to answer, but then I glanced back toward the VIP area, my heart lurching.
Wang was gone.
But somehow, that made me feel even worse.
The moment we got to Dre's place, I didn't waste time.
I shoved him inside, slamming the door behind us. My blood was hot, my mind clouded with something I didn't want to name. Anger. Frustration. Confusion.
Wang had been watching me all night, his gaze burning through me, making me feel ashamed for something I shouldn't even care about.
I needed to get rid of this feeling. I needed control.
And Dre? Dre was more than willing to let me take it.
He smirked as he backed toward the bed, tossing his cigarette pack onto the nightstand. "Damn, Zhan. You look like you wanna break something."
"I do." My voice was rough, low, filled with something dark.
Dre's smirk widened. "Then do it."
That was all the permission I needed.
I grabbed him hard, as I pushed him onto the mattress. He let out a sharp breath, his hands gripping my arms, but he didn't stop me. He never did.
I made quick work of his clothes, stripping him down as he lay back, watching me with half-lidded eyes, his breathing uneven.
"Turn over," I ordered.
He grinned but obeyed, rolling onto his stomach, lifting his hips slightly like he already knew what was coming.
Good.
I didn't go slow. I didn't give him time to adjust. I stretched him, prepped him roughly, my touch borderline punishing. But Dre? He loved every second of it.
He groaned into the sheets, his back arching, body trembling as I pushed into him. "Fuck, Zhan—"
I gritted my teeth and moved, fast and deep, my fingers digging into his hips hard enough to bruise. I needed to take something, to reclaim my power, to forget about the way Wang had looked at me like he had a right to judge.
Dre took everything I gave him, moaning, his body opening up for me in ways that only made me rougher.
"You like this, don't you?" I muttered, my breath ragged.
"Yeah," he gasped, pushing back against me. "Fuck yeah, give it to me"
I did.
I didn't stop until my muscles burned, until sweat dripped down my spine, until every ounce of frustration had been pounded into him.
And when it was over, when I finally pulled out and collapsed beside him, my body exhausted, Dre just chuckled, flipping onto his back.
"Shit," he breathed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "If I knew pissing you off would get me fucked like that, I'd do it more often."
I rolled onto my side, my chest still rising and falling heavily.
But my mind was still a mess.
Because even after all of that, after taking what I wanted, how I wanted...
Wang was still there. In my head. Watching.
And I had no idea why that scared me.
By the time I got home, it was almost 1 PM. My body ached, my mind was foggy, and the weight of exhaustion settled deep in my bones. I just wanted to sleep—to turn off my brain for a few hours.
But the moment I stepped inside, I noticed something different.
The third room, which had been empty since we moved in, was now neatly arranged. The faint scent of fresh wood polish and new fabric lingered in the air.
I frowned, glancing toward Grandma, who was sitting by the window as usual, knitting with a peaceful expression.
"You're back," she said without looking up. "I left food for you in the kitchen."
"Thanks," I muttered, setting my bag down. Then I nodded toward the newly occupied room. "Who moved in?"
"A young man," she said casually. "Quiet, well-mannered. He finished arranging his things this morning and left almost immediately—said he needed to do clearance in school."
I hummed, rubbing the back of my neck. A student. That meant he was probably younger than me, maybe early twenties.
"Did he say his name?"
Grandma finally looked up, giving me a knowing look. "Why? Do you plan to interrogate him?"
I rolled my eyes. "No. Just curious."
She chuckled softly and went back to her knitting. "He introduced himself, but I didn't catch his full name. Just 'Wang.'"
My heart stopped.
Wang.
The room felt too small, the air too thick. My pulse pounded in my ears as I stared at the door to the third room, my hands clenched into fists.
It couldn't be.
It had to be a coincidence.
I hadn't even finished shrugging off my jacket when Grandma asked, "You're late today. What happened?" Her voice was light, but I could hear the hint of concern behind it.
I quickly covered, "Double shift. I was off tonight, so I'm just making up for the extra hours."
She nodded, satisfied with the explanation, though I felt guilty for lying. But I couldn't let her know what had really happened.
Just as I was about to sit down, the door opened, and I turned to see a few people carrying boxes and bags inside.
And then, there he was.
"Grandma, good afternoon," he greeted her, his voice smooth.
"You're back so soon," Grandma said with surprise, but also genuine interest. "How did the clearance go?"
Wang chuckled, brushing his hands over his jeans. "My mom helped with the clearance, so instead, I went to the market. I figured we should have a proper living room so we won't be cramped in our rooms all day."
I let out a relieved breath, thanking the gods for not making him the same Wang I thought I'd known. But that relief was short-lived, replaced by something else I couldn't quite identify.
Grandma beamed and gestured toward me. "This is my grandson, the one I told you about."
I forced a smile, trying to act casual, though my heart was still racing from the surprise.
Wang looked at me with an easy grin. "Hello," he said, stepping forward and giving me a rough hug. "Sorry," he added quickly, pulling back with a sheepish grin. "I met Mia, and I'm excited to meet you. Feels like I've got siblings now!"
The hug had been unexpected, but it wasn't unpleasant. It was just... too much.
As the people began arranging the living room, setting up furniture and adjusting things to fit, I stood there for a moment, unsure how to react.
My life had suddenly become too complicated.
Too many connections, too many faces.
But for now, all I could do was nod and smile, playing the part of the grandson in a strange new world I hadn't asked for.