Wang's Pov.
It's been a week, and I'm relieved my parents are gone. My mom was suffocating me with her constant nagging. At least we agreed that Lusi would stay for another two weeks before leaving.
To pass the time, I take her out shopping, to fancy restaurants, and for evening walks. She clings to me like a lost puppy, but I don't mind.
One thing is clear—Lusi has never lifted a finger in the kitchen. She doesn't even know how to warm food, let alone cook. Watching her struggle with a microwave is almost amusing... almost.
Seeing Zhan every two days is the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks to Dre, who always has an excuse—some boy's hangout, a game night—I get to escape, even if just for a while. It's not ideal, but we take what we can get.
Lusi and I haven't even shared a kiss. I told her it's against my beliefs to do so before marriage, and she accepted it without question. I tolerate her excesses, staying polite. I refuse to give my mom any reason to blame Zhan.
Dre is picking me up, but Lusi insists on coming along. I tried reasoning with her, but she wouldn't budge.
I told Dre, and he laughed. "We'll make her so exhausted that she'll beg to leave."
Tonight wasn't actually game night, but Dre worked his magic and pulled a good crowd. Since Lusi insisted on coming, I drove behind him. The moment we arrived, it was obvious—she was the only female among at least thirty guys.
I made sure to introduce her to every single one of them, one by one. She smiled politely at first, but I could already see the discomfort creeping in.
Once the games started, the room exploded with noise—drinks flowing, guys shouting, bets being placed. Lusi tried betting a few times but lost.
I scanned the room for Zhan. He wasn't here yet.
Just as I was beginning to feel impatient, Zhan walked in, looking like a damn bag of snacks.
He wore a deep blue shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off those toned arms. Paired with sleek black trousers, he looked effortlessly perfect. But it was the undone buttons—two of them—that made my stomach clench. The hint of his collarbone, the tease of skin—I twitched with need.
He smiled at everyone except me. Our eyes met for a fleeting second before he looked away, leaving me burning.
Lusi, completely oblivious, sighed beside me. "Finally, some eye candy."
I clenched my jaw. Mine.
Jealousy burned through me like wildfire the moment Lusi sighed dreamily.
"He looks so cute and calm," she said, eyes following him across the room. Then she turned to me with a teasing smile. "But don't be jealous. I'm with you, and you're the most handsome."
I forced a smile, gripping my drink tighter. Jealous? Maybe. No—definitely. The way she looked at him, even for a second, made my blood simmer.
But what stung more? Zhan still hadn't looked at me again.
I exhaled sharply. Two can play this game.
"Come on," I said, grabbing Lusi's hand. "Let's get something to drink."
Lusi beamed as I led her toward the drinks table, but my mind was elsewhere—on Zhan. He was across the room, laughing at something Dre said, still ignoring me. The heat of my jealousy only grew stronger.
I poured Lusi a drink, my grip a little too tight on the bottle. She kept rambling about how fun this was, how nice everyone seemed, but I wasn't really listening. My eyes kept drifting to Zhan.
Then, as if sensing my gaze, he finally looked at me. Just for a second. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face before he smirked—smirked—and turned back to Dre.
That was it. Game on.
I turned to Lusi, forcing a grin. "Wanna dance?"
She blinked in surprise but nodded eagerly. If Zhan wanted to play, I'd make sure he watched every damn second of it.
I led Lusi to the center of the room, where a few guys were messing around, half-dancing, half-joking. The music pulsed through the air, loud and heavy, but all I cared about was making sure Zhan saw me.
Lusi wasn't a great dancer—she mostly swayed, giggling—but I played along, hands resting lightly on her waist. I leaned in just enough to make it look intimate, whispering something that made her laugh.
I didn't have to check—I felt Zhan's eyes on me.
When I finally stole a glance, he was watching, jaw clenched, fingers tapping against his glass. But just as quickly, he turned back to Dre, pretending I wasn't affecting him.
Lusi grinned up at me. "You're so sweet," she murmured, resting her head on my shoulder.
Sweet? Maybe. But the way Zhan shifted in his seat, the tension in his body? I was winning.
I was just starting to enjoy my little victory when movement from the corner of my eye made my stomach drop.
Zhan was on the dance floor. With some guy.
My grip on Lusi tightened as I watched him smirk at the guy, moving fluidly to the beat, his body relaxed, teasing. The guy—some tall, cocky-looking bastard—placed a hand on Zhan's waist, and Zhan let him.
My blood boiled.
Lusi giggled, completely unaware of the fire raging inside me. "Looks like everyone is having fun too," she mused.
Fun? I clenched my jaw. He was doing this on purpose.
Fine. If he wanted a war, I'd give him one.
I turned to Lusi, sliding my hands down her back, leaning in close. "Let's show them how it's done," I whispered.
If Zhan wanted to play dirty, I'd play dirtier.
I was so consumed by jealousy that I didn't even realize what I was doing until it was too late.
I kissed Lusi.
It was nothing—no spark, no fire, no meaning. Just lips touching. But I thought maybe, just maybe, it would make me feel like I had won.
Instead, I ruined everything.
Zhan stopped dancing immediately. His eyes locked on me, wide with shock, his body going completely still. Then, without a word, he turned and walked off the dance floor, disappearing into the hallway.
"Shit," I muttered, pulling away from Lusi before she could say anything.
I followed Zhan, my heart pounding. By the time I found him, he was in the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. His back was tense, his reflection unreadable in the mirror.
I didn't think—I just grabbed his wrist and pulled him out, dragging him down to the parking lot, away from everyone.
"Zhan, I'm sorry," I blurted out, breathless. "I didn't mean to do that."
He scoffed, shaking his head, looking anywhere but at me. "Didn't mean to?" His voice was cold. "Seemed pretty intentional from where I was standing."
I swallowed hard. How the hell do I fix this?
"I thought you were ignoring me. You wouldn't even look at me," I say, my voice tight.
Zhan lets out a sharp breath, shaking his head. "I was trying so hard not to look at you because you looked so damn good, and I was tempted to kiss you." His voice is raw, full of emotion. "But you're with your fiancée, Wang. I didn't want to create a scene."
Shit. I run a hand through my hair, frustration clawing at my chest. "I didn't know," I murmur. "I thought you were playing games with me."
Zhan lets out a bitter chuckle, but there's no humor in it. "You're the one playing games, Wang. You were rubbing her in my face all night—and then you kissed her." His voice softens at the end, and that hurts more than if he had yelled.
I step closer, desperate. "I swear, I've never kissed her before. And I didn't feel anything." My voice cracks slightly, thick with emotion. "It was a mistake, Zhan. You're the only one I—"
He looks up at me, eyes unreadable, but I can see the hurt lingering beneath them.
"Then prove it," he whispers.
"How?" I ask, confused and angry at the same time.
Zhan crosses his arms, his jaw tight. "You and Lusi should get to know each other," he says, his tone cold. "She's going to be your wife, right?" He lets out a bitter laugh. "I guess you've already started exploring each other's bodies."
I flinch, the accusation hitting me harder than expected. "Zhan, it's not like that," I say, shaking my head.
"Really?" He tilts his head, eyes burning into mine. "Because from where I stood, it looked pretty damn real."
I step closer, my frustration boiling over. "I told you—I didn't feel anything!"
"Then why did you do it?" His voice is softer now, but there's something broken underneath. "Why, Wang?"
I open my mouth, but no words come out. Because I was jealous? Because I wanted to get back at you? Because I wanted you to notice me?
All of them sound ridiculous now.
Zhan shakes his head, taking a step back. "You don't even know, do you?"
Shit. I hate when he looks at me like this—like I just proved every doubt he's ever had about me.
"Zhan—"
"Forget it," he mutters, turning to leave.
"Don't act all innocent," I hiss, grabbing his wrist before he can leave. My anger flares, uncontrolled, reckless. "I know what you did with Dre. And his ex. And Black. So don't fucking act like you're better than me."
The second the words spill out of my mouth, regret wraps around me like a suffocating blanket.
Zhan freezes. His eyes widen in shock—real shock. Then his jaw clenches so tightly I can see the sharp outline of it, his chest rising and falling with deep, controlled breaths.
"You should be grateful for your family," he says, voice quiet but firm. "If you knew what I've endured, you wouldn't judge me for doing what I did to survive."
I want to take it back. I didn't mean it like that.
But before I can fix it, before I can even breathe, he looks at me—just once, something unreadable in his gaze—and then he turns and walks away.
I don't chase him this time.
I just stand there, fists clenched, watching the only person I truly want disappear into the night.
He doesn't stop. Doesn't look back. Just keeps moving until he disappears around the corner, leaving me in the cold, suffocating weight of my own words.
Shit.
I run a hand down my face, my chest tightening. I didn't mean it—not like that. I was angry, jealous, desperate to make him hurt the way I was hurting. But now? Now I just feel like the worst person alive.
I turn back toward the building, but I can't go inside. Not with Lusi, not with Dre, not with anyone.
I need to fix this.
I grab my keys and head toward my car, my heart pounding. I don't know where Zhan went, but I know I have to find him. I have to make this right.
My mind was a mess—regret, anger, confusion, all swirling together. I wasn't thinking. I barely noticed when I turned onto the expressway, my grip on the wheel loose, my vision blurred with frustration.
Then, before I could even process what was happening—bright lights. A deafening horn.
CRASH.
The impact slammed through me like a tidal wave. My car spun, metal screeched against metal, my body jerked violently. For a moment, everything was chaos—glass shattering, tires screeching, pain exploding through me.
Then—darkness.
Everything faded.
A sharp, rhythmic beeping pulls me from the darkness. My body feels heavy, my head throbbing. When I try to move, pain shoots through my side, forcing a groan from my lips.
Hospital. I'm in a hospital.
Then I see him—Zhan. Sitting beside my bed, arms crossed, eyes unreadable.
His words hit me harder than the crash as I remember them.
I swallow, guilt washing over me. "Zhan..."