Zhan's Pov.
I sat in the living room, waiting for Wang. He had called earlier, saying he was on his way, so I left my room quietly, not wanting to wake Ji Li.
When Wang walked in, he didn't look happy. My chest tightened. Was he already missing Lusi?
"What happened?" I asked as I patted the couch, letting him sit beside me.
He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I... I don't know what happened last night, but I think I had sex with Lusi."
My body stiffened. Heat rushed to my face, but I forced myself to stay calm. My voice was lower than I intended when I spoke. "What do you mean?"
He explained everything, how he had woken up naked, how Lusi had told him they had been together, but he didn't remember any of it.
I didn't know what to say. Was I upset? Yes. Was I jealous? Yes. But for some reason, I knew he wasn't lying.
I picked up my phone and quickly messaged Dre. I told him what happened, and his reply came in seconds.
She must have drugged him.
I frowned. He didn't eat or drink anything. He was fine when he got home from dinner. I text back.
Maybe she made him sniff it, Dre replied.
I turned my phone toward Wang, and he cursed under his breath.
I stayed quiet, studying him. He looked frustrated, and guilty, like the weight of the world was crushing him. Without thinking, I pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay, baby," I whispered.
He leaned into me, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist. "Just a few more days," he whispered.
I smiled softly, thinking about it. Just a few more days and we'll leave this godforsaken place.
Two days later, our passports arrived.
I sat on the bed, staring at the small blue booklet in my hands. It felt unreal. Ji Li sat beside me, gripping his passport like it might disappear if he let go.
"We're leaving?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," I said, my heart pounding. "We are."
A message popped up on my phone.
Wang: I'm outside.
I grabbed Ji Li's hand, and we rushed out. Wang stood next to his bike, arms crossed, waiting. When he saw me, his eyes flickered to the passports in my hand.
"They're here?" he asked.
I nodded, passing them to him. He flipped through them, checking each one. When he finished, he exhaled deeply. "Everything's in order."
Ji Li clung to my sleeve. "What about Grandma?"
I hesitated. We hadn't told her yet. The thought made my chest tighten.
"We'll talk to her," Wang said firmly. "She deserves to know."
I nodded. "Yeah, we will."
Wang handed the passports back. "Dre finished setting up your account."
"Thank you, Wang," I said, meaning it.
He just nodded. Then, after a moment, he pulled me into a tight hug. His hand cradled the back of my head, and I closed my eyes, melting into him.
"Just a little longer, baby," he whispered.
I nodded against his chest, gripping his jacket.
A little longer, and we would be free.
"Come home with me," Wang said.
I didn't think twice. Without hesitation, I hopped onto the back of his bike, wrapping my arms around his waist. The engine roared beneath us, and in seconds, we were speeding down the road, leaving Ji Li standing alone.
The wind whipped against my face, but I barely felt it. My heart was pounding too fast, and my mind racing. Wang had never asked me to come home with him like this.
We didn't speak the whole ride. The tension between us was thick, but I couldn't tell if it was nerves or anticipation.
When we finally pulled up to his house, Wang killed the engine and I stepped off, waiting for him to do the same.
He climbed off, his legs slightly shaky. He didn't say anything, just grabbed my hand and led me inside.
The moment the door closed behind us, he turned to me, his dark eyes intense.
"Zhan," he said, voice low.
I swallowed hard. "Yeah?"
His hands came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. My breath hitched.
"I need you," he murmured.
And then he kissed me.
Wang's lips crashed against mine, urgent, desperate. I barely had time to process before I was kissing him back, my hands gripping his shirt as if he might disappear. His fingers tightened in my hair, pulling me closer, and deepening the kiss.
My heart pounded against my ribs. This kiss wasn't like the others. It wasn't careful or hesitant. It was raw, full of something I couldn't name but felt in every fiber of my being.
He gasped when I lifted him, carrying him effortlessly. He didn't break the kiss as I walked us toward his bedroom, kicking the door shut behind me.
I laid him down gently, hovering over him, his gaze searching mine. "Do you want this, you know, after Lusi?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
I nodded, breathless. "Yes."
That was all it took. His lips found mine again, his hands exploring, memorizing. I clung to him, my body burning with need, with love.
Time blurred after that. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word, Wang gave me all of him, and I gave him all of me.
When it was over, we lay tangled together, his arm draped protectively over me. My head rested against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"I meant it," he murmured, his fingers tracing circles on my back.
I looked up at him, confused. "Meant what?"
His dark eyes locked onto mine. "When I said I need you."
My chest tightened. I reached up, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "I need you too, Wang."
A small smile ghosted his lips. He pulled me closer, kissing my forehead.
"For now, just stay here with me," he whispered.
And I did. Because with him, I was home.
Wang's words caught me off guard. "Do you know the password to my safe?" he asked, almost casually.
I blinked, not sure how to respond. "No, I don't," I said, the confusion clear in my voice.
"It's your birthday," he said with a teasing smile, and I felt my cheeks warm at the reminder.
"Why?" I asked, still unsure where he was going with this.
"Just because I love you," he replied, his tone softening. "And just because I want to tell you."
His words made my heart flutter, and I couldn't help but smile. I wanted to say something back, but before I could, I remembered something. "I also have a surprise for you," I said, feeling a little more confident.
"What is it? Show me," Wang insisted, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"Not now," I said with a playful smile. "But it's a wedding gift." I leaned in, brushing my lips against his cheek, making sure my words lingered.
Wang chuckled softly, his hands coming to rest on my waist as he pulled me closer. "How sweet," he murmured, his voice full of affection. "I can't wait to see what it is."
I smiled, my heart full of warmth. Whatever this was, it felt right. Just the two of us, sharing moments like this, meant everything. I leaned in to kiss him softly, a promise of everything that was to come.
Wang deepened the kiss, his arms tightening around me as if he never wanted to let go. I melted into him, my fingers running through his hair, savoring the way he held me like I was something precious.
When we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine. "You're not going to tell me what the gift is?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
I chuckled. "Nope. You'll have to wait."
He groaned, tilting his head back. "You're torturing me, Zhan."
I smirked. "You'll survive."
Wang sighed dramatically. His hands rested on my hips as he gazed at me, eyes filled with something I couldn't quite name but it made my heart race.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked softly.
"For what?"
"For everything. For leaving. For us."
I didn't hesitate. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life."
A slow smile spread across his lips. "Good. Because once we leave, there's no going back."
"I don't want to go back," I whispered, brushing my fingers against his cheek. "As long as I'm with you, I don't care where we go."
Wang's grip on me tightened slightly, his jaw clenching as if my words hit something deep inside him. Then, without warning, he kissed me again slow and deliberate, as if he was sealing a promise between us.
When we pulled away, I whispered, "I love you."
His gaze darkened with emotion. "I love you too."
And just like that, I knew whatever happened next, we would face it together.
The next morning, Wang was up before me, pacing around the room with his phone in hand. His brows were furrowed in concentration, and I could tell something was on his mind.
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "What's wrong?"
He looked over, hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Our flight is booked. Dre just sent me the final details."
I perked up instantly. "When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow night."
Excitement and nervousness mixed inside me. It was finally happening. "That soon?"
"The sooner, the better." Wang walked over and sat beside me, pulling me into his arms. "We can't risk staying here any longer."
I nodded, understanding what he meant. We were running out of time. Black wouldn't stay quiet forever, and the longer we stayed, the more dangerous it became.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Are you scared?"
His lips curved into a smirk. "With you by my side? Never."
I smiled, resting my forehead against his. "Then let's do this."
He kissed me softly, lingering for a moment before pulling away. "We have a lot to prepare before we leave. Let's get to it."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. Tomorrow, everything would change. There was no turning back now.
The day passed in a blur of preparations as we went back to my place. Ji Li and Grandma were packing up what little they could take, even though Wang insisted we don't carry anything, while Mia clung to my side, asking a hundred questions about where we were going.
"Will there be ice cream there?" she asked for the tenth time, her big eyes shining with excitement.
I chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Lots of it."
She grinned, satisfied with my answer.
Meanwhile, Wang sat at the dining table, his laptop open, fingers flying over the keyboard. I walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure about this?"
He didn't look up. "It's better this way."
On the screen, I saw the transaction details, every last cent of Black's money being sent back to him.
"He's going to come after you," I murmured.
Wang smirked, finally glancing up. "Let him try."
I exhaled sharply, knowing there was no changing his mind. Wang never wanted anything that wasn't his, and this was his way of closing that chapter.
A moment later, he pressed the final button, and the transaction was complete. Black now had his money but I am sure he'd do something stupid.
"Done," Wang said, leaning back.
I nodded, but deep down, I knew Black wouldn't take this lightly.
Later that night, we all sat together in the small living room, Ji Li, Grandma, Mia, Wang, and me. For the first time in a long while, we felt like a family.
As the night stretched on and everyone slowly drifted off to sleep, I lay awake beside Wang, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. His arm was draped lazily over my waist as if he feared I'd disappear if he let go.
I turned slightly, whispering, "Wang?"
He hummed in response, eyes still closed.
"Why did you send all of Black's money back?" I asked softly. "We could've used it to start fresh."
Wang's eyes slowly opened, and he studied me for a moment before sighing. "We don't need it, Zhan."
I frowned. "But—"
He smirked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Black is poor. His money can't do anything for us."
His words held a finality that made my chest tighten. Wang never wanted easy money, never wanted to owe anyone anything.
"You trust me, don't you?" he asked.
I nodded without hesitation. "Always."
"Then trust that I'll take care of you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I don't need Black's money to do that."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling overwhelmed by how much this man loved me. He wasn't just leaving with me, he was making sure we started our life together on our terms, without debts or regrets.
I buried my face in his chest, whispering, "I love you."
Wang chuckled, tightening his grip on me. "I know."
I smacked his arm playfully, making him laugh, but deep down, I knew, this was the man I wanted forever with.
Tomorrow, we'd leave.
And this time, nothing could hold us back.