The Emerging Bond
As he walked out of the luxury boutique, Jiang Fan moved half a step behind Wei Yu Chen. The La Perla-logoed paper bag hung from the superstar's hand, as if it were merely a casual package from a bookstore. Yu Chen's cold aura was entirely unwavering, even though he had clearly just purchased something… unusual.
Jiang Fan stared at the man's broad back, taking a deep breath.
Ge… since when have you been like this? Buying women's underwear—or rather… Xiao's underwear—with the same seriousness as selecting a film property. I barely recognize you anymore.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Fan's lips.
You used to be like an untouchable stone statue, cold, never caring about trivial matters. But since Miss Xiao's arrival… it's as if that statue is beginning to crack, revealing a warm human beneath. You look alive, truly alive, like a normal person.
For a moment, he wanted to laugh out loud.
If your fans saw this, they would never believe it. Wei Yu Chen, the alpha male who never flinched at any rumor, is now willing to enter a lingerie boutique just to ensure someone's underwear size is perfect on her body. Insane.
This is truly insane. But… I like it. Because I know Miss Xiao brings a different kind of wind to you.
Jiang Fan's eyes darted to the paper bag Yu Chen carried, then back to the man. His face was tense, but there was a subtle, rarely seen light in his eyes.
"Ge," he murmured softly to himself, "you finally look human. Like a human who can fall in love, who can be restless, who can be flustered… not just a perfect figure always standing on stage."
Wei Yu Chen's footsteps sounded heavy yet steady as he strode down the hallway of his apartment. The luxurious branded paper bag was clutched in his hand, as if it were a trifle, yet his heart was beating faster than usual. The door to the master suite opened with a soft click, and that was when the world seemed to stop turning.
Inside, Xiaoxi had just finished showering. Her curly black hair was still half-damp, clinging to her soft, pale skin, casting a faint sheen as it caught the room light. She wore only a loose white robe, the fabric slipping slightly from her shoulder, revealing the subtle curve of her collarbone.
Wei Yu Chen froze.
For a fraction of a second, his hand still gripped the doorknob, his eyes locked without a blink. His breath hitched, as if the air in the room had been entirely stolen. Something wild crept into his gaze—something he himself could not comprehend. All this time, that spark had only ever appeared for Li Yuan Bo, the only person capable of penetrating his cold heart. But now, before his eyes, a half-damp Xiaoxi was shaking the solid wall he had built for so long.
A wave of hot energy spread from within his body, pressing against his chest, dropping to his solar plexus, then surging through every vein. Hot yet cold—a strange sensation that made his body tremble slightly. His fingers clenched the paper bag tighter, as if it were the only way to remain conscious.
Xiaoxi's usual chatter began to filter through.
"Huh? What is that? Don't tell me it's… stock documents? Or—oh! Don't tell me it's an employment contract to be your personal assistant. I'm not ready, Ge!"
The words sounded like a faint buzz in Yu Chen's ears. He saw Xiaoxi's lips moving, her silly, expressive face, but his brain couldn't truly process them. All the babbling simply passed through, drifting away into oblivion.
All that remained was the visual before him: the damp hair, the white robe, the pale skin reflecting the light, and the playful eyes that unwittingly pierced directly into the deepest recesses of his heart.
What is this…? his inner self trembled. Why am I feeling this again? Why with her?
Wei Yu Chen swallowed hard, his body feeling hot and cold, his chest tight. The paper bag in his hand felt like a suddenly unbearable weight.
And for the first time, Wei Yu Chen—who always stood firm and unyielding—felt defeated by the strange tremor within himself.
Wei Yu Chen was still standing at the doorway, his eyes unable to tear away from Xiaoxi, who was unknowingly presenting herself so… dangerously. The wet hair slowly dripping around her slender neck, the loose white robe that occasionally revealed glimpses of smooth pale skin, and the way Xiaoxi casually tousled her hair while grinning—all of it looked tempting through Yu Chen's eyes.
Yu Chen's chest rumbled. Not just because his heart was beating erratically, but because something wilder, more primal, was thrashing inside his body. The sensation moved downward, dragging him toward a direction he had believed impossible: something was reacting down there. And this was the second time Yu Chen felt it with the same person: Xiaoxi.
His eyebrows twitched faintly, his body stiffened, and for a moment, Wei Yu Chen was stunned into shock.
Impossible… how could this be…?
All his life, since reaching adulthood, he knew precisely that his body never reacted to women. No matter how beautiful, no matter how sensual, they were all an empty illusion to him. Yet now, just by gazing at Xiaoxi flipping her wet hair, his body felt hungry—a strange hunger, a frightening hunger that simultaneously made his blood boil.
There was a mad urge to step forward, to drag Xiaoxi into his embrace, to swallow those chattering lips into silence, to bury himself in the scent of soap and the softness of her skin. The desire to pounce came on so strongly, like a beast that had been long dormant inside him had suddenly awakened.
Wei Yu Chen closed his eyes briefly, his teeth clenched tightly. His fingers on the doorknob trembled slightly, then he hurriedly took a deep breath. His cheeks felt hot, even his ears flushed red—a reaction he had never experienced before.
Without offering any explanation, he placed the tote bag on the chair near the bed, then quickly stepped out of the room. His movement was stiff, almost rushed, as if he feared that if he stayed one second longer, he would truly lose control.
In the hallway outside the room, Yu Chen leaned his body against the wall. His chest rose and fell, his breathing was heavy, and his face was still flushed. His fingers pressed against his temples, trying to contain the storm of foreign emotions shaking his entire being.
Xiaoxi… what exactly are you doing to me…?
The room door closed with a rather sharp click, leaving Xiaoxi still standing in front of the large mirror with the tote bag in her hand. She blinked several times, trying to process what had just happened.
"Huh? What was that all about?" Xiaoxi mumbled playfully, her eyebrows furrowed, but her mouth was still wide open. "Just now… did Wei Yu Chen run away…? Why did he look like someone caught stealing midnight snacks from the fridge?"
She turned to the door, then looked back at her reflection in the mirror. Her half-damp hair cascaded sweetly, the loose white robe clung faintly to her tall, slender body, highlighting her shoulder line and collarbone. Her gaze fell upon the branded tote bag she had just opened.
"Ahh… the size is really me," she whispered dramatically, holding up a pair of luxurious international-labeled underwear. "Oh my God… is this really my size? Heh, turns out Wei Yu Chen's taste in innerwear is top-notch too…"
She dropped onto the bed dramatically, rolling over once while still hugging the tote bag. However, beneath all the chatter and silliness, a glimmer of warmth emerged in her heart. The feeling was faint, but enough to make Xiaoxi suddenly quiet and gaze toward the door Yu Chen had just closed.
"But… his face was so serious earlier," she whispered softly, her eyes softening. "Wei Yu Chen… thank you."
Wei Yu Chen exited the room with long, decisive strides, though a lingering blush on his ears and cheeks was visible beneath his composed expression. As the door closed firmly, he immediately found Jiang Fan, who had been sitting leaning on the living room sofa, busy staring at his laptop screen.
Without preamble, Yu Chen said in a low yet firm voice:
"Prepare the car. We are going to Wang Xiaoxi's office."
Jiang Fan looked up, startled, his eyes wide. "Huh? Xiaoxi's office? For what, Ge?"
Yu Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the emotional tone that nearly surged. "I will ask her company for a barter. Starting today, Xiaoxi must work at X Dragon Studio—as my personal assistant."
The sentence fell flat, cold and undeniable, but beneath the intonation, Jiang Fan caught something deeper: obsession mixed with a protective urge.
For a moment, Jiang Fan was silent, then his lips slowly curved into a smile. His gaze was triumphant, like a child who had just received rare candy. "Ge… you… finally said it." His voice was half a whisper, but clearly saturated with happiness.
Yu Chen glanced at him briefly, his expression still cold though his eyes slightly trembled. "Don't talk so much. Immediately prepare all the necessary documents. We must do this quickly, before the rumors outside grow wilder."
Jiang Fan stood up enthusiastically, hastily closing his laptop. "Understood, Ge! I'll handle everything. Trust the technical part to me."
As he walked toward the door, Jiang Fan paused to look back, staring at Yu Chen standing rigidly behind him. In his heart, he murmured with gratitude: Miss Xiao, it seems you truly are a miracle for Wei Yu Chen. I have never seen Ge Yu Chen make a decision this bold just for one person.