The air inside the mansion's private gym felt different the moment they stepped into position.
The space was wide and immaculately designed, matte black flooring layered over shock-absorbent padding, mirrored walls reflecting their figures from every angle, racks of polished weights lining one side, and specialized combat equipment arranged with military precision.
Soft recessed lighting cast a low golden glow over the room, highlighting the tension already building between them.
Su Ning stood barefoot on the mat, her posture relaxed but alert. She wore fitted training clothes that allowed unrestricted movement, her hair secured in a high ponytail behind her head. Her eyes were calm, but beneath that calm was excitement.
Opposite her, Qi Xiyue dressed in black tank top, framing his ripped form, coupled with black pants rolled his shoulders once, flexing his fingers slowly. His expression was lazy, almost amused, yet his eyes were razor sharp. There was something about him his eyes, something darker, deeper, sharpened by power.
"Ready?" he asked.
His tone was smooth, but the way his gaze locked onto her said something else entirely.
Su Ning lifted one brow slightly. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
There was a faint smirk at the corner of her lips, teasing yet confident.
He chuckled low under his breath. "Then I can only make it worth your while."
The next second, she vanished from her spot.
There was no warning.
She materialized before him, as Qi surged from her palm in a compressed arc of energy, slicing through the air toward him with frightening precision. It was calculated, aimed at where he would dodge, not where he stood.
Qi Xiyue's pupils narrowed.
His body reacted before his thoughts did.
Phasing activated instinctively.
Her attack passed through him as if he were smoke, but the force behind it shattered the reinforced training dummy behind him into fragments.
He reappeared two steps to the left, eyes gleaming.
"That's new," he murmured, impressed.
Su Ning didn't answer.
She was already in front of him. Although she held back, she increased her speed and attacked ruthlessly, forcing his body to react faster.
Her foot swept low, targeting his balance point while her palm aimed toward his ribs. The combination was flawless, deadly in real combat.
Qi Xiyue phased through the strike, but this time she anticipated it. The moment he re-solidified, a second wave of Qi snapped toward him like a whip.
Rebound.
The energy reversed direction mid-air, hurtling back toward her at twice the force.
Su Ning twisted sharply, her hair slicing through the air as she evaded by mere inches. The Qi slammed into the mirrored wall behind her, spiderweb cracks spreading across the surface.
She inhaled slowly.
Interesting.
"You're improving too fast," she admitted, her voice steady though her eyes burned brighter.
Qi Xiyue's smile deepened. "And I'm glad you're impressed."
"I'm evaluating."
She launched again, faster this time.
Her movements became more ruthless—each strike seamless, each angle lethal. Qi wrapped around her limbs like invisible flames, amplifying her speed and power. She struck from blind spots, shifted directions mid-air, attacked from impossible angles.
And yet—
He did not fall.
Phasing allowed him to evade at critical moments, his body dissolving like mist when impact was unavoidable. Rebound turned her own force against her when timed correctly. Though he was still new to the abilities, his learning curve was terrifyingly steep.
Within minutes, his transitions became smoother, natural and fluid.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face when he began predicting her rhythm.
He stepped in closer now instead of retreating.
He adapted at a frightening speed.
He phased through a high kick, reappeared behind her, and reached for her wrist. She twisted, elbow driving toward his chest, but he caught her arm mid-motion.
Their eyes locked.
For half a second, the fight paused.
There was something intense in his gaze focused, sharp, burning.
Su Ning's heartbeat skipped, and that tiny fraction of distraction—
That was all he needed.
In one smooth motion, Qi Xiyue feinted a stumble, and in a swift motion, he tripped her using her own momentum. Su Ning hit the floor with a soft thud, his arm cushioning her fall, her eyes widening in surprise as he moved above her.
Before she could move, he followed through, both knees braced beside her thighs, one hand pinning her wrists above her head, holding firmly down.
The gym fell silent except for the sound of their breathing.
He looked down at her with that intense, unreadable gaze.
"Admit defeat," he said quietly, his voice carrying an edge of command that sent a shiver down her spine. His chest rose and fell steadily, his dark eyes fixed on her.
She swallowed subtly. "You distracted me."
A slow smile curved his lips. "That's part of combat."
They were closer than they had been all morning.
Close enough that she could see the faint sheen of sweat along his toned tattooed arms.
His hands tightened around her wrists. "Admit defeat." He repeated softly, eyes never leaving hers.
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. She licked her lips slowly, a smile curving at the corners. "What if I don't?"
His gaze briefly dropped to her lips, seeing that he was distracted, in a quick, deliberate movement, she wrapped her legs around his waist and, using a surge of Qi, flipped them over. She landed on top, straddling him, her laughter echoing lightly through the gym.
"You lost." She said smugly, her voice bright and teasing, oblivious to how close their faces were. Her hands rested on his broad chest as she leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Qi Xiyue's gaze darkened, locked onto her, captivated by her form, the sparkle in her eyes, and the teasing curve of her lips.
Without thinking, his arm circled her tiny waist, pulling her flush against his strong, muscled chest, the shocking softness of her body driving him to the edge of madness as he suppressed a groan.
The heat of his body, the firmness of his arms around her waist, and the sudden intimacy made Su Ning's cheeks flush crimson.
"I don't mind loosing in this position." He spoke, his tone deep and hoarse from restraint.
Her pulse quickened, her hands pressing lightly against his chest in response.
The tension was thick, almost tangible. Neither spoke; their breaths mingled, hearts racing, the electric charge of attraction and unspoken desire filling the space.
Every muscle in her body was alert, but her mind felt hazy, caught in the intensity of the moment. He leaned slightly closer, and she could feel the faint heartbeat pounding powerfully beneath her palm.
A sudden vibration broke the spell. Su Ning's phone buzzed insistently in her pocket. She took a deep breath to calm herself before reaching for her phone from her pocket.
As she tried to get up, his arm tightened briefly around her waist before letting her go.
Her face burned hotter than before, and she realized, with a small smile, that she could still feel the warmth of him even as she moved.
She answered the call quickly. "Hi" she said, voice softening as Chen Anya's bubbly, excited tone filled her ears.
"Ningning! I missed you so much! And I saw your post! Where are you?" Chen Anya gushed, the sound of her voice bright and energetic.
"I'm in London," Su Ning replied, her lips curving into a soft, amused smile.
"London?" She gasped through the phone. "Ningning why didn't you tell me? You could have brought me along! I've heard so many things about London, the city, the shops…beautiful men!" Chen Anya exclaimed, almost squealing with excitement.
Su Ning laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Next time, I'll bring you. Don't worry."
There was a pause, then Chen Anya's voice softened, curious and eager. "When are you coming back?"
"Monday morning," Su Ning said simply, her smile widening, softening the tension of her conversation.
"Oh! Perfect! Since you're the owner of our school, no one, not even the Minister of Education himself would have the balls to question you even if you missed school for the whole term!" Chen Anya teased, a playful lilt in her tone. "And free grades for me, maybe?"
Su Ning chuckled, shaking her head. "Definitely not, you are working hard young lady."
Chen Anya groaned. They chatted for a few more minutes, exchanging light-hearted banter until the call ended.
She tucked her phone back into her pocket, the warmth from her laugh still lingering, but immediately felt a subtle change in the air. The air became cooler, with a sharper edge. She turned slowly, her senses alert, and saw Qi Xiyue across the room, now on his feet.
His playful expression had vanished, replaced with a cold, unreadable intensity. His fists were clenched slightly, his eyes focused downward at his phone, absorbed in the message he read.