The rain had stopped by morning, but the streets of Hangzhou were still slick and glimmering. Neon signs reflected on puddles, trembling under the soft weight of the sun filtering through the clouds.
Li Wei stood outside the dumpling shop, adjusting the collar of his jacket. He didn't usually visit this part of town. It was far from his villa, far from the polished offices of his father's empire. Yet something — something inexplicable — had drawn him back.
Inside, Chen Yulan was kneading dough at the counter, the pale skin of his hands dusted with flour. He hummed softly to himself, a sound so gentle Li Wei almost didn't notice it.
Li Wei cleared his throat.
Yulan's head snapped up, eyes widening slightly. "Ah, you're… back."
Li Wei smiled faintly, neutral but warm. "I hope I'm not intruding."
Yulan blinked. "No… not at all." He gestured vaguely at the steaming dumplings. "Breakfast is ready."
Li Wei watched him work, the way his slender fingers pinched the dough with precision, the way he tied his apron without looking down. Every small movement seemed deliberate, careful, yet effortless. He couldn't stop noticing.
"Do you always make them this early?" Li Wei asked.
Yulan paused. His voice was measured, cautious. "I like to start before the morning rush. Otherwise, everything becomes chaotic."
Li Wei nodded, leaning slightly on the counter. "I see."
There was a pause. One of those rare, suspended moments where neither spoke, but the air between them seemed charged.
Yulan suddenly cleared his throat and turned to place a dumpling on a plate. Their fingers brushed briefly. Li Wei froze, barely noticing, but Yulan jerked back.
"Sorry," Yulan muttered, face coloring faintly.
"It's… fine," Li Wei said quietly, almost to himself. He wanted to ask why he felt a strange warmth in his chest, but words failed him.
The First Hint of Danger
The door jingled, and a few rough-looking men entered, laughing too loudly. Their eyes scanned the shop, lingering on Yulan.
"Hey… this place isn't fancy, huh?" one sneered.
Yulan's fingers tightened around a bamboo steamer, but he forced a polite smile. "Welcome. Can I get you something?"
Li Wei's posture shifted subtly — not out of fear, but alertness. His eyes narrowed. Something in the men's gait, their smirk, told him they weren't just customers.
One of the men reached toward the counter, brushing against Yulan's arm as he did so. Yulan flinched instinctively.
"Hey! Hands off!" Li Wei said sharply. His voice was low, controlled, but every syllable carried weight.
The men froze. One laughed. "And who are you? Her… protector?"
Li Wei didn't answer immediately. He stepped forward, the dim light reflecting off the wet streets behind him, and his long hair swayed slightly with the movement. He didn't need to speak. The calm, dangerous precision in his stance was enough.
The men exchanged uneasy glances. They hadn't expected someone like this in a tiny dumpling shop.
"Don't make trouble," Li Wei said finally, his tone ice-cold. "Leave now, and I won't need to escalate."
The tallest of them scoffed. "Oh? And if we don't?"
Li Wei's hand moved almost imperceptibly — a subtle shift of weight, a tightening of fingers, a hint of the power coiled inside him.
Yulan swallowed hard, heart racing. He had never seen anyone handle danger like this before — quiet, precise, deadly calm.
The men hesitated. Something about Li Wei's presence, the air of controlled force, made them reconsider. Without another word, they turned and left, laughing nervously but avoiding the shop.
Yulan exhaled, shaky. "Y-you… didn't have to do that."
Li Wei's eyes softened slightly, though his posture remained alert. "I didn't want you hurt. Is that… so strange?"
Yulan averted his gaze, cheeks warming. "It's not… I just… I didn't expect it."
Li Wei leaned back slightly, resting against the counter. His voice was quiet, almost teasing, but with an undercurrent of intensity. "Do you want to get used to surprises, Yulan?"
Yulan's heart thudded so loudly he feared Li Wei would hear it. "I… I don't know."
Li Wei's gaze lingered on him a moment too long, thoughtful, unreadable, yet undeniably personal. Then he straightened and picked up his bowl of dumplings.
"I'll eat here," he said, sitting down at the table near the window. "And I'll be quiet."
Yulan watched him, still unsure. But inside, something had shifted.
Even if he didn't fully understand it yet, even if his heart fluttered against his better judgment, he wanted him here.
And for Li Wei, every glance, every accidental touch, every small sigh of relief from Yulan pulled him deeper into something dangerous and intoxicating. Something he couldn't resist.
Chapter 2