The call didn't connect.
Again.
Wang Hedi lowered the phone slowly.
His expression remained controlled—
but his thoughts weren't.
She had left early.
Didn't wait.
Didn't answer.
Didn't inform.
That wasn't like her.
[Outside Her House – The Break in Control]
Ten minutes later—
he stood in front of her door.
Too quiet.
Too still.
He knocked.
Once.
Then again.
Nothing.
His jaw tightened slightly—
not anger.
Something sharper.
Then—
his eyes dropped.
A note.
He picked it up.
"Don't worry."
"I'm at my boyfriend's house."
Silence.
"…boyfriend," he repeated quietly.
And for the first time—
he exhaled slowly.
but felt a bit lighter and relieved.
" This girl will be a death of me, but if she is the death I am happy to take it".
Because there was only one place that meant.
The drive back was fast.
But controlled.
His grip on the wheel tightened once—
then relaxed.
She didn't call him.
Didn't wait for him.
She made him come.
That thought didn't irritate him.
It pulled him deeper.
[His House – ]
The lights were on.
That alone—
was enough to make him stop.
He stepped inside.
Slow.
Measured.
And then—
he saw her.
Anxin stood near the living room.
Calm.
Still.
Waiting.
Like she had already decided something.
Hedi didn't move immediately.
Just looked at her.
"…you didn't answer your phone," he said.
Low.
Controlled.
She tilted her head slightly.
"…you still came."
That hit deeper than expected.
"…you left without telling me."
She stepped closer.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
"…I told you."
He held up the note slightly.
"…this?"
She nodded.
"…you read it."
Silence.
He stepped forward now.
Closing the distance between them.
"…you made me come here," he said.
"…I wanted to see if you would."
That stopped him.
"…you knew I would."
She looked at him—
steady.
"…I wanted to feel it."
That broke the last layer of distance.
Before she could step back—
his hand caught her wrist.
Firm.
But not rough.
And pulled her toward him she crashed in his chest, but it felt like she already belongs there.
Close.
Too close to ignore.
"…you shouldn't disappear like that," he said quietly.
"…I didn't disappear," she replied softly.
Their faces were inches apart now.
"…you still found me."
That wasn't defiance.
It was trust.
Hedi didn't respond with words.
He closed the distance.
And kissed her.
Not soft this time.
Not hesitant.
This kiss carried the tension of:
empty house
unanswered calls
the note
the wait
the control
Anxin reacted instantly.
Her hands gripping his shirt lightly—
not pulling away.
The kiss deepened slowly.
Warm.
Steady.
hungry,
His hand moved from her wrist to her waist—
holding her there.
Keeping her there.
When they broke—
neither of them moved away.
"…you didn't like it," she said quietly.
"…no."
"…what part?"
"…not knowing where you were."
That was honest.
Completely.
Her expression softened.
"…I'm here now."
A pause.
"…I stayed."
That word again.
This time—
she moved first.
Her arms wrapped around him.
Not tight.
But certain.
Hedi froze for half a second—
then held her back.
Stronger.
Closer.
"…you came without asking again," she murmured against him.
"…I don't ask when it's about you."
That made her smile slightly.
They stayed like that longer than expected.
Because neither of them wanted to let go first.
When she finally pulled back—
she didn't go far.
Her hand still resting lightly against his chest.
"…your house feels different today," she said softly.
"…because you are here."
She looked at him.
"…you say things like that too easily now."
"…I stopped holding them back."
A pause.
"…good."
This time—
she leaned in first.
And kissed him.
Slower.
Softer.
But somehow deeper.
Hedi responded immediately—
his hand moving back to her waist—
pulling her closer again.
The space between them disappeared completely.
Her fingers tightened slightly against his shirt.
His thumb brushed lightly against her side—
absent-minded.
Natural.
When they broke—
her forehead rested briefly against his.
"…you're getting used to this," she whispered.
"…If you are the reason I would love to."
She stepped away slowly—
walking further inside.
Not asking.
Not hesitating.
Like she already knew the space.
Hedi watched her.
Every movement.
Every step.
"…you're comfortable," he said.
"…I decided to be."
She turned back toward him.
"…you asked me to stay."
A pause.
"…so, I did."
Hedi walked toward her again.
Slower this time.
No tension.
No rush.
Just presence.
He stopped close.
Very close.
His hand lifted—
brushing a strand of her hair back gently.
"…then stay properly," he said quietly.
She looked at him.
"…what does that mean?"
A pause.
His voice lowered.
"…will you sleep with me?"
Silence.
And this time—
it wasn't tension.
It was something deeper.