"I need to take a call," Li Xuanyin announced, his voice cutting through the gentle hum. "Fang Si Chang, take the card and pay the bill. Yue Lusi, Mira and Yue ChuChu, wait for me in the lobby."
His tone was firm—gentle, yet carrying something unspoken, something quietly distant.
With that, he stepped out, leaving a trail of curiosity behind him. Yue Lusi's gaze lingered on the door long after he left, the rim of her glass pressed to lips that didn't drink.
In the lobby, Yue Lusi, Yue ChuChu, and Fang Si Chang waited, their eyes occasionally drifting towards the entrance. A silence bloomed between them—still, but laced with tension.
Then the moment shattered.
"Surprise! I'm back, Gege," a cheerful voice exclaimed.
The group turned.
A radiant woman clung to Li Xuanyin from behind, laughter bubbling from her lips like she belonged there.
Yue Lusi's breath hitched—just slightly. But she didn't speak. She watched.
"Gege?" Yue Chuchu's voice trembled with surprise, echoing the disbelief crackling in the air.
Li Xuanyin smiled, gently disentangling himself. "Everyone, let me introduce Mei Linghua, my best friend and like a little sister to me."
Linghua's smile was bright—too bright. "Nice to meet you all," she chimed, her presence both effortless and invasive.
Li Xuanyin began the introductions, pointing to each person in turn. "This is Miss Yue, the CEO of YJ Corporation. This is Mira, her personal assistant. This is Fang Si Chang, her personal secretary. And this is her little sister, Chu Chu."
Linghua clung to Li Xuanyin's arm again, fingers wrapped around him like silk threads—gentle, yet hard to ignore.
Yue Lusi's stomach twisted, the knot tightening with each second. Her smile was porcelain—flawless, but cold.
"Excuse me, I need to go to the washroom."
"I'll come with you," ChuChu offered, sensing the shift in the air.
In the washroom, the silence was broken only by the sound of running water. The tap hissed softly. The mirror reflected Yue Lusi's composed face, but her eyes betrayed her.
Chuchu turned to her, curious and worried. "Unni, how do you know you're in love?"
Yue Lusi's gaze softened as she gently stroked Chuchu's head. Her fingers trembled slightly.
"When it hurts, but you still want to stay," she whispered, her voice tinged with a sadness she didn't want to name.
"But..." Chuchu began, but Yue Lusi cut her off gently.
"Let's go. They're waiting for us."
Back in the lobby, Li Xuanyin's voice carried a note of finality. "Fang Si Chang and Mira, please help Linghua home. I'll take Lusi and ChuChu."
"Okay," Si Chang replied, his tone respectful but wary.
"But Gege, don't you miss me?" Linghua's voice turned playful, laced with subtle longing, her acting cute both charming and too rehearsed.
"I have something to discuss with Mss Yue," Li Xuanyin replied, offering his hand to Yue Lusi. "Let's go," he said, his smile warm—too warm.
As they walked away, the air was thick with unspoken words and lingering emotions, every step echoing with a tension neither of them dared to voice. Lusi didn't take his hand, but what happened next,shocked everyone.
Li Xuanyin paused for only a beat, then without a word, he reached forward, sliding one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.
"What are you—" she gasped, stunned.
"Since you won't walk beside me, I'll carry you," he murmured, voice low, threaded with affection—and challenge.
Chuchu stifled a giggle behind them.
"Li Xuanyin! Put me down!" Yue Lusi hissed, cheeks aflame.
"No," he said simply. "You're mine to carry—whether you like it or not."
And just like that, he walked away with her in his arms, past the stunned gazes of Si Chang, Mira, and Linghua—leaving a trail of tension, possession, and something deeper, unsaid.
—————
As Li Xuanyin, Yue Lusi, and ChuChu arrived at home, the night had settled into a serene quiet. The soft glow of the porch light cast gentle shadows, creating an intimate atmosphere.
"Thank you for bringing us home,"She said, her voice barely above a whisper as she unlocked the door. Her back was to him, but she knew—felt—that he was watching her.
"It's no trouble at all," Li Xuanyin replied, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. That pause. That hesitation. It said more than his words.
Inside, the house was a sanctuary of calm. ChuChu, sensing the need for privacy, excused herself. "Goodnight, Sis. Goodnight, Xuanyin gege."
"Goodnight, ChuChu," they both replied in unison, their voices a fragile harmony in the stillness.
Yue Lusi led Li Xuanyin to the living room, where the soft light from a single lamp bathed the room in a warm glow. They sat down on the couch—close, but not touching. The air between them pulsed with something electric.
"Xuanyin," Hye-Jin began, her voice trembling slightly, "who is Mei Linghua to you, really?"
Li Xuanyin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She's just a friend, Lusi. Like a sister to me. There's nothing more."
Lusi looked down, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the couch. "It's just... seeing her with you, it made me realize how much I care about you."
Xuanyin reached out, gently lifting her chin so their eyes met. "Lusi, you mean more to me than anyone else. I need you to know that."
Tears welled up in Lusi's eyes, but she blinked them away, struggling to keep her composure. "It's hard, Xuanyin. Loving someone who might not feel the same way."
Li Xuanyin's expression softened. He took her hands in his, steady and warm. "I do feel the same way, Lusi. I've just been afraid to admit it."
A single tear escaped, rolling down Lusi's cheek. "Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I didn't want to risk losing you," Xuanyin confessed, his voice filled with vulnerability. "But I can't keep hiding my feelings anymore."
Yue Lusi leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to hide either," she whispered.
Then she just punched his shoulder and said, "What am I doing? Wait—what's our relationship?" She looked up at him, flushed, unsure, trembling between laughter and ache.
"Didn't you confess some minutes ago?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.
She groaned, burying her face in his chest from embarrassment. His chuckle was low, tender.
They sat there in the quiet of the night, holding each other, the weight of their unspoken emotions finally lifted. The world outside faded away, leaving just the two of them, bound by a love that had long waited to be spoken.
As Li Xuanyin Yue Lusi sat in the quiet of her living room, the weight of their emotions hung in the air. Li Xuanyin gently broke the silence.
"Lusi, there's something important we need to discuss about your company," he began, his tone serious yet careful.
Lusi straightened up, her expression shifting. "What is it, Xuanyin?"
"I've been looking into the recent financial reports and market trends," he explained. "There are some areas where YJ Corporation could face significant challenges if we don't act soon."
Lusi nodded, absorbing the shift. "I've noticed some fluctuations too. What do you suggest?"
Xuanyin took a breath. "We need to diversify our investments and focus on innovation. The market's evolving, and we can't rely on traditional strategies alone."
Lusi sighed, the weight of responsibility pressing in. "It's been tough… balancing everything. But you're right. We need to adapt."
Xuanyin squeezed her hand, grounding her. "You're not alone in this, Lusi. We'll work through it together. I believe in you—and in your vision."
A soft smile lifted her lips. "Thank you, Xuanyin. That means more than you know."
For the next hour, they strategized together. The conversation flowed easily—interwoven with subtle glances, quiet laughter, and unspoken promises.
As the night grew deeper, Xuanyin looked at Lusi with quiet admiration. "We'll get through this, Lusi. Together."
She nodded, eyes steady. "Yes. Together."
And in that fragile, luminous moment—they were not just allies. They were a beginning.