The filming of her anti-hero film wrapped that evening, the final scene shot under the dim, controlled lighting of the soundstage. Yuyan stood alone for a moment, her hand resting lightly on the edge of the table where her character had just been betrayed. The camera crew was packing up, exchanging quiet words, but the atmosphere felt different. She felt different.
The exhaustion that had settled into her bones for weeks now began to ease, replaced by an unexpected sense of relief. The film was finished, the challenge overcome. Yet, as she stood there, she realized something else—the drive that had pushed her through each grueling day wasn't the character or even the role itself. It was the sense of proving something—something to herself, and perhaps, to Luchen.
But when the wrap party invitation arrived, her heart sank.
Luchen had arranged it—his signature touch evident in every detail. The luxurious venue, the extravagant catering, the sparkling lights. Everything, down to the carefully chosen playlist, screamed wealth, power, and... control.
But he wasn't there.
Yuyan stood at the grand entrance, a glass of champagne in hand, her eyes searching the crowd. The room buzzed with conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses, but the absence of one person echoed louder than any noise.
She could feel the weight of the diamond ring he'd slipped on her finger weeks ago, heavy against her hand. For a moment, she wanted to rip it off, but she didn't. She couldn't. Not yet.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the crowd parted slightly, revealing an unexpected figure.
Xu Mei, ever perceptive, raised a brow as she approached. "You look...a little too composed for someone whose husband threw a party in her honor and then decided not to show."
Yuyan smiled, but it was strained. "Maybe he didn't want to be in the spotlight."
"Or maybe he's punishing you for not coming home last night. Who knows?" Xu Mei shrugged, looking around the room. "Either way, the film's done. Celebrate, Yuyan."
But as Yuyan sipped her champagne, her gaze lingered on the empty space where Luchen should have been. She tried not to care. Tried to tell herself that she was done playing this game. That she had other things to focus on. Yet, there was a tightness in her chest, an ache she couldn't ignore.
Her phone buzzed, and her heart skipped when she saw his name.
I'm sorry I couldn't be there.
She stared at the message, her thumb hovering over the screen. The words, so simple, so unlike his usual cold messages, made her chest tighten.
She quickly typed a response, her fingers trembling slightly as she hit send.
It's fine. Enjoy your night.
Before she could second-guess herself, she set the phone down, trying to push the knot of disappointment aside.
---
The night wore on, but the festive mood never fully reached Yuyan. Even as her co-stars congratulated her on her performance, all she could think about was Luchen's absence. She couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them—that she was starting to see the cracks in the wall he'd built around himself, and despite everything, she was beginning to care more than she should.
The clock neared midnight, and the music had become louder, more festive, but Yuyan stood on the balcony, the cool night air brushing against her skin. She leaned against the railing, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance, her thoughts a whirlwind.
The sound of footsteps behind her broke her reverie, and she turned to find a tall figure in a sharp suit—Zhao Luchen.
He was standing there, silent as ever, but the way he looked at her… there was something different. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were softer, warmer than they had been in weeks.
"Why didn't you come in?" she asked, her voice steady despite the sudden rush of emotions.
He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I wanted to see you like this. In your element. Not as my wife, not as someone I'm supposed to control."
Yuyan's heart raced. "You don't control me."
He smiled faintly, but there was something deeper in his gaze now. "No, I don't." He took another step forward, closing the distance between them. "But I'd like to be the one who stays by your side."
Her breath hitched as she looked up at him, feeling the weight of his presence. The tension between them seemed to stretch, thick and fragile.
"You've been distant," she said quietly. "Why now?"
His gaze softened, and for a moment, he seemed to hesitate. "Because I've been afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
He reached out, slowly, gently taking her hand in his. "Afraid of losing you. Afraid of how much I care."
The words, so raw and unguarded, left her speechless. Her mind raced, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. All she could feel was the heat of his hand in hers, the pull between them growing stronger.
"You're here," she whispered.
"Yes," he replied, his voice low, full of meaning. "And I'm not going anywhere."
---
As they stood there, in the quiet of the night, something shifted. The air between them was no longer filled with anger or confusion, but something more tender, more real.
Yuyan looked at him, the man who had been both her husband and her enemy, the man she had pushed away but never quite let go. In his eyes, she saw vulnerability, and for the first time, she understood. She understood the complexity of his emotions—how love and control, fear and desire, could so easily intertwine.
And as the city buzzed behind them, their hands clasped together in the cool night air, Yuyan realized one thing—this wasn't over.
It was just beginning.
---