They all came a bit too suddenly.
Kelvin, clearly unsettled by Stella's recent cold shoulder, had barged in that morning under the flimsy pretense of "just visiting as a friend." His timing was awkward, but since Lin Wei's group needed extra hands for the upcoming tasks, they didn't push back. They let him and the others in with polite smiles.
Among them was Chen Yuxi's boyfriend—He Mingkai.
He had a head of slightly tousled brown hair, a clean-cut face, and the kind of smile that seemed harmless, almost boyish. At first glance, he gave off the vibe of an honest, easygoing guy. But Lin Wei wasn't convinced. From what little he'd gathered through casual conversations and quiet observations in the friend circle, He Mingkai wasn't as simple as he looked.
There were whispers. A few veiled comments. Enough for Lin Wei to form a rough picture: a guy good at playing nice, skilled at navigating social situations, and more calculating than people gave him credit for.
And this morning only confirmed his suspicion.
When He Mingkai came up to greet Chen Yuxi with a seemingly sweet smile, everything looked picture-perfect on the surface. But Lin Wei's eyes caught something else—a brief, flickering glance.
His gaze drifted.
Not toward Yuxi, but toward Stella. Subtle, but unmistakable. His eyes lingered just a bit too long on her figure, sliding over her curves with a look he probably thought no one would notice.
Lin Wei frowned slightly.
So much for the loyal boyfriend act.
Not that Lin Wei cared.
At least, that's what he told himself.
After all, his girlfriend had also spent a steamy night with that blue-haired, too-handsome-for-his-own-good guy from the other group. He'd seen it—not by choice, but because Xueyin had dragged him out for a midnight stroll, and fate had decided to deliver a gut punch in the form of dim lights, muffled sounds, and a familiar silhouette tangled up in someone else's arms.
He hadn't said anything. Just turned and walked away, silent like a ghost in the night. They never noticed.
Lan Ke.
That was his name.
Slick, blue-haired, and confident in a way that made him hard to ignore. Even this morning, Lin Wei caught the guy stealing glances at Xueyin. There was hunger in those eyes—intent. But the girl didn't even look at him.
She clung to Lin Wei like the world revolved around him.
And maybe, just maybe… that was enough for now.
Still, Lin Wei wasn't stupid. He could see the silent game Lan Ke was playing. Smooth, patient, opportunistic. But Lin Wei was right here. And as long as he was, Lan Ke wasn't getting a damn chance.
Not again.
Chen Yuxi noticed it—that brief flicker in Lin Wei's gaze the moment her boyfriend, He Mingkai, stepped into the group.
There was something there. Subtle, but telling. A quiet weight in his eyes, like he was remembering something he hadn't meant to recall.
She wasn't sure what, but her thoughts drifted back to last night—when she'd seen someone slipping away from the shadows. A figure leaving just as things got… heated. She hadn't gotten a clear look—dim lights, movement, the haze of the moment—but something about that silhouette still lingered in her mind.
Was it him? she wondered, stealing a glance at Lin Wei as they worked.
She watched him closely the rest of the morning, saying nothing. Her instincts whispered that something had shifted, not just with him—but with Xueyin too.
By the time their work wrapped up, the sun had climbed high, and Chen Yuxi was exhausted. But more than that, she was uneasy. She saw the way Xueyin stuck close to Lin Wei—how naturally they talked, how easily they smiled at each other. There was a rhythm there now. A closeness that hadn't been so obvious before.
And it stirred something in her.
A quiet jealousy.
Must be nice, she thought. To have someone who actually wants to be beside you.
Because even though she was "dating" He Mingkai in name, he barely acknowledged her. No affection. No time. No effort. Just polite gestures and empty routines.
Not like them.
They weren't official—but the chemistry was unmistakable.
Her heart gave a small, bitter tug.
They're not dating… right?
She let the thought sit for a moment, then exhaled and gave herself a wry smile.
If they aren't… then forgive me, little Xue.
That night, they decided to unwind over drinks.
The moment Lin Wei sat down, Xueyin slid into the seat beside him, her shoulder brushing lightly against his. She didn't say much—just leaned in close, her presence warm, her perfume subtle and familiar. When he turned slightly, he caught her side profile, calm and graceful, her gaze flicking toward him with a glint of quiet amusement.
A small smile tugged at her lips, and a dimple appeared, soft and unguarded.
Across from them, Wang Hao was fully absorbed in conversation with another girl, laughing, leaning close—clearly distracted. Maybe it was that—his indifference—that made Xueyin shift even closer to Lin Wei tonight, her hand almost brushing his knee now.
This girl… Lin Wei thought, watching her.
She's using me to make him jealous.
Cunning. Calculated. But even as he thought that, a faint smirk rose on his lips.
He didn't mind.
If she was going to use him for that—he'd return the favor, sooner or later.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, someone called out to him softly from the side.
"Say, Lin… want to come with me?" Chen Yuxi's voice was smooth but slightly slurred with drink. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes gleaming. "I want to relax a bit... but going alone feels awkward."
Lin Wei blinked, surprised. Xueyin had gone to her room with Stella not long ago, and the group was already splintering, scattered between their own drunken stories and fading energy. He glanced around—no sign of He Mingkai either.
"…Sure. Let's go," he said casually, rising to his feet.
Yuxi giggled, the sound light and breezy, completely different from her usual composed demeanor. There was something else in her tonight—something flirtatious, bold… alluring.
"Hmm... That's gentlemanly of you," she murmured with a playful wink, brushing her hair back as they stepped into the cool night air.
"Follow me, I know a nice place..."
Chen Yuxi moved quickly, her footsteps light as she led Lin Wei toward the edge of the manor. They walked in silence, the cool night air wrapping around them as they veered toward the forested area. A narrow path began to emerge between the trees, faint but discernible, and the deeper they went, the more the night seemed to unfold.
Soon, a faint glimmer of light broke through the trees, drawing them forward, until they reached a secluded beach. The soft breeze stirred the sand, which shimmered like a silver blanket under the stars above. The quiet was overwhelming—peaceful, soothing.
"This looks nice, right?" Chen Yuxi's voice broke the stillness, her smile soft, almost secretive.
Lin Wei nodded, though his attention was more focused on the girl standing beside him than the scenery. He couldn't help but notice how different she seemed tonight—loose, untethered, and subtly daring.
Before he could ask why she'd brought him out here, why she was acting so differently, she closed the space between them. Her steps were almost soundless as she moved, and when she spoke again, her voice was quieter, more intimate than before.
"Did you see it that night?" She asked, her tone low but carrying an underlying curiosity. "I had a feeling someone was watching us, but I was too… distracted. That guy, he was nice, I guess, but he was too pushy. I don't like his type."
The sudden shift in the conversation caught Lin Wei off guard, and he could only offer a silent smile in response. There was something in her eyes—something calculating, almost like she was testing him. He said nothing, letting the quiet stretch between them.
Then she smiled, her gaze shifting from him to the ocean, her voice playful but edged with something more serious. "Then... I hope you'll keep it a secret from my boyfriend."
Her words lingered in the air, and as she moved just a fraction closer, Lin Wei could feel the shift in the dynamic. She was no longer just an acquaintance or a passing flirtation. There was a purposeful intent in her presence now.
"In return," she added, her voice dropping slightly as she leaned in, "I'll help you with this…"
The words hung there, an unspoken offer.