Oh God. No. The thought hammered against his skull. Each second dragged heavier than the last. Hi swallowed, though his exterior never betrayed him.
Ruoxi looked toward the hallway, puzzled, and Guo Min leaned back, lips pursed in sharp observation.
The silence pressed in, thick and suffocating, and for Yufan, it was like standing under the weight of a secret ready to explode.
They watched Lixi return, forcing a bright little laugh as if nothing had happened. "Probably just something I ate," she said, forcing the matter away with a casual brush of her hand. The others let the moment slide back into ordinary chatter, everyone but Yufan, whose eyes lingered on her a moment too long. He watched the way she avoided his gaze and felt a hard certainty build in him: she lied so well.
When Zihan and Yufan left for the study, the house seemed to exhale. Ruoxi and Guo Min exchanged a look, then conversation picking up like a thread pulled back into place.
---
Zihan's study.
The study smelled faintly of old books and leather. Light fell in a controlled pool across the long desk, behind it, Zihan sat. He summarized yesterday's interruption briefly, the pink box, the razor blades and needles, the heart-shaped note with its cruel message. Yufan listened, jaw working as he took it in.
"So what's the plan?" Yufan asked once Zihan finished. His voice was steady, but the question carried more than professional curiosity, there was a personal edge underneath, something that made his tone taut. "Tighten the security?, trace the sender?… I can put my best squad on this, discreetly."
"First," Zihan continued, "trace the delivery route. Start with the courier company, CCTV around the drop-off point, and check the payment or account used. Whoever packaged this had resources and a signature style, they left fingerprints in method as much as in the message." He steepled his fingers. "Use forensics; do not let anything be discarded."
"Understood," Yufan said. "I'll have a team on the couriers and CCTV. I'll use people who specialize in threats against high-profile targets, the quieter the better." He hesitated, then added,"I'll advise you to tighten patrols. Inside and outside. Rotate routes, increase checks. If they planned this for a moment when protection is low, we should remove that variable".
Zihan gave him a subtle smile, his tone calm as always. "Sure. Keep me updated."
Yufan returned downstairs, the living room was quiet except for the faint tapping of keys. Guo Min sat curled up on the sofa, her laptop balanced on her knees, completely absorbed in her work.
"Where are the others?" Yufan asked, slipping on his shoes near the door.
"They left already," she replied without looking up, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Heading back home?." Her eyes flicked up briefly.
"Yes," he said, tugging his coat sleeve into place. "I have some things to take care of."
Before leaving, he paused, reached out, and ruffled her hair in a rare, brotherly gesture. "Bye-bye, Guo Min."
She gave a small laugh and swatted at his hand, but he was already stepping out of the villa, the sound of the door shutting behind him.
---
Half an hour later, the quiet stretched until footsteps descended from upstairs. Zhu Zihan appeared, his usually composed figure softened by the casualness of the moment. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, a faint trace of steam following him down because he had just stepped out of the bath.
Without a word, he lowered himself onto the sofa beside her. Guo Min barely reacted, too engrossed in the glow of her screen. He watched her in silence for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching at her focus.
Then, with unhurried ease, Zihan reached over, gently but firmly sliding the laptop from her lap and setting it aside on the coffee table. Before she could protest, he shifted, resting his head against her thighs, his wet hair brushing her skin.
"I need a nap," he murmured, voice low, a command disguised as a request. His eyes closed, as though he had already decided she was his pillow.
Guo Min blinked down at him, half annoyed, half amused. Her hand hovered in the air for a moment before she finally let it settle gently against his damp hair. "Don't you usually lock yourself away in the study? Now that I finally decide to focus on work, you suddenly can't take it?" she teased, her tone laced with amusement.
Zihan tilted his head lazily against her lap, his lips curving into the faintest of smirks. "As your future husband, I need to earn more. They say women like to spoil themselves…" He paused deliberately, his gaze flicking up to her. "Especially with their man's money. So, I have to work." His tone carried his usual calm confidence, as if stating a simple fact.
Guo Min let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You sound very convincing, Zihan. And yes, it is true. But let's be honest… you've already achieved generational wealth. Anything I buy wouldn't even leave a dent in your bank account." Her fingers absentmindedly stroked through his hair as she spoke, softer now. "Besides, I've spoiled myself plenty long before you showed up. Materials won't win my heart that easily."
For once, Zihan's expression faltered. His lips pressed together, his brows faintly drawn, and there was the smallest downturn of his mouth, almost a pout. It was uncharacteristic of him, but completely genuine.
Guo Min froze for a second, surprised. Then, unexpectedly, she broke into a grin, her eyes lighting up as if she had stumbled upon something precious. "That's rare…" Her voice carried a playful excitement she couldn't quite hide. "…but cute."
Zihan cracked one eye open, giving her a puzzled look. "Cute?"
She leaned a little closer, her tone shifting, curious and mischievous. "What do I have to do to see that expression again?"
"…Expression?" His brow arched, his voice calm but with a note of suspicion, as if he wasn't sure what she was talking about.
"That little pout." She chuckled softly, brushing a stray strand of his hair back. "You always look so collected, unreadable… but just now, you looked like an actual human being, not some unshakable CEO. I like it."
Zihan narrowed his eyes slightly, as though debating whether to be offended or amused. His voice was low, steady. "…You think I'm only human when I pout?"
Guo Min smirked. "Exactly. So maybe you should do it more often."
His silence lingered, his gaze fixed on her. Though his features soon slipped back into their usual unreadable calm, there was a sharp glint in his eyes that made Guo Min's pulse falter.
"Seems like I've been a little too lenient with you," Zihan finally said, his voice smooth, edged with amusement. "That you now dare to call me cute." He pushed himself upright, no longer resting on her lap.
The sudden shift in his energy...calm, yet laced with mischief, made Guo Min instinctively jolt back. She thought of slipping away, but before she could rise from the sofa, his arm moved. In one seamless motion, he pulled her toward him, and she landed squarely in his lap. Her breath caught, realization sinking in that her chances of escape had just dropped to zero.
Zihan didn't speak immediately. Instead, his fingers slid through her hair with a deliberate gentleness, while his other hand rested firmly on her thigh. The warmth of his touch seeped through the fabric of her joggers, startling her. Flustered, she pushed his hand away softly.
The small resistance only served to fuel his pride. A slow, knowing smirk curved his lips. "You won't let me touch you?" His voice dropped, teasing, as his eyes searched hers. "Why?"
Guo Min swallowed, fumbling for words. "W-we're not married yet." Her tone came out more defensive than intended, making her sound less composed than she wanted.
Zihan's smirk deepened, his amusement clear. "You sound like a frightened little cat," he murmured, the corners of his mouth curling in satisfaction. He leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered, "I'd like to see you run on our wedding night. Let's see what excuses you'll make then."
For a moment, time seemed to pause, the weight of his words, the closeness of his presence, the intensity of his gaze pressing against her composure. Then, just as suddenly, he released her.
Guo Min quickly shifted off his lap, her heart racing, though she tried to mask it with a steady expression. Zihan reclined back, his smirk lingering, as though he had won something in their silent battle.