She felt it. The tremor in his chest, the break in his tone. A crack in the walls he built around himself.
And through her hysterical sobs, a thought pierced through her thoughts, sharp, and calculated.
*So this is what makes you bend, Ting Cheng.*
Her act deepened, more gasps, more trembling, her fingers clutching his shirt as though she would shatter without him.
And he held her tighter, caged by his own fear, not realizing he was stepping into hers.
Tang Fei's chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow bursts, her lips parting as though she couldn't catch enough air. Her fingers clawed at her throat, her eyes wide and glassy.
"I.... I can't...." Her voice hitched, breaking into gasps. "I can't breathe…" Her body trembled violently, every sound a knife meant to slice into his control.
For the first time, Huo Ting Cheng's composure cracked. His hands, always steady, trembled as he caught her wrists and pulled them from her throat, his breath sharp and uneven.
