Su Ning had fallen asleep without realizing it.
At some point after setting her phone down, after the last sip of wine had warmed her chest and the soft classical music had lulled her senses, fatigue crept in quietly.
She lay curled on the couch, one arm tucked beneath her head, long lashes resting against pale skin. The lights in the living room were dimmed to a soft amber glow, shadows stretching lazily across the dazzling floor.
The world outside her villa was loud, scandal, noise, speculation but inside, everything was still.
Then her phone rang.
The sound cut through the silence, persistent but not urgent.
Su Ning stirred, brows knitting faintly as she shifted on the couch. She stretched lazily, fingers brushing against the fabric of the cushion before her hand finally found her phone. Her eyes remained half-closed as she lifted it, barely registering the vibration against her palm.
She didn't bother checking the screen.
In her sleepy haze, she assumed it was Chen Anya, probably worried and calling to nag her again.
She answered.
"Hello…"
The word came out with a soft yawn, her voice low and drowsy, trailing off at the end. There was no guard in it, no composure, just warmth and sleep-softened ease.
On the other end of the line, Qi Xiyue froze.
For a man who had stood unflinching in rooms filled with blood and gunpowder, who had watched enemies beg without a flicker of mercy, that single sound hit him harder than expected.
His grip on the phone tightened almost imperceptibly.
Her voice—soft, lazy, unguarded, slid straight past his defenses. It wasn't seductive in any deliberate way, but that made it worse. It carried an intimacy she probably didn't even realize she was offering.
Qi Xiyue exhaled slowly.
A low chuckle slipped from his throat, deep and quiet, the sound rich with amusement and something darker beneath it.
As expected of her.
Only her could sleep so peacefully while the entire world was trying to tear her apart.
The sound of his chuckle traveled through the speaker—and instantly, Su Ning was awake.
Her eyes flew open.
The haze of sleep vanished as she stared at the ceiling for half a second, heart thudding once, sharply. She lowered the phone and finally looked at the screen.
'Not my type.'
Her fingers stiffened.
For a brief moment, she simply stared.
Then reality crashed down on her.
Qi Xiyue.
Her eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment. She turned her face slightly into the cushion, as if hiding from the phone itself would undo what had just happened.
How long had she sounded like that?
She inhaled, steadying herself, then slowly brought the phone back to her ear.
"…Hi," she said.
Her voice was calmer now, but the softness remained, betraying her despite herself.
Qi Xiyue smiled.
It wasn't a smile anyone else ever saw—slow, faint, dangerous in its restraint.
"Enjoying the evening I guess..." he said, his tone smooth and unhurried.
Su Ning's ears warmed instantly.
"I wasn't sleeping," she replied reflexively.
He hummed softly. "Mm."
That single sound made her heart skip.
She sat up, pushing herself upright on the couch, one hand rubbing lightly at her temple. "I was just… resting my eyes."
"You sounded convincing," he added calmly.
Her lips pressed together, fighting the warmth rising in her cheeks. "Why did you call?" she asked, attempting to regain control.
There was a brief silence on the line.
"Because I wanted to hear you," he said.
The honesty landed heavily between them.
Su Ning's breath caught.
She told herself it was just his way of speaking, she knew Qi Xiyue was always direct, always unfiltered—but the way he said it, low and steady, made her chest tighten.
"…You're being strange," she murmured.
He chuckled again. "Am I?"
"Mmn."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She shook her head slightly, though a smile tugged at her lips despite herself. "Do you do this with people you call?"
"You're not people," Qi Xiyue replied.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of the couch.
She forced herself to change the subject. "Let me guess, you saw the news, didn't you?"
"Mmn..." Qi Xiyue said, the warmth in his tone cooling just a degree, not disappearing, but sharpening.
Her expression sobered.
"They are just jokers, don't pay them any mind," she replied lightly. "It will pass."
He didn't answer immediately.
When he did, his voice carried a darker edge. "Do you want me to take care of it?"
The words were calm.
But beneath them was unmistakable power.
Su Ning knew exactly what he meant.
She exhaled slowly. "No."
Qi Xiyue's gaze narrowed slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she said, firmer now. "I'll handle it."
Silence.
Then, quietly, "You don't have to face it alone."
Her chest warmed at the words.
"I know," she said softly. "But I want to handle this myself."
Another pause.
Finally, "Very well," he said. "I won't interfere."
She smiled faintly, relief and something else mixing in her chest.
"But," he continued, "if you change your mind—even slightly—you'll tell me."
She nodded instinctively, then realized he couldn't see her. "…I will."
The corner of his lips lifted. "Mmn."
There was a brief lull, comfortable and charged all at once.
"Good night, little trouble," he said.
"Goodnight"
The call ended.
Su Ning stared at her phone for several seconds, face burning, heart racing wildly.
She pressed the phone to her chest and fell back onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"…Unbelievable," she murmured.