Chapter 3

After the truth came out, Lu Ciyan and I settled into a peculiar equilibrium.

To everyone else, he was still “Yanyan,” with the mind of a three-year-old.

He clung to me all day, demanding hugs and kisses.

At home, however, he was Mr. Lu again: decisive and ruthless.

We began a very strange life together.

By day, I worked at the office while he stayed home to “recover.”

By night, he slipped into my study to handle urgent business for his company.

And I… covered for him.

When his parents video-called, for instance, I had to remind him to put on his bear pajamas and play with an Ultraman toy.

Or when Xiao Chen came to report on work, I had to get him to pretend to be asleep.

I felt less like a company president than an undercover operative.

One day, Zhu Zihang invited me out for drinks again.

I didn't want to go, but Lu Ciyan said, “Go. Relax a little. You don't want people getting suspicious.”

He said it so matter-of-factly, as if everything I did for him were simply my duty.

I shot him a look, but agreed.

At the bar, Zhu Zihang kept looking at me as though there were something he wanted to say.

“Mo, have you… been a little off lately?”

I tensed.

“Off how?”

“You've got dark circles.” He pointed at my eyes. “And haven't you lost weight?”

“Have I?” I touched my face.

Between work and Lu Ciyan, I had been exhausted lately.

“Tell me the truth.” Zhu Zihang leaned closer and lowered his voice. “You and Lu Ciyan… are you…?”

I nearly spat out my drink.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He gave me an I-know-everything look.

“Oh, come on. You're already living together.”

“You know what everyone's saying? The Lin family's young master has hidden a beauty in his house. Turned his sworn enemy into his bedmate.”

“…”

My reputation was about to go the way of that west-side plot of land.

I drank a little too much.

By the time I got home, my head was spinning.

Bracing myself against the wall, I fumbled the door open.

The living room light was still on.

Lu Ciyan sat on the sofa with a laptop on his knees.

He looked up at me and frowned.

“Been drinking?”

“Mm.”

I kicked off my shoes and dropped onto the sofa.

“Zhu Zihang's such a loudmouth. Runs his mouth about me wherever he goes.”

I muttered with my eyes closed.

Lu Ciyan shut his laptop, got up, and poured me a glass of warm water.

“Drink this.”

His voice was gentle.

Nothing like the sharp-edged Lu Ciyan I remembered.

I took the glass and sipped.

Warmth spread through my stomach. I felt much better.

Opening my eyes, I looked at him.

The lamplight softened his features.

“Lu Ciyan.”

“Mm?”

“When are you moving out?”

His plan had to end sooner or later.

Then he would leave and return to his own world.

We would be rivals again.

Perhaps not even that.

After all, he knew far too many of my secrets now.

That I ground my teeth in my sleep, for instance. Or that horror films frightened me.

He went still.

Then he set down the glass and sat beside me.

The sofa wasn't large. We were very close.

I could smell his body wash—the same one I used.

“I'll leave once everything's settled,” he said.

“Mm.”

For some reason, that left an unpleasant feeling inside me.

“Lin Mo.”

He called my name.

“Do you… want me to go?”

His voice was quiet, with a trace of tension I could barely detect.

I looked at him.

The alcohol went to my head, bringing a little courage with it.

I caught his chin and made him look at me.

“What do you think, Lu Ciyan?” I asked with a smile.

Then I leaned in and kissed him.

It was a tentative kiss, tasting of alcohol.

I felt his body stiffen.

His lips were soft. Softer than I'd expected.

I'd only meant to use my drunkenness as an excuse to tease him, to see him flustered.

But just as I started to pull away, a hand caught the back of my neck.

Lu Ciyan took over, deepening the kiss.

He parted my lips, pressing on with a forcefulness that left no room to refuse.

My mind went blank.

All I could do was yield to the storm.

The kiss lasted a long time.

Only when I was almost out of breath did he reluctantly let me go.

Our foreheads rested together as we panted.

His eyes were bright.

“Lin Mo,” he said hoarsely, “you started this.”

That sobered me up considerably.

What… had I just done?

Forced a kiss on my sworn enemy?

I pushed him away and sprang up.

“I… I'm drunk!”

Leaving those words behind, I fled to my room and locked the door.

I leaned against it, my heart still racing.

His warmth seemed to linger on my lips.

I was done for.

This time, I'd taken things much too far.

I woke the next morning in an agony of embarrassment.

It took me forever to work up the courage to open my door.

The living room was quiet.

Lu Ciyan wasn't there.

I felt relieved, and oddly empty.

On the dining table were a sandwich, some milk, and a note.

【Urgent business at the office. I've gone ahead. Remember to eat breakfast.】

His handwriting was bold and flowing.

I bit into the sandwich.

Pretty good.

So he could cook too.

I was distracted all day.

My mind wandered several times during a meeting.

My assistant prompted me, “Mr. Lin, it's your turn to speak.”

I came back to myself and dragged my thoughts to work.

Afterward, I didn't go straight home.

Instead, I drove to Lu Group's building.

I parked across the road and looked up at the brightly lit tower.

He was in there.

Dealing with dangers I knew nothing about.

When would he come home?

And when he did… how were we supposed to face each other?

My phone rang while I was still thinking about it.

Lu Ciyan.

I hesitated, then answered.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” He sounded a little tired.

“I'm… having dinner out,” I lied.

Silence on the other end.

Then he said, “Lin Mo, look to your left.”

I turned automatically.

Through the car window, I saw him standing beneath a streetlamp a short distance away.

Tall and straight in a neatly fitted suit.

Phone to his ear, eyes fixed on me.

13

I hung up and got out.

Lu Ciyan came toward me too.

We met beneath the pale yellow streetlight.

“Thought you were having dinner?” He raised an eyebrow.

“…Finished. I was passing by.”

I refused to give in.

He chuckled and didn't press.

“Wait here.”

Then he turned and went back into Lu Group's building.

A few minutes later, he pulled up in a black Maybach.

He lowered the window.

“Get in.”

“Where are we going?”

“I'm taking you to meet someone.”

Puzzled, I got in anyway.

The car sped away, eventually stopping outside a private club.

“What are we doing here?”

“Meeting someone.”

Lu Ciyan led me into a private room.

Someone was already waiting.

Li Wei.