Morning light filtered softly into the dining room. Everything was in place Perfect and Untouched.
Zhang Weiyu sat at the table, already halfway through his tea, his posture straight, expression unreadable as always. A tablet rested beside him, but he wasn't reading.
Not really. His thoughts were elsewhere.
Last night.
Xu Shen's voice echoed in his mind.
"…Miss Zhou's residence."
His fingers stilled slightly against the cup.
Coincidence? No.
Too precise and Too convenient.
His gaze lowered slightly. "…Or intentional?"
Footsteps approached. Zhou Yiran entered, her movements calm, composed but slower than usual. She took her seat across from him. "Morning," she said lightly.
"Mm."
Silence followed. Not uncomfortable.
Just… aware.
She picked up her cup, but her thoughts weren't on the tea. They were somewhere else entirely.
The intruder ,coin and pattern.
And then a thought she hadn't allowed herself to complete until now.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
"…Could this be connected?"
Her breath slowed.
"…My murder." The word stayed in her mind.
Unspoken.
She lowered her gaze.
"…No way this is random."
"You didn't sleep well."
Zhang Weiyu's voice broke the silence.
Zhou Yiran looked up. "You did?"
"I don't need much."
She studied him for a second. "Still thinking about last night?"
"Always."
A pause..Then she asked, more casually
"Find anything interesting?"
His eyes met hers briefly. "Not yet."
A lie. controlled one.
She didn't call it out.But she noticed.
Before either of them could continue Footsteps approached.
Xu Shen entered. "Sir. Miss Zhou."
Both looked at him.
"There's a message," Xu Shen said.
Zhou Yiran frowned slightly. "Message?"
Xu Shen nodded. "From Miss Zhou's family."
That caught her attention immediately.
"My family?"
"A dinner invitation. Tonight."
Silence.
Zhou Yiran blinked slightly. "…Dinner?"
"That's what they said."
Her brows furrowed. "They didn't mention anything before…"
Her mind moved quickly now.
Sudden. Unexpected.
"…Why now?" she murmured.
Across the table Zhang Weiyu didn't speak.
But his thoughts aligned instantly.
Guard → her home
Now → invitation
His eyes darkened slightly. Too convenient.
"I guess I have to go," Zhou Yiran said after a moment.
"We," Zhang Weiyu corrected.
She looked at him. "You're coming?"
"You're under my watch."
She held his gaze. "…This is my family."
"Exactly."
That line landed Sharp and Clear.
She exhaled slowly. "…You think this is connected."
"I think timing matters."
Silence. She didn't argue But she didn't agree either.
"Prepare the car," Zhang Weiyu said.
"Yes, sir," Xu Shen replied.
He left.
Zhou Yiran remained seated for a moment longer. Her thoughts didn't settle.
"…This doesn't feel normal," she said quietly.
Zhang Weiyu didn't respond.
But his silence Agreed.
Zhang Weiyu pushed open the door to his study without slowing. He walked in, removing his cufflinks with practiced ease, placing them neatly on the desk.
Behind him .Xu Shen followed, closing the door softly.
Silence settled in the room.
Zhang Weiyu didn't sit immediately. "Say it"
Xu Shen stepped forward.."Yes, sir."
A brief pause.."About last night."
Zhang Weiyu moved toward the window, hands behind his back.."Start from the beginning."
"The guard left through the back corridor at 01:17," Xu Shen said. "He avoided the main surveillance.".Zhang Weiyu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Deliberate."
"Yes."
"He didn't meet anyone outside," Xu Shen continued. "No stops. No visible contact."
Zhang Weiyu turned slightly.."And yet?"
Xu Shen didn't hesitate this time.
"He went straight to Miss Zhou's residence."
Silence. Zhang Weiyu's expression remained unreadable.
But his gaze Sharpened. "Which entrance?"
"Side gate."
"Security?"
"Minimal."
A pause.."Too minimal."
Zhang Weiyu let out a quiet breath. "Convenient."
Xu Shen nodded. "Yes, sir."
Zhang Weiyu walked slowly toward the desk, fingers brushing lightly across its surface.
"He knew exactly where to go."
"Yes."
"No hesitation?"
"None."
"Like he's done it before," Zhang Weiyu said.
Xu Shen's voice lowered slightly.
"…That was my impression."
Silence stretched.
Then... "Why didn't you go in?" Zhang Weiyu asked.
Xu Shen paused. "…It felt wrong."
Zhang Weiyu looked at him.."Explain."
"If it was a trap, entering would expose us," Xu Shen said. "And if it wasn't… observing was more valuable."
A brief pause. "…I chose not to risk alerting them."
Zhang Weiyu held his gaze for a moment.
Then gave a slight nod. "Correct."
Xu Shen relaxed barely.
"What about the intruder?" Zhang Weiyu asked.
"No trace," Xu Shen replied. "No forced entry. No exit detected."
Zhang Weiyu's eyes darkened. "Inside job."
Xu Shen didn't argue.
"Two incidents," Zhang Weiyu continued slowly. "Same night."
"Guard… and intruder."
A pause.."…Not separate."
Xu Shen spoke carefully.."You think they're connected?"
Zhang Weiyu turned fully now.
"I think someone wants me to see the connection."
That shifted everything.
Xu Shen frowned slightly.
"A setup?"
"A message."
Silence.."…About Miss Zhou?" Xu Shen asked.
Zhang Weiyu's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Don't conclude."
Xu Shen straightened. "Yes, sir."
A pause. Then Zhang Weiyu spoke again.
"Tonight's dinner."
Xu Shen nodded. "Arrangements are in progress."
"Change them."
Xu Shen looked up. "Sir?"
"External security stays visible," Zhang Weiyu said.
"Internal security stays hidden."
Xu Shen understood immediately.
"…You expect movement inside."
"I expect observation."
A pause. "And response."
Xu Shen nodded slowly. "I'll place men accordingly."
Zhang Weiyu stepped closer to the desk, picking up his watch. "Watch the staff."
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"No exceptions."
Xu Shen's expression hardened.
"…Understood."
Zhang Weiyu adjusted his sleeve calmly.
Then... "Xu Shen."
"Yes, sir."
"If anything feels wrong "
A slight pause. "Act."
"No confirmation needed?"
Zhang Weiyu's voice dropped. "None."
Silence settled again..Xu Shen inclined his head. "I'll handle it."
He turned and left the study.
Zhang Weiyu remained alone.
Thinking. His gaze shifted slightly
toward the direction of Zhou Yiran's room.
"…Coincidence," he murmured.
A pause.
Then "…Or design."
His expression hardened.
Later – Zhou Yiran's Room____
Zhou Yiran stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her sleeve. The reflection looked steady But her mind wasn't.
"…Dinner," she muttered.
"…Or something else?"
After thinking about all She exhaled and turned toward the bathroom.
Moments Later***
The water ran softly. Steam filled the space.
But her thoughts stayed sharp.
"…No way that's coincidence."
She shifted slightly and suddenly her foot slipped.
"Ah—!"
She fell hard, the impact sharp against her ankle. A breath caught in her throat. She tried to stand up.
Outside.... Zhang Weiyu stopped mid-step.
"Zhou Yiran?" No answer.
He moved immediately.
"What happened?"
"I'm fine!" she called out quickly.
"That didn't sound like 'fine.'"
"I slipped. That's it."
"Open the door."
"No."
A pause.
"…Can you stand?"
"…Yes."
"Then stand."
Silence.
"I'm coming in."
"Don't..."
What is he thinking about? How can he go any girl washroom...( Inner thought)
Too late.
The door opened..His gaze found her instantly. On the floor. Not fine. Not even close.
"Hey! How can you enter like this? Don't you have manners?"
"I didn't mean to do that! But I wanted to make sure if you are okay"
"…It's just a slip," she said quietly.
He didn't argue. Didn't question.
He stepped closer. "Where?"
"Ankle."
He checked briefly. "Not broken. But you shouldn't walk."
"I'll be fine."
"You won't."
A pause. "Try standing."
She did and failed. Before she could fall again He caught her.
Steady and Close.Too close. Heartbeat fast.
"…I had it," she muttered.
"You didn't."
And then Without asking He lifted her.
Zhou Yiran froze slightly.
"…m.r.Zhang "
"Don't move."
She didn't argue again.
He placed her on the bed Careful.
"Apply spray," he said. "Don't walk for a while."
"You sound very confident."
"I am."
She looked at him. "…Thank you."
A brief pause.
Then.. "Be ready in twenty minutes."
Back to normal.
He turned And left.
The door closed. Zhou Yiran sat still.
Her thoughts scattered Not about the fall.
Not about the pain.
But Him.
"…This is getting complicated," she whispered.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the bed.
Outside Everything looked normal.
But neither of them believed that anymore.
The hallway was quiet when Zhou Yiran stepped out of her room.
Everything was in place again composed, controlled, as if nothing had happened.
Only her steps betrayed the truth.
Slow and Careful.
She paused at the top of the staircase, one hand resting lightly against the railing. The dull ache in her ankle hadn't faded it had settled, sharp enough to remind her with every shift of weight.
"…Great timing," she muttered under her breath.
Below Zhang Weiyu stood near the entrance
Watching her. His posture was as composed as ever, one hand resting casually at his side, the other adjusting his cuff. But his gaze
It was fixed on her.
Beside him, Xu Shen stood slightly to the side, expression neutral, but alert.
He noticed it too. The way she moved.
The imbalance. He took a step forward instinctively Then stopped.
Because Zhang Weiyu didn't move.
Didn't speak and Didn't signal.
So Xu Shen didn't either.
Zhou Yiran started down the stairs.
One step. Then another.
Careful and Controlled.
But slower than usual. Her grip on the railing tightened slightly.
The distance felt longer than it should have.
Each step required attention. Below, Zhang Weiyu's gaze didn't leave her.
Not once. He noticed everything The slight hesitation before each step. The way her weight shifted unevenly.
The fraction of time she paused before continuing. Xu Shen glanced at him.
"…Sir..."
Zhang Weiyu didn't respond.
Not with words.
Instead a small shift of his gaze.
Subtle and Directed.
Xu Shen caught it instantly Understood.
Without a word. One of the nearby staff members stepped forward immediately, moving up the stairs with quiet urgency.
"Miss Zhou," she said softly. "Please let me assist you."
Zhou Yiran hesitated. For a second.
Her eyes flicked downward Briefly meeting Zhang Weiyu's. He hadn't moved. Hadn't said anything But the message was clear.
She exhaled lightly.
"…Fine."
With the staff's support, she continued down.
Slower But steadier. When she reached the last step, she let go. Standing on her own again. Even if only barely.
Xu Shen opened the car door without being told. "Miss Zhou."
Zhou Yiran stepped forward, masking the slight discomfort in her expression. She got in. Careful not to show too much.
Zhang Weiyu followed.
Taking his seat beside her.
Close But not close enough.
The door shut.
The outside world cut off. Inside the car, silence settled almost instantly Not empty.
Just… tight.
Zhou Yiran reached for the seatbelt.
Her movement slowed slightly as she adjusted her position, trying not to put pressure on her ankle.
The belt caught awkwardly and Twisted.
She frowned faintly.
At the same moment Zhang Weiyu shifted.
Leaning slightly toward her.
For a brief second Her breath paused.
Her hand stilled.
He's going to help.
But He didn't.
His hand moved past her Adjusting something near his side instead.
Calm and Unbothered.
Zhou Yiran froze.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Then She pulled the seatbelt herself.
A little more forcefully than necessary.
"…I had it," she said, almost under her breath.
"I didn't say you didn't." His voice was calm.
Neutral. As if nothing had happened.
She turned her head slightly, looking out the window instead.
"…Of course you didn't."
A pause. The engine started.
Xu Shen took the front seat. "Ready, sir?"
Zhang Weiyu didn't look away from the window. "Drive."
The car moved.
Inside Silence returned again.
But this time It carried something else.
Zhou Yiran's fingers rested lightly against her lap, but her thoughts weren't steady.
Not after that moment.
Not after that almost Her brows furrowed slightly.
"…Why did I think he would.."
She stopped the thought before it could finish. Beside her, Zhang Weiyu's gaze remained forward.
As if He hadn't noticed anything at all.
But the slight tightening of his fingers
Resting against his knee Said otherwise.
Neither of them spoke again.
And yet The distance between them felt more noticeable than ever.
The car moved smoothly through the night.
City lights stretched into long, blurred lines beyond the tinted windows gold, white, and distant.
Inside ....Zhang Weiyu had already shifted back into work. His laptop rested open against his knee, the faint glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes. Lines of data, reports, and messages moved beneath his steady gaze.
Beside him Zhou Yiran leaned slightly against the seat, her head turned toward the window. The glass reflected fragments of her face. For the first time that day
She wasn't thinking about the intruder.
Just the city. The lights. The movement.
The illusion of normal.
"…It looks peaceful," she murmured softly, almost to herself. No response.
Only the faint sound of typing.
Her eyes slowly softened.
The rhythm of the moving car.
The quiet hum of the engine.
The stillness inside.
It pulled her in.
Her thoughts blurred Then slipped.
And she didn't realize when her eyes closed.
The Dream____
Darkness. Cold. Familiar.
A corridor.
Long.
Endless Silent. Her footsteps echoed Too loud.
"…No…" she whispered. Her breath came uneven. She knew this place. She remembered it.
A shadow moved Behind her Closer.
Her pulse spiked. "Who's there ?" No answer.
Only footsteps. Matching hers.
Faster and Closer. Her heart pounded.
"…Not again…"
Then Pain Sharp.
Cold against her neck Her breath shattered.
She tried to move But she Couldn't.
A voice Low and Familiar.
"Did you really think you could escape it?"
Her vision blurred. Her body went cold.
"No....!" The pressure increased.
The same moment and same fear.
The same ending "Xu Shen..!"
The car jolted slightly Not from the road.
From the sudden movement beside him.
Zhang Weiyu's hands froze over the keyboard. His head snapped toward her instantly. Zhou Yiran's body had tensed
Her breath uneven Her hands clenched tightly against the seat.
"Xu Shen..."
Her voice broke through the silence sharply.
In the front Xu Shen nearly turned around immediately.
"Miss Zhou..?!"
Zhang Weiyu had already closed the laptop.
His focus completely shifted. "Zhou Yiran."
His voice was low.
She didn't respond Still trapped. Her breathing grew sharper.
"Zhou Yiran."
Closer this time His hand reached out
Not rough But certain. Gripping her shoulder lightly. "Wake up."
Her eyes snapped open. Air rushed back into her lungs. Reality crashed in.
She saw a car and saw outside carm
The silence.
"…I—" She froze. Her gaze flicked around.
Disoriented. Zhang Weiyu was right there.
Closer than before. Watching her.
Xu Shen had already turned halfway in his seat. Concern clear.
"Miss Zhou, are you alright?"
Zhou Yiran blinked rapidly.
Trying to steady herself. "…I'm fine."
Her voice came out softer than intended.
Zhang Weiyu didn't move back.
Didn't look away. "Nightmare?"
She hesitated. Just a second.
"…Yeah."
"What did you see?"
The question came immediately.
Too direct and Too sharp. Her fingers tightened slightly. "…Nothing important."
"That didn't sound like nothing."
Silence. Her gaze dropped.
Avoiding his.
What I had done.how can you explain him now ? You are so stupid zhou yiran. (Inner thought)
"I said I'm fine." A pause.
Zhang Weiyu studied her for a moment longer. His expression unreadable.
But his eyes didn't let go. Before he could press further The car slowed.
"Sir," Xu Shen said, turning forward again, "we've arrived."
The gates ahead opened slowly.
Zhou Yiran's house.
The moment the car stopped She moved.
Almost immediately.
The door opened Cool night air rushed in.
She stepped out. Faster than she should have. Ignoring the slight pain in her ankle.
But she didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Only when she stood outside Under the lights Did she finally exhale. "…That was close…"
Inside the car Zhang Weiyu hadn't moved.
His gaze followed her. Quiet.Focused.
"She called your name again," he said suddenly.
Xu Shen stiffened slightly.
"…Yes, sir."
Zhang Weiyu's eyes darkened just a fraction.
"Interesting."
Outside... Zhou Yiran straightened slightly.
Her expression composed again. As if nothing had happened.
But inside Her heart hadn't fully calmed.
"…I almost said too much."
She turned toward the entrance.
A gathering already waiting.
And just like that The night shifted again.
From fear To something else entirely.