A sudden chill swept through the air.
Liu Meilin paused mid-step, her fingers tightening unconsciously around the fabric of her sleeve. The evening had been warm just moments ago, yet now, an inexplicable coldness crept along her spine, making her shiver.
It wasn't just the wind.
It felt… wrong.
As if—
Someone was watching her.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and she turned her head, her eyes scanning the surroundings instinctively. The workshop was still busy, workers moving about as they wrapped up for the day. Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
"Meilin?"
Lu Jianfeng's voice broke through her thoughts.
He had already noticed.
Her uneasiness didn't escape him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his gaze sharpening slightly as he stepped closer to her.
Liu Meilin hesitated, her lips parting before she spoke softly.
"I felt like… someone was watching me."
Lu Jianfeng frowned.
"Someone?"
There was confusion in his tone, but also a trace of alertness.
Without another word, he turned and walked out, his steps steady yet cautious. His sharp eyes swept across the area outside, checking every corner, every shadow, every possible hiding place.
The evening breeze rustled quietly.
But there was no one.
Nothing unusual.
After a few minutes, he returned.
"There's no one outside," he said, his voice gentler now. "Maybe it's because you've been stressed lately. You haven't rested well for a while."
Liu Meilin didn't respond immediately.
The feeling hadn't disappeared.
It lingered… like a shadow clinging to her thoughts.
Before she could dwell on it further, Lu Jianfeng pulled her into his arms.
His embrace was warm—steady, reassuring.
He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.
"Let's round things up and go home," he murmured. "Even the workers are tired too."
Liu Meilin looked up at him.
For a moment, she wanted to say more… to tell him that the feeling wasn't just in her head.
That something was wrong.
But in the end—
She swallowed her words.
Her gaze drifted slightly, unease flickering in her eyes.
She couldn't shake it off.
The strange, creeping feeling that something bad… was about to happen.
"…Haa."
She exhaled softly.
"It seems like I'm really tired."
Brushing it off, she forced a small smile and turned away, heading to pack up her things.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe it was just stress.
Not far away—
Hidden within the darkness—
A pair of eyes watched everything unfold.
Silent.
Cold.
Calculating.
Chen Yuyang leaned against the shadows, his figure almost blending completely into the night. His gaze remained fixed on Liu Meilin, unmoving, unreadable.
So…
Interesting.
Very interesting.
His eyes darkened slightly as countless thoughts ran through his mind.
Plans.
Possibilities.
Moves yet to be made.
"Liu Meilin…" he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible.
"Let's see how long you can keep this up."
The night swallowed his words.
Inside, the workers had already begun wrapping up.
Tools were set aside, materials neatly arranged, dishes washed, floor cleaned, tables arranged, vegetables on the fridge and food stuffs back in the storage and one by one, they gathered their belongings.
Soon, it was time to leave.
"Goodbye, Madam!"
"Goodbye, Sir!"
Voices rang out as they bid their farewells.
Liu Meilin and Lu Jianfeng stood side by side.
"Goodbye," they both responded.
"See you guys tomorrow!"
The atmosphere was light, completely unaware of the storm quietly brewing beneath the surface.
One by one, everyone dispersed.
The place gradually fell silent.
Liu Meilin and Lu Jianfeng walked toward their vehicle.
The night air felt calmer now.
Or perhaps, deceptively so.
They got in.
The engine started.
And soon, the car disappeared into the distance as they drove home.
From the shadows.
Chen Yuyang finally stepped forward.
His eyes lingered in the direction their car had gone.
The faint smirk on his lips slowly deepened.
"Let the game begin."