The air felt different.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
—
Zhao Meilin stepped closer, her gaze fixed on Gu Yichen.
"I wanted to speak with you," she said calmly.
But there was something beneath it.
Something tight.
Possessive.
—
Yichen didn't move.
"…Then speak."
—
Meilin smiled faintly.
"Not here."
Her eyes flicked briefly to Xueying.
A message.
Clear.
—
Xueying understood.
And for a moment—
She almost stepped away.
Almost.
—
But this time—
She didn't.
—
"If you have something to say," she said quietly,
"you can say it here."
—
Silence.
—
Meilin's smile didn't fade.
But her eyes hardened.
"…You've become bold."
—
"Enough to stop pretending," Xueying replied.
—
The tension snapped.
Invisible.
But real.
—
Meilin turned back to Yichen.
"…Do you remember," she said softly,
"before all of this?"
A pause.
—
"You used to come to me first."
Her voice lowered slightly.
More personal.
—
"You trusted me."
—
Xueying's fingers tightened at her side.
But she didn't interrupt.
—
Meilin took another step closer.
"Not her."
The words were quiet.
But sharp.
—
Yichen's expression didn't change.
—
"That was before," he said.
—
The answer landed harder than a slap.
—
For a brief second—
Meilin's composure cracked.
—
"…So that's it?" she asked softly.
"You just turn away?"
—
"I didn't turn away," Yichen replied.
"I saw clearly."
—
Silence.
Dead.
Cold.
—
Meilin let out a soft laugh.
But there was no humor in it.
—
"Then let me be clear too."
Her gaze shifted.
Back to Xueying.
—
"You can stand here all you want."
Her voice dropped slightly.
—
"But don't mistake his attention… for something lasting."
—
The words were meant to wound.
—
But this time—
Xueying didn't flinch.
—
"Then I won't mistake your control for affection," she replied calmly.
—
Silence.
Explosive.
—
Because that—
Hit exactly where it should.
—
Yichen's gaze flickered slightly.
Not in shock.
In realization.
—
Meilin went still.
Completely still.
—
And then—
She smiled.
—
"Fine," she said softly.
"Let's see how long that confidence lasts."
—
And with that—
She turned and walked away.
—
But the threat—
Remained.