Meiying stood rooted to the spot for a long time after Li Yuhan and Su Lina walked away. The music swelled around her, laughter bubbled up from nearby tables, and waiters glided past with trays balanced effortlessly on their palms, but none of it seemed real. It was like she was watching a movie from the outside, a story where everyone had a part to play except her.
She looked down at the emerald green dress Yuhan had given her. It was beautiful, yes, but now it felt like a costume something she was wearing to pretend she belonged in this world of glitter and wealth. But the truth was, she didn't belong here. She was just a girl from Qingyun Township, and Su Lina was a stark reminder of that. The woman had moved with such ease, such confidence, her arm linked through Yuhan's like she had every right to be there. A business associate, Yuhan had called her. But Meiying wasn't stupid. She saw the way Su Lina looked at him like he was hers.
"Ms. Lin?"
Meiying jumped slightly, turning to see Ms. Zhang standing beside her. The assistant's face was gentle, sympathetic even. "Are you alright? You look a little pale. Would you like me to get you something else to drink? Or perhaps you'd like to sit down?"
Meiying forced a smile, shaking her head. "I'm fine, thank you. Just… a little overwhelmed, I think. It's a lot to take in."
"I understand," Ms. Zhang said softly. "It can be quite intense at these events. If you need anything at all, please just find me. I'll be around."
"Thank you," Meiying said again. Ms. Zhang gave her a small nod and moved off into the crowd.
Meiying decided she couldn't just stand there in the corner like a ghost. She needed to move, to breathe. She walked slowly away from the windows, weaving through the crowd. She accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, mostly just to have something to hold onto, though she didn't take a sip.
As she walked, she couldn't help but keep an eye out for Yuhan. It was like there was a magnet pulling her gaze toward him. She spotted him a few times across the room talking to groups of people, shaking hands, smiling that polite, distant smile that didn't reach his eyes. And almost always, Su Lina was nearby. She was like a shadow, staying close, laughing at his jokes, touching his arm occasionally in a way that felt far too familiar for just a colleague.
Each time Meiying saw them together, she felt a sharp twist in her chest. It was jealousy, she realized. And it confused her even more. She was engaged to Weiliang. She loved Weiliang. She had no right to feel jealous of another woman being with Yuhan. And yet, she couldn't help it.
She found a quiet spot near the entrance of the ballroom, away from the main crowd, and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm her racing thoughts. What am I doing here? she asked herself. I should be home. I should be with Weiliang. This is all a mistake.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Meiying's eyes flew open. Yuhan was standing right in front of her. She hadn't even heard him approach. He was alone now Su Lina was nowhere to be seen.
"You scared me," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Sorry," he said. He looked at her, his expression unreadable again, but there was something softer in his eyes than there had been earlier. "You looked like you were a million miles away."
"I was just thinking about going back to my room," Meiying said, looking down at her shoes. "I'm not really used to all, of this." She gestured vaguely toward the ballroom.
Yuhan took a step closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "I know. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you get caught up in all of it. I just, I wanted to see you. And I wanted you to see this part of my world, even if it's not yours."
Meiying looked up at him. "Who is she, Yuhan? Su Lina?"
She saw a flicker of something in his eyes surprise, maybe, or hesitation. But he answered quickly. "She's... an old friend. Her family and mine have known each other for years. We work together sometimes, on various projects. That's all."
"Is that all?" Meiying asked, unable to stop herself. "She seemed very close to you."
Yuhan looked at her for a long moment, and then, a small, almost sad smile touched his lips. "Are you jealous, Meiying?"
Meiying felt her cheeks heat up. She looked away, embarrassed. "No. Of course not. I have no right to be jealous. I'm engaged, remember? I just, I was curious. That's all."
Yuhan reached out, his hand gently touching her chin, turning her face back toward him. His touch was light, but it sent that familiar electric shock through her. "You have every right to be curious," he said softly. "And for the record, there is nothing between me and Lina. Not like that. She's not the one I'm thinking about right now."
Meiying's breath caught in her throat. She stared into his dark eyes, and for a moment, the noise of the party faded away completely. It was just the two of them, standing in that quiet corner, the space between them charged with tension and something else something she didn't dare name.
"Yuhan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We can't, we can't do this. You know we can't. I have to go back home. I have a life there. Weiliang is waiting for me."
Yuhan's hand dropped from her face, but he didn't step away. "I know," he said, his voice quiet. "I know you do. And I'm not asking you to leave it all behind. Not yet. I just. I'm asking you to give this a chance. To give us a chance. Just for tonight. Just for a little while. Can you do that?"
Meiying looked at him. She knew she should say no. She knew she should walk away, go back to her room, and plan her trip home first thing in the morning. But looking at him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes that he tried so hard to hide, she found herself unable to say the words.
"Just for tonight," she whispered, repeating his words. "Just for a little while."
Yuhan's smile widened, and this time, it reached his eyes, making them warm and bright. It was a smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Good," he said. "Then come with me. There's something I want to show you."
He held out his hand to her. Meiying looked at it, then up at his face. For a split second, she thought of Weiliang his kind smile, his steady presence, the promise they had made to each other. And then she thought of Yuhan, of the way he made her feel alive, of the mystery that surrounded him.
Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out and placed her hand in his. His fingers closed around hers, warm and strong, and he squeezed gently.
"Come on," he said.
He led her away from the ballroom, through a set of double doors at the back, and into a quiet corridor. They walked down the hall until they reached an elevator that was clearly for private use. Yuhan pressed a button, and when the doors opened, they stepped inside. He pressed the button for the top floor.
"Where are we going?" Meiying asked as the elevator began to rise.
"You'll see," he said, looking down at her with that warm smile. "It's my favorite place in the whole building. I come here when I need to think."
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened onto a rooftop terrace. The night air was cool and fresh, a welcome relief from the stuffy heat of the ballroom below. And the view, it took Meiying's breath away.
They were high above the city, higher than she had ever been before. The entire skyline of Shanghai was spread out before them, a dazzling sea of lights that stretched as far as the eye could see. The Oriental Pearl Tower glowed pink and purple, the Bund was a line of golden light along the river, and the streets below were ribbons of red and white from the traffic. It was beautiful, magical, and completely overwhelming.
"Oh," Meiying breathed, stepping forward and looking out over the railing. "It's, it's incredible."
She felt Yuhan step up beside her, his shoulder almost touching hers. "I come here when the world gets too loud," he said quietly, looking out at the view. "When I have too many decisions to make, or too many people expecting things from me. Up here, it feels like nothing can touch me. Like I'm just, me."
Meiying turned to look at him. In the soft light of the city, he looked different less like the powerful tycoon, more like a man who carried a heavy weight on his shoulders. "Is that how you feel? Like people are always expecting things from you?"
Yuhan turned his head, meeting her gaze. "All the time. My father built this empire, and everyone expects me to keep it going, to make it bigger, better. To be perfect. To never make a mistake. It's exhausting sometimes." He paused, looking at her intently. "But when I'm with you, it's different. It feels easier. Like I don't have to pretend."
Meiying's heart swelled. She understood that feeling of having to be strong, of having to carry expectations. She knew what it was like to feel like she had to be perfect for everyone else.
"I know what that's like," she said softly. "Back home, I have to be the strong one for Yutang, for my family. Sometimes it feels like if I stop for even a second, everything will fall apart."
Yuhan reached out and took both her hands in his. "You don't have to be strong all the time, Meiying. Not here. Not with me."
He stepped closer, until there was barely any space between them. Meiying could feel the heat of his body, could smell that familiar scent of sandalwood. She looked up into his eyes, and she saw the same desire and longing there that she felt in her own heart.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, Yuhan leaned down. Meiying didn't pull away. She didn't think about Weiliang, or her home, or the promises she had made. In that moment, there was only Yuhan, and the way he made her feel.
His lips brushed against hers, soft and tentative at first, as if he was asking for permission. Meiying sighed, leaning into him, and that was all the answer he needed. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, and his kiss deepened, passionate and hungry, just like it had been in his office. But this time, it felt different. It felt more intimate, more real. There was no shock, no surprise just a sense of rightness, as if this was where she was meant to be.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back, losing herself in the moment, in the feeling of his arms around her, in the taste of his lips. For that one perfect moment, everything else disappeared. The past, the future, the secrets, the lies none of it mattered. There was just the two of them, alone under the stars, with the whole city glowing beneath them.
But even as she kissed him, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered: This can't last. This is just for tonight. Tomorrow, you have to go back to reality.
And she knew it was true. But for now, she pushed the thought away. She wanted this moment. She wanted this feeling. And she was going to hold onto it for as long as she could.