The penthouse was silent except for the soft hum of the air system and the distant murmur of the city below.
Lin Yuè lay curled against Guàn Jǐngchén's chest, the CEO's arm heavy and possessive around his waist. Sleep had come fitfully, haunted by the knowledge that at 3 AM the new anonymous message would land like a bomb in Guàn Jǐngchén's inbox.
At exactly 3:07 AM, the CEO's tablet on the nightstand lit up with a soft chime.
Guàn Jǐngchén stirred instantly, body tensing. He reached over Lin Yuè to grab the device, careful not to wake him — or so he thought.
Lin Yuè kept his breathing even and deep, eyes closed, but every sense was alert.
He heard the sharp inhale as Guàn Jǐngchén read the message.
*Stop digging, Jǐngchén.
Some truths are better left in the dark.
You won't like what you find.*
The tablet screen glowed against the darkness as Guàn Jǐngchén reread it multiple times. His arm around Lin Yuè tightened involuntarily, fingers digging into his side with restrained force.
"Fuck…" the CEO whispered under his breath.
Lin Yuè shifted slightly, pretending to wake. He blinked sleepily, voice soft and concerned. "Jǐngchén…? What's wrong?"
Guàn Jǐngchén quickly darkened the screen and set the tablet aside. He pulled Lin Yuè closer, burying his face in the crook of his neck, breathing him in as if grounding himself.
"Nothing," he lied, voice rough. "Go back to sleep."
But Lin Yuè could feel the tension radiating through the older man's body. The gentle strokes along his back were now edged with something darker — protectiveness mixed with frustration.
"You're lying," Lin Yuè whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Guàn Jǐngchén's collarbone. "It's the ghost again, isn't it?"
Guàn Jǐngchén was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed. "He's warning me to stop. Telling me I won't like the truth."
Lin Yuè's heart pounded. He kept his tone gentle and vulnerable. "Maybe… maybe you should listen. Some things hurt more when you know them."
Guàn Jǐngchén pulled back just enough to look at him in the faint light. His eyes were intense, searching Lin Yuè's face like he could find answers there.
"Why does it feel like he's talking about you?" he asked quietly, almost to himself.
Lin Yuè's breath caught. For a split second, the mask wavered. His eyes widened with real fear before he forced a small, shaky smile.
"Because I'm here with you now," he said softly. "And anything that threatens you… threatens us."
Guàn Jǐngchén stared at him for several heartbeats, then crushed their mouths together in a fierce, desperate kiss. It wasn't gentle this time — it was raw, possessive, almost angry. Hands roamed urgently, pulling Lin Yuè on top of him, gripping his hips hard enough to leave faint marks.
"I won't let anyone take you from me," Guàn Jǐngchén growled against his lips. "Not a ghost. Not the past. Not anyone."
Lin Yuè moaned softly into the kiss, grinding down instinctively. The heat between them reignited fast and intense. Guàn Jǐngchén flipped them, pinning Lin Yuè to the mattress, mouth trailing hot kisses down his chest while his hand worked between them.
They moved together with frantic need — bodies slick with sweat, names whispered like promises and threats. When climax hit, it was sharp and overwhelming, leaving Lin Yuè trembling and Guàn Jǐngchén holding him so tightly it almost hurt.
Afterward, as they lay tangled and breathing hard, Guàn Jǐngchén pressed his lips to Lin Yuè's damp forehead.
"I'm running the deep background scan tomorrow," he said quietly. "I need to end this."
Lin Yuè closed his eyes, guilt and fear twisting in his stomach.
He had bought a little more time with the message… but the net was closing faster than he could redirect.
The next morning, Guàn Jǐngchén left for the office earlier than usual, kissing Lin Yuè goodbye with unusual intensity.
"Stay here today," he ordered gently. "I'll come back early. We'll have dinner together."
Lin Yuè nodded, giving him the sweetest, most innocent smile he could manage.
The moment the door closed, he moved to the study and opened his hidden system.
The deep scan had already begun.
His carefully constructed identity was strong… but not invincible.
Lin Yuè stared at the progressing scan bar, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
He could sabotage it now. Erase everything.
Or he could let it run… and finally face what came next.
For the first time, the thought of being caught didn't fill him only with dread.
It also filled him with a strange, terrifying hope.
End of Chapter 16