The deep background scan ran silently in the background while Guàn Jǐngchén worked from his home office in the penthouse that afternoon.
Lin Yuè sat curled on the wide leather couch in the living room, pretending to read through security reports on his laptop. In reality, his hidden tablet showed the scan progress in real time: 47% complete.
Every percentage point felt like a countdown.
Guàn Jǐngchén emerged from the study, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly disheveled from running his hands through it. He crossed the room and dropped down beside Lin Yuè, immediately pulling the younger man into his lap.
"You've been quiet," he murmured, nuzzling into Lin Yuè's neck. "Worried about me?"
Lin Yuè leaned back against his chest, letting the CEO's arms wrap around him. "A little. You've been staring at that screen for hours."
Guàn Jǐngchén's hand slipped under Lin Yuè's soft sweater, palm warm against his stomach. "The scan is almost done. If there's any connection between the recent probes and the old Eclipse files, I'll know soon."
Lin Yuè turned his head, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of the CEO's mouth. "And if there isn't?"
"Then maybe I can finally let the ghost rest." Guàn Jǐngchén's fingers traced slow circles on his skin. "And focus on what matters."
He kissed Lin Yuè properly then — slow, deep, and full of quiet need. Lin Yuè melted into it, turning fully in his lap until he was straddling the CEO's thighs. Hands roamed under clothes, breaths growing heavier as the kiss turned heated.
Guàn Jǐngchén groaned softly when Lin Yuè rocked against him. "You're going to be the death of me."
"Good death," Lin Yuè whispered, smiling shyly against his lips.
They were halfway to the bedroom when the tablet in the study chimed loudly — scan complete.
Guàn Jǐngchén froze, then gently set Lin Yuè on his feet. "Wait here."
Lin Yuè's heart hammered as the CEO disappeared into the study. He followed a few steps behind, lingering in the doorway with wide, innocent eyes.
Guàn Jǐngchén sat at the desk, staring at the results. His expression was unreadable.
"Anything?" Lin Yuè asked softly.
The CEO was silent for several long seconds. Then he exhaled slowly.
"Clean," he said. "Your background, everyone on the team — all clean. No direct links."
Lin Yuè let out a small, relieved breath that wasn't entirely fake. "That's good, right?"
Guàn Jǐngchén turned in his chair, eyes locking onto Lin Yuè with an intensity that made the air feel thick. "It should be. But something still feels off. The coding style… the timing of the messages… it's too personal now."
He stood and crossed the room, pulling Lin Yuè against him again. This time the embrace was tighter, almost desperate.
"I don't care about the ghost anymore," Guàn Jǐngchén said against his hair. "I care about keeping you safe. Keeping this safe."
Lin Yuè wrapped his arms around the CEO's waist, hiding his face in his chest. Guilt and warmth battled inside him.
"I'm safe with you," he whispered.
Guàn Jǐngchén tilted his chin up and kissed him fiercely, walking them backward until Lin Yuè's back hit the wall. The kiss was hungry, possessive, hands sliding under clothes with urgent need.
They didn't make it to the bedroom.
Guàn Jǐngchén took him right there against the wall — slow, deep thrusts that drew broken moans from Lin Yuè's lips. The CEO whispered praises and promises between kisses: "Mine… only mine… I'll protect you from everything."
When they finished, both breathing hard and clinging to each other, Guàn Jǐngchén pressed his forehead to Lin Yuè's.
"I'm stopping the active hunt," he said quietly. "For now. I want to focus on us."
Lin Yuè's eyes stung with unexpected emotion. He nodded, voice small. "Thank you."
But as they cleaned up and moved to the couch to order dinner, Lin Yuè's mind raced.
The scan had bought him time.
The CEO was pulling back from the hunt.
Yet the anonymous messages and subtle probes were still out there — and Guàn Jǐngchén's instincts were too sharp to ignore forever.
That night, as they lay tangled in bed, Guàn Jǐngchén held him closer than ever.
"I think I'm falling for you, Lin Yuè," he whispered into the darkness.
Lin Yuè's heart stopped.
He pressed his face into the CEO's neck, hiding the tears that threatened to fall.
"I think… I'm falling too," he whispered back, the words terrifyingly honest.
The mask was no longer just a tool.
It was becoming part of him.
And when the truth finally came out, Lin Yuè wasn't sure who would break more — the hunter… or the ghost who had started to love being caught.
End of Chapter 17