The rain fell steadily against the pavement, washing away the traces of what had just happened, as if the world itself had decided that the scene didn't deserve to remain, leaving behind nothing but silence, confusion, and a question that none of them could answer.
Zian walked forward without stopping.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just… normal.
As if four men hadn't just been taken down behind her.
As if nothing unusual had happened at all.
Her expression remained calm, her steps light, her posture relaxed—but inside her mind, her thoughts moved with quiet clarity.
That was boring.
Behind her, hidden just enough to avoid attention, her family didn't follow immediately this time.
They stayed.
Watching.
Thinking.
Sterling looked down at the men still on the ground, his brows tightly furrowed as he replayed the scene in his head again and again, trying to find something—anything—that made sense.
"She didn't hit them properly," he said slowly.
Huo Lou crossed her arms, her eyes sharp. "Then why are they down?"
Their mother remained silent, her gaze fixed on the direction Zian had left, her expression colder than before, more focused.
"She moved," she said quietly.
Fiang Sheng didn't speak.
He simply stood there, his dark coat slightly damp from the rain, his gaze distant yet precise, as if he were reconstructing every second, every step, every movement that had just taken place.
Too clean.
They all heard that thought.
And this time—
It wasn't Zian's.
Sterling glanced at him.
Huo Lou's expression shifted slightly.
Fiang Sheng turned.
Without another word, he began walking in the direction Zian had gone.
Because whatever that was—
He wasn't done with it.
Meanwhile—
Zian had already reached the quieter part of the street, where the noise of the city softened into distant echoes, the rain falling more clearly now, tapping against the ground, her clothes, her hair, but she didn't seem to care.
She didn't run.
Didn't rush.
Didn't even look back.
Inside her mind—
Someone paid them.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
So the story is already moving.
Her fingers brushed lightly against her sleeve.
Good.
A faint smile appeared.
Not soft.
Not warm.
Let them come.
Behind her—
Footsteps approached.
She didn't turn.
Of course they followed.
Fiang Sheng stopped a few steps behind her, his presence heavy even without words, his gaze fixed on her back as the rain continued to fall between them, creating a quiet, tense distance.
"You're not surprised," he said.
Zian tilted her head slightly but didn't turn around.
"About what?" she asked calmly.
Inside—
About getting attacked? Obviously not.
He heard it.
His eyes darkened.
"You knew," he said.
Now she turned.
Slowly.
Their eyes met.
Zian looked at him with calm indifference, as if the question itself didn't interest her.
"I guessed," she said.
Inside—
It's obvious someone would target her.
Fiang Sheng stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
"You handled it well," he said.
It didn't sound like praise.
It sounded like testing.
Zian shrugged slightly.
"Luck," she replied.
Inside—
They were just weak.
The rain grew heavier.
Silence stretched between them again.
Fiang Sheng's gaze didn't waver.
Because once again—
What she said—
And what she thought—
Didn't match.
"You're different," he said.
Zian's lips curved slightly.
Not into a smile.
Something sharper.
"People change," she replied.
Inside—
Or maybe you just never noticed before.
That thought—
Landed heavily.
For the first time—
Fiang Sheng didn't respond immediately.
Because that sentence—
Felt true.
Too true.
Zian turned away again.
"Are you done?" she asked casually.
Inside—
If you keep following me, it's going to get annoying.
He heard it.
And yet—
He didn't leave.
"Be careful," he said finally.
Zian paused for half a second.
Then walked again.
I can handle myself.
The words echoed clearly.
Confident.
Certain.
Behind her—
Fiang Sheng stood still, watching her disappear into the rain, his expression unreadable, his thoughts far from calm.
Because now—
It wasn't just curiosity anymore.
It was attention.
And once someone like him starts paying attention—
There is no turning back.