The hallway outside Yuxi's apartment was quiet — too quiet. She fumbled with her keys, still replaying Li Zhenyu's voice in her head.
Because I protect what's mine.
She shouldn't think about it.
She shouldn't feel anything.
She absolutely felt everything.
The lock clicked.
"Long night?"
Yuxi froze.
A man leaned casually against her doorframe — early thirties, sharp smile, eyes too amused for someone who should've minded his own business.
Zhao Mingrui.
The investor from the gala.
The one who'd flirted with her earlier.
The one who shouldn't be here.
Her pulse spiked. "What are you doing here?"
He pushed off the wall, hands in his pockets. "Relax. I just wanted to congratulate you."
"On what?"
He stepped closer — not touching, but close enough to make her skin crawl.
"On your engagement," he said lightly. "Or should I say… your contract?"
Her blood ran cold.
He smiled wider. "Don't look so shocked. You think people in our world don't notice things? The timing. The sudden announcement. The way he looks at you like he's trying too hard."
Yuxi forced her voice steady. "You don't know anything."
"Oh, I know enough." He leaned in, voice dropping. "And I know the Han Group would be very interested to hear that Li Zhenyu's perfect little love story is fake."
Her stomach twisted.
"What do you want?" she whispered.
He shrugged. "Nothing yet. Just wanted to see your face when you realized how fragile your little arrangement is."
He turned to leave — then paused.
"Oh, and Yuxi?" He glanced back, eyes glinting. "Be careful. Secrets like yours… don't stay quiet for long."
He walked away, footsteps echoing down the hall.
Yuxi stood frozen, heart pounding, breath shaking.
He knows. He knows. He knows.
She fumbled for her phone with trembling fingers.
She didn't even think — she called him.
The line rang once.
Twice.
Then—
"Yuxi?"
His voice. Low. Controlled. Dangerous.
She swallowed hard. "Someone… someone knows."
Silence.
Not empty silence — lethal silence.
"Who," he said.
Not a question. A threat.
"Zhao Mingrui," she whispered. "He was waiting outside my door. He said he knows about the contract. He said he might tell the Han Group."
Another beat of silence.
Then his tone shifted — cold, sharp, deadly.
"Stay where you are."
"Zhenyu—"
"Yuxi." His voice dropped to a register she'd never heard before. "Do not open your door. Do not move. I'm coming."
The call ended.
She stared at her phone, breath unsteady.
Five minutes passed.
Then four.
Then three.
Then—
Heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs.
The hallway lights flickered.
And Li Zhenyu appeared at the end of the corridor — no suit jacket, tie gone, sleeves rolled up, eyes burning with something dark and unrestrained.
He didn't slow down.
He didn't speak.
He reached her, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into his chest — not gently, not carefully, but like he needed to feel she was real.
"What did he say to you?" he asked, voice low and lethal.
She swallowed. "He said he knows about the contract. He said he might expose it."
Zhenyu's jaw clenched so hard she heard his teeth grind.
"He touched you?" he asked.
"No."
"He came near you?"
"Yes."
His eyes darkened — not with jealousy.
With fury.
"I'll handle him," he said.
"How?" she whispered.
He looked at her like the answer was obvious.
"Any way I have to."
Her breath caught.
This wasn't the CEO the world knew.
This wasn't the cold, controlled man she worked for.
This was someone dangerous.
Someone who would burn the world down if it threatened her.
"Zhenyu…" she whispered.
He stepped closer, voice barely a breath.
"No one threatens what's mine."
Her heart stopped.
"Zhenyu—"
He lifted a hand, brushing her cheek with a gentleness that didn't match the storm in his eyes.
"You're safe," he murmured. "As long as I'm here, you're safe."
She opened her mouth to speak—
But the elevator dinged.
Both of them turned.
Zhao Mingrui stepped out.
Smirking.
The man who threatened her is now face‑to‑face with the CEO who just went dark mode.