The silence after the kiss was louder than anything Shen Miao had ever heard.
Their lips had parted, but neither moved away.
He Ran's forehead rested gently against hers, and she could feel his breath—unsteady, warm, like he couldn't believe she'd kissed him first. Her fingers were still tangled in his collar, and his hands... his hands had found her waist, grounding them both as if afraid they'd float into something too big to control.
They stayed like that for a long moment—neither speaking, neither rushing.
The storm inside them had quieted, replaced by something far more dangerous: stillness filled with emotion.
Finally, Shen Miao stepped back, her heart pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it.
"I shouldn't have done that," she whispered, but her voice lacked conviction.
He Ran smiled, a small, broken thing. "But you did."
She looked at him. Really looked.
He wasn't the boy she had known. He was sharper now—more chiseled, more guarded—but there was still that softness beneath, that version of him who used to carry her backpack without asking, who bought her bubble tea without reason.
"Why didn't you fight for me back then?" she asked quietly.
His smile faded. "I thought you deserved someone who wouldn't leave. Someone who didn't come with conditions."
Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time they didn't fall.
"I didn't need perfect," she said. "I just needed you."
He walked to her slowly and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. "I'm still here."
For a moment, she leaned into his touch, then gently stepped away.
"I need time," she said. "I can't fall again if I'm not sure you'll catch me."
"You can take all the time you need," he said without hesitation. "Just let me stay close enough to prove it."
---
Later in the Office
The day went on like normal—but nothing felt normal.
Shen Miao returned to her department, cheeks flushed and mind clouded. Her coworkers chatted around her, but their voices were muffled by the sound of her own heartbeat.
He Ran didn't show up for any meetings, but she caught glimpses of him walking past the glass walls—just enough to remind her of what had happened. Just enough to make her pulse race.
Irene noticed too.
Her smile had thinned throughout the day, her usually charming voice now edged with suspicion.
"You're glowing," Irene said casually when Shen Miao returned from the restroom.
"Am I?" Shen Miao replied coolly, brushing past her.
It was subtle, but the war had begun.
---
Evening — Outside the Office
The sun had dipped low behind the city skyline. Shen Miao gathered her bag, preparing to leave, when she saw him waiting by the exit.
No suit jacket. Just a dark shirt, sleeves rolled. He looked less like the CEO of LUMIGO and more like the boy who once waited by her classroom door every day after school.
"Walk with me?" he asked.
She didn't answer. She just started walking. He fell into step beside her.
The night air was cooler than she expected, and the city buzzed with life. They walked in silence until they reached the riverside where the lamplight reflected on the water.
"You used to love this place," he said.
"I still do."
He glanced at her. "Do you remember the night we ran here from school just to watch the stars?"
"You got us caught," she smiled. "We missed the last bus, and you had to carry me halfway home."
"I didn't mind," he said. "I never minded anything when you were with me."
She turned to him. "Don't say things you don't mean."
"I mean every word," he said, stepping closer.
She looked up at him, unsure of whether to move or stay.
And then he did it again—softly.
He reached out, took her hand, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
It wasn't a claim. It was a promise.
Flashback — Five Years Ago
It was the last Friday of summer term. The sky had blushed into indigo, and the school corridors had already emptied out. Shen Miao had just come out of detention—for something He Ran did, of course.
He grabbed her wrist the moment she stepped through the doors, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Come on," he said. "Let's break one more rule tonight."
They ran. Down the school steps, through the back gate, laughing so hard it echoed across the empty streets. She'd kicked off her shoes halfway through, and he carried them in one hand while pulling her along with the other.
They ended up breathless by the riverside, lying side by side on the cool grass.
The stars were ridiculous that night. Endless and bold, like a sky that had no intention of sleeping.
Shen Miao had turned to him, breathless. "Why here?"
He Ran had shrugged. "Because it's quiet. And beautiful. Like you."
She had gone still.
He didn't say anything after that, just offered her his jacket when the breeze grew cold. They stayed there until the last bus had come and gone.
And when she'd shivered, he didn't ask—he just carried her halfway home on his back, humming off-key the whole time.