Long Shan returned to his dimly lit bedroom only to find Xiao Yu curled up like a frightened kitten under the thick quilt on his bed. Her breathing was even, but her shoulders trembled slightly, betraying the storm she had clearly fled from. He leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms across his chest, his brows creased in silent question.
"What exactly is chasing you?" his deep voice cut through the silence like a sharp blade.
Xiao Yu peeked out from beneath the blanket, her eyes still glazed from sleep but wary. "Nothing," she muttered, clearly lying.
Long Shan arched a brow. "Then why are you in my room? You do realize how reckless it is for a girl like you to sneak into a man's bedroom in the dead of night?" His tone wasn't angry—just... amused. Dangerous.
Her fingers clutched the edge of the blanket tighter. "You're not going to do anything to me, are you?" she asked softly, her voice trembling despite her attempt at bravery.
He scoffed, a dark smirk playing on his lips. "This is my room, Xiao Yu. I have rights here. Everything in here belongs to me."
She sat up quickly, eyes blazing. "I'm not one of your possessions! I won't let you touch me."
He rolled his eyes. "Go back to your room."
"No," she said firmly, voice cracking just a little. "I'm scared. I'll just stay here tonight. If it makes you uncomfortable, you can sleep in the guest room—or even in mine. It's not like you don't have options."
He stared at her in disbelief. "Are you seriously kicking me out of my own bed?"
"It's just for one night," she said stubbornly, already settling into the blankets again. "Besides, I don't trust you. You might try something once I'm asleep."
"You little—" Long Shan clamped his mouth shut, shaking his head. "Good night then. Don't expect me to be so kind again."
"And turn off the light, please," she added, already half-asleep.
Suppressing a groan, Long Shan went to the wardrobe, grabbed an extra blanket, and laid on the leather sofa near the window. With a flick of the switch, the room went dark, the only light spilling in from the pale glow of the city outside.
An hour passed.
Long Shan woke with a sharp gasp, sweat beading on his forehead. The nightmare again. Always the same — fire, blood, the cold edge of a knife against his throat. He sat up, chest heaving, dragging a palm across his face. Years of violence and betrayal had branded his mind with horrors he could never shake.
He glanced at Xiao Yu, who was sleeping peacefully in the bed, the blanket rising and falling gently with her breath. In her presence, the room somehow felt warmer, safer... less haunted.
He stood, pacing the room to clear his head, then without thinking, sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning back slightly, his eyes searching the ceiling for answers the dark never gave. As if sensing him, Xiao Yu turned in her sleep and her arm reached out, resting gently on his lap.
He froze.
His instinct screamed to push her away, but his body remained still. Her warmth, her trust—even unconscious—wrapped around him like a balm. With a long sigh, he leaned back more fully, resting his head beside hers. For the second time in days, sleep reclaimed him—quiet and deep.
---
The sharp beep of the alarm at 7 a.m. pierced the morning silence.
Long Shan woke slowly, only to find Xiao Yu still sleeping, her arm still draped over him. He stared at her for a moment—her lashes fluttering in a dream, her mouth slightly parted. Gently, he moved her hand away and stood, stretching before heading into the bathroom.
When he returned, water dripping from his hair, a towel around his waist, he found her still sprawled on the bed, snoring softly.
"Tch." He smirked. "Still sleeping like a pig."
With a wicked glint in his eye, he stepped closer and shook his damp hair over her face. Droplets splashed against her cheek, and Xiao Yu shot up with a shriek.
"Are you mad?!" she shouted, sitting up and glaring at him, blinking sleep from her eyes.
"You should thank me. I gave you the gentlest alarm possible," he replied nonchalantly, standing half-naked beside the bed.
Her eyes widened as she caught sight of his body. "Put on some clothes!" she yelped, turning her face away, her cheeks flaming.
"This is my room, remember?" he said calmly, arms crossed. "You've overstayed your welcome. Now get out so I can dress."
"You could've just nudged me awake!" she grumbled, climbing out of bed reluctantly.
"I did. With water." His voice was smug.
She stalked toward the door and Xiao Yu bolted out, muttering curses under her breath.
---
Two hours later, Long Shan sat in his hidden chamber, surrounded by dark leather, steel shelves, and maps marked with red pins. One of his men entered, carrying a sealed file.
"Report," Long Shan commanded.
"Yes, Boss," the man replied, handing over the file. "This contains everything about Lu Yiren—Viper—and his arrangement with Miss Xiao Yu's family."
Long Shan flipped through the contents. His jaw tightened as he read.
"She was just four years old when they made this deal?" he asked, voice icy.
"Yes. The agreement stated that if the debt wasn't repaid by her eighteenth birthday, Viper had the right to marry her. Her family never paid. Instead, they hid her with her aunt."
Long Shan's eyes glinted like daggers. "Is the family still alive?"
"Yes. Currently working in Viper's estate. He's holding them as leverage."
Long Shan snapped the file shut. "Dismissed."
The man bowed and exited. Alone, Long Shan leaned back, eyes shadowed with thought.
"She belongs to no one," he muttered. "Not even me."
---
Later that day, Viper burst into Long Shan's office unannounced, two men in tow, briefcases in hand.
Long Shan didn't even look up. "I should start charging you for each time you breach my space."
Viper laughed. "This won't take long. I'm here to buy back what's mine."
He motioned to his men, who opened the briefcases—both stacked with cash.
Long Shan arched a brow. "And what's this?"
"Double what her aunt owed. I'm here for my wife."
Long Shan's expression darkened. "You think she's for sale?"
"She was promised to me. I have the papers."
Long Shan stood slowly. "Take your trash. Get out."
Viper's grin faded. "This isn't over."
"Damn right, it's not," Long Shan murmured after the door closed.
---
Outside Xiao Yu's school, she waited alone while Meili used the restroom. Her phone buzzed with a silly game app.
Then—a screech of tires. A van pulled up. Before she could react, two men grabbed her roughly and threw her inside.
"Help!" she screamed, but the door slammed shut.
The van sped away, leaving only her fallen phone on the pavement—screen cracked, game music still playing.