?”…Are you drunk?” Zhang Ming couldn’t resist asking, his voice tinged with worry as he watched her struggle to turn the ignition key, coupled with the empty bottles of alcohol.

“!”

Cai Wenxi flinched, a sharp movement betraying her surprise.

Whirling around with a glare, her eyes narrow and defensive, she snapped, “What? Can’t I even drink alone now? Is it too — against the policy of your family!?” Her voice was sharp, laced with irritation and a hint of anger.

“!”

Zhang Ming couldn’t help but be taken aback. Shaking his head, he instructed, “Drive back to the hotel,” before closing his eyes and leaning back against the seat.

Observing her red and swollen eyes, he felt that any attempt to reason with her would backfire.

This woman was clearly drunk, and he knew she harbored deep resentment towards him.

If he provoked her, she might hurl cruel words his way, which would not only be disrespectful but could also escalate the situation further.

As the car started — Zhang Ming opened his eyes briefly, glancing at Cai Wenxi as he tried to ease into a conversation, hoping to lighten the heavy air.

“How long were you waiting for me?” he asked, his voice softer, trying to bridge the cold distance she had put between them.

??

Cai Wenxi kept her eyes glued to the road, her fingers tight around the steering wheel.

“Not long,” she responded coldly, her voice betraying no emotion, her focus unyielding.

Zhang Ming wasn’t deterred. He ventured further, hoping to elicit more than just curt responses. “I appreciate your patience today. The party ran longer than expected,” he continued, watching her for any sign of softening.

“It’s fine,” she replied curtly, still not turning to look at him.

Inside, however, Cai Wenxi’s thoughts were churning.

She caught brief glimpses of genuine concern in Zhang Ming’s eyes whenever she dared a quick glance, and it stirred an uncomfortable blend of guilt and justification within her.

‘Why is he even worried about me today? Wasn’t it always about his family and him?…’ she criticized internally.

Yet, part of her justified her actions, fueled by past grievances and deep-seated resentments. ‘But hasn’t he brought this upon himself? Doesn’t he deserve a taste of his own medicine?’ her thoughts raced, battling between vindication and regret.

Observing her unchanging demeanor and sensing her internal struggle, Zhang Ming felt a pang of sadness.

He leaned back, closing his eyes once more, allowing the silence to envelop them.

He mulled over their fractured relationship, wondering if there was a bridge yet to be built or if the chasm had grown too wide. ‘What has happened to us? Why does every conversation seems like a battle?’ he wondered silently, a mix of sorrow and confusion clouding his thoughts.

“Is everything else okay, Wenxi? You seem… off today,” Zhang Ming finally said, opening his eyes and turning towards her, his concern evident.

“!”

Cai Wenxi’s heart skipped, caught off-guard by his directness.

“I’m just tired, that’s all,” she lied smoothly, her voice calm but her mind screaming in turmoil. ‘If only you knew, would you even care? Or would you be relieved to have a reason to let go?’ she pondered, the weight of her actions pressing heavily on her chest,

The numbness in her legs, a residual discomfort from her earlier intense exercise with Zhang Wei, dugged up sour memories.

Each moment she spent with Zhang Ming felt increasingly suffocating, as if the air between them was choking her.

All Cai Wenxi craved was to flee to a secluded room, to escape as swiftly as possible.

Upon reaching the hotel where they were temporarily staying, she marched directly to her room without a glance back.

Her movements were brisk, fueled by a desperate need for solitude.

Bam!

The sound of the door slamming shut echoed down the hallway.

“…”

Zhang Ming’s face darkened as the door clicked shut.

He had tried to call after her multiple times, but she seemingly hadn’t heard—or perhaps had chosen to ignore him.

“Bitch!” he muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over. With a furious kick to the wall, he stormed off toward the room next door, his footsteps filled with anger.

______

“…”

Inside Cai Wenxi’s room, the ambiance was somber. The lights were off, and the curtains tightly drawn, yet a sliver of faint light crept into the room from the slightly open door leading to the washroom.

Before a wide mirror, now spider-webbed with cracks, Cai Wenxi stood motionless. 𝖋𝖗𝔴𝖇𝖔𝖛𝖑.𝖈𝖔𝖒

Her gaze was fixed intensely on her own reflection, a grim expression etched across her face.

Water splashed from the still-running tap, tracing wet paths down her cheeks.

Her right hand, bearing slight bruises, hung limply by her side as she confronted the image before her.

“You look ugly.”

“!”

Cai Wenxi’s body stiffened instantly, her breath catching in her throat as an unexpected cold hand encircled her waist, pulling her slightly backward into an unwelcome embrace.

“You—how did you get in here!?” Cai Wenxi gasped, her shoulders tensing uncomfortably as her eyes widened at the sight of Zhang Wei’s reflection in the cracked mirror.

“I never left,” he whispered right into her ear, his voice a low murmur that sent a shiver down her spine.

His breath felt unnaturally warm against the coolness of her wet skin as he nestled his face against the nape of her neck.

“How did you even came in!?” she murmured, a mix of fear and confusion swirling within her as she struggled to reconcile his sudden appearance with her turbulent emotions.

Zhang Wei tightened his grip, his fingers delicately pressing into the supple curve of her sides. “Didn’t I say already—I never left.”

“!”

Cai Wenxi’s eyes couldn’t help but widen in astonishment, but Zhang Wei shrugged nonchalantly under her scrutinizing gaze.

He wasn’t even lying.

All the while, he had been a silent shadow, woven into the very darkness at her feet.

The brother had finally unearthed a thrilling yet noble new application for his abilities, one that promised to weave chaos and delight among the city’s unsuspecting birds, as those felines swarm to the brother’s feet to receive — enlightenment!

“Whatever…” Cai Wenqi muttered, shaking her head vehemently before spinning around to face him. “You need to leave now!” she demanded.

“Hm? Really? But wouldn’t all your careful preparations be wasted then?” Zhang Wei’s lips curled into a playful smirk as he feigned innocence, stepping back gracefully into the room and opening his arms wide.

“?? What preparations?” Cai Wenxi’s frown deepened, her head throbbing as she tried to figure out how to evict this persistent man and face whatever magical plot he was devising, yet again!