With Xia Shuran here, plus Chi Mingyu being the loudmouth he was, the rest of the gathering revolved entirely around her.
Before long, the whole party knew that Yu had gotten himself a girlfriend.
This was nuclear-level news.
If Chi Yu still hadn’t found a girlfriend by now, everyone would’ve started wondering if something was wrong with him down there.
Xia Shuran returned to the elevator alone. She pressed the button for the fifth floor, but the elevator didn’t move.
She froze for a moment, realizing it wasn’t an elevator malfunction.
Most likely, the elevator had been programmed with restricted floors, requiring a magnetic card to access them.
“…”
That Chi guy was pretty particular—only he could go up to the fifth floor.
The elevator doors opened, and Xia Shuran saw the person standing outside.
She recognized him—it was the young man in the pink sports car.
He had a fairly clean-cut face, around his twenties, no older than twenty-five.
He smiled. “Chiara?”
Xia Shuran frowned. This guy recognized her at a glance.
Something was off.
“Yu said you came up in Chi Mingyu’s car, so I felt at ease—this is the card for the fifth floor.”
“I didn’t get it to you on time since I didn’t pick you up as scheduled.”
He chuckled. “Don’t blame Yu. He… he really waited for you for a long time.”
From that night in Italy until now—so long that he was nearly losing his mind.
Xia Shuran took the card.
She slowly let out a breath and closed the elevator doors.
She pressed the fifth floor again, swiped the card against the sensor, and the elevator began to ascend.
The closer she got, the more nervous she became.
She gripped the strap of her tote bag, where a sharp knife lay quietly inside.
The elevator reached the fifth floor, and the doors opened.
Xia Shuran stepped out cautiously, approaching the corridor before her. On the left was a lounge area with sofas.
The lights were off, with only faint illumination coming from the balcony at the far end of the sofas.
Xia Shuran moved like an alert little cat, her footsteps as soft as a feather landing, hidden in the air.
As she neared the balcony, she could already see through the glass—a shimmering indoor swimming pool.
She slowly pushed open the tall glass door.
The lighting remained dim. The sounds of revelry from the backyard below were muffled, as if separated by a thick layer of cotton—dull, no longer noisy, almost like white noise for sleep.
The moment she stepped into the space, she saw a tall, powerfully built figure standing by the edge of the pool.
Xia Shuran’s heart raced violently, like dense drumbeats, making her whole body tremble with each pulse.
Like stepping into some beast’s territory, her instincts screamed danger.
Near the railing, Chi Yu was drying himself off. Drops of water dripped from the hair on his forehead, and beads of moisture clung to his cool, handsome face. His sharp features were half-shrouded in shadow, his brows and eyes sharp and wild.
He lifted his gaze to meet Xia Shuran’s, raising an eyebrow slightly.
A lazy, indifferent tone drifted to Xia Shuran’s ears. “You’re here.”
Xia Shuran took a step back, as if ready to bolt at any moment.
The man was bare-chested, wearing only black swim trunks that made his pale skin stand out even more.
Water droplets slid down his body. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, smooth and natural muscle lines, deep V-lines extending downward, long straight legs, and taut, lean muscle.
She’d said she wanted to see his abs—now she was really seeing them.
Xia Shuran immediately turned her face away, sneering inwardly. Well, his body’s decent enough. All bark and no bite, though.
Chi Yu seemed to watch her with amusement for a while before slowly speaking. “Come here.”
Xia Shuran’s back stiffened. She didn’t move.
After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly heard his low voice, tinged with a hint of tenderness. “Chiara.”
His tone sounded almost aggrieved. “You were very obedient that night.”
The taut string in Xia Shuran’s mind snapped.
The blurry figure in her memory gradually overlapped with the man before her.
Those dark, narrow eyes…
“It was you?” Xia Shuran spoke, her voice trembling.
Chi Yu strolled toward her with unhurried ease, like a beast certain of its prey.
Xia Shuran watched helplessly as his figure drew closer and closer, until he finally loomed completely over her.
Chi Yu bent down slightly, his eyes teasing as he looked at Xia Shuran. He tilted his head. “Yeah. It’s me.”
Is this guy trying to act cute or something… Xia Shuran pressed her lips together. She was definitely seeing things.
Chi Yu stared straight at Xia Shuran. His voice wasn’t so much calm as it was eerily placid.
“Too bad you forgot about me.”
“Left me all alone in that hotel.”
Chi Yu’s gaze darkened. “I hate you.”
Xia Shuran stood frozen in place. Every response she’d prepared beforehand had completely failed her.
She was scared. She wanted to step back, but she was held in place by the man before her.
He lowered his eyes, carefully tracing every feature of her face, his thin lips parting slightly. “You haven’t changed much. When I saw you on the plane, I was… still a little happy.”
He leaned in slightly, his gaze obscure and intense, eyes locked on her. “Do you still remember me?”
When the girl didn’t answer, Chi Yu lowered his gaze expressionlessly, concealing the disappointment in his eyes.
He leaned close to Xia Shuran’s ear and spoke softly. “I missed you.”
His low, husky yet burning tone carried the cool, crisp breath of a young man, winding from her ear and coiling through her entire body.
Xia Shuran’s mind went completely blank, and a fine layer of goosebumps prickled up on the back of her neck.
It was like countless tiny insects crawling up her spine, her blood running hot through her body.
Xia Shuran felt they were standing far too close, and she suddenly shoved Chi Yu.
But she discovered that even using all her strength, this man didn’t budge an inch.
Chi Yu seemed to find it amusing, his eyes lifting slightly with a hint of a smirk.
His thin eyelids, with the outer corners tilted upward, gave him a roguish, mischievous look.
“What, not admitting it?” Chi Yu glanced at her with hooded eyes. “You left without a word in Italy, and now you’re trying to weasel out of it?”
Xia Shuran still didn’t react.
Chi Yu’s gaze turned cold as he spoke flatly, “If you won’t take responsibility…”
“Then we’ll just do it again.”
Xia Shuran was so startled she swayed on her feet, her thoughts gradually snapping back into focus.
She slowly looked up at him, “…”
Damn. It seemed she’d provoked some kind of cold-blooded creature.
His eyes were like those of a frigid snake—the kind that would coil around you and squeeze the life out of you when you least expected it.
Xia Shuran didn’t dare meet his gaze anymore. She steadied herself and said, “I’m going home. Move aside.”
She needed to go back and think carefully about how to handle this.
The problem seemed to have gotten more complicated now.
But Chi Yu had her locked in place, and she couldn’t move an inch.
Xia Shuran said, “Are you crazy? Let go of me.”
Chi Yu’s lips curved upward into a very casual smile. “I am.”
Xia Shuran had no idea what to do with him. “Move aside!”
“Move aside, did you hear me?”
Chi Yu looked at her almost plaintively. “Didn’t hear you.”
Xia Shuran: “…”
The girl’s strength was so negligible it could barely be counted.
Chi Yu caught her hand, gripping her slender wrist—so thin it seemed like one light twist would snap it.
“You hung up on me, and now you’re hitting me.” The young man’s voice was low and stubborn. “How are you going to make it up to me?”
Xia Shuran’s hands were restrained, and she struggled in vain.
The corners of her eyes were turning red, but her voice remained defiant. “What do you want?!”
Chi Yu’s expression was cold and roguish. “My demands aren’t high.”
“Just give me a kiss—on your own initiative.”