Xu Youqing saw Jin Zongmin, faltered in her steps for a moment, then lowered her eyes, pretending not to know him as she walked past.
Jin Zongmin didn't call her out on it either—his gaze simply followed her for a brief moment as she passed by.
Ever since Jin Zongmin had said it was "pointless" last time, Xu Youqing had assumed the two of them wouldn't cross paths again. Running into him today, whether by chance or coincidence, left her feeling unsettled.
Xu Youqing quietly found the shift supervisor, used feeling unwell as an excuse, and swapped shifts with a coworker she got along with reasonably well, planning to leave early.
She intended to slip out through the side door.
The corridor was long, bathed in dim yellow light. She walked quickly, and just as she was about to reach the corner, two figures emerged from the shadows, blocking her path.
"Hey there, little sister, off work already?"
A lean, wiry man with a cigarette dangling from his lips looked her up and down with ill intent. "You're Xu Youqing, right?"
Xu Youqing ignored him.
The other man, with a crew cut, had an even more blatant look in his eyes. He clicked his tongue. "They only said she was good-looking, didn't mention… this good-looking?"
Xu Youqing's internal alarm bells were screaming.
She gripped her bag strap tightly, one hand quietly slipping inside to feel for her phone, forcing herself to stay calm. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Don't be nervous, Miss Xu," the skinny one said with a leering grin. "We just wanted to treat you to some late-night snacks. How about we go somewhere else and have some fun?"
"I don't know you. Move aside." Xu Youqing took a step back, her voice taut.
She turned sideways to leave, but the crew-cut man took a step across, blocking her again.
"Move," she said, her voice tightening as she stared at him. "Or I'll call security."
The crew-cut man scoffed and took another step forward with his companion. "Little sister, don't refuse a toast only to drink a penalty."
"Go ahead and call. Even if you get security here, it won't matter. The person behind us—your boss here can't afford to offend them."
Xu Youqing backed up against the wall, fumbling frantically for her phone to call Han Zheng, but the crew-cut man snatched it away with quick reflexes and tossed it aside.
"You—!" Xu Youqing was both shocked and furious.
The crew-cut man leered as he stepped forward, reaching out to touch her face. "With looks like yours, it's such a waste serving drinks and tea here…"
Xu Youqing dodged in fright, her mind racing to figure out which direction she should run.
Once she'd settled on a direction, she was about to turn when a hand gently rested on her shoulder from behind.
In that instant, Xu Youqing's entire body went rigid with fear, thinking it was another accomplice of theirs.
But then, a familiar scent reached her.
She spun around sharply—Jin Zongmin was standing right behind her.
His face was set tight, and the hand resting on her shoulder was steady, unwavering.
In that moment, she had to admit—what surged up in her heart was relief.
"Do you know them?" Jin Zongmin asked. His voice wasn't loud, yet it inexplicably made the two men across from them straighten up.
Xu Youqing shook her head. "No."
The crew-cut man sized up Jin Zongmin. This man carried an imposing presence, clearly not someone easy to mess with. His heart wavered a little, but he kept up a tough front, saying to Jin Zongmin, "I'd advise you not to stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
Jin Zongmin curled the corner of his mouth into a cold smile, which inexplicably sent a chill down both the skinny man's and the crew-cut man's spines.
The club's owner had somehow followed them over. Seeing the situation, and then recognizing Jin Zongmin's face and the woman he was shielding at his side, his expression changed drastically.
He grabbed the crew-cut man's arm and yanked him close, lowering his voice, his tone completely changed. "Are you insane? Even ten of your bosses combined wouldn't dare mess with this man!"
The club owner hurriedly apologized to Jin Zongmin again. "Mr. Jin, I'm so sorry, so sorry! It's my fault for not managing things properly, letting these blind fools offend you and… and this young lady!"
The skinny man and the crew-cut man saw the club owner's attitude and knew—even as dense as they were—that they'd kicked an iron plate. They were just paid to scare a young girl, not to actually provoke someone they shouldn't have.
Both of them immediately cowered, bowing and scraping. "Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! We mistook you for someone else! Sorry, sorry!" They tried to slip away.
"What's the hurry?" Jin Zongmin said flatly.
Their footsteps froze.
Jin Zongmin tilted his head, unhurriedly tapping a cigarette out of the pack, lighting it, and taking a drag.
Pale blue-grey smoke rose, blurring his cold, sharp features. He held the cigarette between his fingers and glanced at the metal sand urn beside him, but didn't use it. He swept his gaze over the crew-cut man without a word, then raised his hand, staring at the cigarette in it.
The club owner caught on immediately and shoved the crew-cut man forward, giving him a meaningful look. "Use your hand."
The crew-cut man's face went pale. Under Jin Zongmin's oppressive stare, he tremblingly extended his palm.
Jin Zongmin casually flicked off the ash. Then, under the crew-cut man's terrified gaze, he pressed the burning cigarette butt directly into the center of his outstretched palm.
A faint sizzling sound.
The crew-cut man shuddered in pain, his face twisting, but he clenched his jaw, not daring to cry out or pull his hand back. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
Jin Zongmin kept the cigarette pressed down, not letting go. He looked up at him and asked in a calm voice, "Is she pretty?"
The crew-cut man's mind went blank from the pain, and he answered instinctively, "Pretty… pretty…"
Jin Zongmin's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly pressed down harder.
"Ah—!" The crew-cut man finally let out a short cry of pain, quickly correcting himself. "Not pretty! Not pretty!"
Jin Zongmin still didn't let go. Instead, he pressed down even harder.
The cigarette butt ground deeper into the flesh.
The crew-cut man was nearly on his knees, his face crumpled in misery as he begged for mercy. "I won't do it again! I swear I won't do it again!"
Only then did Jin Zongmin release his hand. "Get lost."
The two men fled as if pardoned, scrambling away on all fours.
The club owner wanted to say something more, but one look from Jin Zongmin silenced him. He wiped his sweat and backed off as well.
Xu Youqing was still leaning against the wall, her face somewhat pale. Not just from the fright those two had given her, but also from the series of actions Jin Zongmin had just taken.
"Let's go." Jin Zongmin glanced at Xu Youqing.
Jin Zongmin walked ahead, and Xu Youqing followed behind.
They reached the front entrance of the club. Outside, it had started to rain at some point—fine threads of drizzle weaving a grey, hazy net under the streetlights.
Xu Youqing stood outside that "net," with Jin Zongmin beside her.
The driver had already pulled the car up to the entrance and respectfully opened the door.
Jin Zongmin turned his head. "Get in. I'll take you home."
His expression hadn't looked good the entire time.
Xu Youqing looked at the curtain of rain, then at Jin Zongmin, hesitating.
Her rationality told her she shouldn't have any more contact with him. She should refuse. But the scare from earlier still lingered, and what if those two came back for her?
Jin Zongmin seemed to see right through her inner conflict. "Xu Youqing, there's no need to force yourself to suffer just because of me."
She looked up at him.
"Or could it be," Jin Zongmin said with a half-smile, "that you actually have some feelings for me, which is why you've been avoiding me?"
Xu Youqing opened her mouth to retort but found herself at a loss for words. Setting aside Jin Zongmin's earlier behavior, she really did owe him thanks today.
"…Thank you."
She chose to get into the car with him.
The black Maybach drove into the rainy night.
The windshield wipers swung rhythmically, and the view outside the window was hazy. The heater was on full blast, the seat warmers were on, and the car was cozy and warm.
Xu Youqing leaned back against the seat, her taut nerves finally beginning to relax. The car drove smoothly, the warm air made her drowsy, and combined with the exhaustion of standing in high heels all day, her eyelids grew increasingly heavy.
Jin Zongmin was still brooding. Seeing Xu Youqing's guarded demeanor, he wondered—in her eyes, was he really no different from those two bastards?
He had been looking out at the rain when he noticed the even, shallow breathing beside him. He turned his head.
She had fallen asleep.
Her long hair clung messily to her cheeks, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes. From the fright and exhaustion, her complexion was somewhat pale, but she was still breathtakingly beautiful.
He stared at her for a long time.
The sound of his heartbeat was especially clear in the quiet cabin—thump, thump—beating so loudly that even Jin Zongmin himself found it irritating.
His mind drifted back to how Xu Youqing had looked in the cheongsam earlier, and suddenly his throat felt dry. Something surged up from within him, impossible to suppress.
A powerful impulse flooded his heart.
He wanted to touch her face, to tuck the loose strands of hair behind her ear, and even more… he wanted to kiss those two slightly parted, soft lips.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his body leaned toward her uncontrollably.
The distance closed inch by inch. He could see the fine down on her face, could feel her warm, shallow breath brushing against his skin. His gaze locked onto her lips like he was bewitched.
She stirred slightly but didn't wake, furrowing her brow a little—perhaps dreaming of something.
Jin Zongmin stared at the face so close to his, then abruptly straightened up, leaned back against the seat, and closed his eyes.
…
When the car stopped at the school gate, Xu Youqing woke up. She opened her eyes groggily, paused for a moment, and then realized where she was.
"I… how did I fall asleep."
Jin Zongmin glanced at her. "Wouldn't be the first time."
Xu Youqing recalled falling asleep in his car before and found herself at a loss for words.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Han Zheng.
"Youqing, are you off work? I just finished up over here, and I happen to be not far from you. Want me to come pick you up?"
Han Zheng knew Xu Youqing had been working a part-time job lately. He had offered to help before, but she had always refused. He tried to respect her choices the way she wanted, and didn't push further.
He thought that maybe once they got married, she would feel at ease spending his money.
Xu Youqing gripped her phone, her peripheral vision catching Jin Zongmin sitting beside her with his overwhelming presence, and instantly tensed up.
"I… I'm already on my way back to the dorm."
"You got a ride? I'm heading toward your school anyway. I'll wait for you at the gate."
"No need!" Xu Youqing blurted out, her voice a bit urgent.
Two hard stones colliding—she didn't dare imagine it.
Han Zheng was puzzled. "What's wrong? I'm already on the road. I'll be there soon."
She didn't want Han Zheng to see Jin Zongmin dropping her off, didn't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings and trouble.
"I'm a bit tired today. I want to head back early and rest."
Han Zheng didn't insist. "Alright, go back and rest early. Send me a message when you get to the dorm."
"Yeah, okay."
After hanging up, Xu Youqing let out a sigh of relief. But when she looked up, she met Jin Zongmin's gaze—he had been watching her, she didn't know for how long.
Jin Zongmin looked at her, a faint curve tugging at the corner of his mouth. Slowly, he said, "Xu Youqing, you're feeling guilty."
Xu Youqing's heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to stay calm. "I'm not."
"Not?" Jin Zongmin raised an eyebrow. "Then why don't you dare let him know you're with me right now?"
"There's no need." Her voice came out stiff.
Jin Zongmin turned away, his gaze darkening. "How is there no need?"
Xu Youqing decided to be blunt. "I don't want Han Zheng to overthink things."
Jin Zongmin was already holding back with great effort, as if some nerve had been struck. He reached out and gripped Xu Youqing's wrist, his force not light.
"What's so good about him, huh? Worth you defending him like this, taking drinks for him, and now even being afraid he might 'overthink' whose car you're riding in?"
Xu Youqing's wrist ached, and a stubborn streak surged up in her. "He's good. He's good in many ways."
Jin Zongmin stared fixedly at Xu Youqing, as if those words had choked him. He released his grip and nodded. "Fine. Very good."
The atmosphere in the car instantly dropped to freezing point. Jin Zongmin no longer looked at her.
Xu Youqing rubbed her reddened wrist, her mind in a mess.
After a long silence, she spoke. "Regardless, thank you for getting me out of that situation today."
Jin Zongmin didn't turn around. Watching the curtain of rain outside the window, his voice carried no warmth. "How will you thank me? I'm not the kind of person who helps for nothing."
Xu Youqing thought for a moment, then said, "Some other day… Han Zheng and I will treat you to a meal."
The moment the words left her mouth, Jin Zongmin could no longer hold back. He turned around.
He stared at Xu Youqing for two seconds.
Before she could react, his arm had already wrapped around her waist, pulling her toward him. She crashed into his chest, her nose filled with his scent.
"Xu Youqing," his hot breath brushed against her ear, "do you think I'm easy to deal with?"
Startled, she reached out to push Jin Zongmin away—but he wouldn't budge.
Xu Youqing nearly fell onto his lap.
"I thought you were a gentleman," she said, forcing herself to stay composed.
Jin Zongmin let out a scoff. His hand on her waist tightened, pulling her even closer.
Even through their clothes, they could feel each other's warmth and heartbeat.
The thumping in his chest—strong, steady, beat after beat—collided with her frantic pulse.
Jin Zongmin lowered his head, his warm lips almost brushing her earlobe, his voice low and dangerously husky. "A gentleman? When did I ever say I was one?"
Xu Youqing was both embarrassed and furious. She tried to put distance between them, but it was useless.
"What exactly do you want?!"
Jin Zongmin's nose nearly touched her forehead, his breath sweeping over the top of her hair.
His eyes were half-lidded, his gaze hazy and dangerous, his patience nearly exhausted.
"Have I not made it obvious enough?" Jin Zongmin asked.
She was trapped in his arms, unable to move. Xu Youqing turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Jin Zongmin raised his hand, gripping her chin, forcing her to look back at him.
Word by word, he said, "Xu Youqing, look at me."
Xu Youqing's whole body went rigid. She was starting to get scared, and said directly, "I have a boyfriend."
"Break up with him." He spoke as if issuing a command.
"Impossible!" Xu Youqing said, starting to struggle again.
Jin Zongmin's eyes darkened. He reached out and pinched her chin again, forcing her to look at him. His gaze roamed over her face, finally settling on her slightly trembling lips.
"Then kiss me."
His voice was hoarse, like a final ultimatum, or perhaps a desperate seduction.
"Now. Kiss me. And I'll take it as your consent."
He's insane! He's truly an unreasonable madman! Xu Youqing looked at Jin Zongmin's predatory gaze so close to her face and knew he wasn't joking.
She couldn't move in his arms. Her body was resisting, but her voice trembled as she spoke, "What the hell are you doing?!"
Jin Zongmin didn't say anything. He just looked at her. That gaze was heavy, like a stone pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
The car stopped.
The streetlight at the school gate shone through the curtain of rain, casting dappled shadows across her face.
Xu Youqing, as if grasping at a lifeline, pushed Jin Zongmin away and turned to pull at the car door handle.
But the lock wouldn't budge.
She turned back in panic.
Jin Zongmin had already sat up straight, unhurriedly smoothing out the suit jacket and shirt collar that had been wrinkled during her struggle. His movements were calm and composed.
He looked up at her panicked face, a faint smile of total control curving at the corner of his lips.
"You see, without my say-so, you can't even get out of this car."
Xu Youqing's heart instantly sank into an ice pit. She froze by the car door, her fingers still gripping the handle.
The car was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing remained. Hers—rapid and flustered. His—steady and long.
Xu Youqing stared at the car door, a thin layer of mist forming in her eyes.
"Let me out," she said.
Her voice still hadn't softened. It was still hard, still stubborn.
Jin Zongmin watched Xu Youqing refuse to say a single gentle word to him even when she was scared to death, and the fire in his heart churned and surged.
Secretary Gao had said she'd been working hard lately. Looking at her face now—pale, exhausted, still shaken—from the deepest part of his heart, he couldn't help but feel a trace of… reluctance.
Jin Zongmin gave a faint instruction to the driver in the front seat: "Open the door."
The lock clicked open.
Xu Youqing immediately pushed the door open. The cold rain mixed with the night wind rushed in, making her shiver. She charged out of the car without looking back, wanting only to escape immediately.
Behind her came the sound of the car door closing.
Footsteps followed.
Jin Zongmin had gotten out of the car, holding an umbrella.
The rainy streetlight cast a hazy glow over him, and the lines of his profile grew even colder and sharper in the play of light and shadow.
"Xu Youqing."
His voice came from behind her.
Xu Youqing's steps faltered for a moment, but she didn't stop.
Jin Zongmin caught up in a few strides, blocking her path. He held the umbrella over her head, his own shoulder getting soaked in the rain.
He offered the umbrella to her.
She didn't take it.
"Take it."
His voice was low, carrying a sense of pressure.
Xu Youqing remained unmoved.
Jin Zongmin looked at her, his gaze sinking deeper. "Xu Youqing, you'd better not do anything… that would drive me insane."