Ruofei's POV:
20:13
The hot shower did little to ease the persistent ache in my body, but at least I'm clean. I pad into my bedroom, hair still damp, wearing comfortable sleep clothes that don't irritate my oversensitive skin.
I'm about to collapse into bed when I remember—I forgot to tell Lexin something.
Settling against the pillows, I pull out my phone and dial her number.
"Yes?" Her voice is slightly distracted, probably still working.
"Sorry to disturb you so late, Lexin, but I forgot to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"Please tell Wenlan that I'll come to visit him tomorrow."
There's a pause. "Okay, I'll let him know. Good night."
"Good night."
She hangs up quickly—too quickly?—but I'm too exhausted to analyze it.
I pull up my messages and text my best friend: "We need to meet next week. It's been so long since we saw each other pouting emoji ".
The reply comes almost immediately: "Missing me already??? Next week works. I have business in China anyway."
A small smile tugs at my lips. At least some things are still normal.
I set my phone aside and let myself sink into the mattress, but sleep doesn't come easily. My mind keeps circling back to the missing hours, to the moon tattoo, to the strange pull in my chest that intensifies whenever I think of—
Don't, I tell myself firmly. Don't go there.
But my heart doesn't listen.
The next day
Wenlan's POV:
"Finally, you're here." I stand as Ruofei enters my office, taking in his appearance with the careful eye of an older brother. He moves stiffly, like his body still hurts, but his expression is controlled as always. "How are you doing recently? Did anything interesting happen?"
Lexin already told me everything, of course. But I have to pretend I don't know about the bonding, the missing memories, the conspiracy Qingyue and I have been orchestrating for months.
"I'm doing well." Ruofei's eyes drift to the wall behind me—a tell that he's not being completely honest. "Nothing interesting happened recently. Just work."
I lean back in my chair, studying him. "Well? What did you want to talk about?"
"Last time Andy talked to you about that business deal, right?"
I allow myself a show of mild surprise, even though I know exactly where this is going. "Yes, what about it? Did something happen?"
His expression softens slightly—genuine pleasure breaking through his usual mask. "The president of Queen Group is in China now. I promised to meet him next week. You don't mind, right?"
I can't help it—I burst out laughing. "How could I mind? I planned to meet him anyway, so you're just helping me."
The Queen Group president. Ruofei's best friend and our cousin. One of the few people my brother actually lets his guard down around. Of course I'm not going to interfere with that.
"If you say so." Ruofei stands, and I notice the slight wince he tries to hide. "Call me if you need something. I need to go."
"Sure, bye."
The moment the door closes behind him, I speak to the empty air. "You heard everything, right?"
Qingyue's POV:
I step out from the adjoining room, where I'd been listening through the door Wenlan left strategically ajar.
"Of course I did." I move to stand by the window, watching Ruofei walk out of the building below. The distance between us feels like a physical ache. "Thanks for helping me. I couldn't do it without you."
My princess is probably very angry at me now. If he remembers. When he remembers.
The thought makes my chest tight.
"Don't call my brother like that!" Wenlan's tone is sharp, the protective alpha energy coming through.
I smirk despite the ache in my chest. "Said the one who calls my sister 'baby girl'."
He has the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "That's different."
"Is it?" I turn back to face him.
"Also, James is working under you if I'm not mistaken."
"You're right. I needed someone to be near him when I'm not there." I pause, considering. "But Ruofei is smarter than I thought. Since he already suspects me, there's no need to make it difficult for him."
My princess is really smart, I think, pride mixing with longing. I wonder who our kids would take after? Probably both.
The thought of children—of a future with Ruofei that's more than stolen nights and political maneuvering—makes something warm unfurl in my chest.
"Alright, I have some things I need to take care of." Wenlan stands, clearly dismissing me. "I'll call you later."
I nod and head for the door, but pause at the threshold. "We'll see each other soon, princess. Till then, be good."
Wenlan rolls his eyes. "He can't hear you, you know."
"I know." But saying it makes the separation slightly more bearable.
Barely.
Ruofei's POV:
"Andy, don't you think my brother acted a little strange today?" I ask as we descend the stairs of Wenlan's building. "As if he was hiding something."
There's a brief pause before Andy responds.
"You're right, boss. He seemed a little strange, but it's not the first time this has happened, right?"
"True." I let it drop, filing the observation away for later. "Let's just leave this for now."
"We need to be at the company in thirty minutes, and the traffic doesn't look very good." Andy pulls out his phone. "I'll call your driver to pick you up."
I smile slightly. "Thank you."
"It's my job." He steps away to make the call.
When he returns a few minutes later, his expression is carefully neutral. "Boss, James texted me that he can't come to work today. Personal reasons."
Personal reasons.
Something cold settles in my stomach, but it's not surprise. It's confirmation.
I smile. "I know."
Andy's carefully maintained composure cracks. "How do you know, boss?"
I turn to look at him fully, and I can see the moment he realizes what I'm implying. "Secret."
I wink and start walking toward the car, but my mind is racing.
James was obviously planted by someone—most likely Qingyue, given the L Group connection. And now he's suddenly unavailable the day after I confided in my sister about the moon tattoo.
The pieces are falling into place, forming a picture I'm not sure I want to see clearly.
Andy opens the car door, and I thank him before settling into the back seat. "Take me to the company," I tell the driver, making myself comfortable.
As we pull into traffic, I let my head fall back against the seat.
Qingyue, I think, testing the name in my mind. What are you playing at?
And why does part of me not want to stop you?
Qingyue's POV:
I watch from across the street as Ruofei enters the car, my hands clenched in my pockets to keep from doing something stupid like running over there and pulling him into my arms.
Three days. It's been three days since I held him, since I heard him say my name, since I felt him through our bond—
The bond he doesn't remember.
The ache in my chest intensifies, and I know it's not just emotional. The bond is pulling at me, demanding proximity, demanding I go to my omega and—
"Boss?" A hand taps my shoulder, shattering my focus.
I turn, and my subordinate actually flinches at whatever expression he sees on my face.
"What is it?" The words come out cold, sharp as a blade.
I hate when people disturb me while I'm watching my princess.
"James just sent a message that he failed his mission." The man's voice wavers slightly. "What should we do about it?"
A smirk curves my lips.
I already knew he failed the moment I heard Ruofei talking to Wenlan. There's a reason my princess is the top mafia boss in China—he's too smart, too observant, too perfect to be fooled for long.
"Kill him."
The words come out calm, matter-of-fact. The man behind me starts shaking.
"Are you sure?" Concern and fear war in his voice. I feel his hand slide from my shoulder. "Boss, he's been with us for—"
I turn around fully. "Was there a time I would regret my decision?"
He looks at the ground. "No."
"Then, was there a time I wasn't sure about my decision?"
He's shaking harder now. "Also no."
"Any more questions? If not, get it done quickly."
"Alright." He practically runs away.
I turn back, but Ruofei's car is already gone. Disappeared into traffic.
That person should be glad he's alive, I think darkly. Interrupting me, making me miss my last glimpse of Ruofei before he disappears for hours—
The bond pulses, uncomfortable and insistent. It's been getting worse. The need to be near him, to touch him, to make sure he's safe and cared for.
Every instinct I have is screaming at me to go to him.
"Charlie!" The name comes out sharper than I intend, fury and frustration bleeding through. "Get here immediately!"
My assistant appears within seconds, slightly out of breath. "Yes, boss?"
"Next time, you're handling people like that." I start walking toward my car. "My time is precious."
Charlie's POV:
He's giving me even more work!?
I watch Boss's retreating back with a mix of exhaustion and resignation.
Why can't I just resign already? My girlfriend is waiting for me at home, and I need to stay overtime. Such a pain in the ass.
I really hope he gets married soon. Maybe then he'd finally understand what it's like to want to go home to someone.
Nevermind.
Wait—there's some kind of commotion up ahead. One of the subordinates is having what looks like a breakdown. I wonder what his deal is.
Probably got on Boss's bad side. Poor guy.
"Charlie!" The shout nearly makes me jump out of my skin.
"Coming!" I yell back, already running.
By the time I catch up, Boss is standing by his car, that particular expression on his face that means he's made a decision I'm not going to like.
"We're going to visit my princess," he announces. "No buts, no excuses. Let's go."
See? This is exactly what I was talking about.
Going to "visit" his princess means stalking him from a distance like some kind of lovesick creeper, which means I'll be standing around for hours while Boss watches Ruofei through windows or from across streets.
I want to go home!
"Charlie!" Boss's tone has gone dangerous now.
"Coming, Boss!" I scramble into the driver's seat.
As I start the car, I catch sight of Boss's expression in the rearview mirror. He looks... strained.
Uncomfortable in a way I've rarely seen.
"Boss, are you—"
"Drive." The single word is clipped, almost pained.
I drive.
Qingyue's POV:
The bond is getting worse.
As we follow at a discrete distance behind Ruofei's car, I can feel it pulling tighter, like a rope being drawn taut. My alpha instincts are going haywire—need to protect, need to provide, need to claim again so he remembers, so he knows—
But I can't.
Not yet. Not until he remembers on his own. Not until he chooses me consciously, not because of heat-induced fog or bonding instincts, but because he wants me.
Even if it's killing me to stay away.
My fingers drum against my thigh, restless energy with nowhere to go.
"Boss, we're approaching the company," Charlie says carefully.
"Park somewhere with a good view of the entrance." My voice comes out rougher than usual.
He does, finding a spot across the street with a clear sightline to the main doors.
And then we wait.
I watch the building entrance like a hawk, noting every person who goes in and out, cataloging threats and anomalies with automatic efficiency.
But mostly, I'm just hoping for another glimpse of white hair and purple eyes.
Princess, I think, hand pressed against my chest where the bond sits like a living thing. Do you feel it too? Even without the memories, do you feel me pulling at you?
As if in answer, Ruofei appears at one of the upper windows, phone pressed to his ear. Even from this distance, I can see the slight furrow of his brow, the way he absently touches his chest—
Right where his end of the bond would rest.
Yes, I think with savage satisfaction. You feel it. You just don't know what it is yet.
"How long are we staying, Boss?" Charlie asks, resigned to his fate.
I settle more comfortably into my seat, eyes never leaving that window.
"As long as it takes."
I'm coming, baby, I think, knowing he can't hear me but unable to stop myself. I'm always coming for you. Whether you remember or not.
You're mine, princess. And soon, you'll remember that too.
Ruofei's POV:
I'm in my office, on the phone with a supplier, when a strange feeling washes over me.
It's hard to describe—a pull, an awareness, a sudden certainty that I'm being watched.
My free hand comes up to press against my chest, where a strange warmth has bloomed. It's almost comforting, almost familiar, almost—
What the hell?
I turn to the window, scanning the street below. Nothing seems out of place. Just normal traffic, normal pedestrians, normal—
Wait.
A car. Black, expensive, windows tinted. Parked across the street with a clear view of this building.
It could be nothing. Could be someone waiting for a meeting, could be—
But my instincts are screaming otherwise.
Qingyue, my heart whispers. He's here.
Don't be ridiculous, my mind argues back. You have no proof. No reason to think—
But the warmth in my chest pulses, and I know.
Somehow, I know.
"Sir? Are you still there?" The supplier's voice brings me back.
"Yes, sorry. Send me the updated proposal by Friday." I end the call, still staring at that car.
Part of me wants to go down there, to confront whoever's watching, to demand answers.
The other part—the part that remembers fragments of heat and hands and a voice calling me princess—wants to stay right here, basking in this strange feeling of being seen.
Being wanted.
Being his.
Stop it, I tell myself firmly. You don't even know if it's him.
But as I watch, the car pulls away, disappearing into traffic.
And the warmth in my chest fades with it, leaving me feeling strangely... bereft.
I touch my chest again, confused by my own reaction.
What's happening to me?