....
Her words replayed in his head — Don't follow me.
Which, of course, meant he would.
By the time he grabbed his keys, the elevator ride down felt like it was moving at a crawl. The city was still fresh from dawn, the streets calmer than usual, which made spotting her easier.
She was already ahead of him, walking with that confident, calculated pace that made her stand out even in a crowd. Her coat swayed with each step, but her head stayed slightly lowered, like she didn't want to be recognized.
He kept his distance, following in the sleek black car until she ducked into an older part of the city — narrow streets, weathered shop signs, and an air that didn't match the usual places she frequented.
Finally, she stopped in front of a small teahouse tucked between two brick buildings. No one would come here without a reason.
Meilin glanced around once before stepping inside.
Ryu's hands tightened on the steering wheel.
---
Inside, Meilin took a seat at the farthest corner table. A man was already there, sipping tea. His posture was casual, but his eyes were sharp — assessing her the way predators sized up prey.
"You're late," the man said without looking away from his cup.
Meilin slid into the seat, crossing one leg over the other. "And you're still as impatient as ever."
The man finally met her gaze, a faint smirk curling at his lips. "If Ryu knew you were here…"
"He doesn't," she cut him off smoothly. "And he won't."
His smirk deepened. "You're walking a dangerous line, Mei. Sooner or later, he'll start asking questions you can't dodge."
She leaned forward, voice low but steady. "Let me worry about Ryu. You just give me what I came for."
The man studied her for a long moment before sliding a small envelope across the table. She didn't open it — just slipped it into her coat pocket and stood.
"Pleasure doing business," he murmured.
"Business," she echoed, her tone sharp enough to end the conversation.
---
When she stepped out, the sunlight was brighter, but Ryu's mood was darker.
He had parked a few buildings away, but from his vantage point, he saw her emerge with that same guarded look.
As soon as she reached the curb, his car pulled up beside her.
The passenger window slid down. "Get in."
Meilin froze for only a second before masking it with a sly smirk. "I told you not to follow me."
"And you thought I'd listen?" His tone was calm, but his eyes… those were dangerous.
She hesitated, then slipped into the passenger seat.
The door shut, sealing them inside the quiet tension of the car.
Ryu didn't start the engine right away. Instead, he turned to her. "Who was he?"
She met his gaze without flinching. "No one you need to worry about."
"Don't lie to me, Meilin."
Her lips curved faintly, but her eyes stayed unreadable. "Then don't ask questions you're not ready to hear the answers to."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them felt charged — like they were one breath away from either a fight or another kiss.
Finally, Ryu exhaled, leaning back in his seat. "Fine. But sooner or later, you will tell me."
Meilin looked ahead, the faintest ghost of a smile on her lips. "Maybe. When I'm ready."
The engine roared to life, and the car rolled forward — but the questions hanging between them didn't move an inch.