The moment Lin Nian'an stepped out of Gu Group, the city's golden glow seemed a touch colder than usual.
She walked quickly, heels tapping against the sidewalk in a sharp rhythm, trying to put as much distance as she could between herself and that suffocating man. Her phone buzzed multiple times—messages from investors, friends, and even some from anonymous numbers. But none from Gu Chenyan.
She should've felt relieved.
But her chest felt heavy.
Was she really ready to sever all ties? Was she strong enough to walk her own path, even if that meant turning her back on him completely?
She didn't have the answer. And she didn't have time to dwell.
Because someone was following her.
It started with the faint reflection in the glass door of a cafe—just a flicker of movement, too deliberate to be coincidence. Then, a shadow slipping into the corner behind her, a pair of heavy footsteps lingering too close.
She picked up her pace.
Her breath quickened. The buildings seemed taller, the streets narrower. She turned a corner sharply, hoping to lose whoever it was. But the footsteps grew louder.
Her fingers curled tightly around her phone.
Don't panic, she told herself. Stay calm.
She ducked into a side alley, hoping to circle back to the main road. But just as she reached the narrow passage, a figure stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
A man. Tall. Wearing a cap, half his face obscured.
"Miss Lin," he said, his tone eerily polite. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"What do you want?" she asked, voice steady despite the chill creeping up her spine.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his jacket—
And then—
A blur of movement.
A low grunt.
The man stumbled forward, crashing into the wall before slumping to the ground.
Behind him stood another figure—taller, dressed in black, silver hair catching the dim alley light.
Gu Chenyan.
He didn't speak.
Didn't look at her.
He simply stared at the man on the ground, his expression unreadable.
"Are you hurt?" he asked finally, his voice tight.
Lin Nian'an shook her head. "I'm fine."
He nodded once, then turned to his assistant, who had silently arrived with two men in black. "Clean this up."
Without another word, he began walking away.
Lin Nian'an hesitated for a second before calling after him.
"You knew someone was following me?"
He stopped. His shoulders tensed slightly.
"I know everything that concerns you," he said, not turning around.
"That's not protection," she said coldly. "That's control."
His jaw clenched.
She didn't expect him to argue. He didn't. Instead, he got into the car, and moments later, he was gone—like he'd never been there.
That night, Lin Nian'an lay awake in her apartment, unable to sleep.
Her mind kept replaying everything: the job offer, the confrontation, the attack. And most of all, Gu Chenyan's words.
"I know everything that concerns you."
Was that love? Or obsession?
The next morning, she arrived at her studio early. Work was the only thing keeping her grounded now. There was an important meeting with new clients who wanted her to design the branding for their luxury jewelry line.
She slipped into her role effortlessly—composed, elegant, decisive.
But just as she was wrapping up the meeting, her assistant knocked gently on the door.
"Miss Lin, there's… someone here to see you."
"Who is it?"
The assistant looked nervous. "He says he's from the Ministry of Commerce. But he's not on the schedule."
Frowning, Lin Nian'an stood up. "I'll handle it."
Outside her office, a man in a gray suit stood waiting. He looked official, but something about his eyes felt… wrong.
"Miss Lin," he said, flashing a badge. "I'd like to ask you a few questions about your past work with H&L International in London."
Lin Nian'an's breath caught.
That was years ago. A brief partnership during her time abroad.
What did this man want with that?
"I'm not sure how I can help," she said cautiously.
"It's routine," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Just a few clarifications. We can talk here… or down at the office."
Behind the smile, Lin Nian'an saw it clearly now.
A threat.
She took a deep breath. "Very well. Let me get my coat."
She returned to her office, closed the door, and immediately dialed a number she never thought she'd use again.
He picked up on the first ring.
"It's me," she said quietly. "Something's wrong. I need your help."
A beat of silence.
"Stay where you are," Gu Chenyan said. "I'm on my way."
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Nian'an walked out of her studio with Gu Chenyan at her side. The man from the ministry was gone. No explanation, no follow-up. Just vanished.
She didn't ask what he'd done.
But she knew he'd pulled strings—again.
As they stood outside the building, silence settled between them. Cars passed. People walked by. But their world felt frozen.
"You said you wouldn't interfere," she said finally.
"And you said you'd be fine," he replied.
She turned to face him. "You can't keep doing this. Saving me when it's convenient for you. Protecting me without asking if I want it."
His gaze was steady. "What if I don't care whether you want it?"
She stared at him.
"I'm not your possession, Gu Chenyan," she said softly.
He took a step closer.
"You're right," he said. "You're not. But you are mine. You always have been. And I'm not letting you go again."
Her heart thudded.
She should walk away.
But she didn't.
Not yet.