---
Ethan Jiang pressed her shoulders gently, his tone patient yet firm, as though coaxing a restless child.
"Elena, you're drunk. I'm taking you home."
Elena Shen paused mid-motion, halting her half-hearted attempt to scoot away from him. She tilted her head back, her gaze meeting his once more. This time, there was no resistance—only quiet acquiescence. With an almost docile surrender, she allowed herself to be gathered into his arms.
Elena had always been obedient, but tonight, with the hazy flush of alcohol painting her cheeks and those misty eyes glimmering under dim lights, she seemed even more fragile than usual—utterly delicate, utterly irresistible. Ethan glanced down at the girl nestled quietly in his embrace, her slight frame trembling faintly against him. For a moment, his obsidian eyes softened, an unspoken warmth flickering within their depths. Tightening his hold on her, he gave a subtle nod towards Winston Gu, who stood silently behind them.
"We're heading out."
Without another word, Eth
an carried Elena out of the private room, navigating the opulent corridors with practiced ease.
Winston lingered for a moment, watching the pair disappear into the distance. He turned back to the sullen figure beside him—Annie Shen, Elena's older sister—and let out a long, weary sigh.
"Annie, look at Elena—so well-behaved, so worry-free…" His voice trailed off, tinged with both admiration and exasperation.
---
Outside, the rain had grown heavier, descending in steady sheets that lashed against the pavement. The sky hung low, cloaked in dark, churning clouds that brooded ominously, as if concealing a fiercer storm yet to come. The moment they stepped out of the bar, a sharp gust of cold, damp wind swept over them, carrying the earthy scent of rain mingled with the metallic tang of the city.
The chill made Elena shiver instinctively in Ethan's arms. Before he could adjust his grip to shield her further, she curled herself closer into his chest, seeking warmth. Ethan's arms tightened around her reflexively, pulling her nearer still. Lowering his gaze on her face, he studied her expression—a mixture of vulnerability and intoxication that rendered her almost unbearably endearing.
Zhou Lin, ever vigilant, hurried forward with an umbrella held high, ensuring they remained dry as they descended the steps. Xiao Zhang, the driver, had already opened the car door, standing by attentively. Ethan moved with deliberate care, cradling Elena protectively as he navigated the slick pavement and slid into the backseat. Once seated, Zhou Lin closed the umbrella and slipped into the passenger seat, turning slightly to address Ethan.
"Mr. Jiang, I checked the weather forecast. The rain will worsen in about thirty minutes. Should we head to Miss Shen's apartment?"
Ethan's response came swiftly, calm and decisive. "Go to Yushan Residence."
Zhou Lin froze momentarily at the name, though it didn't entirely surprise him. Yushan Residence—the marital home Ethan had personally chosen—was a place imbued with significance, a symbol of promises both spoken and unspoken. While Xiao Zhang had never been there himself, he knew exactly where it was located. At the sound of its name, he smoothly turned the wheel and steered east at the next intersection, setting a course for the secluded estate.
The car glided steadily along the neon-lit highway, its interior bathed in the soft glow of passing streetlights. All the while, Elena remained silent, her head resting lightly against Ethan's shoulder. Yet just two intersections away from Yushan Residence, the once-placid girl began to stir. Her brows furrowed, her body shifting restlessly in Ethan's arms.
He caught her waist firmly, his deep, steady gaze meeting her troubled expression. "What are you trying to do?"
Her brows knitted tighter, and her hand grasped his arm, fingers pressing down so hard they turned pale. Clearly, something was wrong.
"… It's too stuffy," she murmured, nudging him weakly. "Open the window for me."
Ethan studied her for a moment, weighing her request. Seeing that she wouldn't settle unless he complied, he wrapped one arm securely around her and lowered the window just a crack. At the same time, he leaned his body slightly to block the gust of wind that immediately surged in. Only the fresh, rain-scented air—cleansed of its biting chill—remained swirling softly through the cabin.
Soon, the car pulled into the underground garage at Yushan Residence. Zhou Lin stepped out to open the door, and Ethan carried Elena straight into the building, ascending gracefully to the third-floor bedroom.
Thunder rumbled outside, deep and resonant, reverberating through the walls like some ancient force awakening from slumber. A jagged bolt of lightning split the ink-dark sky, illuminating the windows for an instant before a deafening crack echoed through the room.
Elena stirred, her lashes fluttering as consciousness began to creep back. The rolling thunder had her tensing, hands reaching instinctively for Ethan just as he was about to step away.
"…Ethan…"
He paused, turning to look back at her.
"Recognize me now?" he asked softly, his voice laced with a tenderness that belied his usual stoicism.
Elena wasn't entirely sober. But the crackling thunderstorm, the primal fear it sparked, had her gripping Ethan's arm with a desperation that refused to let go. Her fingers clung to him as though he were the only anchor in a world suddenly unmoored by chaos.
And perhaps, for the first time, Ethan felt the weight of her dependence—not as a duty or obligation, but as something far more profound.