Xu Yinyin had been quiet all day.
Not sad. Not moody. Just... quiet.
Lu Zeyan noticed.
Of course he did.
He noticed when she didn't randomly burst into his office to show him a meme she made.
He noticed when she didn't sneak candy into his coffee.
He noticed when she didn't bother him at all.
It was haunting.
Like losing a noise you didn't know was music.
That Night
He stood by the window in his penthouse, watching city lights flicker below.
Then a small voice behind him said, "Are you trying to look poetic or just avoiding me?"
He turned.
Xu Yinyin stood barefoot, holding a cup of yogurt.
Hair messy. Oversized hoodie. No makeup. Still the most chaotic thing in his life.
"You've been acting weird," she added, spooning yogurt.
He faced her fully.
"I love you."
She choked on her yogurt.
"What?"
"I love you," he repeated, slower this time. "You drive me insane, you ignore every rule, you invade every part of my life... and I love you."
She blinked.
"…Wow."
"That's all?"
"I didn't expect you to say it in sweatpants while I'm holding dairy, Zeyan."
He walked over, took the yogurt from her hand, and placed it on the table.
Then cupped her face gently.
"I love you even when you hack my elevator.
I love you when you make my board meetings chaotic.
I love you when you're loud, soft, reckless, brilliant—
And I hate it when you pull away."
She swallowed. "You mean it?"
He nodded. "I've never meant anything more."
Of Course She Can't Let Him Be Normal
She bit her lip.
"…Say it again."
"Xu Yinyin—"
"Say it like a movie. Dramatic. Over the top."
He sighed. "Seriously?"
She gave him puppy eyes. "Come onnnn."
He took a deep breath.
"I love you.
Not like a calm breeze.
Like a hurricane made of wires and Wi-Fi.
Like the way I breathe without realizing.
Like a man who didn't know he was cold until you came in and turned on all the lights."
Silence.
Then she softly said,
"Okay. You win. I love you too."
Pause.
"But don't think I'll stop being annoying. This just means you're stuck with me."
He smirked.
"I never wanted peace. I wanted you."
BONUS CHAOS: The Next Morning
She walked into his office the next day and casually sat on his lap during a meeting with the CFO.
"Ma'am—" the CFO stammered.
"Shhh," she whispered, tapping Zeyan's cheek.
"My emotional support CEO doesn't function without wife contact."
Zeyan didn't flinch.
Just wrapped an arm around her waist and kept talking numbers like this was totally normal.
Everyone in the room was sweating.