Her fingers fidgeted at the hem of her top. Her chest tightened as memories rushed through her: the night she'd almost gotten him arrested, barging in on what she thought was his secret relationship, and now… crying all over his clothes.
Of course he'd be mad. Anyone would.
She glanced at the still pond beside them, its surface dark and quiet under the moonlight. Her stomach fluttered.
He's not… planning to hurt me… right?
Years in the industry had trained her to expect the worst—but she didn't truly believe he would.
Noticing her hesitation, Wang Zi Rui rose, stepping closer. His shadow stretched over her, but his gaze stayed steady—cool, controlled, grounding.
"What's wrong?" His voice cut through the chaos in her mind, low and composed.
Meiqi jolted, whipping around so quickly her hair followed half a beat later.
"Mr. Wang—! I-I'm so sorry! I'll pay for your clothes, I swear! I… I have lots of money! Really! You don't need to take action against me."
Her voice pitched high before collapsing into a small, trembling murmur. Her hands shook, brows knitting together.
Zi Rui watched her silently, unreadable. For a moment, disbelief flickered in his eyes—quick and subtle—before he returned to his usual stern look.
"Ms. Song…" His tone remained collected, almost bored, with a faint edge of dry irony. "When did I say I was going to hurt you?"
"Well… you dragged me here, then offered me a drink—what else was I supposed to think?" she stammered. "I don't think anyone just hands a beer to someone who nearly got them arrested!"
Zi Rui's brows twitched as he studied her. "You're right… you were crying so loudly in the middle of the night, anyone passing by might think I bullied you."
He paused, one hand holding a can of beer while the other slid into his jacket pocket.
"Don't read into it. The drinks for you to calm down." Plain, factual—no softness, no warmth.
Meiqi's brows shot upward. That's it? Not mad?
"Ms. Song, it's not poisonous." He held the can toward her. "Do you want it or not?"
His words snapped her back to reality. After a brief pause, she quietly gave in—maybe a drink was exactly what she needed—and they settled on the bench together, facing the water as the wind whispered through the trees.
The soft hiss of the can broke the quiet. Meiqi took a sip—light and refreshing—and for a moment her shoulders loosened, her eyes fluttering as calm seeped in. The peace lingered… until another crisp hiss cut through the air.
She blinked and glanced sideways, spotting Zi Rui opening his second can—only then realizing she had almost forgotten the intimidating presence beside her. She forced her gaze forward, but he was impossible to ignore, and the silence thickened around them.
"Mr. Wang… what are you doing here… in the middle of the night? And… you even brought beers?" Meiqi asked, trying to break the tension.
"I went for a jog," he said, glancing at the cans in his hand, "and thought I'd grab some water… when I saw these beers on the shelf. Then I remembered—they're the same ones you threw at me." His eyes were cold and sharp.
"I was curious how they taste—since someone can apparently buy so many at once."
He pressed his lips together, cool and deliberate, as if inspecting the texture. "Well… it's not particularly extraordinary."
Meiqi's lips twitched. Indeed, he's holding a grudge.
"And you?" Zi Rui asked, clipped. "Why are you out alone… your stalker's been caught?"
Meiqi shook her head. "No… I've been busy with work. And…Fans stalking me happens all the time."
Zi Rui's eyes flicked to the shadows, remembering the man sneaking around earlier—but he said nothing.
Meiqi sighed, opening her second beer. "Actually… it's my birthday today—but my boyfriend just had to ruin everything." She shook her head. "No… my ex." Her voice began to shake.
Zi Rui took a slow sip of his cold beer, letting her speak without interruption.
"I did love him… I really thought he was the one I could trust with my heart." She took a slow sip from her beer.
"But isn't that what love is? Wanting to give someone the best of yourself… wanting to make them happy… What did I do wrong?"
Turning to look at Zi Rui, cheeks flushed from the beer, she whispered, "What did I do wrong?"
His gaze lingered on her, searching for the right words. "The world's harsh," he said flatly. "Finding someone you can fully trust… is rare. You're not wrong. That's just how it is."
Meiqi stared into his eyes, unwavering. "Then… have you ever trusted someone completely? Ever been in love?"
Zi Rui's eyes met hers, a flicker of surprise across his calm expression.
"No…" He finally spoke. "Trust is fragile, and love is fleeting… only a fool would believe otherwise."
Meiqi blinked, staring at him. A fool...? Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile as her gaze drifted back to the pond.
"Mr. Wang, you've probably broken a lot of hearts," she said lightly.
Zi Rui snickered. "No… they mostly enjoyed my money."
Meiqi froze for a beat, then said, "Has anyone ever told you… you can be annoying sometimes?"
"Many," Zi Rui replied, and Meiqi couldn't help but chuckle, her fingers tightening around the can, cheeks flushing in the moonlight. Just like that, the heavy atmosphere between them lifted.