The night was heavy, rain drumming against the window like countless urgent fingers.
When Su Sheng returned to her apartment, the lights were on.
Her brows furrowed—she was sure she had turned them off before leaving.
The moment she pushed open the door, a figure stood in the living room.
Gu Chen leaned against the sofa, the top two buttons of his black shirt undone, damp hair falling over his forehead as though he had just come in from the rain. His entire presence radiated a suffocating pressure.
"How did you get in?" Su Sheng set her bag down, her tone as cold as the rain outside.
"Key." His eyes lifted, gaze sweeping slowly over her, voice low and rough. "I don't like you coming home alone so late."
"Gu Chen." She walked forward, forcing calm. "I told you—"
"You've told me many things." He cut her off, voice unexpectedly steady. "But you've never told me not to be here."
The air between them tangled with unspoken tension. Su Sheng narrowed her eyes. "Then let me tell you now—"
Before the words left her lips, Gu Chen stepped forward, gripping her wrist. His strength was harsher than ever before.
"Don't say it." His voice was so low it blended into her breath. "I don't want to hear it."
"Gu Chen, is this a threat?"
"If you prefer, call it begging." His gaze was sharp as a blade, pressing down on her until she could barely move. "As long as you want me to behave, don't push me."
For the first time, Su Sheng realized the undercurrent in his eyes was on the verge of losing control—one step further, and he might do anything.
The air in the room felt vacuumed away.
Seconds later, he suddenly released her and turned toward the door.
"Gu Chen—"
"Tonight, consider this my loss." His voice was flat but carried the weight of an oath. "But next time, you won't have the chance to say no."
The door closed, leaving Su Sheng standing alone in the empty living room, her heartbeat strangely erratic.
She realized—this game was no longer something she could walk away from at will.
The night deepened, rain falling outside like countless threads of silk.
Just as she was about to turn off the lights and sleep, the doorbell rang.
She frowned, peered through the peephole—it was Gu Chen.
He stood under the hallway light, expression cold, holding an unopened bottle of whiskey.
The door opened. With a heavy thud, the bottle hit the entryway cabinet.
"Drink," he said, voice hoarse and low.
"Gu Chen, are you looking to die in the middle of the night?" Su Sheng turned to close the door, but he seized her wrist, the force jolting her shoulder.
He pushed her against the wall, breath harsh, eyes burning with a dangerous red tint.
"Do you know how long I've waited for you?"
"Gu Chen—"
"I've endured long enough." His tone was a taut string ready to snap. "Endured being treated like a pet, endured your distance, endured you never sparing me a glance."
Su Sheng sneered. "Who do you think you are?"
He lowered his head, almost pressing his forehead to hers, voice a rasping growl. "Then let me tell you now—I'm the only one who won't let you go."
Before she could answer, he struck the glass from her hand. Amber liquid spread across the floor, the air thick with the scent of whiskey.
"What are you doing!" she snapped.
"Making sure you remember." His palm pressed against the back of her neck, trembling slightly yet holding her firmly in place. "I'm not someone you can toss aside."
His breath pressed close, threatening to swallow her whole.
For the first time, Su Sheng couldn't instantly refute him—because she saw in his eyes not only fury, but a desperate fear of losing her.
The rain outside grew heavier, muffling all sound.
Suddenly, Gu Chen released her, voice rough. "I'll go tonight… but don't ever try to leave me again."
He grabbed the bottle and walked out, his back solitary and cutting in the light.
Su Sheng stood still, chest heaving, her fingers tingling with the memory of his grip.
She realized—this was no longer about money.
The rain hadn't stopped. The night weighed down like a heavy curtain sealing the city.
She had just turned off the light to go upstairs when urgent knocking rattled the door.
"Sheng-jie—open up!"
It was Gu Chen's voice, deeper, edged with panic.
Su Sheng frowned and opened the door. Rain and cold wind rushed in. Gu Chen stood there drenched, white shirt clinging to his body, eyes sharp as lightning splitting through the storm.
"You've got a fever?" She instinctively reached out, only for him to seize her hand.
"I'm fine." His voice was hoarse, but his burning skin betrayed him.
"This is fine?" She turned to fetch a towel, but he caught her wrist again.
"Don't go." His gaze clung to her, desperate as a drowning man clutching his last lifeline. "Tonight… let me stay here."
"Gu Chen—"
"I promise I won't touch you." A faint, weary smile curved his lips. "I just… want to look at you."
Su Sheng stared at him for a moment, then silently handed him a towel.
He took it, but instead of drying himself, suddenly leaned forward, resting his forehead against her shoulder.
Heat seeped through the fabric into her skin, mingling with the chill of rain—a dangerous kind of dependence.
"Do you know why I came back?" His voice was low. "On the way, I saw a man standing outside your building… staring up at your window."
Su Sheng froze.
"I went over. He left." Gu Chen lifted his head, eyes dark. "So don't stay here alone."
Before she could reply, hurried footsteps sounded outside—uneven, drawing closer.
Gu Chen's expression hardened instantly. He pulled her against him, one hand slipping toward his waist with practiced ease—an action far too smooth for a mere student.
"Gu Chen, you—"
"Shh." His whisper brushed her ear, eyes locked on the door. "Not everyone is as safe as you think."
The footsteps paused, lingered, then faded away.
But the oppressive tension in the air remained.
Su Sheng's heart raced. For the first time, she felt she didn't truly know this "younger brother."
Rain fell harder, a curtain cutting them off from the world outside.
Su Sheng stood in the living room, still hearing the phantom echo of those steps.
Gu Chen locked the door, sliding the bolt firmly into place. He turned, wet hair clinging to his forehead, his eyes darker than ever.
"I'll sleep in the guest room," he said, as if it had already been decided.
"You sure this isn't just an excuse to stay?" Su Sheng raised a brow coolly.
"It is." He gave a faint smile. "But if you want me elsewhere, I won't go to the guest room."
She didn't answer, simply turned upstairs. The light above cast a golden glow across her shoulders.
Gu Chen followed, keeping a careful distance, yet his presence pressed at her senses—silent, but impossible to ignore.
At the second floor, she stopped, pointing at the guest room door. "There. Towels and clothes are in the cabinet."
He didn't go in immediately. Instead, he stepped closer.
"Su Sheng." His voice dropped low, this time without the word "sister," hushed as though afraid of breaking something fragile.
"What are you so afraid of?"
She paused, lips curling into a cool smile. "Why would I be afraid?"
"Because your hands have been shaking this whole time."
Instinctively, her fingers curled tight. The next second, his warm palm wrapped around her cold ones—steady, firm.
"I'm here. No one will touch you."
For a moment, silence filled the air.
Su Sheng pulled her hand back, said nothing, and went into her room.
The door shut. She leaned against it, heart beating with unfamiliar unease.
In the next room, Gu Chen sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his palm. Slowly, he curled his hand into a fist, holding onto the warmth that lingered there.
The night was heavy, rain drumming against the window like countless urgent fingers.
When Su Sheng returned to her apartment, the lights were on.
Her brows furrowed—she was sure she had turned them off before leaving.
The moment she pushed open the door, a figure stood in the living room.
Gu Chen leaned against the sofa, the top two buttons of his black shirt undone, damp hair falling over his forehead as though he had just come in from the rain. His entire presence radiated a suffocating pressure.
"How did you get in?" Su Sheng set her bag down, her tone as cold as the rain outside.
"Key." His eyes lifted, gaze sweeping slowly over her, voice low and rough. "I don't like you coming home alone so late."
"Gu Chen." She walked forward, forcing calm. "I told you—"
"You've told me many things." He cut her off, voice unexpectedly steady. "But you've never told me not to be here."
The air between them tangled with unspoken tension. Su Sheng narrowed her eyes. "Then let me tell you now—"
Before the words left her lips, Gu Chen stepped forward, gripping her wrist. His strength was harsher than ever before.
"Don't say it." His voice was so low it blended into her breath. "I don't want to hear it."
"Gu Chen, is this a threat?"
"If you prefer, call it begging." His gaze was sharp as a blade, pressing down on her until she could barely move. "As long as you want me to behave, don't push me."
For the first time, Su Sheng realized the undercurrent in his eyes was on the verge of losing control—one step further, and he might do anything.
The air in the room felt vacuumed away.
Seconds later, he suddenly released her and turned toward the door.
"Gu Chen—"
"Tonight, consider this my loss." His voice was flat but carried the weight of an oath. "But next time, you won't have the chance to say no."
The door closed, leaving Su Sheng standing alone in the empty living room, her heartbeat strangely erratic.
She realized—this game was no longer something she could walk away from at will.
The night deepened, rain falling outside like countless threads of silk.
Just as she was about to turn off the lights and sleep, the doorbell rang.
She frowned, peered through the peephole—it was Gu Chen.
He stood under the hallway light, expression cold, holding an unopened bottle of whiskey.
The door opened. With a heavy thud, the bottle hit the entryway cabinet.
"Drink," he said, voice hoarse and low.
"Gu Chen, are you looking to die in the middle of the night?" Su Sheng turned to close the door, but he seized her wrist, the force jolting her shoulder.
He pushed her against the wall, breath harsh, eyes burning with a dangerous red tint.
"Do you know how long I've waited for you?"
"Gu Chen—"
"I've endured long enough." His tone was a taut string ready to snap. "Endured being treated like a pet, endured your distance, endured you never sparing me a glance."
Su Sheng sneered. "Who do you think you are?"
He lowered his head, almost pressing his forehead to hers, voice a rasping growl. "Then let me tell you now—I'm the only one who won't let you go."
Before she could answer, he struck the glass from her hand. Amber liquid spread across the floor, the air thick with the scent of whiskey.
"What are you doing!" she snapped.
"Making sure you remember." His palm pressed against the back of her neck, trembling slightly yet holding her firmly in place. "I'm not someone you can toss aside."
His breath pressed close, threatening to swallow her whole.
For the first time, Su Sheng couldn't instantly refute him—because she saw in his eyes not only fury, but a desperate fear of losing her.
The rain outside grew heavier, muffling all sound.
Suddenly, Gu Chen released her, voice rough. "I'll go tonight… but don't ever try to leave me again."
He grabbed the bottle and walked out, his back solitary and cutting in the light.
Su Sheng stood still, chest heaving, her fingers tingling with the memory of his grip.
She realized—this was no longer about money.
The rain hadn't stopped. The night weighed down like a heavy curtain sealing the city.
She had just turned off the light to go upstairs when urgent knocking rattled the door.
"Sheng-jie—open up!"
It was Gu Chen's voice, deeper, edged with panic.
Su Sheng frowned and opened the door. Rain and cold wind rushed in. Gu Chen stood there drenched, white shirt clinging to his body, eyes sharp as lightning splitting through the storm.
"You've got a fever?" She instinctively reached out, only for him to seize her hand.
"I'm fine." His voice was hoarse, but his burning skin betrayed him.
"This is fine?" She turned to fetch a towel, but he caught her wrist again.
"Don't go." His gaze clung to her, desperate as a drowning man clutching his last lifeline. "Tonight… let me stay here."
"Gu Chen—"
"I promise I won't touch you." A faint, weary smile curved his lips. "I just… want to look at you."
Su Sheng stared at him for a moment, then silently handed him a towel.
He took it, but instead of drying himself, suddenly leaned forward, resting his forehead against her shoulder.
Heat seeped through the fabric into her skin, mingling with the chill of rain—a dangerous kind of dependence.
"Do you know why I came back?" His voice was low. "On the way, I saw a man standing outside your building… staring up at your window."
Su Sheng froze.
"I went over. He left." Gu Chen lifted his head, eyes dark. "So don't stay here alone."
Before she could reply, hurried footsteps sounded outside—uneven, drawing closer.
Gu Chen's expression hardened instantly. He pulled her against him, one hand slipping toward his waist with practiced ease—an action far too smooth for a mere student.
"Gu Chen, you—"
"Shh." His whisper brushed her ear, eyes locked on the door. "Not everyone is as safe as you think."
The footsteps paused, lingered, then faded away.
But the oppressive tension in the air remained.
Su Sheng's heart raced. For the first time, she felt she didn't truly know this "younger brother."
Rain fell harder, a curtain cutting them off from the world outside.
Su Sheng stood in the living room, still hearing the phantom echo of those steps.
Gu Chen locked the door, sliding the bolt firmly into place. He turned, wet hair clinging to his forehead, his eyes darker than ever.
"I'll sleep in the guest room," he said, as if it had already been decided.
"You sure this isn't just an excuse to stay?" Su Sheng raised a brow coolly.
"It is." He gave a faint smile. "But if you want me elsewhere, I won't go to the guest room."
She didn't answer, simply turned upstairs. The light above cast a golden glow across her shoulders.
Gu Chen followed, keeping a careful distance, yet his presence pressed at her senses—silent, but impossible to ignore.
At the second floor, she stopped, pointing at the guest room door. "There. Towels and clothes are in the cabinet."
He didn't go in immediately. Instead, he stepped closer.
"Su Sheng." His voice dropped low, this time without the word "sister," hushed as though afraid of breaking something fragile.
"What are you so afraid of?"
She paused, lips curling into a cool smile. "Why would I be afraid?"
"Because your hands have been shaking this whole time."
Instinctively, her fingers curled tight. The next second, his warm palm wrapped around her cold ones—steady, firm.
"I'm here. No one will touch you."
For a moment, silence filled the air.
Su Sheng pulled her hand back, said nothing, and went into her room.
The door shut. She leaned against it, heart beating with unfamiliar unease.
In the next room, Gu Chen sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his palm. Slowly, he curled his hand into a fist, holding onto the warmth that lingered there.