Outside, Living Room.
Wang Ruoxi was exactly where they left her… except now she was scrolling through her phone, completely unbothered.
She looked up the moment Xiang approached.
"Took you long enough," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "What were you two doing, plotting world domination?"
Xiang scoffed. "Get up."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I'm dropping you home."
Ruoxi tilted her head, suspicious. "…Since when did you become so kind?"
"Since now."
"…I don't trust you."
"Good," he replied dryly. "Let's go."
She stared at him for a second longer… then grabbed her bag anyway.
"Fine," she muttered as she stood. "But if you drive like a maniac, I'm jumping out of the car."
Xiang smirked faintly. "Oh really."
"…Try me."
They walked out together, already bickering under their breath.
Back in the Study.
The room was quiet again.
Zihan sat alone, unmoving.
Then slowly… his gaze dropped to his phone resting on the table. For a moment, he just stared at it... Then he picked it up, opened his messages, scrolled… and stopped at one name.
Guo Min.
His thumb hovered over the screen. A man who could command empires… hesitated over a single message.
He exhaled softly, then began typing. "Have you gotten home?". He stared at it.
Deleted it.
Typed again, "Don't skip dinner." Paused.
Deleted it again before a quiet scoff left him. "…Unbelievable." Finally, he locked the phone and set it down with a heavy sigh.
Zhu Villa, Garage.
The underground garage was quiet, the faint hum of engines echoing off polished concrete.
Where Wu Xiang had already parked his black BMW neatly into its spot. He slid into the driver's seat, one hand resting on the steering wheel. He waited, and a few seconds passed, then a minute.
Still nothing.
His brows furrowed slightly as he turned his head toward the passenger side. "…Why aren't you getting in?" he asked, his voice carrying a faint edge of irritation.
Outside the car, Wang Ruoxi stood with her arms folded, completely unbothered. "Why should I?" she replied coolly. "You didn't open the door for me."
Silence.
Xiang blinked once.
Then twice.
"…Are you serious right now?" His eyebrow twitched, disbelief written all over his face.
Ruoxi didn't even dignify him with a response. She simply stood there, chin slightly raised, like she had all the time in the world.
A scoff escaped him. For a moment, it looked like he might just drive off and leave her there, but instead, he exhaled sharply, muttered something under his breath, then pushed the door open and stepped out of the car.
Swallowing whatever remained of his pride, he walked around to her side.
By the time he reached her, his expression had already shifted into something exaggerated. He pulled the door open with a dramatic and forced a smile.
"Here you go… my lady," he said, his tone dripping with mock politeness.
Wang Ruoxi tilted her head slightly, studying him. Then. "Humph." And she got in, the door shut with a soft thud.
On the other side, Wu Xiang let out a quiet sigh before walking back to the driver's seat. He slid in, started the engine, and reversed smoothly out of the parking space.
The car rolled back then suddenly stopped. He glanced sideways at her. "…I guess you're waiting for me to put your seatbelt too."
Ruoxi didn't even hesitate. "Oh yes," she said, smiling sweetly. "You can, if you wish."
Xiang's eyes narrowed slightly. "What are your hands for, then? Decoration?". But even as he spoke, he had already unbuckled his own seatbelt.
Ruoxi didn't move, didn'tlift a finger, she just sat there, watching him.
A quiet scoff left him as he leaned closer. "Unbelievable…"
He reached across her, one hand braced lightly against the seat beside her, the other pulling the seatbelt across her body.
The faint scent of her perfume lingered between them, soft… unfamiliar… distracting.
Neither of them looked away when their eyes met, Xiang's fingers brushed against her shoulder as he pulled the belt into place... Click.
The sound was soft.
But neither of them moved, for a second longer than necessary, he remained there… hovering.
Their breaths almost in sync as he didn't pull away immediately.
Instead, his gaze flickered briefly to her lips then back to her eyes.
A dangerous pause, ... Before Xiang straightened abruptly, clearing his throat as he pulled back into his seat. "Done." His voice was steady.
Ruoxi blinked once… then leaned back against her seat, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. "…Thank you," she said softly.
He didn't respond, the engine revved, the car pulled out of the garage.
Wang Mansion... Outside
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the gates. Wu Xiang didn't even bother turning off the engine before speaking. "Nice driving you home," he said flatly. "Now get out."
There was a pause, "Huh?" Wang Ruoxi turned to him, eyes narrowing. "You're such a rude assh*le."
Xiang let out a dry laugh. "What the hell is your problem?"
She crossed her arms again, settling deeper into her seat like she had no intention of moving. "Come open the door for me."
"No can do. Not this time."
Her eyes widened. "What do you mean no? You did it before."
"Get out."
"No."
"I'm going to the club right now," Xiang said, leaning back casually, one hand on the steering wheel. "If you don't get out… I'll take you with me."
Ruoxi's expression didn't change.
"Oh, good," she said smoothly. "Your treat."
That earned her a look, a slow one. Then Xiang smiled, Wide. Suspiciously wide.
"Oh really?" he drawled. "Then you'd follow me to my apartment after." He tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting. "Don't worry… I'll keep whatever happens between us a secret."
Silence.
Ruoxi froze. "…D...don't worry," she said quickly, fumbling with the door handle. "I just remembered I have work tomorrow. Very important work. Extremely urgent."
The door flew open and she stepped out almost too fast.
Xiang watched her, amused, resting his elbow against the window. "Thought so."
Ruoxi paused outside the car, straightening her outfit like she hadn't just panicked.
Then she leaned down slightly, glaring at him through the window.
"You're unbelievable."
"And you're still standing there."
She scoffed. "Goodnight."
"Mm."
She turned and started walking toward the mansion.
The gate closed behind her.
And only then did Xiang exhaled quietly, his expression softening for just a second before the usual indifference returned. The engine revved. And the car disappeared into the night.
Wang Mansion, Living Room
Wang Ruoxi stepped into the mansion, still adjusting her thoughts from the drive.
The moment she entered, she paused.
Not only was Guo Min seated on the sofa… But her parents were back too, her brows lifted slightly. "Mom, Dad, Min…?"
Her father was the first to smile, his voice warm. "Welcome home, my child."
Her mother and Guo Min followed with soft greetings, filling the room with a familiar comfort.
Ruoxi closed the door behind her, slipping off her shoes. "You're back from Europe? I thought you were enjoying your holiday."
Her mother waved a hand dramatically as Ruoxi sat down. "Oh, we did," she said brightly. Then her eyes sparkled. "But Ruoxi… you won't believe what Mama found."
Ruoxi froze slightly. "…What?"
Her mother leaned forward, clearly excited. "A potential husband for you."
Silence. Ruoxi blinked once. "…Huh?"
Her mother clapped her hands once, as if announcing something grand. "Blind date. Next week. No refusal."
The words hung in the air like a verdict.
Ruoxi slowly turned her head toward Guo Min.
Guo Min, who had been quietly sipping juice, immediately looked away.
Ruoxi narrowed her eyes. "…Min."
Guo Min coughed lightly. "Don't look at me."
Her father chuckled softly, clearly entertained. "It was your mother's idea."
"It was a family decision," her mother corrected proudly.
Ruoxi leaned back into the sofa, staring at the ceiling like she was re-evaluating her entire life. "…A blind date," she repeated slowly.
"Yes," her mother confirmed firmly.
Ruoxi turned slowly toward Guo Min again.