The tension in the air was suffocating as the helicopter touched down at a secluded private airstrip surrounded by dense forest. Ivy hadn't spoken a word since agreeing to trust Lu Cheng, but her mind churned relentlessly. She had no idea where they were or what was waiting for them, and the weight of the unknown pressed heavily on her chest.
Lu Cheng's presence beside her was unsettlingly calm, as if the danger they were walking into was just another business transaction. He stood up, adjusted the cufflinks of his tailored suit, and glanced down at her. His mask still hid half of his face, but the intensity of his gaze remained undeniable.
"Stay close," he said, his voice low but commanding.
Ivy nodded, her stomach in knots. The plane door opened, and a gust of cold wind swept inside. Ivy followed Lu Cheng down the steps and found herself facing a line of black SUVs. Several men in dark suits stood nearby, their stances alert, their expressions unreadable.
One of them stepped forward, Lin Wei, one of Lu Cheng's assistants. He bowed slightly. "Everything is ready, sir."
Lu Cheng gave a curt nod. "Good. Make sure the area is secure."
Lin Wei signaled to the others, and they dispersed like shadows, blending into the night. Ivy felt like she had been dropped into the middle of a crime drama, except this was painfully real.
They entered the largest SUV, with Ivy seated beside Lu Cheng in the back. The moment the car began moving, Ivy's heart pounded harder. She had no idea what lay ahead, only that it couldn't be good.
"Where are we going?" she whispered, unable to contain her nerves any longer.
Lu Cheng glanced at her. "To meet people that are important."
"Are they dangerous?"
"Potentially," he replied, his tone unreadable.
Ivy's pulse quickened. "What kind of business do you run, exactly?"
Lu Cheng didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back, studying her with an expression that sent a chill down her spine. "The kind that keeps people alive. And the kind that makes enemies."
Ivy swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle over her like a heavy cloak. She was about to press him further when the car came to a smooth halt.
"We're here," Lu Cheng announced.
The door opened, and Ivy stepped out into a dimly lit clearing. A massive, ancient-looking mansion loomed ahead, surrounded by thick trees. The air smelled faintly of pine and rain, but there was something ominous about the place, a sense that secrets had taken root here long ago.
As they approached the entrance, a figure appeared at the top of the grand staircase. Ivy's breath caught. It was Lu Feng, standing there with the kind of charisma that demanded attention. His dangerously handsome features glinted under the faint light, a grin playing on his lips.
"Ah, brother," Lu Feng called down, his voice smooth and playful. "Bringing a guest to the party, I see."
Lu Cheng's expression darkened. "This isn't a party."
Lu Feng descended the steps slowly, his eyes never leaving Ivy. "And you must be blending in Ivy," he said, his grin widening.
Ivy shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling like prey under a predator's scrutiny. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her, like he knew things about her that even she didn't know.
"Stop playing games, Feng," Lu Cheng said coldly. "We're here for business."
Lu Feng chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Always so serious, brother. You really need to lighten up."
"Enough," Lu Cheng snapped, his tone sharp.
The shift in Lu Cheng's demeanor was instant. Ivy could feel the tension between the brothers, an unspoken rivalry simmering beneath the surface. She had seen them interact before, but this was different, more intense, more dangerous.
Lu Feng's gaze flicked back to Ivy, his grin never faltering. "I like her," he said, as if deciding on a whim.
Lu Cheng's eyes narrowed. "Stay away from her."
"Oh, relax," Lu Feng replied with a wink. "I wouldn't steal your little assistant… unless she asks nicely."
Ivy felt a cold shiver run down her spine at the implication, but Lu Cheng stepped between them, his presence commanding.
"Don't push me, Feng," Lu Cheng warned, his voice low and dangerous.
Lu Feng's grin widened, but he stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll behave."
The tension between the brothers was palpable, but Ivy knew this was just the surface. There was a storm brewing beneath their calm exteriors, and she was caught in the eye of it.
Lu Cheng turned to Ivy, his voice softer but still firm. "Stay by my side. No matter what happens."
Ivy nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what she had gotten herself into, but she knew one thing for sure—this was a world where trust was a dangerous game, and she was walking a razor-thin line between loyalty and betrayal.
And with every step she took deeper into Lu Cheng's world, she knew there was no turning back.