The hum of the helicopter blades filled Ivy's ears as they cut through the night sky, the city below disappearing beneath a blanket of darkness. But no matter how far they flew, the image of Lu Cheng collapsing, blood staining his shirt, remained seared into her mind.
Her hands trembled as she stared blankly at the skyline outside the window. Lin Wei, seated across from her, glanced her way but said nothing. Zhao Jun and Cheng Rui were also quiet, their faces grim. No one explained anything. No one told her where they were taking Lu Cheng or if he would survive.
"Where is he?" Ivy whispered, though she knew the answer wouldn't come.
"Boss is... in good hands," Lin Wei replied carefully, but the tightness in his voice betrayed him.
That was it. No further explanations, no reassurances. Just silence and the weight of uncertainty pressing on Ivy's chest. She wanted to scream, demand answers, but something told her that in their world, Lu Cheng's world, secrets were as sacred as life itself.
When the helicopter finally landed, the assistants escorted her to a black SUV, driving her back to her apartment. They left her at the entrance with a curt nod.
"Stay safe. We'll update you if anything changes," Zhao Jun said before they disappeared into the night.
And then she was alone.
---
Two Days Later
The ticking of the clock was maddening. It had been two days since Ivy last saw Lu Cheng, two days since he bled in front of her and disappeared. The office buzzed with its usual energy, but to Ivy, it all felt wrong—like the air had shifted, and no one else noticed.
She sat at her desk, pretending to work, her eyes flickering to the glass door of Lu Cheng's office every five minutes. It remained closed, untouched. Lin Wei, Zhao Jun, and Cheng Rui were tight-lipped, offering no explanations, as if Lu Cheng's absence was perfectly normal.
But it wasn't.
"Is... the boss okay?" Ivy finally asked Lin Wei when she caught him outside the office, her voice tentative.
Lin Wei gave her a quick, tight smile. "He's recovering."
"That's all?" she pressed, frustration bubbling in her chest. "Is he even conscious? Why won't anyone tell me anything?"
Lin Wei hesitated, then leaned closer, his expression unreadable. "It's complicated. But he'll be back soon, Miss Ivy. Just... trust us."
Trust them. How was she supposed to trust anyone when everything felt so wrong?
---
That night, Ivy tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Her thoughts spiraled back to the moment Lu Cheng stood in front of her, shielding her from the bullets without hesitation. Why had he done that? Why did he always act so distant yet protective at the same time?
She buried her face in her pillow, frustrated by the confusion swirling in her chest. She hated that she cared so much. Hated that his absence gnawed at her like a splinter buried too deep to remove.
The next morning, she gave up pretending. She needed answers.
---
At the Office
Ivy paced outside Lu Cheng's office door, biting her lip. She was about to knock when the door swung open, and Zhao Jun stepped out, startled to see her standing there.
"I need to see him," she said firmly, surprising even herself with the steel in her voice.
Zhao Jun gave her a measured look. "Ivy—"
"Please." Her voice cracked, and she hated how desperate she sounded. But she had to know. She needed to see him with her own eyes.
Zhao Jun sighed, glancing down the hall as if checking for something, or someone. "He's not here, Ivy. He's... resting somewhere safe."
She clenched her fists. "Where?"
"I can't tell you that," he replied, regret lacing his voice.
Ivy's frustration reached its peak. "He took a bullet for me! I have a right to know if he's okay!"
Zhao Jun's gaze softened, but before he could respond, Lin Wei appeared, his expression unreadable.
"The boss will return soon," Lin Wei said calmly, placing a hand on Zhao Jun's shoulder. "That's all we can say for now."
---
That Evening
Ivy sat on her couch, her phone clutched in her hand. She had stared at Lu Cheng's contact for what felt like hours, her thumb hovering over the call button. Would he even pick up?
The silence stretched, suffocating her. Just as she was about to give up, her phone buzzed, a message.
Her heart leaped as she saw the sender's name. Lu Cheng.
"Stop worrying. I'll be back soon."
She stared at the words, relief flooding her, but they also left her with more questions. Why couldn't he just tell her where he was? What was he hiding?
Ivy sighed, tossing her phone aside. For now, she had no choice but to wait. But one thing was certain, when Lu Cheng returned, she would demand answers.
And she wouldn't take no for an answer.