Su Jin had changed—no doubt about it. If you told her a year ago that she'd be singing wildly off-key and dancing like no one was watching in a karaoke room, she would have laughed in your face. Yet here she was, performing an over-the-top rendition of "Wash, Wash, Wash" and "Love Until Death" with all the enthusiasm of someone who had left her inhibitions behind.
This wasn't the Su Jin who used to hide behind her poised exterior, carefully wrapped in layers of etiquette and social expectations. That Su Jin had been a daughter of privilege, molded to be the perfect lady: graceful, refined, and restrained. But those days were gone. Now, she had nothing left to prove to anyone but the man sitting on the sofa behind her. Why bother maintaining that distant elegance? Did Luo Xian, the man who had barged into her life and refused to leave, care about "elegance"? Absolutely not. He was the least conventional, most unapologetically bold man she had ever met.
Luo Xian had found ways to pull her into his orbit, eroding her defenses piece by piece. He didn't care if she was the epitome of grace or if she'd fallen from the pedestal she once stood on. To him, Su Jin wasn't a polished ornament meant for admiration from a distance. She was real, raw, and his—flaws and all.
Once, Su Jin had been like a porcelain doll, poised behind a glass case, admired but never touched. The world saw her through a lens of envy or skepticism. They called her "pretentious" behind her back, and she'd smiled through it all, convinced that her life was set on a path she couldn't deviate from. She thought she'd grow old as the perfect daughter her parents wanted her to be.
Then her world came crashing down.
The fall from grace was brutal. The privileged life, the security, the prestige—gone. Once a woman whose fingers were meant for piano keys, Su Jin had spent months scrubbing dishes in a cramped restaurant kitchen. And when that wasn't enough, she'd been forced to make even harsher sacrifices, selling what little dignity she had left. In the end, all she had was debt—and her debt to Luo Xian was the heaviest of all.
So what was the point in holding back anymore?
The old Su Jin was gone, and there was no point in trying to reclaim her. Why bother pretending to be someone she wasn't anymore? Especially in front of Luo Xian. After all, she didn't even belong to herself anymore. That realization had been the hardest pill to swallow.
Luo Xian had given her everything she had now. He demanded nothing in return but her heart, showering her with care and affection. Yet Su Jin hesitated. Her heart was the only thing she had left to give, and she guarded it fiercely. It wasn't that she wasn't moved by his tenderness; she was. But she couldn't shake the fear of losing everything again. Better to expect nothing from life, she thought. That way, if the worst happened, she could tell herself she'd been prepared all along.
Tonight, though, Su Jin was determined to let it all go. She danced with wild abandon, her awkward moves and off-key singing filling the room with energy. The colorful lights from the karaoke machine reflected on her flushed face as she twirled around, laughing breathlessly.
She stole a glance at Luo Xian. His gaze was fixed on her, a warm, indulgent look that sent her heart racing. Every time she finished a song, he'd clap and say, "My darling, that was amazing!" It didn't matter that the karaoke screen had just rated her performance a humiliating 35 out of 100. To Luo Xian, she was flawless.
Even when she turned her back to him, Su Jin could feel his eyes on her. His attention was like a fire, wrapping around her and pulling her in. She was breathless, and it wasn't just from the dancing.
Luo Xian sat casually on the sofa, the picture of effortless charm. His usual elegance was tempered by an irresistible edge of mischief. How was it possible for a man to embody such contradictions? Even in her past life, when she was surrounded by men from wealthy families, Su Jin had never encountered anyone like him. Luo Xian wasn't someone you met; he was someone you collided with.
Feeling bold—or maybe just delirious from all the singing and dancing—Su Jin decided to drag him into her chaos. She darted toward him, grabbing his hand and pulling him off the sofa.
He let out a soft laugh, his lips curving into that signature smirk that made her heart flutter. Luo Xian could have easily resisted; he was far stronger than her. But he let her tug him to the center of the room, his eyes full of playful indulgence.
The next song began to play. It was "Gangnam Style," complete with its signature horse-riding dance moves. Su Jin grinned, her excitement bubbling over. She'd always thought the dance looked ridiculous, but tonight, she was ready to embrace the absurdity.
"Let's go all out," she said, flashing a grin at Luo Xian. "Dance like it's the end of the world!"
The music blasted through the speakers, and Su Jin threw herself into the choreography. Her movements were clumsy and exaggerated, but she didn't care. For the first time in years, she felt truly free.
Luo Xian watched her for a moment, his expression softening. Then, to her shock, he started to dance. Not just half-heartedly, but with genuine enthusiasm. His movements were precise and fluid, a stark contrast to her chaotic flailing. Somehow, he made even the ridiculous "riding" motions look graceful.
Su Jin burst into laughter, doubling over as she watched him. Luo Xian was usually so composed, so dignified. Seeing him like this was a revelation. He caught her eye and winked, his smirk turning devilish.
"Don't stop now," he teased. "Keep up, darling."
She tried, but every time she looked at him, she dissolved into giggles. Luo Xian, ever the showman, only leaned into the performance, shooting her exaggerated "come-hither" looks as he danced. By the end of the song, Su Jin was on the floor, clutching her stomach and laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
When the music faded, Luo Xian scooped her up in one smooth motion. Before she could protest, his lips brushed against hers in a featherlight kiss.
"Was that good enough for you?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing.
Su Jin's cheeks burned, but she couldn't help smiling. She knew—even if she didn't want to admit it out loud—that Luo Xian had done it all for her. For her laughter, her joy. He had stepped out of his comfort zone, danced a silly dance, and let himself be vulnerable. All for her.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to make her believe she could trust him with her heart after all.