Zi Yan sat in the back seat of Lu Yichen's car, wrapped in his coat. The soft fabric carried his scent—cool, clean, with a hint of something deeper. But she had no time to think about that.
Her cheek still stung from Guo Bao's slap. Her wrists ached from the ropes. But she didn't complain.
Lu Yichen sat beside her, his jaw tight, his eyes cold. He hadn't spoken since they left the warehouse. His men had stayed behind to clean up the mess.
She glanced at him.
"Are you angry?" she asked softly.
Lu Yichen turned his head. His eyes locked onto hers.
"Very," he said.
Zi Yan's fingers tightened around his coat.
"I'm fine," she assured him. "Nothing serious happened."
Lu Yichen's eyes darkened.
"Nothing serious?" His voice was low, almost dangerous. "You were kidnapped. Tied up. Slapped." His fists clenched. "If I had been one step late—"
He stopped himself, breathing heavily.
Zi Yan looked away. She didn't want to admit it, but she had been scared. When she was tied up, when Guo Bao hit her, when those men looked at her like prey—fear had crept into her heart.
But she refused to let it control her.
She straightened her back. "I didn't just sit there and wait to be saved, did I?" She smiled slightly. "I took care of myself."
Lu Yichen's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Don't be proud of that," he muttered.
Zi Yan chuckled.
The car fell into silence.
After a while, Lu Yichen spoke.
"This won't happen again," he said firmly.
Zi Yan turned to him. "What do you mean?"
Lu Yichen's fingers tapped against his knee. "Guo Bao is finished. By tomorrow, he won't even have a place to stand in this city."
Zi Yan frowned. "You don't have to go that far."
Lu Yichen looked at her, his gaze deep and unreadable.
"I do," he said.
Zi Yan sighed. She knew arguing wouldn't change anything. Lu Yichen wasn't the type to let things slide.
She rested her head against the seat. The exhaustion finally caught up to her.
"Wake me when we arrive," she murmured.
Lu Yichen watched as her breathing slowed.
His heart ached.
He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
No one would ever hurt her again. Not as long as he was here.
The next morning, the city woke up to shocking news.
"Breaking News: The Guo Family's Business Empire Collapses Overnight!"
"Guo Bao Arrested for Illegal Activities—Multiple Charges Against Him!"
"Guo Family Disowns Guo Bao—Declares Him No Longer Their Son!"
Guo Bao sat in a police cell, staring blankly at the wall. His face was swollen, his mind blank.
Everything was gone.
All his power, all his money, all his influence—Lu Yichen had erased it in one night.
He clenched his fists. "No… This can't be happening…"
But no one was coming to save him.
His family had abandoned him. His friends had disappeared.
The Guo Bao that once stood at the top was now nothing.
In a luxury hotel, Wang Yin stared at the news in horror.
Her hands shook as she read the reports.
Guo Bao was finished.
And that meant—she was next.
She grabbed her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello? I need to leave the country immediately! Money isn't a problem—just get me out!"
The man on the other end hesitated.
"Miss Wang… I'm afraid that's not possible."
Wang Yin's breath caught. "What do you mean?"
The man sighed. "Your name is already on the blacklist. No airline will accept you."
Her blood ran cold.
Blacklist?
Lu Yichen.
It was him.
He was behind this.
She dropped her phone, her body trembling.
"No… No, this isn't fair…!"
But it was too late.
Her downfall had begun.
Zi Yan woke up in a soft bed.
She blinked, adjusting to the warm sunlight streaming through the windows.
She wasn't in her apartment.
She looked around. The room was elegant and minimalistic, filled with expensive furniture.
Then she remembered—Lu Yichen.
She had fallen asleep in his car.
And now, she was in his house.
She sat up just as the door opened.
Lu Yichen walked in, carrying a tray of food.
"You're awake," he said, setting the tray down.
Zi Yan blinked at the food. A bowl of warm porridge, a plate of sliced fruit, and a glass of milk.
Her stomach growled.
Lu Yichen's lips twitched. "Eat."
Zi Yan hesitated. "I should go home."
Lu Yichen's face darkened. "No."
Zi Yan raised an eyebrow. "No?"
Lu Yichen sat on the edge of the bed.
"You're not going anywhere until you've fully recovered."
Zi Yan sighed. "I'm not sick."
Lu Yichen leaned closer. "You were kidnapped. You barely slept last night. You need rest."
Zi Yan sighed. She knew arguing was useless.
She picked up the spoon and took a bite of the porridge.
…It was delicious.
She chewed slowly, glancing at Lu Yichen. "Did you make this?"
Lu Yichen looked away. "The chef did."
Zi Yan smirked. "Liar."
Lu Yichen didn't respond.
But the slight redness in his ears gave him away.
Zi Yan chuckled.
Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad after all.
That night, Zi Yan stood by the window, looking at the city lights.
She had won this round.
Guo Bao was finished. Wang Yin was on the run.
But she knew this wasn't the end.
There were still people in the entertainment industry who wanted her gone.
There were still secrets about her past she had yet to uncover.
And then… there was Lu Yichen.
She glanced at him. He was sitting on the couch, reading a document.
He had saved her. Protected her. Taken care of her.
But why?
She wanted to ask.
But a part of her was scared of the answer.
For now, she would wait.
The game was far from over.