The night was alive with the hum of the city, neon lights reflecting off the sleek black car that cut through the streets like a predator on the hunt. Jiang Xinyao sat in the passenger seat, her gaze steady as she observed the man beside her.
Gu Beichen.
Even in the dim interior of the car, his presence was undeniable—calm, controlled, and utterly unshaken. Most men would have still been reeling from the attempt on their life the night before, but he sat with the ease of someone who had survived far worse.
That told her one thing.
Gu Beichen wasn't just any businessman.
He had walked the fine line between life and death before.
That made him dangerous.
And intriguing.
"You're awfully quiet, Miss Jiang," he remarked, eyes still on the road.
She smirked. "I'm just wondering what kind of man walks into a potential trap without hesitation."
His lips curled into an almost-smile. "And what kind of woman follows him into one?"
She chuckled, leaning back against the leather seat. "Fair point."
Their destination was a private club, an underground establishment where deals were made in whispers and power was measured in secrets. It wasn't the kind of place where anyone could walk in—only those who mattered.
And tonight, they were about to meet someone who mattered very much.
---
The Meeting
The club was hidden beneath a luxury hotel, accessible only through a private elevator guarded by men who didn't bother to ask questions—because they already knew the answers.
As they stepped inside, Jiang Xinyao took in her surroundings.
The atmosphere was thick with smoke and wealth, the dim lighting casting long shadows across the velvet-lined booths where powerful men whispered in hushed tones.
It wasn't the first time she had been in a place like this.
And it certainly wouldn't be the last.
A waiter approached, leading them to a private room in the back.
The moment they stepped inside, Jiang Xinyao's instincts flared.
The informant was already waiting for them.
A thin man in his forties, with sharp eyes that darted nervously between her and Gu Beichen. He was sweating despite the cool air.
He was scared.
Which meant he knew something worth killing for.
Gu Beichen took a seat across from him, his presence alone enough to make the man shift uncomfortably. Jiang Xinyao remained standing, leaning casually against the wall—watching.
"Mr. Song," Gu Beichen's voice was smooth, but there was an underlying edge to it. "I assume you have something valuable for me."
The informant swallowed hard, glancing toward Jiang Xinyao.
Gu Beichen smirked. "She's with me."
That seemed to unnerve the man further.
He hesitated, then pulled out a flash drive, placing it on the table with trembling fingers. "It's all here. Everything I could find."
Gu Beichen picked up the drive, twirling it between his fingers. "And what exactly am I paying for?"
Mr. Song took a shaky breath. "The hit… it wasn't just about you." His eyes flickered to Jiang Xinyao. "Someone wanted her dead, too."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Jiang Xinyao arched a brow. "I can take care of myself."
The informant nodded quickly. "I'm sure you can, Miss Jiang. But this isn't just business rivalry. The people behind this… they're not the kind you want as enemies."
Gu Beichen's eyes darkened. "Names."
Mr. Song hesitated.
Jiang Xinyao sighed. "Do I have to spell it out for you?"
She moved so fast he barely had time to react—one second, she was leaning against the wall, the next, she was gripping his wrist hard, pressing it against the table.
He let out a pained grunt. "W-Wait—"
She leaned down, voice dangerously soft. "You see, Mr. Song, I have very little patience for people who waste my time."
He swallowed. "Alright! Alright! There's an organization—powerful, well-connected. They deal in assassinations, underground security, even private military contracts."
Jiang Xinyao exchanged a glance with Gu Beichen.
That was big.
Mr. Song continued, voice lowering. "They call themselves Black Thorn. And they don't just kill for money. They kill for power."
Jiang Xinyao narrowed her eyes. "And they wanted me dead… why?"
Song hesitated again.
She pressed down harder.
"Ah—! Okay, okay! It's because of your new business. The bodyguard industry… You're stepping on the wrong toes, Miss Jiang."
Now that was interesting.
Gu Beichen leaned forward, his gaze cold. "And me?"
Song licked his lips. "You're a problem for them, too. But she was the priority target."
Jiang Xinyao frowned slightly.
That meant Black Thorn saw her as a serious threat.
Good.
"Where can we find them?" Gu Beichen's voice was lethal now.
Song paled. "I… I don't know. No one knows. They move in the shadows."
Jiang Xinyao studied him. "You wouldn't have survived this long if you didn't have something."
He hesitated.
Then, finally, he whispered, "There's a broker. A middleman. He arranges their contracts. If anyone knows where to find them, it's him."
Gu Beichen's smirk returned. "And his name?"
"…Han Zhixin."
Jiang Xinyao stored the name away in her mind.
The game had just changed.
And now?
It was time to hunt.
---
The Aftermath
The drive back was quiet at first.
Jiang Xinyao sat with one leg crossed over the other, tapping her fingers lightly against her knee.
"You're thinking," Gu Beichen observed.
She glanced at him. "You don't seem surprised by any of this."
He exhaled, eyes on the road. "Because I've been dealing with shadows my entire life."
She studied him for a moment. "And what exactly are you, Gu Beichen?"
His lips curled slightly. "A businessman."
She laughed softly. "You say that so convincingly."
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.
Then, finally, Gu Beichen spoke. "They'll come for you again."
Jiang Xinyao smirked. "Let them."
His hands tightened slightly on the wheel. "They won't stop."
She leaned back, tilting her head slightly. "Neither will I."
Their gazes met, and for a brief moment, there was something electric in the air.
Something dangerous.
Something inevitable.
Gu Beichen exhaled slowly, then smirked. "You really aren't afraid of anything, are you?"
She smiled. "No. Are you?"
His smirk deepened. "Not of them."
Jiang Xinyao arched a brow. "Then what are you afraid of, President Gu?"
For the first time that night, he didn't answer.
But the way his gaze lingered on her?
That told her everything.