The long, chaotic day finally came to a close.
Kong Wenyu only realized he didn’t have a key to Nie Jun’s place once he was standing at the door.
The spare key hidden in the alcove had already been taken. He knocked a few times, but no one came to the door—it took a while.
Hai Ming followed behind him, silent, not daring to say much. Kong Wenyu hadn’t taken his frustration out on him yet, but that might’ve just been a matter of timing.
“He admitted our relationship at the end?” Kong Wenyu asked on the way downstairs.
Hai Ming didn’t dare dwell on what that might imply. “No.”
Kong Wenyu nodded. He didn’t say anything else.
The old residential complex had large green spaces, and the trees were tall and thick. In midsummer, the foliage was so lush it nearly blotted out the sky.
After several hours of sun and wind, the puddles on the ground had dried completely. The air was filled with the damp scent of earth and plants.
Kong Wenyu walked down the slightly raised stone path, answering the phone that had been ringing non-stop.
“What are you up to?” Fu Xi asked on the other end.
Kong Wenyu exhaled, his rough voice oddly suited to the stillness of the night. “It okay for you to call me on this number?”
“No problem. I’ve been released,” Fu Xi replied. “What happened with the Long family? Did you back out, or did they?”
Kong Wenyu didn’t respond.
Fu Xi figured it out. “First the Ao family, now the Longs—who’s gonna dare marry their daughter to you after this? And your mom let you pull this stunt?”
“She’s handling it. Madam Man is capable,” Kong Wenyu said, not wanting to dwell on that. “What about your end?”
“My ass is blooming,” Fu Xi sighed, sounding utterly defeated. “I fought tooth and nail to get you that whole grand hall—and you didn’t even show up to the engagement. How could you do this to me?”
“You worked hard,” Kong Wenyu sighed too. “Once things settle down, I’ll take you out to sea. Just focus on getting your health back for now.”
Fu Xi pressed further. “Why did you run out on the wedding?”
Kong Wenyu got into the car and closed his eyes.
Hai Ming asked in a low voice, “Heading home?”
Kong Wenyu didn’t reply. After waiting a few moments with no response, Hai Ming took the silence as consent and started driving toward the house.
The car crept into the crowded night market, weaving slowly through the noise and foot traffic.
Fu Xi seemed to still be puzzling things over. He asked again, “Is there someone you like?”
Kong Wenyu felt a wave of nausea rising—probably from the motion. The night outside the window was a blur of color and chaos.
In a daze, he recalled that Fu Xi had asked him this same question once before.
He gave a soft “Mm.” Then, “Hanging up.”
“What are you doing?” Fu Xi asked quickly.
“Looking for the person I like.”
As soon as they exited the night market, the road opened up and traffic smoothed out.
There were only a few pedestrians strolling beneath the shade of the roadside trees.
Kong Wenyu kept his phone in hand. With a grim expression, he made a call.
The other end took a long time to answer. Hai Ming, watching from the corner of his eye, noticed Kong Wenyu’s fingers starting to tap the armrest impatiently.
“Hello, who is this?” The voice on the line was cautious.
“Pang Ding?” Kong Wenyu confirmed.
“Uh?” Pang Ding sounded surprised. “This is…”
“I’ve heard of you,” Kong Wenyu said. “Has Nie Jun contacted you today?”
Pang Ding gave a soft “ah,” then recalled, “He did earlier. Why—do you need something? Is it work-related or personal?”
Kong Wenyu didn’t answer that. “Did he reach out after noon?”
As soon as Pang Ding said no, Kong Wenyu hung up without another word.
The entire call had lasted less than thirty seconds. Hai Ming parked in front of the steps. Kong Wenyu shut off his phone.
“I’m going up to grab my ID. Wait here and take me to the airport.”
His tone was calm, but his body language made it clear he was barely holding it together.
Hai Ming drew in a breath, about to say something, but Kong Wenyu had already slammed the car door shut and taken the steps two at a time.
Inside, only Aunt Zhu was wiping the coffee table. When she saw him come in, she greeted him warmly, “You’re back. Want something to eat? I’ve got pigeon soup simmering in the kitchen…”
Kong Wenyu waved her off without a word and headed straight upstairs.
The second floor was empty—no lights, no one around.
Kong Wenyu stepped into the bedroom, made a fruitless round, then lit up his phone screen in the dark and called his secretary.
“Where are my documents?” he asked the moment the line connected.
Kong Wenyu wasn’t the kind of boss who liked to stir up trouble. He disliked having people constantly hovering around him, so his secretary usually enjoyed a generous amount of personal time.
Secretary Ling was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, “They’re with me. If you need them now, I’ll bring them over right away.”
“Book me the earliest flight to Chengdu,” Kong Wenyu said, taking a deep breath. “Wait for me at the airport.”
Secretary Ling quickly responded, “The new brand launch—our partners recommended a few models and trending actors. I’ve sent you the photos. Will you have time to pick?”
“No time,” Kong Wenyu said, ready to hang up.
Ling rushed to squeeze in another report: “For online promotion, we’re using a multi-platform social media strategy. In yesterday’s meeting, we analyzed ROI and eliminated underperforming campaigns—”
“Have my mom handle it,” Kong Wenyu cut him off.
“But Madam doesn’t have decision-making authority. The documents need your signature,” Ling insisted.
“Bring them to the airport,” Kong Wenyu snapped, patience gone, and ended the call.
He grabbed the cigarette pack on the table and opened the balcony window to calm down with a smoke. Before he could find his lighter, he heard a soft rustling noise from the walk-in closet.
It was faint, but in the stillness of the room, it was impossible to miss.
Kong Wenyu froze, lifting his head and narrowing his eyes toward the sound.
Under the arched doorway of the closet stood a shadowy figure, wrapped in deep, dark hues.
Tall enough to nearly touch the ceiling, with a straight posture, broad and solid shoulders, a sharply defined jaw, and dressed in a high-collared black coat with a low-pulled cap—
The cigarette caught between Kong Wenyu’s teeth slipped slightly.
The shadow moved, reaching toward the wall to feel for the light switch.
“Nie Jun?” Kong Wenyu asked cautiously, interrupting the gesture.
“Mm,” Nie Jun replied, adding, “It’s me.”
Kong Wenyu took the unlit cigarette from his mouth and leaned back against the massive glass window of the balcony.
“I thought you left,” he asked quietly, his voice nearly swallowed by the dark.
In the hazy dimness, Nie Jun met his gaze. After a pause, he lowered his hand and walked toward the balcony.
“Did you try calling me?” he asked, slow and deliberate. “They took my SIM card.”
Kong Wenyu didn’t answer.
Nie Jun stood in front of him, scanning his silhouette. He seemed slightly flustered, opened his mouth twice before managing to say, “I wanted to call you. At first I couldn’t—still on the plane. After I landed, I bought a return ticket right away. The layover was short, didn’t have time to borrow a phone.”
Backlit by the faint glow, with curtains drawn inside, Kong Wenyu’s expression was unreadable.
Nie Jun hesitated, lifting a hand as if to touch his face, but lowered it again. “I came in through the back door, took out two security cameras. You weren’t home, and I was afraid someone would notice if I waited too long, so I hid in Shola’s room.”
Kong Wenyu just stared at him, unmoving.
That gaze made Nie Jun hold his breath, like something irreversible was about to happen.
“I didn’t take your money to scam you,” Nie Jun said, voice low and rough, swallowing hard. “Haiming said I couldn’t get out without the payment, I…”
Kong Wenyu stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Nie Jun forgot whatever came next.
In the eerily silent night, inside the still and windless bedroom, with the heavy curtains drawn and an unlit cigarette lying motionless on the floor, his heart thumped wildly.
Nie Jun gently rested his hands on Kong Wenyu’s back and waist, stroking slowly in a calming motion.
Kong Wenyu clung to him, face buried in the crook of Nie Jun’s neck, voice trembling: “Are you stupid? You already took the money and left. Why would you come back?”
His shoulder was burning hot—a stark contrast to the cool night air.
Nie Jun kept running his hand along his back, a quiet comfort, but Kong Wenyu hadn’t fully regained his composure from the sudden reunion.
“You get a chance like that and still come back to be someone’s bodyguard?” Kong Wenyu loosened his hold a little, but Nie Jun pulled him right back in.
“If you dare,” Kong Wenyu shoved him once, “if you dare work for anyone else, I swear to God I’ll kill you.”
Haiming was also a bodyguard—but he worked under Man Mingzhi. Kong Wenyu never asked whose orders he followed, never cared.
But Nie Jun was different. Even a glance shared with someone else felt like betrayal.
Nie Jun looked down at the sharp bridge of his nose just inches away, then up at his fluttering lashes. His voice sank.
“I’m not going anywhere. Did they give you a hard time?”
“You crashed my engagement party, and you’re worried if I got hassled?” Kong Wenyu said. “Thanks to you, my mom’s suddenly cured—legs don’t even limp anymore. She’s been pulling all-nighters at the office, and I’ve been getting screamed at daily.”
Nie Jun looked a little uneasy. After a beat, he said, “I’ll be more careful from now on. Won’t let anyone catch me again.”
“No need to hide anymore.”
Kong Wenyu cupped the back of his head, pulled him down, and kissed him.
Kong Wenyu stepped back a little, his voice low: “My parents know now.”
Nie Jun looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated. Kong Wenyu glanced at the faint movement of his lips. “What is it?”
Nie Jun paused, then asked quietly, “…Will you still marry someone else?”
Kong Wenyu stared at him. “I know you don’t want to be someone’s side piece. Don’t worry. I won’t let you be one.”
Encouraged by his steady tone, Nie Jun pressed on, “You mean it?”
He wasn’t usually talkative, and even now, his questions came without feeling pushy or annoying—just serious.
Kong Wenyu gave a soft “mm.”
Footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing closer.
Kong Wenyu had left the door open when he came in. He glanced at Nie Jun.
Nie Jun let go and turned as if to head back into the walk-in closet, but Kong Wenyu stopped him with a tug.
Knock knock.
A gentle tap at the door.
Kong Wenyu looked over. By the light from downstairs, he could vaguely make out a figure. “What is it?”
Haiming stood at the doorway, hesitating slightly. His voice was calm and careful, like he didn’t want to startle him: “Secretary Ling says he’s already at the airport. Your flight leaves in fifty minutes. If you leave now, you’ll make it just in time. Do you still want to go?”
Kong Wenyu had completely forgotten about that.
“Tell him to go home,” he said. “You too—go rest.”
Haiming paused again.
But given how strange Kong Wenyu had been acting tonight, staying home was obviously good news. He knew better than to argue or push his luck.
“Okay. I’ll be in the duty room. Call if you need anything.”
Once he’d gone, Kong Wenyu pulled back the curtain behind him.
Nie Jun was standing at the window, facing away, bathed in the pale moonlight. Only one outdoor light remained on—the hour was late. The faint silver glow cast a quiet halo over him, stretching his tall silhouette against the curtains.
But under the brim of his cap, his face was still hidden in deep shadow. His eyes were unreadable.
“Take the hat off,” Kong Wenyu said.
Nie Jun lifted a hand and removed it. Kong Wenyu took the cap from him and placed it on his own head.
In the shade beneath the brim, Kong Wenyu lifted his eyes and met Nie Jun’s gaze. “Anything else you want to say?”
Nie Jun looked confused for a second, raising an eyebrow slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Anything,” Kong Wenyu said, holding his stare.
Nie Jun thought for a moment. “You still haven’t answered me. Will you marry someone else?”
Kong Wenyu’s brows were still furrowed, and hadn’t fully relaxed yet.
He looked at him for a while, then said, “No. I won’t.”
“Mm.” Nie Jun was quick to understand. “You can make demands too. I can do anything.”
“Of course I’m making demands.” Kong Wenyu yanked him forward by the collar, his tone like a hunter reeling in a prey that had nearly escaped. “Just one—don’t ever work as a bodyguard for anyone else. No matter when or who it is. Only for me.”
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