Chapter 10: I'll Come to You

Hearing his voice, Su Yu's heart skipped a beat.

"It's me." Su Yu spoke.

He was quiet for a beat—seemed surprised. "Miss Su. What's wrong?"

Half of Shen Yan's drowsiness had evaporated. He pulled the phone away to check the time.

Past one in the morning.

What was she calling for at this hour?

"Did I wake you?" Su Yu caught the sleepy edge in his voice. Her tone softened before she could stop it.

It made sense. It was the middle of the night. Any normal person would be asleep. Calling at this hour was... inappropriate.

"It's fine. Just fell asleep."

Shen Yan's tone was even. Impossible to read what was behind it.

Su Yu went quiet.

Silence settled between them. Nothing on the line but the sound of each other breathing—steady, even.

"Is something wrong?"

Eventually, Shen Yan broke first.

A rustling sound came through the phone. Su Yu caught the faint click of a lighter.

"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to tell you—" Su Yu paused. "I suddenly don't want to be even with you anymore."

She wanted to continue.

Shen Yan sat on the sofa. His long, knuckle-defined fingers held the cigarette. His eyes narrowed slightly, something deep and unreadable glinting in their depths.

"So?" His tone was casual. But inside, something had started to churn.

This woman calls him in the middle of the night just to say that?

The thought made the corner of his mouth curve up—just barely.

Su Yu dug out her cigarette pack, pulled one out, and held it between her lips. She lit it with practiced ease, exhaled a slow ring of smoke that curled upward, veiling her beautiful face.

"So... some things don't need to be said too clearly." She took another drag, arm out the car window, flicking ash. "Where are you? I'll come to you."

Shen Yan crushed his cigarette out in the ashtray. His lips curved. "Don't bother. Send me your address. It's too late."

"Too late meaning—another day?"

"No. Meaning I'll come to you." Straight, no hesitation.

He was thinking that at this hour, a woman out alone wasn't safe.

He wasn't worried about people in general. But Su Yu was a beautiful woman.

"Works for me."

Su Yu flicked the last ember of her cigarette out the window. "You add me, or I add you?"

Shen Yan laughed. "Does it matter? I'll add you."

Su Yu gave a soft "mm" and hung up.

Seconds later, a new friend request popped up on her WeChat.

"It does matter," Su Yu murmured to herself, tapping Accept.

She sent him her location and apartment number.

He replied with an OK emoji.

She'd already been the one to call him. No way she was going to be the one to add him too.

Curious, Su Yu tapped into his WeChat profile. His Moments feed was empty—set to "visible for three days only." Even the background image was solid black.

A profile this blank made him feel... mysterious.

She locked the screen, grabbed her bag, and headed into her building.

After showering and slipping on a nightgown, a knock came at her door.

Out of solo-living instinct, Su Yu checked the peephole first. Confirmed: Shen Yan. She opened up.

Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "That was fast."

She'd figured she'd be waiting at least an hour. He'd made it in thirty minutes.

Shen Yan's gaze swept over her. She wore a white lace-trimmed nightgown, the neckline open enough to reveal a generous stretch of skin. Those long, straight legs—bare, glowing under the hallway light.

Enough to make a man's imagination run wild.

Her bare face was still pale and fine, the skin like congealed cream—soft enough to dent with a breath. Her hair was damp. Freshly showered.

The distance between them was close enough that he caught her body wash—light floral. He liked it.

"Done looking? Want to come in?" Su Yu's fox eyes narrowed, a half-smile playing at her lips.

Shen Yan reined in his appraisal. "You're blocking the door. How do I get in?"

Su Yu stepped aside. "Come in."

Shen Yan stepped through and closed the door behind him. "Got slippers?"

Su Yu pointed at the shoe cabinet. "Second shelf."

Shen Yan walked over, bent down, took off his shoes, and pulled a pair of slippers from the cabinet.

He looked down at the women's slippers in his hand. A helpless smile. They were, of course, far too small.

Su Yu caught his expression and laughed. "First time I've had a man over. Make do."

The other pair was for Mu Ran.

Shen Yan said nothing. He started scanning the apartment instead.

The layout was simple. A studio: open kitchen at the entrance, then a sofa and coffee table, a large bed, and past that—a bathroom and a small balcony.

He took it all in, then turned back to Su Yu. "A place this small—don't you feel cramped?"

The studio was smaller than his hotel room.

Su Yu shrugged. "Not at all. I think it's cozy. And I'm just a regular wage earner. Rent in a decent Haicheng location is steep—this place is seven thousand a month."

She said it lightly. Her monthly salary plus commission averaged eighty to ninety thousand. Occasionally, a manager's referral might bring in extra. But she didn't want to sink money into rent. She was saving for a down payment—to buy her own place in Haicheng.

Difficult, admittedly. The speed at which she earned money couldn't keep pace with Haicheng's rising property prices.

Shen Yan frowned. He pulled his hand from his pocket and crooked a finger at her. "Come here."

Su Yu tossed her hair and walked toward him. "What?"

She looked up at the man inches away, eyes bright with amusement.

When Su Yu smiled, a deep dimple appeared on her right cheek. Striking.

Shen Yan's eyes darkened. He leaned down, slowly bringing his face closer to hers.

Their noses touched. His warm breath fanned across her face.

Eyes locked. Su Yu's lashes fluttered—long as a brush, fanning the air between them. Each could see their own reflection in the other's pupils.

Shen Yan tilted his head. His cool, thin lips met hers—slightly flushed, slightly warm.