The morning after her Eden House date with Shixun, Ruoxi returned to the vil still glowing, still barefoot, still untouchable.

  She didn't look for Zeyan.

  Didn't have to.

  He found her first.

  Outside. In the shaded hallway near the back stairs, where cameras rarely wandered.

  She was adjusting her ponytail when a shadow crossed hers.

  Before she could turn, Zeyan's hand nded on the wall beside her face.

  "We need to talk."

  She blinked, amused. "Now you want to talk?"

  "I'm not asking."

  She looked up at him, shes long, mouth half-curved into a smirk. "Careful. That almost sounded like jealousy."

  Zeyan's jaw twitched.

  "Stop flirting with them."

  "Oh?" Her voice dipped, dangerously sweet. "Are you giving me rules now?"

  He leaned in, so close she could smell cedar and cold air and tension.

  "No. I'm telling you what I feel."

  She didn't move, but her eyes sharpened.

  Zeyan had always been guarded. Composed. Cold, even when interested. But now... he was cornering her. Not physically but Emotionally.

  "I see you," he said, quieter now. "The way you make them feel wanted, just enough. Never too much. Always in control."

  His fingers brushed her waist, barely a touch, but it lit something sharp beneath her skin.

  "But when it's me," he whispered, "you pull back."

  Ruoxi ughed softly. "Because you're not a game."

  "And if I don't want to be safe either?" he asked.

  She stared.

  Then, slowly, she reached up, brushing her fingers against his colr. Her voice dropped.

  "You want to py now, Zeyan?"

  "And if i want to?."

  That silenced her.

  For once, Shen Ruoxi wasn't the one with the st line. Or the coy smile. Or the next move.

  He leaned in, his forehead brushing hers... close enough to kiss, but not taking it.

  "Next Eden House," he murmured, "you're coming with me."

  And then he walked away.

  No touch. No kiss.

  Just promise.

  ***

  *Confessional Booth – Shen Ruoxi*

  "I flirt with everyone. It's easy. Safe."

  She licked her lips, unsettled.

  "But Gu Zeyan… he doesn't flirt. He means it. And I don't know what to do when I'm not holding the leash."

  ***

  *Confessional Booth – Gu Zeyan*

  "She lights fires everywhere she goes."

  His gaze darkened.

  "But this time, she set one in me."