Pain flared so suddenly it pooled with the thudding in Su Yang’s chest, each beat amplified until the world narrowed to a single bright point.
Xu Lize’s cuff had caught a strand of hair that had fallen by her ear. When he lifted his hand, her head moved almost involuntarily with his forearm. She hadn’t expected him to turn so quickly; she reached instinctively to pull the hair free, but instead the strand brushed his lips.
“My—my hair’s stuck!” Su Yang’s voice came out small and helpless.
She tried to step back, but the strand only tightened, tugging at her scalp so hard she felt tears rise. For a beat they both froze.
Inside the cramped car she could hear his breath, a low rhythm laced with a faint floral scent. He seemed almost tender, like someone cradling a fragile pet who’d shrunk into his arms.
“Don’t move,” he said.
He noticed her about to yank the hair free and switched on the cabin light. Under the soft glow, Su Yang kept her head bowed, unwilling to look at the man close enough to reach for. She felt him raise his hand; under the lamp he worked gently to disentangle the hair.
His breath had left a faint trace—an almost imperceptible tobacco tang.
“All done,” he said abruptly, and pulled back.
She answered with a barely audible, “Thank you,” and the car rolled on. The engine’s hum swallowed the city’s growing nighttime clamor.
The mood in the cabin stayed taut. Su Yang sat upright and pretended to study the passing lights, though every instinct urged her to disappear into the shadow of her hoodie.
Twenty minutes later Xu stopped in front of a glossy mall on the south side of the city. Neon signs blinked on across the street.
“We’re eating here?” she asked, frowning.
“There’s a gathering in a bit—Lu Yanke is hosting. He’s the Lu you saw at that sushi place.” Xu glanced at his watch. “I’ll pop in to say hello for a while. They have food. If you’re uncomfortable I can get them to book you a separate room; you can hang out there.”
She was about to refuse when he stepped out and circled to the passenger side, opening her door.
The bar’s name was pretty—Dawn & Dusk—and they flashed a VIP gold card at the entrance. A polite security guard in black led them in, and as they passed he lingered on Su Yang with a look that made her wish she could melt into the dim light.
Dawn & Dusk was a cocktail bar; the main room lined with booths. It was still early; only a scattering of patrons sat tucked into leather. Soft jazz curled through the air, suggestive and discreet, the perfect curtain for private conversations.
Xu walked straight to the back while dialing. A moment later Lu Yanke jogged out from the corridor. He stopped short when he saw Su Yang trailing behind Xu, a flicker of surprise passing across his face before he recovered.
“Mrs. Xu, you came too!” he called, too pleased by the coincidence.
“No—no, I didn’t,” Su Yang hurried to correct, waving her hands. She felt certain she couldn’t manage this crowd. She didn’t know who Xu was meeting, what they might talk about. Better to slip away than sit in a room full of people who might recognize them.
She reached for Xu’s sleeve. “I’ll wait outside. I can grab a cab and go—the place isn’t far.”
“Nah, we’re all friends here. Think of it as a little welcoming party for you and Third Brother,” Lu said, embarrassingly at ease. Before she could protest he steered her into the VIP room.
The private room was surprisingly bright. A long leather sofa hugged one wall; only a handful of people sat around, elegantly dressed in quiet luxury. Su Yang glanced around and tried to step back, but Xu had already closed the door behind them, blocking her exit.
“Sit over there,” he said, pointing to a single armchair by the floor-to-ceiling window. “I’ll have them bring two dinners.”
Just then a clear, bell-like voice cut in before she could speak.
Su Yang turned to see a stylish bobbed girl hop up from the sofa like a startled rabbit and spring toward Xu. “Where’s your brother?” the girl asked, peering around for him. Then she tipped her chin at Su Yang. “Who’s she?”
“She’s—” Lu began, but Xu’s cool look shut him up.
Lu froze, then threw his hands up in mock surrender and backed off. “I don’t know anything.”
The girl—Jiang Na—leaned in and gave Su Yang a once-over, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “I’ve never seen you before. Are you related to my brother?”
Su Yang flushed. There was nowhere to go. Speak, and she’d give herself away; stay silent and they’d make assumptions.
Xu, sleeves rolled up now, slapped Jiang Na’s shoulder lightly. “Sit down. Stop with the gossip.” He then asked Lu, who was already on the sofa, “Get the waiter to bring a menu in.”
Su Yang’s head ached. There was no way she could eat in a room like this. She steeled herself to ask to leave. “I really should go. I don’t want to make things awkward for you.”
He tilted his head and dismissed her with a cool little smile. “Everyone feels that first time. But sooner or later you’ll get used to it.”
An impulse to roll her eyes burned in Su Yang’s throat; she swallowed it down.
The heavy door eased open and a woman in a black velvet gown glided in, greeting everyone with practiced politeness. She handed a gilded menu to Lu Yanke with a soft, deferential, “Mr. Lu, may I get your order?”
Lu shook his head. “Give the menu to Mr. Xu. He wanted it.”
The woman turned, then froze, eyes widening as if the room had shifted. Su Yang felt the same jolt—no coincidence, nothing accidental.
“Sue!” the woman’s voice broke into surprised warmth. The pretense of coyness vanished. “What are you doing here?”
Su Yang let out a resigned breath and lifted a hand. “Hua—what a surprise.”