Lin Ran remembered Xu Mo’s home.

He walked her to the door and gave a soft knock. Xu Zhi opened it, wearing a black low-cut sleep dress, a yellow peach in hand—half-eaten.

Lin Ran pressed a finger to his lips.

Xu Mo was already asleep. He winked at Xu Zhi. She stayed silent, leading him to Xu Mo’s room. Lin Ran carefully laid her down.

The girl, used to early bedtimes, was drowsy. Carried to the bed, she obediently collapsed. Lin Ran slipped off her shoes, tucked her in, turned on the AC, and slipped out.

Xu Zhi sat on the living room sofa, resuming her peach. Juice glistened faintly at the corner of her mouth.

Lin Ran sat beside her.

Xu Mo had mentioned going to a club with a reliable friend. Xu Zhi had hesitated—until hearing Lin Ran was there. Now, her gaze held a trace of suspicion.

“Be honest…” Xu Zhi leaned back lazily, pale legs propped on the coffee table. “You’re not into girls like my sister, are you?”

“Of course not.” Lin Ran answered plainly, unembarrassed.

“I’m jealous!” Her voice turned plaintive.

“Jealous of who?”

“Who do you think?” Her eyes held a hazy, unreadable look.

Lin Ran knew it wasn’t about Xu Mo. She trusted him not to be *that* depraved. This wasn’t jealousy—it was an excuse, hiding behind her sister.

She had the club’s marketing WeChat. She’d seen the posts. She’d spotted the sign with his name. She knew Su Nisheng was with him tonight. Alone at home, she’d wondered: Was Su claiming him? Or just playing? Was it even about her? Was she overthinking?

Yet Lin Ran hadn’t invited her. Not even when her own sister was there.

She didn’t crave clubs—years there had left her jaded. But a flicker of disappointment lingered. He hadn’t called her.

“So it’s jealousy? I thought you were misunderstanding.”

“What should I misunderstand?”

“Like… an ex clinging on.” Lin Ran scratched his head, sighing. “There’s nothing with her. No reason to lie about this. You know that.”

Xu Zhi’s eyes brightened slightly. She bit into the peach, hiding her flustered expression.

“I thought you wouldn’t even bother explaining.”

“I figured you wanted to hear it.”

She offered him the half-eaten peach. Lin Ran took a bite without hesitation. Sweet juice burst through tender flesh.

“Can I ask about your past with her?”

“What kind of story? Romance? Heartbreak? Love triangles? Betrayal?”

Xu Zhi’s eyes widened. “That dramatic?”

“None of that. We just… fit comfortably. Dated. Then our paths split. That’s all.”

“Paths split?”

“She joined The Alliance as a Judge. I bombed my college entrance exams, drifted into underground fights.”

“One toward light, one toward dark?” Xu Zhi murmured.

“Don’t say such cringey lines.” Lin Ran shot her a helpless look.

“That’s it?” Xu Zhi still seemed curious.

“Yeah. We’re barely friends now. No shared life, no common ground. People drift apart. That’s reality.”

Xu Zhi fell silent, nodding slowly.

Neither believed in fairy-tale romance. When lives diverge, distance grows. Relationships are simple: mutual benefit, mutual harm, mutual debt, mutual affection, mutual resentment.

Their eyes met. Much remained unspoken.

“My mom gets discharged next week,” Xu Zhi said softly.

“I’ll… borrow a car to pick you up.”

“You can drive?”

“Got my license during a boring stretch. Barely driven since.” Lin Ran spread his hands, amused by her surprise.

He sensed her hesitation. But she didn’t speak, so he didn’t ask. After a moment, he stood. “I should go.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

She followed him to the stairwell. Lin Ran pressed the elevator button. As it descended slowly, Xu Zhi’s expression tightened with indecision. Finally, she looked up.

“How long… will you keep fighting?”

“Till I can’t anymore. I don’t know.”

Lin Ran gazed gently into her eyes.

“What about you? Quitting soon?”

“I… don’t know.” Xu Zhi shook her head faintly.

“You know I’m not good at anything… haven’t figured out what to do next.” Her voice faltered. Lin Ran sensed the evasion but said nothing.

Her mind was tangled.

She hated her job. Without the pressure, she’d take something simple—tiring but honest. A supermarket cashier. A waitress. Learn slowly.

But Lin Ran was still there. If she left, their connection would fade. Would they drift apart too?

Her thoughts churned.

“A simple job, learning skills in your free time… not a bad idea. Useful later.” Lin Ran offered practical advice.

Xu Zhi knew this.

The elevator arrived. Time was short.

They’d have chances later, yet Xu Zhi suddenly felt tense—as if he were slipping away, becoming untouchable.

“Do you… want me to quit?” She looked up.

She handed him the choice.

“Me?” Lin Ran paused. “Honestly? I’d kinda want you to stay. Without you, I’d be alone. But staying might not be what *you* want. I’ll respect your decision.”

Xu Zhi’s eyes dimmed. “I knew you’d say that.”

The rest stayed trapped in her throat: *Would you leave with me?*

He probably wouldn’t. He’d called himself lazy—no goals, no drive. Just drifting with life’s current.

They stood silently as the elevator doors closed.

Lin Ran pressed the button again. The doors slid open.

“So… your decision?” he asked softly.

“I’ll stay a while longer.” Xu Zhi took a deep breath, smiling brightly.

Lin Ran stared, momentarily stunned. “Since when did you get so sentimental?”

“Did you think I’d leave?”

“Probably.”

“I figured… you wouldn’t want to leave with me. So I’ll stay. For you.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“Are you kicking me out?” Xu Zhi bit her lip, nose stinging.

“That’s not it.”

“Then what?”

“Your choice matters. I’m selfish—I don’t think much about others. Don’t overthink this for my sake.”

“It’s not for you.”

“For what, then?”

“For myself.” Xu Zhi said it firmly.

Lin Ran had no reply.

The doors closed again. He pressed the open button. “I’ll go. See you later.”

“Yeah. See you.” Xu Zhi smiled.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Lin Ran stepped inside. The mirrored walls reflected his blurred face. He smiled faintly at his own reflection.

………………………………

Xu Weiyu was a night owl.

Still awake, she binge-watched a new web series, a bunch of grapes resting on her chest. She’d nibble one whenever she felt like it. The room was dark, lit only by the screen’s glow.

The thriller’s atmosphere was thick. Xu Weiyu shivered, suddenly cold.

*AC too low?* She fumbled for the light switch, searching for the remote. But as her fingers brushed the wall, she froze.

A soft glow pulsed on the surface. From it stepped a figure.

A white mask covered their face—carved with a Rose pattern.

Xu Weiyu screamed. A hand clamped over her mouth before the sound fully escaped.

“Miss Xu, please stay calm.”

A woman’s voice—cold, mechanical—came from behind the white Rose mask. Xu Weiyu shrank back. She was just Alliance support staff. No combat skills.

Still, she kept her head. She pulled the cloth from her mouth. “What do you want?”

“Our leader is injured. We need your healing.”

“I don’t take private jobs.”

“Be reasonable, Miss Xu. I’d hate for this to get ugly.”

Energy radiated from the woman. Xu Weiyu sensed S Rank power. Her face paled. “If I heal her… you’ll send me back safely?”

“Naturally.”

“I don’t trust you… What if you don’t let me return?”

“The Rose has no quarrel with The Alliance. You’re safe.”

Xu Weiyu exhaled, setting aside the grapes. She stood. “You know the rules?”

“We’ve prepared 2 million credits.”

“Fine. Quietly… No one saw you come?”

“No one.”

“I’m setting a timed message. If I’m not home by morning… I alert The Alliance. Understood?” Xu Weiyu asked carefully.

The masked woman nodded. “Understood.”

Xu Weiyu relaxed fully. This wasn’t a threat. She pulled out her phone—

A third voice cut through the room.

A man’s voice.

From a figure wearing a pure black mask.

“I think there’s a problem.” The masked man tilted his head slightly.