Episode 3

The man holding me tensed at the sound of Qing Zhao’s voice. His grip on my wrist tightened for a split second before he released me and stepped back, hands raised slightly in a non-threatening gesture. But the tension in the air was thick, suffocating.

Qing Zhao took a slow step forward, his gaze locked onto the man. His expression was unreadable, his body language deceptively calm, but there was something dangerous simmering beneath the surface.

I took a shaky breath and moved behind Qing Zhao instinctively, my heart pounding against my ribcage.

“You know the rules,” Qing Zhao said smoothly. His voice was eerily calm, but there was an undeniable edge to it, a quiet promise of violence. “No one touches what belongs to me.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Belongs to him?

The man hesitated, his eyes flicking toward me, then back to Qing Zhao. “It was just a warning,” he muttered. “She’s better off staying away.”

Qing Zhao chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “And yet, here you are, breaking the rules.” His head tilted slightly. “Do you know what happens to people who forget their place?”

The man stiffened. “It wasn’t like that, I—”

Before he could finish, Qing Zhao moved.

It happened so fast I barely saw it. One second, he was standing in front of me, his posture relaxed. The next, he had the man pinned against the wall, his forearm pressing against the guy’s throat.

I gasped, taking a step back.

Qing Zhao leaned in, his voice a low whisper. “I don’t like repeating myself.”

The man struggled against his grip, but it was useless. Qing Zhao wasn’t just strong—he was in control. Completely and utterly in control.

After a few agonizing seconds, Qing Zhao released him, letting him stumble forward, coughing. The man didn’t waste another moment—he turned and disappeared into the darkness, vanishing like he had never been there.

Silence settled between us.

I stared at Qing Zhao, my heart still racing. He turned to face me, his expression unreadable, but the cold edge in his eyes was gone.

I swallowed hard. “Who… was that?”

Qing Zhao sighed, rolling his shoulders like he was shaking off the tension. “No one important.”

I frowned. “He grabbed me and told me to stay away from you. That doesn’t seem unimportant.”

He looked at me for a long moment before finally saying, “You weren’t supposed to get involved.”

I crossed my arms. “Well, it’s a little late for that, isn’t it?”

His lips twitched, like he was fighting back a smirk. “You’re not scared of me?”

I hesitated. “Should I be?”

Qing Zhao didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached out, gently taking my wrist—the same one that man had grabbed. His touch was surprisingly warm, careful, like he was checking for any injuries.

“You should be,” he said softly, his thumb brushing against my skin for a brief second before he let go. “But you’re not. That’s what worries me.”

I exhaled slowly, trying to process everything. “Are you going to tell me the truth now?”

He studied me for a moment before nodding slightly. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”

---

We ended up in a small, quiet restaurant, tucked away from the busy streets. The lights were dim, the air filled with the scent of spices and slow-cooked food. Despite the cozy atmosphere, I felt like I was about to step into something I couldn’t walk away from.

Qing Zhao sat across from me, his fingers tapping idly against the table. For the first time since I had met him, he looked… conflicted.

“I wasn’t lying when I said you shouldn’t be talking to me,” he started, his voice low. “I’m not a good person.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re in the mafia.”

A small smirk flickered across his lips. “You catch on fast.”

I leaned forward slightly. “Are you… in trouble?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “No. Trouble follows me, not the other way around.”

I frowned. “Then why did that guy grab me?”

His expression darkened slightly. “Because people think they can use you to get to me.”

I sucked in a breath. “What?”

He exhaled slowly. “I wasn’t lying when I said most people wouldn’t have approached me that night. My reputation… it keeps people away. But you? You walked right up to me, not knowing who I was, not caring.” His gaze met mine, intense and unreadable. “That made people notice you.”

I felt my stomach twist. “So, what? I’m a target now?”

Qing Zhao didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife, setting it on the table between us.

I stared at it.

“You have two choices,” he said. “Walk away now, pretend you never met me, and try to go back to your normal life. Or…” He pushed the knife slightly toward me. “You learn how to protect yourself.”

I looked up at him, my heart pounding. “And if I walk away?”

He hesitated, then sighed. “I’ll make sure no one comes after you. But I can’t promise you’ll never see me again.”

My fingers hovered over the knife. The smart thing to do was walk away. To go home, take care of my mother, and forget this ever happened.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

It was already too late.

I picked up the knife.

Qing Zhao’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Good choice.”

And just like that, my world changed forever.

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