dangerous

Paradise Celeste

Guo Min stepped inside, her sharp eyes scanning the room. The air was thick with tension—two men sitting across from each other like opposing kings on a chessboard, their gazes locked in an invisible battle.

She sighed, tossing her bag onto the couch before crossing her arms. "Okay? Why the tension?"

Yufan leaned back in his chair, his jaw tight, silent.

Zihan, however, remained composed, swirling the glass of whiskey in his hand. His gaze shifted lazily toward her, the barest trace of amusement flickering across his cold features. "Nothing much, sweetheart. Just a discussion."

Guo Min's brow arched. "Discussion? Or two men acting like territorial beasts?"

Yufan scoffed, finally standing, his fists clenching at his sides. "We were discussing your engagement."

Her expression hardened. "And since when is that any of your business, Yufan?"

Something dark flickered in his eyes. "Since the moment you let yourself be forced into it."

Zihan took a slow sip of his drink before setting the glass down with precision. His voice, smooth and unwavering, cut through the room. "She wasn't forced. She agreed to it."

Yufan's glare snapped to him. "Because she had no choice."

Guo Min ran a hand through her hair, exhaling slowly. "Enough. Both of you." She turned to Yufan. "I chose this. Whether you like it or not."

Yufan's lips parted, but no words came out. The frustration in his eyes was evident, his grip tightening.

Zihan, on the other hand, leaned back, calm, calculating. "See, Guo Min? You should tell him to stop wasting his energy on things that don't concern him."

Her gaze snapped to him, cold and sharp. "Don't push it, Zihan."

His lips curved slightly, not in amusement, but something quieter. Something unreadable. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Yufan inhaled sharply. "I hope you know what you're doing, Guo Min." His voice was low, carrying an unspoken warning.

She held his gaze. "I do."

Without another word, Yufan turned to leave, but she reached out, her voice softer. "Wait, Yufan."

He stilled, but didn't turn.

She hesitated before exhaling. "I love you, I really do… but not the way you want me to. I'm sorry. You've always been an elder brother to me."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Zihan observed, his expression unreadable, eyes studying the shift in Yufan's posture—the rigid shoulders, the barely concealed hurt.

For a moment, Yufan said nothing. Then, he let out a breathless chuckle, bitter and quiet. "An elder brother, huh?" His tone was distant, but the weight behind his words was suffocating.

Guo Min stepped forward, guilt pressing against her chest. "Yufan—"

He shook his head, cutting her off. "Just go, Min. I need to… think."

She hesitated, then nodded, stepping past him.

"Bye, Zihan," she muttered, not even turning back.

Zihan tilted his head slightly, his voice smooth. "Goodbye, Guo Min."

There was no smugness, no mockery—just a quiet finality in his words.

As soon as the door shut behind her, the silence in the room thickened.

Yufan clenched his jaw. "You knew, didn't you?"

Zihan finally looked at him, impassive. "Knew what?"

Yufan's fists curled. "That she'd never love me the way I wanted."

Zihan studied him for a long moment, then exhaled slowly, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. "It was never about knowing, Yufan. It was about understanding." His voice was calm, steady. "And I understand her better than you do."

Yufan let out a quiet scoff, running a hand through his hair. "And yet, she still doesn't love you either."

Zihan didn't flinch. "Not yet."

Yufan turned, anger simmering beneath his skin. But before he walked away, Zihan spoke again, voice measured.

"Love isn't about desperation," he said, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "It's about patience."

Yufan stilled for a second before striding out without another word.

Zihan took a slow sip of his drink, his expression calm, but his mind already working ahead.

This wasn't over. Not yet.

---

Later That Night – Wang Mansion

Guo Min sat in the garden, staring at the moonlit sky, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her teacup.

Her conversation with Yufan lingered in her mind. Guilt weighed heavily on her chest. She knew she had hurt him, but lying to him would've been worse.

"I love you, but not the way you want me to."

She sighed, rubbing her temples.

"You look troubled."

She turned to find Ruoxi walking toward her, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Guo Min huffed. "I think I just shattered Yufan's heart."

Ruoxi sat beside her, resting her chin on her palm. "That's a pretty big heart to shatter."

Guo Min gave a small, sad smile. "I didn't want to hurt him."

Ruoxi studied her carefully. "Yeah… but it kinda looks like you're hurting yourself too."

Guo Min stiffened slightly, fingers tightening around the teacup. "That's not true."

Ruoxi hummed. "If you say so."

A comfortable silence settled between them before Ruoxi spoke again, this time more serious.

"You do realize that Zihan is… dangerous, right?"

Guo Min's lips pressed into a thin line. "I know."

"Then why?"

Guo Min let out a slow breath. "Because this isn't just about me. I don't know, I feel drawn to him. And besides…" She trailed off, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes.

Ruoxi raised an eyebrow. "Besides what?"

Guo Min's gaze hardened. "It's been a while since my heart raced because of someone."

Ruoxi stared at her, understanding dawning in her expression. "Min…"

But Guo Min had already stood up. "Let's go inside. Tomorrow is a long day."

As she walked ahead, Ruoxi watched her, concern evident in her gaze.