Chapter Seven: Beneath the Surface

Mu Yusi scrolled through the information Marcus had sent him, his eyes widened in surprise. Ava's family was more complex than he had anticipated, with a web of alliances and rivalries that spanned decades.

He read about Ava's mother, a beautiful and kind-hearted woman who had died under mysterious circumstances. He read about Ava's father, a ruthless and cunning businessman who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

And he read about Harrison Lee, the man Ava's father wanted her to marry. Mu Yusi's eyes narrowed as he read about Lee's shady business dealings and his reputation for being merciless in his pursuit of power.

Mu Yusi's phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was Marcus.

"Sir, I've managed to track Ava's movements," Marcus said. "She's at a small café on the outskirts of town. But we need to be careful, sir. Her father has eyes and ears everywhere, and if he finds out we're watching her, it could get ugly."

Mu Yusi's jaw clenched in determination. He was not going to let Ava's father push her around. He was going to take matters into his own hands.

"Get the car ready, Marcus," Mu Yusi said, his voice firm. "We're going to pay Ava a visit."

As Mu Yusi arrived at the café, he spotted Ava sitting at a table by the window. She looked lost in thought, her eyes staring blankly into space.

Even Marcus was shocked finding himself putting a girl he just met overnight.

Mu Yusi's heart skipped a beat as he watched her. He felt a pang of guilt for spying on her, but he knew he had to protect her.

He took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, his eyes locked on Ava's. It was time to make his move. As Mu Yusi walked into the café, Ava's eyes snapped up, locking onto his. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension.

Ava's face was a mix of emotions - surprise, anger, and a hint of fear. Mu Yusi's expression was calm and collected, but his eyes burned with intensity.

"Mind if I join you?" Mu Yusi asked, his voice low and smooth.

Ava's eyes narrowed, but she nodded curtly. Mu Yusi slid into the chair across from her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"What do you want?" Ava asked, her voice firm.

Mu Yusi leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "I want to know why you left without saying goodbye," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Ava's face flushed, and she looked away, her eyes dropping to the table. "I didn't think it was necessary," she muttered.

Mu Yusi's eyes never left hers, even as she avoided his gaze. "I think it was necessary," he said, his voice low and husky. "I think we had a connection, Ava. And I want to explore it further."

Ava's eyes snapped back up, her face pale. "I don't think that's a good idea," she said, her voice trembling.

Mu Yusi's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Why not?" he asked, his voice firm.

Ava took a deep breath, her eyes flashing with determination. "Because I'm not who you think I am," she said, her voice firm. "And I'm not looking for a relationship."

Mu Yusi's eyes glinted with intrigue, and he leaned forward, his voice taking on a persuasive tone. "I think you're wrong, Ava," he said. "I think you're exactly who I'm looking for."

As Mu Yusi spoke, his words dripped with conviction, and Ava felt a shiver run down her spine. She had never met anyone like him before - someone who seemed to see right through her, to the very heart of her.

Ava's eyes locked onto Mu Yusi's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Ava felt like she was drowning in his gaze, like she was being pulled under by a riptide.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ava said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mu Yusi smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I think you do," he said. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."

Ava felt a flush rise to her cheeks, and she looked away, her eyes dropping to the table. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond to Mu Yusi's words.

As she sat there, frozen in uncertainty, Mu Yusi reached out and took her hand. His touch was like a spark of electricity, sending shivers down her spine.

"Let me show you," Mu Yusi said, his voice low and husky. "Let me show you what I mean."

Ava's heart skipped a beat as she felt Mu Yusi's fingers intertwine with hers. She didn't know what she was getting herself into, but she knew she couldn't resist Mu Yusi's pull.

As they sat there, hands entwined, Ava felt like she was stepping off a cliff, into the unknown. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she knew she was ready to take the leap.