Trouble Finds Yue

Morning light filtered through the wooden windows, casting soft golden hues across the small house. The scent of freshly cooked rice and steamed buns filled the air, mingling with the faint traces of tea.

Shen Xu sat at the table, watching as Yue moved around the kitchen with surprising ease. For someone who had shamelessly invited herself into his life, she had adapted quickly, as if she had always belonged there.

"Here." She placed a bowl in front of him, steam rising gently from the porridge within. "Eat while it's hot."

Xu glanced at her, then at the food. "You're getting comfortable."

She smirked, sitting across from him. "Shouldn't I be? I cook, I clean, and I don't ask questions you don't want to answer. You won't find a better deal than this."

He huffed a soft laugh but said nothing, taking a slow sip of his tea.

Just as Yue picked up her chopsticks, a loud thump echoed from the front door.

She blinked. "That… wasn't a knock."

Another thump, followed by muffled voices.

Shen Xu set down his cup. "Stay here."

Yue frowned but nodded, watching as he strode toward the door. He didn't rush he never did but there was something in the way he moved, something utterly unshaken, that sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

As he opened the door, the morning breeze carried the scent of damp earth and something bitter.

Three men stood there, but this time, they weren't looking for him.

Their eyes locked onto Yue.

"You," the tallest one sneered, arms crossed. "Did you think you could just disappear?"

Yue stiffened, her grip tightening around her chopsticks.

Xu's gaze flickered between them before settling back on her. "Friends of yours?"

She let out a dry laugh. "Hardly."

The tallest man stepped forward, clearly the leader. His clothes were finer than those of a mere thug, his bearing that of someone used to getting what he wanted.

"You owe the Crimson Viper gang," he said coldly. "Did you think they wouldn't send someone to collect?"

Xu glanced at Yue again.

She sighed. "Small misunderstanding. They think I owe them money."

The second man scoffed. "Think? You do owe. You took the silver and never paid it back."

Yue waved a hand dismissively. "I borrowed a little to get out of the city. Call it an escape fee."

The leader's eyes darkened. "Then pay it back. With interest."

Xu finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "How much?"

The leader's lips curled into a smirk. "Fifty taels."

Yue choked on her tea. "Fifty?!" She turned to Xu. "I borrowed ten. They're lying."

The second man laughed. "Interest. And the cost of finding you. You're lucky the boss is letting you settle this peacefully."

Xu studied them for a moment. Then, before anyone could react, he stepped forward.

The leader barely had time to flinch before Xu gripped his collar and lifted him off the ground with a single hand.

The air shifted.

Yue could feel it an invisible force pressing down, heavy as a storm before the first crack of thunder.

The other two men staggered back. "W..Wait "

Xu's voice was quiet, almost bored. "Fifty taels, was it?"

The leader struggled, hands clawing at Xu's grip, but it was useless. His feet dangled inches above the ground.

"I..It's negotiable," he wheezed. "We We can forget about it "

Xu tilted his head slightly. "That's very generous of you."

Then, just as smoothly as he had lifted him, he let go.

The man crumpled to the dirt, gasping for breath.

Xu looked down at him. "You have three breaths to leave."

The other two men didn't hesitate. They grabbed their fallen leader and ran, nearly tripping over themselves in their hurry.

Yue let out a low whistle. "You didn't even need to hit them."

Xu dusted off his sleeves. "Didn't need to."

She smirked. "You are handy to have around."

He glanced at her. "You borrowed money from a gang to escape the city?"

She shrugged. "It was that or stay and deal with an even bigger problem."

Xu narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't press.

For now.

Yue stretched, smiling. "Anyway, breakfast is getting cold."

Xu watched her for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh.