A Flicker of Posession

The night of the grand business gala arrived, a dazzling event that only the most powerful and influential figures of the corporate world could attend. Ruolan, standing before the mirror in her hotel suite, sighed as she adjusted the delicate straps of her soft pink silk gown.

The dress hugged her figure perfectly, its flowing layers giving her the air of an ethereal doll—delicate, soft, yet unmistakably striking. Her long lashes fluttered as she pinned back a strand of hair, her usual simple elegance amplified by the shimmering chandelier lights above her.

She didn't belong to this world, and yet, here she was again all while pretending her heart wasn't weighed down by the ghosts of the past.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Ruolan, are you ready?" Feng Xinya's voice rang through the suite, light and teasing.

Ruolan grabbed her clutch and took one last look at herself. Let's get this over with.

~~~

The gala was already in full swing by the time they arrived, the grand ballroom glittering with wealth and status. Ruolan kept a firm grip on her clutch as she followed Xinya through the crowd, searching for Yichen.

But before she could spot him, a familiar presence stepped into her path.

"Ruolan."

Her stomach clenched at the deep, familiar voice. Jiang Wei stood before her, his dark eyes scanning her from head to toe, lingering just a second too long.

She exhaled sharply. "What do you want?"

He chuckled, tilting his head. "You look stunning tonight."

She narrowed her eyes. "Flattery won't get you anywhere."

"Oh, I think it might," Jiang Wei mused, offering his arm with an infuriating smirk. "Let me escort you inside."

Ruolan scoffed. "In your dreams."

"Come now," he urged smoothly, his voice lowering. "You're walking in alone. Unless… you're waiting for a certain CEO?"

Ruolan hesitated for a fraction of a second, but that was enough for Jiang Wei to seize the moment.

His hand gently touched the small of her back—a simple, casual gesture, yet one that sent a shiver down her spine. Not from attraction, but from the unspoken game he was trying to play.

And just like that, she felt his presence.

A cool, cutting energy settled around them, sharp and heavy as steel.

Li Yichen.

Ruolan turned her head slightly—just enough to see Yichen standing near the entrance, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo that only enhanced his cold, dangerous allure.

His gaze, dark and unreadable, was fixed on her.

No, not her.

Jiang Wei's hand on her back.

For a brief moment, the air between them crackled. Something shifted.

It wasn't obvious—not a single muscle in Yichen's face moved, his expression as impassive as ever. But the way his eyes lingered, the barely-there tightening of his jaw…

It was subtle, but it was there.

Jiang Wei noticed too.

"Ah," he murmured.

Jiang Wei smirked, clearly entertained by the silent tension. "Should I be worried? Your boss looks like he wants to kill me."

Ruolan rolled her eyes, stepping away from him and smoothing the fabric of her gown. "Don't flatter yourself."

But her heart betrayed her, pounding a little harder than it should.

Why does Yichen look like that?

It wasn't anger. Not exactly. It was something quieter, something restrained, as if he himself hadn't fully grasped what was bothering him.

But the moment Ruolan moved out of Jiang Wei's reach, Yichen shifted his gaze away, as if dismissing the entire scene as unimportant.

Ruolan inhaled sharply. Was I imagining things?

Jiang Wei chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "He doesn't seem pleased. Interesting."

Ruolan shot him a warning glare. "Stop playing games, Jiang Wei."

His smirk only widened. "I don't play games, Ruolan. I just enjoy watching the pieces move."

Ruolan turned away before she said something she'd regret, leaving Jiang Wei behind as she made her way toward Yichen.

"President Li." She kept her voice professional, ignoring the strange feeling in her chest.

Yichen's gaze flickered to her, then back to the glass of whiskey in his hand. "You're late."

She frowned. "I arrived with Xinya."

Yichen took a slow sip of his drink, his movements as precise and calculated as ever. "Yet you were with him."

Ruolan stilled.

It wasn't a question.

She hesitated for only a second before schooling her expression. "Jiang Wei just happened to be there."

Yichen didn't respond right away. He set his glass down on the table beside him, his fingers tapping lightly against the crystal. "Be careful around him."

Ruolan crossed her arms, tilting her head. "You sound like you know him."

Yichen's jaw tensed, but his expression remained unreadable. "I know his type."

There was something about the way he said it—controlled, precise, like every word had been measured before leaving his lips.

Ruolan studied him carefully. What aren't you saying, Li Yichen?

Instead of pressing, she let out a breath and changed the subject. "Do you need me to do anything for you tonight?"

For a moment, Yichen didn't answer.

Then, his gaze flicked back to her—taking in the soft pink of her dress, the way the light shimmered against the silk.

"…No." His voice was quieter than usual.

Ruolan blinked.

Had he just—

Before she could dwell on it, someone called Yichen's name from across the ballroom, and just like that, the moment shattered.

Yichen straightened, his usual aloofness returning. "Enjoy the gala."

And without another word, he walked away.

Ruolan let out a frustrated breath, watching him disappear into the crowd.

What was that just now?

"Fascinating," a familiar voice drawled behind her.

Ruolan turned to see Mo Zixuan standing there, swirling the champagne in his glass. He had a lazy smirk on his face, but his eyes gleamed with amusement.

"What now?" Ruolan muttered.

Zixuan tilted his head toward where Yichen had gone. "You know, I've known Yichen for a long time, and I can count on one hand the number of times he's reacted to someone like that."

Ruolan frowned. "Reacted how?"

Zixuan chuckled. "He was jealous."

Ruolan's breath hitched, but she quickly shook her head. "That's ridiculous. He doesn't care about me like that."

"Mm," Zixuan hummed, clearly unconvinced. "If you say so."

Ruolan scowled. "I do say so."

Zixuan only laughed, raising his glass in a silent toast before sauntering away.

Ruolan exhaled, suddenly feeling drained.

Yichen? Jealous?

No. That wasn't possible.

…Right?

But even as she tried to dismiss the thought, her mind replayed the flicker of something in Yichen's eyes when he saw Jiang Wei standing too close.

Something that looked just a little too much like possession.

And despite herself, Ruolan's heart skipped a beat