The Hidden Game

The car slowed to a smooth stop.

Through the tinted window, Yiran saw the entrance of the venue—a towering estate, bathed in soft golden light. Elegant. Exclusive.

But something about it felt… wrong.

She exhaled lightly as the driver stepped out, moving to open her door.

A cool rush of air brushed against her skin as she stepped outside.

The night was quiet, too quiet.

The guests arriving before her moved with calculated grace, their silk gowns and tailored suits flowing under the grand chandeliers that illuminated the entrance.

At first glance, it looked like any other high-society event.

But Yiran knew better.

Something about this wasn't normal.

There was a weight in the air, an unspoken tension just beneath the polished surface.

She caught glimpses of conversations as she moved toward the entrance—low murmurs, unreadable glances, the kind of restraint that didn't belong at a simple business gala.

Yiran's heels clicked softly against the marble steps as she ascended.

And then—

She saw him.

Lu Zeyan.

Standing just inside the entrance, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, hands in his pockets, waiting.

His dark eyes met hers the moment she stepped forward.

No warmth. No welcome.

Just calm, unreadable scrutiny.

Yiran's fingers curled slightly.

He had been expecting her.

Of course he had.

But the question was—why did it feel like he was waiting for something else?

Yiran kept her posture poised as she stepped through the grand entrance.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the shift in atmosphere was immediate.

The soft hum of conversation, the faint clinking of glasses, the warm glow of chandeliers casting elongated shadows against the high ceilings—everything about the setting was designed to look elegant. Controlled.

But beneath the surface?

Tension.

It lingered in the air, woven between the silk gowns and pressed suits, hidden behind perfectly measured smiles.

Yiran's gaze swept over the guests.

She had been to high-society events before.

This wasn't the same.

The people here weren't just powerful. They were… something else.

She caught glimpses of it in their interactions—the way they observed one another rather than merely socialized.

This wasn't a celebration.

It was a game.

A gathering of people who knew things the rest of the world didn't.

And Yiran had just walked straight into it.

A presence beside her made her pulse tighten.

Lu Zeyan.

He hadn't spoken yet, but she felt the weight of his gaze as he stepped closer.

"You're thinking too much."

His voice was smooth, low. Unbothered.

Yiran tilted her head slightly, keeping her tone just as even. "Am I?"

His lips curved into the faintest trace of a smirk. "Yes."

She exhaled softly, shifting her attention back to the room.

A server passed by, offering champagne.

She reached for a glass, but before her fingers could close around the stem, Lu Zeyan moved first.

He took one instead—then handed it to her.

A simple gesture. But it wasn't casual.

She met his gaze as she accepted the drink.

A silent message passed between them.

Stay in control. Don't make mistakes.

Yiran curled her fingers around the glass, but she didn't drink.

Not yet.

Instead, she lifted her chin slightly, voice quiet.

"This isn't just a business event, is it?"

Lu Zeyan didn't answer immediately.

Then, without looking at her, he murmured—

"You already know the answer to that."

Yiran tightened her grip around the delicate glass, her pulse steady despite the unease curling inside her.

"You already know the answer to that."

Lu Zeyan's voice lingered in her mind, calm and absolute.

He was right.

She did know.

This wasn't a business event. This was something else.

She could feel it in the way the guests carried themselves—like predators in fine suits, speaking in riddles and half-truths.

She wasn't supposed to be here.

Not as Xia Yiran.

And perhaps… not even as Xia Yuxuan.

A shift in the air made her glance sideways.

Someone was watching her.

Not subtly. Blatantly.

A man in his early forties stood across the room, his sharp gaze locked onto her. Measuring. Calculating.

He wore an elegant charcoal-gray suit, his posture relaxed yet deliberate. A man who had nothing to prove—because he already held power.

The moment their eyes met, he smiled.

Slow. Knowing.

Yiran's stomach coiled.

She didn't recognize him.

But something in his expression told her that he recognized her.

A warm chuckle left his lips as he raised his glass in a lazy toast.

Then, he started walking toward her.

She forced her fingers to unclench, keeping her breathing smooth.

A low voice brushed against her ear.

"Don't show your nerves."

Lu Zeyan.

He hadn't moved closer, but his presence at her side was heavier now.

He took a slow sip of his own drink, his posture relaxed, his gaze drifting away—as if he weren't paying attention.

But Yiran knew better.

He was watching everything.

She exhaled lightly. "Who is he?"

Lu Zeyan smirked faintly. "You'll find out soon enough."

Her pulse flickered with irritation. Another test.

Before she could respond, the man reached them.

And when he spoke—

Yiran's blood turned to ice.

"Mrs. Lu," he said smoothly, smiling. "Or should I say… Miss Xia?"

Yiran's fingers tensed against the smooth glass.

Mrs. Lu… or should I say Miss Xia?

The man's words were light, almost playful.

But his eyes?

Cold. Calculating.

He was watching her reaction, waiting for a mistake.

Yiran's pulse steadied. She had spent years surviving in a home where the slightest misstep could mean everything.

This?

This was just another test.

She lifted her chin slightly, tilting her head as if amused. "I wasn't aware my name required clarification."

The man chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass. "Ah. But names are important, aren't they?"

Yiran smiled, but inside, her mind worked fast.

Who was he?

Why did he act like he knew her—or Yuxuan?

And more importantly—how much did he actually know?

She didn't dare glance at Lu Zeyan, but she felt him beside her.

Still. Silent.

Letting her handle it.

Of course.

She was on her own.

The man's smile lingered as he took a slow sip of wine. "I must say, I was quite surprised to hear about your marriage."

Yiran matched his politeness with ease. "Were you? The Lu and Xia families have always had strong ties."

His expression remained unreadable. "True. But still… a sudden engagement? A sudden switch?"

Yiran's nails dug lightly into her palm.

So.

He knew.

Or at least, he suspected.

She let out a quiet laugh. "Change is inevitable in life."

His gaze sharpened slightly at her words.

Then—a slow smirk.

"Indeed," he murmured. Then, as if idly, he added—"Though I imagine Yuxuan would have handled things very differently."

Yiran's breath stayed even, but inside, something twisted.

A direct mention of Yuxuan.

This wasn't casual.

This was a move.

The first real strike.

Her mind spun through possibilities. Did he know Yuxuan had run away? Was he testing to see if she'd slip? Or—

Did he think something worse had happened?

She met his gaze, eyes calm. "I wouldn't know."

The man hummed, taking another sip of wine. "Wouldn't you?"

For the first time that night, Yiran felt real danger.

Yiran held the man's gaze, refusing to let her composure crack.

Wouldn't you?

The words sat between them, sharp, deliberate.

A challenge.

He was waiting for her to react—for the slightest hesitation, the smallest mistake.

But Yiran had played this game before.

She smiled lightly, tilting her head just enough to feign amusement. "You seem very interested in my sister."

The man chuckled. "Should I not be?"

Yiran lifted her glass, fingers steady. "That depends. Are you more interested in her… or in me?"

For a second, she thought she saw something flicker in his expression.

Surprise?

Amusement?

And then—satisfaction.

A slow smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Well played," he murmured.

He didn't press further.

Didn't push.

Instead, he took one last sip of wine before setting his glass down.

Then—he leaned in just slightly, voice dropping to a quiet murmur.

"I only wonder…" he said, "if you'll last longer than she did."

Yiran's breath caught.

It was subtle.

Barely a whisper.

But it wasn't just a taunt.

It was a warning.

And for the first time tonight—it felt personal.

A shadow of unease curled in her chest, but she forced herself to smile. "I suppose we'll see."

A heartbeat of silence.

Then—Lu Zeyan finally spoke.

"I think that's enough."

His voice was smooth, perfectly calm—but the weight behind it was undeniable.

The man chuckled lightly, straightening. "Of course, President Lu."

His gaze flicked back to Yiran one last time, assessing.

Then—he walked away.

Yiran exhaled slowly, setting her untouched glass on the table.

She didn't turn to Lu Zeyan immediately.

But when she finally did, he was already watching her.

Unreadable. Silent.

She parted her lips to speak, but before she could—

He murmured, "You handled that well."

Yiran studied him carefully. "Did you expect me not to?"

A flicker of something—not quite amusement, not quite approval.

Then, he turned slightly, gesturing toward the crowd. "Come."

Yiran hesitated. "Where?"

Lu Zeyan's eyes met hers.

"To meet the real players in this game."