Chapter 11 – The Club beneath the Mask

Late afternoon sunlight poured into the café windows as Meilin carefully carried a tray toward table seven—where Ryu Xian was already waiting.

"Black coffee. No sugar. Again," she said, setting it down.

Ryu's lips curved lazily. "You remembered."

"I remember all my customers' orders."

He narrowed his eyes, amused. "Except I'm not like your other customers."

She arched a brow. "No. You're louder."

He laughed, rich and low. "You like it."

"I like tips."

"I tip in other ways."

Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He answered briefly, voice suddenly serious—business tone. Then he hung up and looked back at her. "I have to be somewhere tonight. You?"

"Café duty," she replied coolly. "And after that... maybe something unexpected."

His gaze lingered, curious. "You're full of secrets."

She didn't deny it. Instead, she gave a knowing smirk and walked away.

---

Later that night...

Meilin stepped out of a sleek black car, adjusting the cuffs of her fitted dark blazer. Beneath it, a silk shirt with two top buttons undone hinted at elegant recklessness. Her high-waisted jeans hugged her figure perfectly, boots clicking on the sidewalk with power in every step.

Gone was the quiet coffee shop girl.

Now, she looked like someone who belonged to the night.

The club loomed ahead—Club Obsidian—a place for VIPs, underground deals, and money that changed hands faster than morality. Her best friend had invited her for a quick reunion here—her friend's boyfriend owned part of the place.

But Meilin had her reasons for showing up like this.

Inside, the music pulsed like a heartbeat. Shadows danced with lights on the ceiling. Expensive cologne and liquor mixed in the air. Meilin moved like she owned the place, confidence pouring from her like perfume.

Ryu Xian stood in the VIP lounge upstairs, drink in hand, speaking with investors when his gaze swept the crowd—and froze.

Her.

His Meilin.

But this wasn't Meilin.

This woman was fire in human form.

The blazer, the shirt slightly open, the hair slightly tousled, the lips painted soft rose—she looked untouchable. Dangerous. Unforgettable.

His grip on the glass tightened.

"What is she doing here?" he muttered under his breath.

She passed by the floor near the bar, chatting with her friend casually, unaware—or pretending to be—of the man watching her like a predator sensing a storm.

Ryu excused himself and made his way down.

They met near the hallway that led to the private booths.

He stepped into her path, voice low. "Didn't take you for the clubbing type."

She blinked up, eyes wide with mock surprise. "Didn't take you for someone who could be surprised."

Ryu stepped closer. "So this is the real you?"

"Maybe."

"You're full of masks, Xueyin."

She smiled slowly. "And you like peeling them off, don't you?"

He leaned even closer, his voice almost a whisper. "You have no idea."

Their breaths mingled now—his cologne and her perfume clashing like a war.

The music swelled behind them, but neither of them moved.

"I thought I had you figured out," Ryu said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She tilted her chin. "Then think harder."

He reached out, gently pulling her into the shadows of the side corridor. One hand against the wall near her head. The other grazed her waist.

Her back hit the cold marble. She didn't push him away.

Instead, she asked, "What are you going to do, Mr. Xian?"

His lips were close now—his breath warm against hers.

He hesitated. Just a beat.

Then he whispered, "Exactly what I shouldn't."

And then he kissed her.

Not soft.

Not polite.

It was rough, consuming—like he'd been waiting for this since the first time she threw a punch at those thugs.

She kissed him back—matching his fire, pulling him closer by the lapel of his blazer.

Their world melted away. For one stolen moment, it was just lips, breath, tension, and heat.

Then her phone buzzed.

Reality snapped back.

She pulled away slowly, lips still tingling, eyes unreadable.

Ryu's voice was husky. "That... wasn't a mistake."

"Maybe," she said breathlessly. "Or maybe you just kissed someone you shouldn't trust."

And before he could answer, she was gone again—vanishing into the crowd with that same ghost of a smile.

Leaving Ryu Xian with a heart pounding—and a new obsession.