Chapter 12 – Smoke, Secrets, and Strawberry Lattes

The heavy bass of the club still echoed in Meilin's ears long after she'd left.

That kiss.

His mouth on hers—warm, dangerous, possessive.

Her hand still tingled where she had grabbed the lapel of his coat. She cursed under her breath as she changed into her pajamas back home.

"What was I thinking?" she muttered, pulling her hair up.

But deep down, she knew exactly what she was doing.

She wanted him intrigued.

She wanted him hooked.

But she hadn't planned on kissing him back like that.

---

The Next Morning – At the Café

Golden sunlight filtered into the café through the front windows. The early morning rush hadn't started yet, giving Meilin a few minutes of quiet. She leaned on the counter, sipping a fresh latte, lost in thought.

"You didn't come home with me last night," Lili said casually, walking in from the back room.

Meilin blinked. "Huh?"

"At the club," Lili added, a sly smirk curling on her lips. "You disappeared into the crowd… right after talking to that Greek God in a suit."

Meilin rolled her eyes. "He's just a guy."

Lili gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? That just a guy looked at you like you were the last glass of wine in the apocalypse."

Meilin tried to shrug it off. "It was nothing."

Lili leaned closer. "You kissed him, didn't you?"

Meilin nearly choked on her coffee. "I—what?!"

"Oh my god, you did!" Lili squealed, slapping the counter. "You kissed him! You—cold, scary Meilin—kissed a man in a club?!"

Meilin pressed a hand to her forehead. "Would you keep your voice down? We open in five."

"I need details. Was it soft and slow or hot and heavy?"

Meilin grabbed a rag and started wiping the counter aggressively. "It was... strategic."

Lili stared. "You kissed him like it was a business move?"

Meilin's silence said enough.

Lili crossed her arms. "Okay, you're terrifying. But I support it."

Before Meilin could respond, the doorbell above the café jingled.

Her heart sank. Or maybe rose.

Ryu Xian walked in.

Same black suit, unbuttoned collar, watch gleaming on his wrist. He looked infuriatingly confident for someone who'd been kissed and walked away from.

Meilin straightened her apron and walked over to his table.

"Back again?" she asked, expression unreadable.

"I don't do surprises," Ryu said calmly, sliding into the same corner seat. "But I made an exception."

"For the coffee?" she asked dryly.

"For the girl who serves it."

She ignored the heat crawling up her neck. "Your usual?"

He nodded. "And maybe something sweet. You seem to think I have a secret sugar addiction."

Meilin jotted it down. "You look like you lie for a living."

"I do," he said smoothly. "But not to you."

She stilled for a heartbeat.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Last night wasn't just a coincidence, was it?"

"You mean me being at the club?" she asked.

"I mean... you." His voice dropped lower. "You're playing something. Something dangerous. And I don't know if I want to stop you or join you."

Her eyes darkened. "You think this is a game?"

"I know it is," he replied. "But it's not the kind I usually lose."

Their eyes locked, tension slicing through the air like a hot blade.

Then, without warning, she smiled. Soft. Calculated.

"I hope you can afford the stakes."

He grinned. "Try me."

---

Later That Night

The café was closed. Chairs flipped, counters cleaned, lights dimmed.

Meilin slipped her coat over her shoulders, ready to head out when her phone buzzed.

> Lili: "Emergency girls' night. You. Me. Now. You owe me post-kiss details."

She sighed and texted back a simple: "On my way."

She changed into her usual nighttime armor—fitted jeans, a deep navy blouse unbuttoned just enough to flirt with scandal, and a sleek long coat.

Alpha mode: activated.

---

At Club Noir Again

The music was smoother tonight, the crowd more exclusive. She slipped inside like she belonged, confidence oozing from every step.

But this time, he noticed her first.

Ryu was already there, glass in hand, talking to someone important. The moment she walked in, his gaze snapped to her.

And he stared.

She didn't acknowledge him. Not yet. She joined Lili, ordered a drink, and laughed at something on her phone.

But she could feel him watching her.

And that was the point.

---

After a few moments, she excused herself to the quiet balcony behind the club.

The air was cool, the city skyline glittering like secrets.

Footsteps followed.

"Twice in one night?" Meilin said without turning around.

"I should say the same," Ryu replied.

She turned to face him. He was standing close. Too close.

"I don't usually chase women," he said softly.

"And I don't usually kiss dangerous men in clubs," she replied.

He tilted his head. "Then why did you?"

She stepped forward, inches away. "Maybe I wanted to see what would happen."

He leaned in. "And did you like what happened?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she pulled him in again.

But this kiss wasn't public. It wasn't loud.

It was slow, deep, and quietly intimate—like a promise neither of them understood yet.

When they parted, breath mingling in the night air, he whispered, "You're going to ruin me."

She smiled faintly. "You'll survive."

But neither of them believed that.

Because something had shifted.

And the game?

Had only just begun.

---