possesive

Ruiyan stood by the living room window, forehead pressed to the glass as the city outside came to life. He wasn't sure why, but something inside him had been restless all morning. Like he was waiting for something… or someone.

He had drawn the same man again.

The one with dark eyes and quiet strength. The one who helped Mama when her shoe broke outside the gallery. The one who'd sat across the office yesterday and smiled at Ruiyan like they'd known each other before.

Ruiyan didn't know his name.But his heart did.

Downstairs, Ruoxi tightened her ponytail as she scanned the meeting schedule for the day. Zeyan stood in the kitchen, pouring two cups of coffee — one black, one with oat milk, no sugar. Just the way she used to like it.

Used to.

She accepted the cup with a quiet "thank you," and their fingers brushed.

The warmth lingered longer than it should've.

"Are you sure you're comfortable with this?" she asked, eyes on the mug.

"With staying near you?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I'd rather be near you and wait for you to remember than far away pretending I don't care."

Ruoxi looked up, something fragile crossing her face. "But what if I never remember?"

"Then we'll make new memories," he said gently.

They dropped Ruiyan off at school together. The little boy clung to his backpack and hesitated near the gate.

"Mr. Zeyan?" he asked suddenly.

Zeyan crouched. "Yeah?"

"Did you ever have a favorite storybook?"

Zeyan smiled. "I did. It was about a fox who kept getting lost in the forest."

Ruiyan's eyes widened. "Mine too."

Their gazes held, and something unspoken passed between them — recognition without explanation.

The day at the office was unusually tense.

Ruoxi walked in with Zeyan again, and the staff couldn't hide their glances. Whispers followed them like perfume. Mei, her assistant and longtime confidante, rolled her eyes dramatically and intercepted her halfway through the hallway.

"You're giving the interns whiplash," Mei muttered with a smirk. "The man walks like a bodyguard and looks like heartbreak in a suit."

Ruoxi almost smiled. "He's just… helping me remember."

Mei leaned in, her voice softening. "Or helping you feel something again."

That struck her — deeper than she expected.

As Ruoxi stepped out of her office, Ethan was already standing by the door with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Miss Liang," he said, holding out the updated contract. "I thought we could finalize the vendor sign-off today."

Ruoxi nodded. "Let's go over it. I have a short window before the afternoon call."

As they entered the meeting room, Zeyan followed, calm and quiet.

Ethan blinked. "I saw him yesterday… but you didn't introduce me."

Ruoxi hesitated only for a beat. "This is Zeyan. He's a… close family friend."

Ethan extended his hand slowly, keeping his gaze steady. "Ethan Lu. It's always interesting to meet the people in Ruoxi's close circle."

Zeyan accepted the handshake firmly. "Likewise"

The air thickened.

As the meeting progressed, Zeyan said little — only watching. But every time Ethan leaned too close to Ruoxi, every time his eyes lingered too long on her hands, Zeyan's jaw tightened.

Ruoxi felt it too. That quiet storm radiating from him. The subtle edge of jealousy.

She wasn't used to men being possessive of her — not in this gentle, silent way.

Ethan noticed.

As they stepped out, he lingered. "You've been different lately," he said to her, voice low. "Quieter. But… softer, too."

"I'm rebuilding," she answered honestly.

"And does he help you do that?" he asked, not bothering to hide the edge in his voice.

She didn't answer.

Later that night, back at home, Ruiyan padded into the living room in his pajamas, sketchbook in hand. Zeyan sat on the floor, sorting through some old files he was too distracted to read.

The boy sat beside him.

"I drew something," Ruiyan said.

Zeyan looked down. It was a drawing of three people — a woman with long hair, a man with tired eyes, and a little boy with a bright smile. They were standing beneath a tree. The boy was holding both their hands.

Zeyan swallowed. "Who's that?"

"You," Ruiyan said. "And Mama. And me."

Zeyan didn't speak. He couldn't.

The boy leaned in. "Mama said you used to be important. I think… maybe you still are."

Zeyan felt his throat tighten. "Do you think so?"

Ruiyan nodded. "You feel like a memory I haven't had yet."

In her room, Ruoxi stared at the ceiling. Her chest ached.

She could hear them laughing softly in the living room — Ruiyan's small giggle, Zeyan's quiet replies.

She wanted to join them. Wanted to belong in that sound.

And yet…

She placed a hand over her heart, whispering to herself, "Why does it hurt when he's near… and worse when he's not?"