Inside, warm steam rose from the rainfall shower, filling the marble-lined room with a faint scent of sandalwood from the automated diffuser.
Stripping off his shirt and trousers, he stepped under the stream, tilting his head back as the hot water cascaded down his sculpted chest and broad shoulders.
His damp hair clung to his forehead, droplets sliding along his sharp jawline.
For a long moment, he stood there, eyes closed, listening only to the sound of falling water and his own steady breathing.
Home… after so many years abroad. But peace… is still temporary.
His mind flickered to tonight's pending security meetings, Lu Zi Zhen's underworld briefings, and tomorrow's scheduled inspections at their affiliated labs.
Work never ended, but this moment under scalding water belonged to him alone.
After washing away the fatigue clinging to his muscles, he turned off the shower, water droplets trickling down his defined abs as he reached for a thick white towel, wrapping it around his hips with precise movements.
Wiping a clear patch on the fogged mirror, he regarded his own reflection silently, his dark eyes calm and emotionless, hair damp and tousled, a single droplet sliding down his temple.
There is no room for weakness….
Turning away, he stepped out into his cool room, the faint hum of the central ventilation system greeting him.
Sliding open his closet, he pulled out a pair of loose black lounge pants and a fitted grey cotton shirt, dressing efficiently before walking to his desk.
He picked up his phone, scanning the brief notifications from his security teams across Asia. His gaze sharpened briefly before softening as he glanced out the window at the tranquil garden.
"For today… I will rest. Tomorrow, the war resumes."
With quiet precision, he set his phone face down, closed the blackout curtains with the touchpad, and walked towards his bed, pulling the covers over himself.
LU MANSION – ZI ZHEN'S BEDROOM – LATE MORNING
The sleek black door slid open with a quiet hiss as Lu Zi Zhen stepped into his private suite.
His sharp gaze swept over the spacious bedroom: charcoal grey walls, minimalist black furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows tinted against the glaring sun, and a built-in weapons vault discreetly hidden behind a mirror panel.
Everything was exactly as he had instructed during the renovations abroad.
He dropped his leather duffel onto the chaise lounge, shrugging off his tailored black sweater.
A faint sigh escaped his lips as he rolled his tense shoulders, the familiar scent of sandalwood diffusers calming his frayed nerves.
Walking to the wardrobe, he unbuttoned his black dress shirt, revealing lean muscle laced with faint old scars, silent marks of years spent in hidden shadows.
Discarding his clothes neatly into the hamper, he stepped into the adjoining marble bathroom.
The warm cascade of water poured down his body, washing away hours of flight fatigue and cooling his simmering thoughts. For a while, he stood motionless, letting the steam fog up the glass walls as his mind ran through the work awaiting him.
When he emerged, a soft black robe hung loose around his waist, droplets still sliding down his collarbone. He raked damp fingers through his tousled hair before walking back into the bedroom, towelling off lazily.
A discreet knock echoed against his door.
"Enter."
The door opened to reveal two figures dressed in fitted black tactical uniforms.
The first one, Xiao Ru, his loyal right-hand man, bowed his head respectfully, his short ash-brown hair still damp from early morning drills.
Behind him stood Lu Shiyan, dressed in combat boots and tight black cargo pants, her ponytail swishing as she saluted with crisp precision.