Liu Xin clutched her phone like it was a lifeline, walking two careful steps behind Wu Jian as they exited the private rooftop dining room. She could still taste the sweetness of red bean dessert—and the bitter aftertaste of family plotting.
It had been a perfectly civil dinner. Which, in Liu Xin's experience, was exactly the kind that preceded catastrophe.
"So," Wu Jian said flatly, pressing the elevator button without looking at her. "Nice dinner."
"Mm-hmm," Liu Xin replied, eyeing the number of floors like they might save her. "Delightfully awkward. Aged like fine vinegar."
He gave her a sideways glance. Was that a twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth? No, impossible. She must be hallucinating.
As the elevator doors closed with a ding, the scene faded out on the two awkward non-lovebirds and cut to--
On the streets right next to the private restaurant Grandma Lu adjusted her silk scarf with a satisfied sigh. "Well, that went wonderfully, didn't it?"
Mrs. Liu nodded, linking arms with her husband. "They didn't argue once! Not even over the last dumpling. That's progress."
"Did you see how they sat?" Mr. Liu added, peering smugly through his gold-rimmed glasses. "Almost shoulder-to-shoulder by the end. I could barely wedge my phone between them."
Grandma Lu gave him a look. "You tried to wedge your phone between them?"
He coughed. "For research."
The three conspirators strolled under the glow of street lamps, looking less like concerned elders and more like mafia dons closing a successful deal.
Mrs. Liu leaned in conspiratorially. "Next step, we trap them into a 'coincidental' weekend trip. Maybe a charity event. Or a sudden retreat?"
"I was thinking of something more elegant," Grandma Lu mused. "A moon-viewing banquet at the estate. You know, the kind with awkward shared tea cups."
"I like it," Mr. Liu said. "Throw in a slow dance. Maybe even some couple games."
The three of them paused dramatically at a crosswalk as if they were in a spy film.
Grandma Lu pulled out her phone. "I'll get that paparazzi to leak the story he made to the press: 'CEO Wu Jian Attends Banquet With Mysterious Lady—Family Approval Already Secured?'"
Mrs. Liu gasped. "That's genius!"
"You're all insane," muttered a voice behind them.
They turned. It was Lu Ming, Wu Jian's cousin, looking like he'd accidentally walked into a sitcom.
"You heard all that?" Grandma Lu asked, suddenly serious.
Lu Ming raised a brow. "What part of 'you were shouting your plan in public' did you miss?"
He walked past them toward his car, then paused and added, "But if you do need another fake paparazzi, I know a guy. I'll text you."
--
Liu xin look through the streets finding her parents and his grandmother she say sighing,
"Looks like they have gone before us."
"Let me drop you there then" he says opening the door of his car and she couldn't resist.
In the car, Wu Jian drove with one hand, the other resting lightly on the gear shift. Silence filled the space, not uncomfortable… just heavily charged.
Liu Xin glanced at him, then away. "So, your grandmother is… persistent."
"That's a polite word for it."
"She and my parents make quite the team."
"Unholy alliance."
She let out a quiet laugh. "You think they're going to stop here?"
"I think they already bought our wedding venue."
She choked on air. "You're kidding."
His lips twitched again—definitely a smile this time—but he didn't confirm or deny.
Liu Xin stared at the window, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. Maybe it was just hunger. Emotional, not physical.
---
As soon as Liu Xin walked through the door, her mom pops out not even letting her sit
"So, what happened after we leave? Did he confess?" she questions
"Mom! He is my client not your matchmaking candidate."
She groaned and flopped onto the couch. Her father also peeks out saying
"Also, you should practice saying 'Jian-er' sweetly."
She close her eyes murmuring "I am moving to Mars."
---
meanwhile in wu Jain's penthouse
Wu Jian poured himself a glass of water and sat by the window. The city lights flickered far below, cold and distant.
He thought about the way Liu Xin had laughed in the elevator. Unfiltered. Honest. Annoyingly endearing.
His grandmother come tea on her hand she sits beside him.
"Jian'er..i planned another meeting for you and liu xin and promise we will not interfere in it." she says "A moon-viewing banquet at the estate!..how romantic."
She says siping her tea "i just wanted to see you happy with your partner."
Wu Jian didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared out at the moon.
Just when he'd carefully rebuilt his walls… someone had slipped through the cracks with a dumpling and a smirk.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...