*Chapter 13: Between Shadows and Light *
The evening arrived draped in shadows. Zhao Liang's friends had coaxed him out, leaving the penthouse unexpectedly quiet. For the first time in weeks, Li Xue felt she could breathe.
Mei Yan arrived soon after, carrying bags of snacks and the warm, effortless energy that only she possessed. "Xue, you look like a ghost," she said bluntly, pulling her into a hug. "Tell me he hasn't starved you."
Li Xue tried to laugh. "He doesn't notice me enough to starve me."
Mei Yan's eyes softened, though her voice stayed firm. "That's worse. At least anger means feeling something. But this?" She gestured toward the empty penthouse. "This is a prison built on silence."
They curled up on the couch together, sharing snacks as Mei Yan chattered about her office gossip, her sharp tongue slicing through the heaviness. For a moment, Li Xue almost felt normal. Almost.
But when the door opened and Zhao Liang stepped in, everything shifted. His presence filled the room, cold and commanding. His gaze swept across them, pausing briefly on the snacks, then on the faint smile lingering on Li Xue's lips.
Her heart lurched. Was it irritation in his eyes? Or something else?
"Welcome back," she said softly, though her voice faltered.
He didn't respond. Instead, he brushed past them with a glance so sharp it silenced Mei Yan mid-sentence. The air thickened instantly, suffocating the fragile warmth they had built.
Later, when Mei Yan left, she squeezed Li Xue's hands. "Promise me you won't let him erase you."
Li Xue tried to smile. "I'm still here."
But deep down, she wasn't so sure.