CHAPTER 23
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Ryan: Baby?! What you doin' here?!
She hugged him tightly.
General Li quietly watched, expression unreadable.
Evelyn: I missed you, so I flew in as a surprise.
Ryan: Girl… you gon' give me a heart attack one day.
Evelyn noticed Li, and her smile softened politely.
Evelyn: You must be Agent Leah? Ryan's told me so much about you.
General Li: (Calm nod) Hmm.
Ryan waved frantically.
Ryan: Baby, babe—listen—please don't mind her face. That's her happy look.
General Li: (Still expressionless) I am neutral.
Evelyn: (Laughs nervously).
Archive whispered to Dr. Stephanie:
Archive: Is it just me or does she look like she's judging his whole life?
Dr. Stephanie: That's just her breathing.
Evelyn squeezed Ryan's arm lovingly.
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Dusk — Ryan's Apartment, Brooklyn
The city settled into the quiet blue of early evening, where streetlamps hummed and the river carved a silver line through the skyline. Ryan's apartment sat in one of the waterfront complexes—a sleek, modern space dotted with warm lights and the faint scent of vanilla candles. It was Evelyn's touch, naturally. Ryan would never pick candles.
Ryan Cross was already half-awake, pacing around his apartment in a rumpled T-shirt. His fiancée, Evelyn Hart—a soft-spoken lady with blonde curls and ocean-blue eyes—watched him with a puzzled smile as she prepared the coffee grinder.
Evelyn: You're restless today… again.
Ryan: (Throws arms up) 'Cause work been whoopin' me like rent's due every hour, Eve.
Evelyn chuckled, shaking her head.
Li Xuefang arrived precisely at the time she announced. Not a minute early. Not a minute late. She stepped out of the elevator in a dark coat, her boots silent on the corridor floor.
Then Evelyn heard a sound outside—the faintest metallic click.
Evelyn opened the door before Li could ring the bell.
Evelyn: Li!
Evelyn beamed, blonde curls bouncing as if happiness were her natural gravity.
Evelyn: You actually came.
Ryan: (Startled) OH LAWD— You can't just— why you pop up soundless like a horror movie villain at a time like this?!
Li didn't react.
Instead, she addressed Evelyn.
Li blinked slowly.
General Li: You sent a formal invitation. And? I respond to formal invitations.
Evelyn laughed and stepped aside.
Evelyn: Come in. Coffee's fresh. Took me three attempts, but I think I finally made one you'll deem 'acceptable.'
Ryan mouth fell open.
Evelyn had invited Li Xuefang—the scariest woman aliveto coffee. He knew his fiancée was crazy –but not this crazy.
Ryan: (Muttering) Man… I hope she don't kill nobody in my kitchen…
Li entered the apartment with the same energy as a tactical operation:
silent, precise, eyes scanning everything and sliding off her gloves with unfaltering precision.
General Li: Exquisite decor.
Evelyn: Aw, thank you.
Evelyn nudged Ryan playfully.
Evelyn: See? She talks. You told me she wouldn't talk.
Ryan: She doesn't. That was already half her monthly word limit.
Ryan whispered loudly enough for Li to hear.
Li's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
Evelyn ushered her to the dining area where a small coffee setup—three cups, two bowls of sugar, one pitcher of milk, and a plate of pastries—waited like a peace offering. Li sat with her usual posture: poised, upright, hands in her pockets.
Evelyn poured the coffee.
Evelyn: I wanted us to… I don't know… connect? Since you and Ryan are practically married through constant life-or-death missions.
Ryan snapped his head around.
Ryan: Hey—don't say that with the mannequin present!
Evelyn flicked his forehead.
Evelyn: It's a joke.
Li stared into her cup.
General Li: Your humor is… bold.
Evelyn: (Proudly) Thank you!
General Li: It was not praise.
But Evelyn only laughed, happily oblivious.
Evelyn handed her a cup.
Li lifted it calmly.
Xynra: Scan complete. Zero poison signatures present.
General Li: (To Evelyn) Thank you.
She drank.
Ryan and Evelyn stared—waiting.
Li paused… swallowed… blinked once.
General Li: …acceptable.
Ryan: Dang girl, that's her sayin' it's good. You got the approval of a hitman queen.
Evelyn elbowed him sharply.
Li continued drinking, unmoved.
But Evelyn's smile softened—
She liked Li.
She wasn't intimidated at all.
The atmosphere settled into something warm and strangely domestic—the soft hum of the kettle cooling, the glow from the balcony window, the quiet clink of spoons in cups. Ryan and Evelyn chatted about wedding ideas, decorations, guest lists—things Li normally ignored. But she didn't today.
She watched them. Studied them. Something unreadable passed behind her eyes. Not jealousy. Not longing. More like a cold, historical ache she preferred not to name.
When the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Ryan excused himself to take a call from Headquarters. Evelyn leaned back, watching Li with a curious tilt of her head.
Evelyn: (Softly) You know, he admires you. Ryan. Even if he can be madly annoying.
Li inhaled her coffee.
General Li : He is… tolerable.
Evelyn: That's your version of 'friendship,' isn't it?"
Li sipped again.
General Li: I would not exaggerate.
Evelyn smiled.
Evelyn: I'm glad you're here.
General Li was quiet.
Evelyn: Xuefang… you can visit anytime.
Li didn't smile..
For a moment, Li didn't respond. Then, quietly:
General Li: …Understood.
Just then, Ryan poked his head back in.
Ryan: Y'all talking behind my back?
Evelyn: You bet. Right Li?
General Li: (Cold but teasingly) Certainly.
Evelyn laughed.
The night went by warm and peaceful.
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