The Crimson Vow

but the air between

y car glided through the streets of Shanghai. The man beside her radiated an intensity that

still echoe

u tru

ttled her-it was the way he asked it, l

she finally spoke. "W

he shift in his energy. "Because trust is r

"Then why shou

before returning his gaze to the road. "Because w

an uneasy thril

s that e

apartment building. Before she could reac

ieter now, almost unreadable. "Not eve

handle tighten

sembling a smirk, but there was n

g the door open. "G

tepped out and shut the door, forcing he

she couldn't shake the feeling that s

not be able to

rself in work, determined to ignore the

lying in, and Zhenyi himself would be handling the negotiations.

eports and was heading toward the boardro

ss

of the senior executives. He was charismatic, we

g about his smile

h Mr. Chen," Hao said, stepping cl

ression neutral. "I

our confidence. But let me give you a pi

tiffened. "

nyi doesn't keep people around for long. Especi

he reports in her hand. "I'm here

e. "Good. Then make su

nd walked away, leaving behind an une

round you has

mind, and for the first time, she wondered just h

ing was

The investors spoke in low, careful tones, their words calculated. Xiaoyi presente

all, she felt h

her. He didn't challenge

iaoyi allowed herself a small breath of relief. But as she ga

Lin.

omach

s filed out, leavin

egarding her with an unreadable ex

ed. "Tha

before speaking again. "What

froze.

"Don't play games

ering. "He warned me not

crossed Zhenyi's lips.

a beat. "That's

berate steps. "It doesn't matter what you m

f to hold her ground. "I told hi

ting his head slightly. "And yet, y

caught. "

?" he cut

d. "A moment

d. "Interesting

em, thick with something nei

s grazing her wrist-barely a touch, yet

leave," he murmu

p back. She should break this moment bef

e didn

ither

a breaking point, a sharp knock

k as Zhenyi's exp

led, his voice pe

y oblivious to the charged atmospher

curt nod. "I

a second, Xiaoyi and Zhenyi

he spoke. "Th

hakily. "I didn'

d and walked out, her he

nce meeting Zhenyi Chen, she

e if she wante

e wanted