The moment Shen Ruoxi stepped into Eden House, she felt it.

  The shift.

  The air wasn’t light or teasing tonight, it was heavy. Electric.

  Gu Zeyan stood by the bar, sleeves rolled up, colr open, his stance too casual to be accidental.

  Her heels clicked across the marble floor. His eyes tracked every step.

  “You're early,” she said, pouring herself a gss of wine without looking at him.

  “You’re te,” he countered smoothly. “In choosing me.”

  She turned slowly, wine gss at her lips. “Careful, Gu Zeyan. That almost sounded like you wanted me.”

  He took a step closer.

  “No,” he said. “Not almost.”

  She didn’t reply. Just lifted her chin in silent challenge.

  And that’s when he moved.

  Not fast. Not rough. Just sure.

  He came to stand directly in front of her, took the gss from her hand, and set it down without breaking eye contact.

  “You flirt with your hands, right?” he said lowly. “Touch their wrists, lean in just enough to make them want.”

  She arched a brow. “Observation skills on point, Doctor Gu.”

  “Then let’s try something.”

  His fingers slid along her waist. Not rushed. Not tentative. His palm spyed against the small of her back, pulling her gently into his space.

  Ruoxi’s breath hitched just a flicker... but he felt it.

  “Try flirting without touching,” he murmured. “Let’s see if you can.”

  She narrowed her eyes, mouth tilting in amusement. “And if I lose?”

  “Then you let me touch you.”

  He leaned in.

  Not enough to kiss but enough to make her lips part instinctively. His nose brushed hers, breath warm, his voice lower now.

  “Starting here,” he whispered, fingers trailing slowly down her arm. “And here—”

  His thumb traced the inside of her wrist, light, focused.

  “And here,” he said, pressing his palm ft to her stomach through the silk.

  Ruoxi’s heart thudded so hard she could feel it in her throat.

  She was a master of seduction.

  But Gu Zeyan didn’t flirt.

  He cimed.

  And for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she was still leading.

  ***

  They sat across from each other for dinner, but the tension was unbearable. She crossed her legs slowly, deliberately brushing her foot against his under the table.

  He didn’t flinch.

  He just leaned back in his chair, eyes on her mouth.

  “You py too safe with me,” he said, voice deep. “Like you think if you really gave in, it’d cost you something.”

  Ruoxi smiled, licking a drop of wine from her lip. “And what do you think I’m afraid of losing?”

  “Control,” he said simply.

  Silence.

  He stood. Walked around the table.

  Pulled her chair back gently, but firmly until she was angled toward him.

  Then he bent, one hand gripping the armrest beside her, the other sliding slowly up her thigh, stopping just before skin met hem.

  “I’m not trying to take control from you, Ruoxi.”

  His lips brushed the shell of her ear.

  “I just want you to feel what it’s like… to let go of it.”

  **Confessional Booth – Shen Ruoxi**

  “I flirt to disarm. I touch to distract. It always works.”

  She stared at the camera.

  “But tonight… he touched me like he knew what I was saying.”

  A pause.

  “And I didn’t want him to stop.”

  *Confessional Booth – Gu Zeyan*

  “She’s fire. But fire isn’t scary when you know how to handle heat.”

  A rare smile.

  “I’m not scared of getting burned. Not by her.”