Chapter 1 Hidden in the Dark
My nails dug into my palms. The sting shot straight to my brain.
I prayed, desperate and small.
Chen Yinian stepped inside, expression flat, barely glancing at anyone. He found a seat, sat down, and stared at his phone.
Across the long table, he was directly opposite me—the farthest possible spot in the room.
Still, I held my breath and melted into the darkness.
Chen Yinian was always the center of gravity.
When the room went unnaturally quiet after he arrived, he lifted his eyes lazily toward the person singing in the middle.
His voice was cool, flat.
“Keep going. I’m just passing through. Won’t stay long.”
People started glancing my way.
Back then, everything between us had been loud and public.
My scalp prickled. I looked desperately at Lin Fei beside me, like someone drowning.
Lin Fei was a star. She’d organized this reunion. I’d only come because of her.
She curved her red lips, peach-blossom eyes sparkling.
She’d been working mostly in Hong Kong and Macau lately, so she spoke in Cantonese.
“Su Mian Baby, you can’t escape.”
I blinked, not catching it.
But Lin Fei grabbed the mic, stepped into the center, and pulled the mood back up.
The tight knot in my chest loosened slightly under the blasting music.
I hadn’t come to any reunions in six years.
I hoped Chen Yinian had no idea I was here.
If he did, he might not have even walked through the door.
My eyes kept drifting to him anyway.
Silver ear stud glinting. Long legs bent casually. He was just sitting there scrolling on his phone, yet half the room couldn’t look away.
The other half watched Lin Fei.
I stayed frozen like a quail, watching his every move.
If he came anywhere near me, I was ready to bolt—push through the door, run downstairs, jump on any bus, get far enough away to finally breathe.
“Tsk.”
His irritated sound felt like it was right in my ear.
Chen Yinian frowned, pocketed his phone, and his gaze swept the corner.
I shrank back, terrified.
When I dared to look again, his tall, familiar figure was already leaving.
Even his back looked restless and annoyed.
My body relaxed, but something invisible yanked my heart downward.
I pulled my eyes from the door—and met Lin Fei’s half-smiling gaze.