Liu Kai Ying told herself she didn't care.
She told herself that as she stood across the street from Wong Tian Rong's bar, coat still on, hands in her pockets, jaw clenched.
She was only there because Xiao Lan had mentioned it. She was only there because it was on her way home. She was only there because—
She stopped lying to herself and went in.
The bar was louder than usual. Warm lights. Music low and thick. Tian Rong was behind the counter, laughing at something a customer said.
And Chen Le Xin was there.
Not working. Not exhausted. Not guarded.
She was leaning against the bar, sleeves rolled up, glasses off, hair loose. She smiled when Tian Rong said something to her—open, bright, unguarded in a way Kai Ying had never seen in the office.
Kai Ying's chest tightened.
Two men stood nearby.
Too close.
One of them said something that made Le Xin raise an eyebrow. The other laughed, lifting his glass.
"Have a drink with us," one of them said, leaning in. "Just one."
Le Xin smiled politely. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Come on," the other added. "It's just a drink."
Kai Ying didn't think.
She moved.
She stepped in smoothly, placing herself between Le Xin and the men like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"She won't," Kai Ying said calmly.
Both men looked up, startled.
"And you are?" one of them asked.
Kai Ying picked up the untouched glass meant for Le Xin.
Her eyes were cold behind her glasses. "The one drinking it."
She tilted the glass back and finished it in one clean motion.
Tian Rong froze.
Le Xin stared.
The men exchanged looks—recognition, calculation—and backed off with muttered apologies.
Kai Ying set the empty glass down.
Only then did she turn to Le Xin.
"You shouldn't let strangers pressure you," Kai Ying said flatly.
Le Xin blinked. "I wasn't—"
Kai Ying cut her off. "You don't owe anyone politeness."
Le Xin's heart was racing. "You don't get to decide that for me."
Kai Ying's voice dropped. "I get to keep you safe."
That landed too hard.
Too honest.
Silence stretched between them.
Tian Rong cleared her throat. "Uh. Drink?"
Kai Ying nodded once. "Yes."
That was a mistake.
Kai Ying drank like she worked—efficiently, without pause.
One drink. Then another. Then another someone placed in front of her without asking.
Le Xin watched, unease creeping in.
"You should stop," Le Xin said quietly.
Kai Ying scoffed. "You didn't."
"That's not the same."
Kai Ying leaned in slightly, eyes sharp but unfocused now. "It is to me."
By the time the music softened and the crowd thinned, Kai Ying was drunk.
Not loud. Not sloppy.
But unsteady.
Her words slowed. Her movements lost their precision. The armor cracked.
Le Xin caught her arm when she swayed.
"Hey," Le Xin said, surprised. "You okay?"
Kai Ying laughed softly—once. Bitter. "I don't like wanting things."
Le Xin stilled.
Kai Ying's voice dropped, too low, too close. "Wanting makes people stupid."
"Kai Ying—"
"I don't lose control," Kai Ying continued, eyes fixed on nothing. "I don't compete. I don't chase."
She finally looked at Le Xin.
"But I saw them look at you."
Her hand tightened unconsciously around Le Xin's wrist.
"And I hated it."
Le Xin's breath caught.
"Kai Ying," she said gently, "you're drunk."
Kai Ying smiled faintly. "No. Just honest."
Le Xin swallowed.
Tian Rong appeared beside them. "She's not leaving like this."
"I'll take her," Le Xin said without thinking.
Kai Ying leaned slightly into her, trusting without realizing it.
Le Xin felt the weight of that trust settle heavily on her chest.
As she guided Kai Ying toward the door, Kai Ying murmured, almost to herself—
"This is why I keep distance."
Le Xin didn't answer.
But as she held Kai Ying steady under the city lights, she knew one thing for certain.
This wasn't rivalry anymore.
This was fear.
And want.
And something neither of them could walk away from now.
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