The night city was alive, lights flickering like tiny stars scattered across the dark canvas. From my balcony, I watched as cars moved below, unaware of the invisible chess game I had begun. Every move mattered. Every glance, every whisper, every interaction had consequences.
I hadn't slept. I couldn't. Thoughts of Feng Jiaran lingered like smoke, curling around my mind, refusing to dissipate. He was dangerous. He was unpredictable. And yet… he intrigued me more than anyone ever had.
A soft knock at my door startled me. My assistant, Lin Mei, stepped in silently. "Miss Xinyue, there's someone waiting."
I frowned. "Who?"
She hesitated, her eyes darting toward the window. "He didn't leave a name. He says it's urgent."
Curiosity prickled at my skin. I motioned for her to leave, closing the door behind me. Whoever it was, they would find me ready.
I opened the door slowly. A tall figure stood in the shadows, coat collar pulled up, face partially hidden. My first instinct screamed danger—but I didn't flinch.
"You're Lin Xinyue," the figure said, voice low and cautious.
"And you are?" I asked evenly, taking a step closer.
The figure lowered his hood. A man, unfamiliar, sharp-featured, with eyes that flickered like fire. "Someone who knows about Feng Jiaran. About you. About the game."
I froze. The game. That word. I hadn't expected anyone else to know… and yet here he was.
"You know who I am?" I asked, suspicion lacing my voice.
"Enough," he said, glancing around nervously. "And you need to be careful. Jiaran isn't just a CEO—he's dangerous in ways no one can imagine. People underestimate him. They disappear. He notices everything."
I tilted my head. "And why are you telling me this?"
"Because," he said, stepping closer, "I think we have the same goal. You want him to pay for what he's done. I want him to… fail. But he's not a man to be played lightly. One wrong move and…" He trailed off, letting the silence hang like a knife.
I studied him carefully. I didn't know this man, didn't know his motives, and yet a part of me recognized the opportunity. Information was power. Allies—or even temporary ones—were useful.
"Alright," I said finally. "You have my attention. But I decide the terms. You follow my lead. Understand?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, measuring me. "Understood."
I nodded once, firmly. "Good. Now leave. Before anyone notices you here."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Be careful, Lin Xinyue. He notices everything. And you… you've caught his attention. That can be dangerous."
I didn't respond. I watched him leave, shadows swallowing him as quickly as he appeared. My heartbeat didn't slow. Instead, it quickened—not with fear, but with excitement. The thrill of the hunt. The taste of danger.
For the rest of the night, I prepared. Papers, strategies, corporate records—everything I could find about Jiaran's dealings. Every weakness, every pattern, every rumor. And yet, even with all this, one thing was clear: he was meticulous. Every step calculated. Every action precise. He was a man who left nothing to chance.
The clock ticked past midnight when I finally paused, leaning back in my chair. My reflection in the window stared back at me—dark eyes burning with resolve. Lin Xinyue was no longer a girl who could be hurt or humiliated. She was a strategist, a predator, a force to be reckoned with.
And Feng Jiaran… he was my game now.
I didn't notice the movement at first. A shadow shifting across the room, a whisper of fabric against the floor. Someone was inside my apartment. My pulse jumped—but I was ready.
"Show yourself," I said, voice steady, heart racing just beneath the surface.
From the shadows emerged a figure I didn't expect—Feng Jiaran himself. Calm. Cold. Smiling faintly, as if he had been watching me all along.
"Impressive," he said, voice low, almost a purr. "I expected you to be afraid."
"I'm not," I said, stepping forward. "And you shouldn't be here."
He chuckled softly. "Shouldn't? Or couldn't resist?"
Every instinct screamed at me to run, to hide, to call for security. But I didn't. I met his gaze head-on. The danger, the thrill—it was addictive.
"You're bold," he said, taking a slow step closer. "And reckless. Careful, Miss Lin… boldness can get people hurt."
"I can handle myself," I replied, my voice steady. "Are you going to leave now, or do I need to make you?"
He paused, considering, then smiled faintly. "Interesting. Very interesting. I think this game… might be more fun than I expected."
And just like that, he turned, vanishing into the shadows as silently as he had appeared.
My pulse thudded in my ears. The apartment felt colder, emptier, yet alive with tension. Every nerve in my body hummed with anticipation. He had been here. He had watched. He had tested me.
And I had passed.
But at what cost?
As I collapsed into my chair, the message I hadn't seen until now appeared on my phone:
"He's closer than you think. And he's playing his own game."