Linghe laughed, a rich, melodic sound that had charmed millions. He reached across the table, his hand hovering over hers, his fingers teasing the skin of her wrist without fully landing. "You compare me to a parasite? That's a new one. Most people call it 'star power.'"
"Star power is just a polite term for a mass-scale cognitive bias," Nyx said softly. She allowed him to think he was closing the distance. She even leaned into his space, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"But I'll admit... you are a very high-quality specimen. I find myself quite... admiring you."
The word 'admiring' felt like a caress, but to Nyx, it was the same way an architect admires a skyscraper they are about to demolish to build something better. She had spent months studying his interviews, his micro-gestures, and his hidden temper. She wasn't just on vacation; she was finally playing with the toy she had bought with her own patience.
"Admiring?" Linghe's thumb finally brushed the soft skin of her inner wrist. He felt his own pulse spike, convinced he was the one breaking her composure. "Careful, Nyx. If you admire me too much, you might forget to be a prodigy."
"Oh, I never forget what I am," she teased, a flash of something dark and hungry behind her eyes. She stood up, her fingers grazing his cheek for a split second—a touch so light it felt like a ghost, leaving him craving the solid weight of her hand.
"Twenty-eight hours left, Linghe. I'm going for a swim. Try not to drown in your own ego while I'm gone."
As she walked away toward the shore, Linghe watched her, his obsession deepening with every step she took. He felt powerful. He felt in control.
Behind her sunglasses, Nyx smiled. The King was moving exactly where she had signaled.
This wasn't just a vacation; it was the most successful clinical trial of her life.