The book was already on the floor. Neither of them looked at it. Zhou Yiran's eyes stayed fixed on Zhang Weiyu, the shock still fresh, unmoving, like her body hadn't caught up to what she was seeing. The blood on his clothes didn't make sense. Not here. Not like this. For a moment, she couldn't even form the question. "…What happened to you?"
Her voice came out steadier than she felt.
Zhang Weiyu didn't answer immediately. He stepped inside fully, as if nothing about this was unusual, as if the tension in the room didn't exist. "…Nothing." The word landed flat. Zhou Yiran's fingers curled slightly at her side. "That's not nothing."
She took a step forward this time, slower, more deliberate. Her eyes moved over him again searching, checking, confirming what she had already realized there was injuries just blood. Her gaze lifted back to his face.
"…You're not hurt." Zhang Weiyu didn't deny it..He just said, "…You don't need to worry."
Something in her expression changed at that. Then another step closer. "…You keep saying that," she said quietly, her voice tightening just enough to give away what she was holding back. "…like I'm not supposed to notice anything."
He didn't respond. That silence again.
It pressed heavier this time, settling between them in a way that made it harder to ignore.
Her jaw tightened slightly before he could move past her, Zhou Yiran reached out and grabbed his wrist.
Zhang Weiyu stopped. The movement was small, but immediate, precise. Xu Shen, standing a step behind, noticed at once. His gaze shifted between them, alert, but he didn't step in. Zhou Yiran's grip tightened slightly, her fingers pressing against his wrist, a small anchor in the storm of tension that filled the room.
"…You have to answer me," she said, her voice quiet but firm, carrying more insistence than volume. Zhang Weiyu's eyes dropped briefly to her hand on his wrist, then lifted to meet her gaze. A pause hung between them, stretched but fragile. "…It's related to me, isn't it?" she pressed, her voice steady, the edge of frustration creeping in. "…You can't always ignore me like this." Silence followed. Neither of them moved her eyes didn't waver; his gaze remained fixed, unreadable, but attentive for a heartbeat, it almost seemed like he might say something, but then his expression hardened. Without warning, he pulled his hand away sharply, the motion swift and unanticipated.
Zhou Yiran's balance shifted with the sudden force, her foot slipping slightly against the floor. She stumbled forward, startled, but before she could fall, a firm hand caught her. It was Zhang Weiyu. His grip steadied her immediately, pulling her upright in one smooth, controlled motion. Their proximity left her breath catching, close enough that the space between them felt charged, uncomfortably intimate. Her hand instinctively brushed against his sleeve as he held her steady.
Their eyes met again, closer than before, and for a brief moment, there was no distance to hide behind. Zhou Yiran's breath hitched slightly. Her mind screamed the question she didn't dare voice: why won't you let me in? Zhang Weiyu's gaze flickered, just for a fraction of a second, before he released her.
He stepped back, the space reasserting itself almost as quickly as it had disappeared.
"…Why do you keep shutting me out?" Zhou Yiran asked, her voice rising slightly, frustration lacing every word. "Do you think I'm too weak to handle the truth?"
"I don't owe you explanations," Zhang Weiyu snapped, his tone sharp, almost dangerous. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. "…You think you're entitled to everything, but some things… you don't need to know."
Her eyes narrowed, anger flashing. "…I'm not asking for everything! Just what matters to me what concerns me! You can't always decide that for me!".He took a step closer, his voice low but cutting. "…And you think demanding answers changes anything? You think your right to know outweighs the consequences? Do you?"
"I… I just want to understand!" she said, her voice trembling now with a mix of fear and frustration. "Is that so wrong?" "Wrong?" he repeated, his tone rising, almost a growl. "…No, it's not wrong. It's dangerous." His hand curled into a fist at his side, his chest rising and falling faster than before. "…And you don't even see it!"
Zhou Yiran's chest tightened. "…I see it! I see the risk! But that doesn't mean I can't be part of it. That doesn't mean you get to decide everything alone!" Zhang Weiyu's gaze locked onto hers, cold and sharp. "…You think this is about inclusion? You think this is about fairness? You have no idea what's at stake!" He gestured sharply toward the hallway. "…You don't!" She didn't flinch. "…Then help me understand!" she demanded, voice louder now, cutting through the tension. " Stop treating me like I'm fragile or ignorant!" He exhaled sharply, anger simmering but restrained. "…And you think I haven't tried?"
Zhang Weiyu continued, his voice tight, almost brittle, each word precise and deliberate. "I've tried every way I know to handle this without dragging you into it. You think it's simple, don't you? That I can just explain and it will all make sense?" His gaze sharpened, cutting into hers. "It won't."
Zhou Yiran's jaw tightened. "Then why do you push me away every time? Why do you make it like I'm not allowed to be part of it?"
Her voice rose, but there was no anger in it anymore, only raw frustration. "…Am I supposed to just stand aside and do nothing while you decide everything?" He stepped closer, and the air between them thickened. "Because some things aren't for discussion." His tone was low, hard, leaving no room for argument. " Some things aren't meant to be shared with anyone. Not now. Not ever."
Her eyes narrowed, determination flickering there like fire. " You always say that! 'Not now,' 'Not ever.' But I'm not someone you can just shut out. Not me." Her fingers curled, almost trembling with emotion, but she didn't step back. " I need to know, Zhang Weiyu. You can't just.."
"…I don't think it's important to tell you," he said flatly, calm, as if nothing had happened. The words landed heavier than any physical contact could have. Zhou Yiran stilled, her lips parting slightly. "…Not important?" she asked, voice low but sharp with disbelief. "…Or you just don't trust me?" "…This isn't about trust," he replied, unflinching.
"Then what is it about?" she pressed, frustration now lacing her words. "…You keep saying that like I don't have the right to know anything." He didn't answer immediately, and the hesitation alone was enough to provoke her further. "…You decide everything on your own," she continued, voice tightening, "…what I should know, what I shouldn't." She took another step forward, closing the small distance between them. "…Who gave you that right?"
Something shifted, subtle but sharp. Zhang Weiyu moved, his steps deliberate, fast enough that she barely had time to react. His hand closed around her wrist again, and in the next instant, her back met the wall. Not hard, but firm enough to stop her completely. A quiet, startled sound left her lips, more surprise than pain. Xu Shen stiffened slightly where he stood, his attention snapping fully to them.
Zhang Weiyu's jaw tightened, eyes locking onto hers with a sharp intensity that made the air between them feel heavier. "…Do you think I enjoy having to do this?" he said, his tone low, restrained but seething. "…Do you think I like being forced to make decisions you shouldn't even see?" Zhou Yiran's brow furrowed, heat rising in her chest. "…Decisions I shouldn't see?" she repeated, voice shaking with frustration. "…You decide everything on your own, every single time! You never ask, never explain, never let me in!"
He stepped slightly closer, the distance shrinking, his tone sharp as a blade. "…Because some things aren't yours to handle! You think persistence is courage? You think asking questions makes it any safer?"
"I don't care if it's safe!" she snapped, meeting his glare head-on. "I care because it's mine to care about! You can't just shut me out and pretend it doesn't matter to me!"
His eyes darkened, dangerous and unreadable. "And you think yelling changes anything? You think making me answer you suddenly gives you the right to know? No. It doesn't. And it won't."
Zhou Yiran's fists clenched at her sides. "…Then what am I supposed to do? Stand here and watch? Pretend like I'm invisible while you carry all of this alone?" Her voice trembled with emotion now, a mix of anger and desperation. "…I'm not invisible, Zhang Weiyu!"
Xu Shen, standing a step behind, cleared his throat subtly, shifting from foot to foot. What am I even doing here? he thought, eyes darting between them. I didn't sign up for… whatever this is. No one's paying me enough for this kind of drama. Zhang Weiyu's hand tightened on her wrist slightly, just enough to make the point, his voice lowering to a dangerous edge. "…You think insisting makes you right. It doesn't. It makes you reckless."
"…Reckless?" Zhou Yiran's laugh was bitter, sharp. "…I call it caring! If I'm reckless, then so be it! I refuse to be pushed aside in my own life, in my own house!" The intensity in the room built like a storm about to break. Xu Shen's eyes widened slightly, glancing at the wall behind Zhou Yiran. Maybe I should just duck behind that pillar… or vanish. Yeah, vanish seems good right now.
Zhang Weiyu didn't look at him. His focus remained entirely on her, the tension between them almost suffocating. " Enough," he said, his voice low and controlled, carrying an edge that brooked no argument. His grip tightened not enough to hurt, but firm, unyielding. "…When I said it's not necessary to say, you don't push it."
Zhou Yiran's breath came unevenly for a moment, but she didn't look away. She didn't pull back. Her fingers curled slightly against the wall beside her. "…Then stop making it feel like it is," she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of her insistence. Xu Shen watched silently, his mind calculating, sensing the intensity of the moment. This wasn't just a confrontation. It was a test of wills, a battle neither seemed willing to yield.
Zhang Weiyu stepped forward slightly. "Sir..." Xu Shen began, but was cut off almost immediately. "…Stay out of it," Zhang Weiyu said without turning. Xu Shen froze, recognizing the firmness in that command, and stopped immediately.
Xu Shen blinked, half in shock, half in disbelief. Haha… what? Yes, okay, I'll stay out of it. But then… why am I still standing here? Why am I still watching this? He shifted slightly on his feet, muttering under his breath, Seriously, no one told me this was part of the job description… not getting paid enough for emotional combat duty.
After a long pause, Zhang Weiyu released her wrist abruptly and stepped back, restoring distance between them. Zhou Yiran exhaled slowly, her arm falling to her side. The warmth of his grip lingered for a moment longer, a reminder of the closeness they had shared only seconds before. Neither of them spoke.
Then, breaking the silence, Zhou Yiran's voice was softer, yet careful. "…Someone came to see you," she said. The words shifted the energy in the room, refocusing attention. Zhang Weiyu's gaze sharpened slightly. "…Who?" "…Lina," she replied, her eyes searching his for any sign of reaction. Silence fell again, different this time, heavier, tinged with unspoken questions. His expression remained mostly unreadable, though a subtle flicker passed behind his eyes, fleeting and precise.
"…What did she say?" he asked finally.
"…She wants to meet you," Zhou Yiran said. "…She didn't explain why." Xu Shen's eyes flickered at the mention of Lina, understanding immediately the potential complications. Lina… so it's connected.
Zhang Weiyu didn't respond right away.
Zhou Yiran's gaze stayed on him, careful, patient, unwavering. "…This is about me, isn't it?" she asked, quieter now, her voice almost a whisper. He looked at her, and for a moment, it seemed like he might answer. Then, just like before, he said, "…Stay out of it." The words carried more weight now, final and uncompromising.
He turned, leaving the room with Xu Shen following after a brief pause. Zhang Weiyu turned, heading toward the hallway, and Xu Shen followed after a brief pause. Zhou Yiran's voice stopped him mid-step. "…Where are you going?" she asked, a mix of concern and curiosity threading through her tone.
He glanced back briefly, expression unreadable. "Change clothes," he replied curtly. Then, as if noticing her subtle hesitation, he added sharply, "Why do you want to help me?" Xu Shen, a step behind, froze slightly, blinking. Wait… what? Did I just hear that right? Help him? Seriously?
Zhou Yiran hesitated, then murmured, "I thought you are.." but stopped herself. Her words hung in the air, unfinished. "What I'm" Zhang Weiyu interrupted, voice flat, not giving her the chance to finish. He didn't elaborate further and continued toward his room.
Zhang Weiyu's sharp voice cut through the moment. "Why are you following me? And why do you want to help me change clothes too?" Xu Shen stumbled slightly, caught off guard. "No… no… I just thought… if you need anything…" His words trailed, unsure, fumbling in the rare vulnerability he felt in Zhang Weiyu's presence. "…Then, if I want something, I'll call you."
Xu Shen stayed a step behind as Zhang Weiyu entered, closing the door briefly. The silence stretched uncomfortably, broken only by Xu Shen's muttered thought, Okay… seriously, what am I doing here?.
A few minutes passed. Zhang Weiyu emerged from the room, now in fresh clothes, moving back into the living area with his usual precise stride. Zhou Yiran, still seated, noticed him immediately and started to speak. "You are.."
"I have something to do," Zhang Weiyu interrupted, cutting her off before she could finish. His eyes met hers briefly, controlled and sharp. "You don't need to know everything about where I'm going. And don't act like a typical wife."
Zhou Yiran's lips parted slightly, as if to argue, but she didn't. She just watched, a mix of frustration and concern flickering across her face without another word, Zhang Weiyu turned, and Xu Shen fell in step beside him. Together, they left, the air between them charged with unspoken tension and unfinished questions.