Her heart slammed against her ribs. But she forced herself to stay still. Footsteps rushed past outside.
"This way!"
"Find him and the girl in red!"
Rong Xi glanced down at her clothes. She was wearing red. Her stomach twisted. They can't be talking about me…
A metallic scent filled the air. Blood. The man behind her released her and staggered, coughing. "Are you hurt?" she whispered.
Instead of answering, he shoved something heavy into her hands. A metal scroll holder. "Guard it with your life," he rasped.
Then he leapt onto a nearby tree branch and vanished into the night. Before Rong Xi could even react, the pursuers were closing in.
Mistaken identity or not—She was now part of the hunt. She darted through the brothel, slipping into empty rooms and hiding whenever footsteps approached. Finally, she reached the back courtyard. Crouching beside a wall, she quickly buried the scroll beneath a patch of bushes. Whatever it contained… People were willing to kill for it. If she was caught, she could explain away the red clothes. But she could never explain the scroll.
Taking a steady breath, Rong Xi slipped back inside. She needed to change clothes. Retrieve the scroll. And leave.
But just as she passed a nearby room—Voices stopped her cold. "Traitor! Where is it?" the Madam shrieked.
A girl sobbed inside. "I don't have it!"
"There's nothing on her," a man reported.
"Then find it!" the Madam snapped. "There was another girl in red. Find her! Search every room!"
Rong Xi froze. They were hunting her now. She turned—and saw herself reflected in a mirror. A courtesan in red. If she acted naturally… She might still slip past unnoticed. Her eyes shifted toward the most heavily guarded room in the building.
The VIP room. If she could hide there, no one would dare search it. Heart pounding, she hurried toward the door. Luck was on her side. The guards were gone. She slipped inside and quietly closed the door.
Then she froze. A man sat on the bed, watching her. Her mortal enemy. Rui. Fate truly had a cruel sense of humor.
###
Rui searched the room, eyes scanning for the hidden scroll— The door burst open. Then slammed shut. A courtesan in red rushed inside. Silk mask—ripped away.
Rui froze. Rong Xi. What was she doing here? And dressed like that— Before he could speak, she tore off her outer robe. A sheer red undergarment clung to her body. Thin. Translucent. Too much revealed. Rui turned his head instantly. Heat surged up his neck.
"Miss—"
She moved. Fast. She grabbed him— Pulled him down— The world tilted— And suddenly—Her lips were on his. Rui's mind went blank. His body locked. Instinct screamed— Touch her. Hold her. But he didn't.
His hands slammed into the mattress beside her. Not on her. Never on her.
Outside—Footsteps. Voices. "Stop! This is a private room!" Leef snapped.
"We're under orders to search—"
"You can't enter!"
Rui's breath slowed. Understanding clicked. She wasn't kissing him. She was hiding. Using him. Even now, her eyes weren't on him—They were on the door. Watching. Waiting. Calculating.
Rui closed his eyes. He held himself still. Balanced above her. Careful. Controlled. Not touching— Not more than necessary.
The kiss broke. She turned her face away. Rui pulled back slightly. Just enough to shield her. Then—Hands pressed against his chest. Pushing.
His eyes opened. He looked only at her face. Nothing else. She was trying to shove him away. He let her. Immediately. "Get off me!"
"Of course. Forgive me."
He stepped back at once. Turned around. Gave her his back. "Take this."
He removed his outer robe—Held it out behind him. He did not look. Would not look.
Behind him—Movement. Fabric. Then—The door creaked open.
Leef. Rui's eyes sharpened. Danger. Without hesitation— He grabbed the blanket— Snapped it up—A barrier between Rong Xi and the door.
"Leave." His voice was cold. Absolute. Leef froze. Then stepped back. The door shut. Silence returned.
Rui didn't move. Didn't turn. "Please dress."
Soft rustling behind him. He stared at the wall. Steady. Controlled. "What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.
Behind him—she didn't answer.