After the party, Mr. Lee approached me with a gentle smile.
"Aria, I am glad to see that Haoran chose someone like you," he said.
I nodded softly, feeling a mix of surprise and nervousness.
"Today… you should stay here. It's late outside," he added.
I quickly shook my head. "No, no, it's okay. I can go…"
But Mr. Lee's calm gaze stopped me. "No. Haoran, take Aria to the guest room," he instructed.
Haoran simply nodded.
I followed him quietly, my heart beating faster with every step. The hallways were dimly lit, and the soft carpet muffled our footsteps. He didn't speak at first, letting the silence stretch between us. But the weight of the evening, the party, and his hand brushing past mine made every heartbeat feel louder.
When we reached the guest room, he opened the door and stepped inside first.
"Here," he said softly, "you can rest. I'll make sure you're comfortable."
I gave a small, hesitant smile. "Thanks…"
After freshening up, I began pacing around the room. Something was nagging at me—a strange restlessness I couldn't shake.
A soft knock on the door made me jump. Nervously, I opened it. Haoran stood there, holding a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
"Oh… hot chocolate… in the middle of the night?" I asked, surprised.
He shrugged casually, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Ahhm… just casually. I also drink it in the middle of the night when I don't feel okay."
I blinked, feeling my nervousness rise. "Ahhm… no, no. I'm okay," I stammered.
He smiled again, that calm, knowing smile that made my heart skip. "Sure you are," he said softly, handing me the cup.
The warmth of the chocolate seeped into my hands, and for a moment, the tension that had been gnawing at me began to melt away.
Haoran stepped closer, his voice calm, almost gentle.
"Aria…" he said softly.
"Hmm?" I replied, looking up at him, my curiosity mingled with nervousness.
"Why did you ignore me this morning?" he asked, searching my eyes. "I know you came to my house… checking if I was okay. But when you realized I was coming, you left so quickly… and didn't even pick up my calls."
I felt my cheeks flush. I fumbled with the cup in my hands, avoiding his gaze. "I… I didn't know what to say," I murmured. "It was all so sudden… and I wasn't ready…"
Haoran tilted his head slightly, studying me. "Aria… you don't have to say anything. I just… wanted to make sure you're safe. That's all."
I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. His calm tone made the room feel smaller, more intimate… and it made me feel both nervous and comforted at the same time.
Then his expression changed, faint and unreadable. "We're being watched."
Before I could react, he moved swiftly—closing the windows and the door, his every motion precise and quiet.
"What!? Watched?!" I stammered, my voice trembling.
Haoran nodded, scanning the corners of the room. "Every moment," he said calmly.
I swallowed hard. "How do you know?"
He lowered his voice. "Aria… you should've known by now. Have you forgotten that night—when you saw something strange?"
My heart dropped. "How do you know about that?" I whispered.
His lips curved into a faint, almost sorrowful smile. "From that very day," he said softly, "I've been keeping an eye on you. The night you walked home from the park… you felt someone following you, didn't you?"
My eyes widened. "That… was you?"
He didn't answer. The silence in the room felt heavy—like the air itself was holding its breath.
"It was my agent," Haoran said quietly, almost sharing a secret. "I hired them for you."
I froze. "For me…? Why?"
He stepped closer, his gaze steady. "Because something happened that night… something you don't remember clearly. And I couldn't take the risk of leaving you unprotected."
My heart pounded. "But… that night… how much do you know?"
Haoran's eyes softened, though still serious. "Enough to know that you're important… and that danger isn't always visible."
I shivered. "So… all this time… you were watching me?"
He nodded, his expression unreadable yet gentle. "Yes, Aria. And I will, until I know you're safe."
Just as Haoran was about to leave, I blurted out, "Who was that girl at the fair who claimed to be your girlfriend?"
He paused, turned toward me, and stepped closer. "Are you jealous… or do you really want to know personally about me, Aria?" he asked, his voice teasing.
I froze, heart racing. "W-What?! Jealous me? No way! And I… I don't want to know anything personal about you!" I stammered, trying to sound confident. "And… congratulations, I already knew who the girl was. Maybe she's someone close to you."
Haoran's lips curved into a faint smirk, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "Hmm… sure, Aria. I believe you," he said, though the teasing tone betrayed him.
I quickly averted my gaze, cheeks burning. "I… I really don't care," I stammered.
He stepped closer, overwhelming my space. "Aria," he said softly, almost a whisper, "you don't have to lie to me. I can tell when you're hiding something."
I swallowed hard. "I'm not hiding anything! Really!"
His smirk softened into a gentle smile. "Alright… I'll let it go for now. But remember, Aria," he leaned slightly closer, "there are some things… only I'm allowed to know about you."
My stomach flipped. "H-Haoran… that's… that's not fair!" I squeaked.
He chuckled, finally turning toward the door. "Fairness has nothing to do with protection… or matters of the heart," he said, teasing yet sincere.
I watched him leave, my mind spinning. That girl at the fair… nothing compared to Haoran. Suddenly, the night felt colder and more uncertain than before.
The next morning, when I returned home, Yana was already waiting.
"Oh, Aria! Finally, you're home," she grinned.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here so early?"
She shrugged. "Can't I be?"
"Of course," I replied, still a little surprised.
Yana tilted her head, curious. "So… what happened at the party, Aria? Don't give me something boring—tell me something romantic."
I blinked. "Nothing romantic happened. Haoran isn't really my boyfriend." I paused, then added quickly, "But… yes, he held me a little closer in front of everyone… just to prove I'm his girlfriend. That's it."
Yana leaned closer, her voice dropping. "Yesterday evening, when you were at the party, a boy came asking about you."
I raised my eyebrows. "A boy?" Then it hit me—Feng.
Why would he come looking for me? He already had my number. I fumbled with my phone and checked.
Seventeen missed calls.
I froze. Shocked, I hadn't even noticed my phone ringing.
Suddenly, the phone rang again. It was Feng. I picked up.
"Aria… I didn't know you were this busy with Haoran," he said, his voice tight, almost sharp. "Especially… new couples."
I blinked. "It's not like that," I said quietly.
He let out a bitter laugh. "Oh… I see. Who doesn't know Haoran is the son of the Lee Company? And yet here you are, acting like it's nothing."
I said nothing, just listened, my mind still spinning from last night, Haoran's words, and Feng's unexpected call.