The storm had passed, but the tension lingered like a shadow over Silver Tower. Kai and Li Wei returned to the office under the guise of normalcy, yet every glance from their colleagues felt like a dagger.
"You've changed the game, Li Wei," Kai said quietly as they reached his office. His coat was still damp from the previous night, hair plastered to his forehead. "But you need to understand… not everyone here wants to play fair."
Li Wei's green eyes narrowed. "I know. But if I'm going to survive in Silver Tower, I need to trust… at least someone."
Kai's jaw tightened. "You trust me. That's already a risk."
Their dynamic had shifted. Gone were the playful, teasing moments—they were now partners in a deadly game of strategy. Yet beneath the tension, unspoken desire simmered. Li Wei felt it every time Kai's hand brushed his, every time their eyes met across a room.
Chen Ming appeared suddenly in Kai's office, expression grim. "Tang Lei isn't done. He's planning a takeover. If you want to protect… him," Chen nodded toward Li Wei, "we need a plan."
Kai's eyes softened for a fraction of a second before returning to his usual steel-blue focus. "Then we play smart. And fast."
Li Wei felt the rush of adrenaline. He wasn't just an employee anymore—he was a player in a high-stakes chess game, and Kai was both his king and his fiercest opponent.
As Kai handed Li Wei a dossier detailing Tang Lei's next moves, Li Wei noticed a handwritten note tucked inside: "Meet me at midnight. Alone. Or everything ends."