"You're very… controlling," she observed after a moment, her voice quieter, the teasing edge softened.
"I am," he confirmed, unapologetic.
She tilted her head to look up at him. "And you don't think that's a problem?"
His gaze met hers steadily, unwavering. "Do you?"
The question hung between them, intimate and honest.
Shuyin held his eyes for a long moment before a faint, genuine smile curved her lips. "No," she whispered.
That single word carried more weight than any elaborate declaration could have.
The car began to slow as it approached the mansion gates. Neither of them moved apart immediately.
Lu Yuze's hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, drawing her just a fraction closer, his fingers resting there with quiet possession. With his other hand, he reached up to brush a loose strand of hair from her face, tucking it tenderly behind her ear. The gesture was slow, deliberate, filled with unspoken care.
