Trust bred new danger.
A smaller syndicate tried to court Yu Zhen as Lian Xuan's weak point — sending flowers, encrypted invitations, false medical commissions.
Yu Zhen refused all of them.
One night, Lian Xuan discovered the overtures and snapped.
His jealousy burned sharp — not alpha instinct, but possessive devotion built from fear of loss.
"Don't answer unknown calls," Lian Xuan said tightly.
"I'm not exactly fragile," Yu Zhen replied.
"I know."
That was the problem.
"You don't look breakable, and that makes people reckless."
He pulled Yu Zhen into protective range with restrained intensity.
"I don't tolerate anyone testing your safety."
The closeness wasn't sexual — it was protective pressure, heavy and wordless.
[SOUL THREAD: STABILIZATION PEAK]