Bai Xueqing's steps slowed as she approached the grand hall, her mind a swirling storm of memories and questions. "Mr. Mo," Auntie Mei had said. Her heart beat faster—was it him? The man who had intervened in the alley, who had looked at her as if she belonged to him?
The heavy wooden doors swung open silently, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows. Sunlight poured over him, outlining his commanding figure in golden light. He turned slightly, and their gazes collided.
Mo Chen.
His eyes were as cold and dark as a moonless night, yet there was a possessiveness there—a quiet claim that sent a shiver down her spine. He wore a tailored black suit that accentuated the hard lines of his shoulders, the crisp white shirt beneath a stark contrast to the air of danger that clung to him.
Bai Xueqing forced herself to stand tall, lifting her chin with the grace of a woman who had once commanded armies. "Mr. Mo," she greeted coolly.
He studied her in silence, and the room seemed to still around them. Then, his lips curved into a faint smile—one that didn't reach those dark eyes.
"Miss Bai," he said, his voice low and rich, like velvet over steel. "You look much better than last night."
She stiffened. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Mo. I can assure you I am perfectly fine now."
"Fine?" His smile deepened, and he took a step closer. "You were cornered by thugs in a dark alley. 'Fine' would not be my choice of words."
Bai Xueqing's pulse quickened, but she refused to let him see her uncertainty. "I appreciate your concern, but this is a family matter. I can handle it."
Mo Chen's eyes glinted with amusement—or was it something darker? "Family matter? It seems to me that you have enemies, Miss Bai. And enemies do not respect family boundaries."
She clenched her fists, her mind racing. He was right, of course—she had seen it in her grandfather's wary eyes. Betrayal was brewing within the Bai family, and the attacks she had faced were merely the first taste of blood.
"Nevertheless," she said, her voice steady, "I will deal with it. Thank you for your intervention."
Mo Chen's smile vanished, replaced by a calculating stillness. "You misunderstand, Miss Bai. This is no mere courtesy on my part." He stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. "In the alley, I recognized you. Not just your face, but your soul."
Bai Xueqing's breath caught. Her fingers tingled with the memory of that past life—of a man who had always been just beyond her reach. She had thought him a figment of her imagination, a fever dream born from her dying moments. But here he was, flesh and blood, and looking at her as if she was the only thing that mattered.
"Mr. Mo—" she began, but he cut her off with a soft, dangerous murmur.
"Xueqing." His voice wrapped around her name like a promise. "In this life or any other, you belong to me."
The words sent a shiver down her spine. She stepped back, shaking her head. "You're mistaken. I don't know you."
"Ah." His lips quirked, but his eyes never wavered. "You may not remember, but your soul does. It called to me that night."
She swallowed, the memories of another battlefield flashing in her mind—of a man who had stood beside her in her final hour. Could it truly be him? Or was this merely a game he played?
"I don't have time for your nonsense, Mr. Mo," she said coolly. "If you came to discuss business with the Bai Group, then speak plainly."
He tilted his head, studying her as if she was a puzzle he intended to solve. "Very well. I have an offer for you—a partnership that will ensure your family's safety."
"And what do you want in return?" she asked sharply.
His smile was a slash of white in the dim room. "You."
Bai Xueqing's heart pounded. "You're insane."
"Perhaps," he admitted. "But I am also patient. I have waited centuries for you, Xueqing. I can wait a little longer."
She shook her head, her pulse a drumbeat in her ears. "I will not be anyone's possession."
He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. The touch was electric, and she hated that her body reacted, her skin tingling beneath his fingertips.
"You misunderstand," he said softly. "I do not wish to own you. I wish to stand beside you. But if anyone tries to harm you—" His voice dropped, dangerous and soft. "—I will destroy them."
Bai Xueqing pulled back, her mind a whirl of confusion and fear. "I don't need your protection."
His gaze held hers, unwavering. "Perhaps not. But you have it, regardless."
---
The door opened, and Auntie Mei entered, a faint smile of relief on her face. "Miss Bai, the lawyer is here to discuss the Bai Group's upcoming project. Shall I bring him in?"
Bai Xueqing straightened, grateful for the interruption. "Yes, please."
Mo Chen stepped back, but his gaze remained locked on hers. "This conversation isn't over, Xueqing," he said, his voice a soft threat.
She ignored him, turning her attention to the lawyer who entered. But even as she listened to the man's words about contracts and mergers, she felt Mo Chen's eyes on her—like a promise and a chain.
---
Later, as she retreated to her private study, Bai Xueqing closed the door and let out a slow breath. She pressed a hand to her chest, her heart still racing.
Who was this man? Was he truly a phantom from her past, or merely a master manipulator who knew how to unsettle her?
One thing was certain—he was dangerous. And if she wanted to protect her family, she would need to find a way to deal with him.
---
Outside, in the twilight-drenched courtyard, Mo Chen watched the mansion with an unreadable expression. His fingers traced the jade pendant he wore beneath his shirt—a relic from a life long gone.
"Xueqing," he murmured, his voice lost in the evening wind. "You can push me away all you like. But I will not let you go."
He turned, his figure blending with the lengthening shadows. In this life or any other, he would find her. And he would not be denied.