I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

"Knock, knock."

The sound was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Shu Zi was startled and almost screamed, her hand still gripping the doorknob tightly.

"it's me."

Gu Yan's deep voice came through the door, calm and steady, "Asleep?"

"……without."

Shu Zi cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound normal, but the end of her voice still trembled slightly. "What?"

There was a moment of silence outside the door.

"Open the door."

Shu Zi stared at the door panel, her heart pounding even faster.

To open or not to open? If we open, what should we say?

But her hands moved faster than her brain, and by the time she realized what was happening, she had already unlocked the door.

Gu Yan stood outside the door, already dressed in dark gray pajamas, his hair still slightly damp, with stray hairs casually draped over his forehead.

He was holding a cup of steaming milk.

"Here you go." He handed me the cup. "It's calming; I added some honey."

Shu Zi looked at the milk in his hand, then at his calm face, and that awkwardness and inexplicable "pride" in her heart started to bother her again.

She didn't answer, crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, chin slightly raised, trying to appear as if to say, "I'm fine, I'm super calm."

"Why would I drink milk so late at night? I'm not a child anymore. Besides, I don't need to soothe my nerves to sleep."

Gu Yan, seeing her forced composure, didn't expose her. He hummed in response, casually pushing the cup forward again, his tone indifferent:

"I'm too hot, it would be a waste not to drink it, can you help me get rid of it?"

This reason... is barely acceptable. Shu Zi pouted and then reached out to take the warm cup.

The milk was at the perfect temperature, and its sweet aroma wafted towards you.

"So... is there anything else?"

She held the milk, looked at Gu Yan who was still standing at the door, and tried her best to make her tone sound like "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

Gu Yan's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if confirming something, before he said:

"It's nothing, I just wanted to let you know that the trending topic is being suppressed and the lawyer is handling it. Wu Qiwei will follow up on the matter between the property management and that person, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Oh," Shu Zi responded, looking down at the milk in her glass, and whispered, "...Thanks."

"Mm," Gu Yan replied, but didn't move.

Shu Zi waited a few seconds, but didn't hear any footsteps leaving. She looked up at him and asked, "...Is there anything else?"

Gu Yan looked at her and suddenly asked, "Is the door locked?"

Shu Zi was taken aback: "It's locked... right?"

Did she lock the door behind her when she came in? I'm not sure.

Gu Yan didn't say anything, but reached out and pressed a small button on the inside of the door, past her.

A soft "click" sound indicates that the door has been locked.

"All the doors in the rooms here have double locks. Once locked from the inside, they can't be opened from the outside even with a password."

He withdrew his hand and explained in a normal tone.

"The windows are bulletproof and equipped with sensor alarms. The security in this community is military-level, with 24-hour patrols and monitoring. Not even a strange fly can get in."

He spoke calmly as he said this, but Shuzi knew what he meant.

"……knew."

Her voice was even softer as she held the warm milk cup, her fingertips slowly warming up.

"Okay." Gu Yan nodded. "Go to bed early after you finish drinking. What do you want for breakfast tomorrow? Auntie will make it."

"...Whatever." Shu Zi didn't have much of an appetite.

"Okay." Gu Yan didn't say anything more, glanced at her, and said, "Good night."

"……Good night."

Gu Yan turned around and walked towards his room.

Shu Zi stood at the door, watching his back until he pushed open his bedroom door and went inside. Only after the door closed gently did she slowly retreat back into her room.

She closed the door, leaned against it, and held the warm glass of milk in her hands. She had an indescribable feeling in her heart, and she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

She walked to the bedside and sat down, sipping her milk slowly.

The warm liquid slid down my throat, carrying the sweet taste of honey, and warmed me all the way to my stomach, relaxing my tense nerves.

After finishing her milk, she put the cup on the bedside table and lay back down on the bed.

This time, she didn't wrap herself up like a silkworm cocoon; she simply pulled the blanket up and lay on her side.

The room remained quiet, but it didn't seem as unsettling anymore. She could clearly hear her breathing gradually calming down, perhaps because Gu Yan was there...

Sleepiness finally crept in slowly.

Before her consciousness completely sank into darkness, she vaguely thought that tomorrow, Wenjie's place... would probably be a tough battle.

Ugh, so annoying.

The next room is separated by only one wall.

Gu Yan stood by the window, holding his phone, on which was the latest progress report sent by Wu Qiwei.

It details the background of that obsessive fan, their social media account records, the channels through which they purchased Shuzi's itinerary and address information, and the initial results of the police interrogation.

Each one is shocking.

He finished reading with a cold gaze, then replied:

"Handle it according to the law, to the fullest extent of the law, thoroughly investigate all channels through which information was leaked, acquire the property management company, and completely reorganize it."

He put down his phone, walked to the wall next to Shu Zi's room, and stood quietly for a moment.

He could picture her pretending to be calm and stubbornly insisting she wasn't afraid at the door.

I've always been like this since I was a child. Even though I'm afraid of the dark and thunder, I always stubbornly insist that "I'm not afraid."

But this time was different; this time, she was genuinely frightened.

He listened until there was no more movement from the other side of the wall, only the faint, even breathing sounds, before he walked back to the bedside.

The next morning

Shuzi was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains.

She groggily opened her eyes, stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for a few seconds, and then suddenly sat up.

Who am I? Where am I? What happened?

Looking around, the room was spacious, simply decorated, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows and unopened skincare products on the dressing table.

Oh right, she remembered, she was at Gu Yan's house, Yunqi Platinum Mansion.

Memories flooded back, the terror of last night and the warmth that followed surfacing alternately. She sat up, scratching her messy hair, still wearing Gu Yan's oversized shirt.

The empty milk glass on the bedside table is gone, replaced by a glass of warm water and her cell phone.

There was a sticky note under the phone, with Gu Yan's neat and sharp handwriting on it:

"Auntie is downstairs. I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back. Call me if you need anything."

The signature is just a simple "Y".

Shu Zi picked up her water glass and took a sip. The water temperature was just right. She opened her phone and saw that she had 99+ WeChat messages.

Besides the continuous well wishes and gossip from Fang Ran, Qiao Yueke, and others, who mainly inquired about the interior decoration of Yunqi Platinum Mansion, Lan Manwen's message stood out.

Big Sister:

"10:00 AM, company conference room."

"If you or I are even one minute late, we'll have to bear the consequences ourselves (smile)."

Shu Zi: "..."

What's meant to come will come.

She sighed and got up to wash.