"Is it too late for you to flee the country, change your name, and leave Ming to deal with his own debt?" Minnie asked in a deadpan tone.
They were parked outside the hotel. Rain speckled the windshield. Somewhere in the distance, the city hummed its low, indifferent song.
Yuqi sighed. "Minnie, you know I can't."
"I know." Minnie's voice softened, just slightly. "But a girl can hope and dream."
Ezra had contacted her exactly one month after she'd stood trembling in his office, grabbing his shirt like a lifeline.
Make sure to wear something nice.
That was the message. No greeting. No explanation. Just those five words, followed by an address, a date, and a time.
She had certainly delivered on that front.
Yuqi adjusted the skirt of her ethereal white mini dress, its shimmering bodice adorned with intricate lattice-like texture that caught the light like scattered stars. A delicate floral accent bloomed at the centre of her chest, striking a balance between elegance and boldness. Over her shoulders, she draped a matching oversized sheer shawl, its feather-trimmed edges whispering with her every movement. It was elegant.
Striking.
And just a little dangerous.
Perfect for the terms they were about to set.
Minnie nudged her with an elbow. "You could at least consider faking your death. Like, a really convincing one. Fireworks. Dramatic music. Maybe a slow-motion explosion in the background."
A tiny smile tugged at Yuqi's lips—just for a second—before she exhaled slowly. "He'd never believe I died."
She wasn't sure which ‘he’ she meant. Ming, who would probably just shrug and move on. Or Ezra, who would probably hunt her down before her obituary finished printing.
The city lights blurred as rain began to streak the glass between them.
"Okay, new plan," Minnie announced, sitting up straighter. "Why not give Ming the 'Nate Jacobs Special'?"
Yuqi furrowed her eyebrows. "The 'Nate Jacobs Special'?"
"Yes. All we need is a coffin, some zip ties and a rattlesnake." Minnie paused, tapping her chin. "Wait. Do you know where I can even legally buy a rattlesnake?"
Without waiting for an answer, Minnie grabbed Yuqi's phone and opened Google.
Yuqi blinked. "Legal?" Her voice pitched higher. "Minnie, nothing about that is legal! Like, at all!"
Minnie waved a dismissive hand. "Details! Do you think the zoo is willing to accept cash for renting out a rattlesnake? Or do we ask to borrow one from Ezra's creepy reptile collection if he has any—"
"We are not doing any of that," Yuqi snatched her phone back.
"You're no fun," Minnie whined, kicking at the car mat like a petulant child whose favourite toy had just been confiscated.
Yuqi tossed the device into her purse and shot Minnie the look—the one that said I love you, but please stop being a criminal mastermind for five minutes.
"I'm just saying," Minnie muttered, raising her hands. "A rattlesnake would solve a lot of problems. I mean, it worked out fine for Nate."
“He ended up dead, Minnie.”
“Exactly.”
Yuqi laughed. Quietly. Briefly. But it was real.
Minnie beamed, victorious. "There she is."
Yuqi rolled her eyes, shoving Minnie’s shoulder.
For that one fleeting moment, everything else faded—the debt, the deal with Ezra… None of it existed. Just this quiet car and two girls being stupid together.
Yuqi’s smile faded as quickly as it had come, her fingers tightening around the hem of her dress. The weight of everything came crashing back down.
She didn’t answer right away. Minnie watched her carefully, all traces of joking gone now.
Finally, Yuqi swallowed hard and nodded once—small but firm. “Yes.”
She had to do this for Ming… even if every part of her screamed that it was a terrible idea.
Minnie sighed through her nose but reached over to squeeze Yuqi's hand anyway. “Be careful in there, alright?”
Yuqi squeezed back—harder, longer—like she was memorising the warmth of Minnie’s hand before stepping into whatever hell awaited.
"Always," she said.
She grabbed her purse and stepped out into the humid night, straightening her shoulders like armour going up before walking toward the hotel doors—each step heavier than the last.
The luxury hotel was far nicer than any place Yuqi had ever set foot in.
Marble floors gleamed beneath crystal chandeliers, reflecting soft golden light across the vast lobby. A grand piano murmured somewhere in the distance, its melody weaving through the air like silk. Elegantly dressed guests moved about with the easy confidence of people who belonged here—people who didn't have to check price tags or calculate tips.
Yuqi didn't belong here.
Her palms were damp as she clutched the strap of her purse, following the hostess past the lounge and toward a corridor of private dining rooms. Every step felt heavier than the last, her heels clicking against the marble like a countdown.
The hostess stopped in front of a pair of dark wooden doors.
"Mr Xu is waiting for you," she said.
"Thank you," Yuqi replied softly with a nod.
She waited until the hostess disappeared, then took a breath. A deep one. The kind that was supposed to steady a person.
It didn't work.
She pushed the doors open.
The private dining room was intimate and luxurious in a way that felt almost theatrical. Candles flickered on a table set for two, their flames dancing across crystal glassware and porcelain plates. A bottle of champagne rested in an ice bucket, beads of condensation sliding down its neck. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city skyline glittered like a kingdom spread out for offering.
At the centre of it all stood Ezra.
His back was to her, his hands tucked into the pockets of his charcoal slacks. He wasn't wearing a jacket or a tie. Just the slacks and a simple black button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled to his forearms, the top button left undone. The fabric stretched subtly across his shoulders as he moved.
"You made it," he said without turning around.
His voice was calm. Measured. It filled the room differently than the piano music had.
"I did." Yuqi closed the door behind her, the soft click somehow deafening. She suddenly felt very small in the grand space, her fingers twisting the strap of her purse. "I keep my promises."
The words came out slightly breathless. Her pulse thrummed at her throat, visible in the flickering light.
Ezra turned.
The full weight of his attention settled on her like a velvet rope pulling taut.
"So it seems." His dark eyes swept over her—once, twice. Assessing. Appreciating. Cataloging. "Wish your boyfriend shared the same integrity."
"Ming isn't here." Yuqi's reply came cooler than she expected, her chin lifting just slightly. "You wanted me. So here I am."
She stepped further into the room, her heels pressing into plush carpet instead of marble now. The shift in texture grounded her, just a little.
"Besides," she continued, her voice growing steadier. "I'm not here to discuss my relationship. You said we could make a deal."
Ezra hummed—a low, unhurried sound. He moved toward her, slow and deliberate, closing the distance between them with the ease of a man who had never had to chase anything in his life.
"Fair enough." He stopped just beside the table, close enough that she could smell his cologne—something warm, woody, expensive. "But first, let's eat."
Yuqi's stomach twisted. "I'm not hungry."
The lie landed between them, thin and obvious.
Ezra's lips curved—not quite a smile, not quite a smirk. Something in between. Something that said he knew exactly how nervous she was and found it interesting rather than pitiful.
"Eat anyway," he said simply. He pulled out a chair for her—an old-fashioned gesture that felt almost mocking in a room like this, with a man like him. The movement pulled the black fabric across his shoulders, and Yuqi caught a glimpse of lean muscle beneath.
"You'll need your strength, doll."
Yuqi sat down reluctantly, watching as Ezra took the seat across from her. The way he moved—so confident, so commanding—reminded her just how out of her element she was. She picked at the food on her plate, barely tasting the expensive cuisine as Ezra ate with unhurried precision.
The silence stretched on while they ate. Yuqi found herself stealing glances at Ezra more often than she'd like to admit. The way he held his fork and knife, the angle of his jaw. Everything about him was magnetic and intimidating all at once.
"Try the steak," he said, pointing at the cut on her plate with his fork. "It's amazing."
"I'm sure it is," she murmured, cutting a small piece and bringing it to her lips.
The moment it touched her tongue, she had to admit he was right—perfectly cooked, rich and buttery, melting against her palate. She chewed slowly, trying not to show how impressed she was.
After a few more bites, Ezra set his silverware down and leaned back in his chair, studying her with those piercing dark orbs. Yuqi felt like a mouse under a hawk's gaze. She set her own fork down carefully and took a sip of champagne, hoping it would steady her nerves.
"So," His voice was quiet, deliberate. "You're offering yourself to clear your boyfriend's debt."
It wasn't a question.
Yuqi's grip tightened around her champagne glass. She hated how blunt he was—how easily he stripped away every pretence she'd been clinging to.
"Yes," The word came out smaller than she intended, but she lifted her chin. "A year. That's what I can give you." She met his gaze, refusing to back down. "After that, you have no claim on me."
“Only a year, huh?” He replied. “You think you can survive a year with me?”
“I’ll take my chances,” she answered.
Ezra looked at her. Really looked at her—like she was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.
"Why are you going this far for him?"
"Because I love him."
"Yes, I heard you the first time," He leaned forward, interlacing his fingers on the table. "But beyond that," he tilted his head, "He borrowed money from me. He failed to pay me back. Yet you're carrying a burden that isn't yours to carry. Why?"
Yuqi blinked, taken aback. The question was so simple. So obvious.
"Because I love him," she repeated, as if that explained everything. Which, for her, it did. "When you love someone, you share their burdens. You help them."
"Yeah, but what's the deeper reason?" Ezra's gaze didn't waver. "I feel like doing it 'for love' is just surface level."
Yuqi paused, her mind racing. She'd never really thought about it beyond the surface. She loved Ming, so she was helping him. End of story. That should be enough, right?
But as she looked into Ezra's curious eyes, she felt compelled to dig deeper.
"He's the only person who's never made me feel like I was alone," she answered.
"How so?"
"I'm a foreigner." She started slowly. "Moved here for college." She exhaled. "You can imagine how hard it was—trying to adjust to a foreign place, not knowing the language, not having family or close friends nearby. It felt so…"
"Isolating," he finished.
She nodded slowly. "I was drowning in silence and culture shock. I felt invisible." Her eyes softened. "Then I met Ming. At a convenience store. I was struggling to read the packaging on a box of tampons."
She chuckled at the memory.
"I was lucky he was fluent in English." A small smile tugged at her lips. "He didn't laugh. Didn't look at me like I was stupid. He just… helped." She took another sip of champagne. "Became my translator. My guide. My first friend here." She paused. "The first person to make me feel like I wasn't alone in this country."
"So you feel like you owe him," Ezra stated.
"Not exactly." She corrected gently. "It's much deeper than that. He was my lifeline when I needed one most. I owe him, yes. But it's more than just repaying a debt. It's about loyalty. Gratitude. Love." She looked at him, her eyes earnest.
"But can you really love someone if you're throwing away your sense of self and autonomy for them?" he challenged.
Yuqi froze.
His words hit her somewhere deep—somewhere she'd been ignoring for a long time.
Throwing away your sense of self and autonomy.
She scoffed. "What do you know about love?"
"More than you'd think." His voice was smooth as he swirled his wine. "I've seen people sell pieces of themselves for all sorts of reasons. Money. Power. Revenge. Love." He set the glass down. "Most of them end up losing so much they barely recognise who they were when they started."
Yuqi opened her mouth to argue, but the words stuck in her throat.
"You can still walk away from this, doll." His voice softened—just slightly. "Many loan sharks wouldn't think twice about accepting your offer. Or going after the families of people who owe them. But I don't."
"Why?" she whispered, her defences momentarily crumbling under the weight of his offer. "Why are you giving me an out? You have me exactly where you want me. You hold all the cards." She searched his face, trying to understand the motives of a man who was supposed to be a monster. "What's the catch?"
"As I told you before." His gaze held hers. "I don't involve innocent people in their loved one's recklessness and stupidity."
Yuqi felt a strange warmth spread through her chest at his words. It was a rare moment of honesty and kindness from someone she had been conditioned to fear and distrust.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"And what if I choose not to walk away?" she asked softly.
"Well." A faint smile ghosted across his lips. "If you're prepared to face the consequences… who am I to stop you?"
Yuqi nodded slowly, her mind racing with the implications. She could see the sincerity in his eyes—he was giving her a genuine choice. Something she hadn't expected from someone in his position.
"And if I do walk away?"
"Then that's that." His expression didn't change. "But your boyfriend won't be off the hook, doll. Consequences still apply."
His words landed like a physical weight.
Of course. There were no free passes in this world. She'd been so focused on Ezra's unexpected mercy toward her that she'd almost forgotten the core issue: Ming still owed money. Still made bad choices. Still needed to face reality.
"So he'd still have to pay," she said quietly. "Or face whatever consequences you have planned."
“Yes,” he answered.
A long silence stretched between them. Yuqi stared at her half-full champagne glass, watching the bubbles rise to the surface. She could see her reflection in the pale liquid—tired, conflicted, terrified of what she was about to do.
She set her glass down firmly and looked at him.
"Then I'm not walking away." Her voice was steadier now.
Ezra stared at her for a long moment. Then he sighed—soft, almost resigned.
"Very well."
He stood up, walked around the table to her side, and offered his hand.
Yuqi looked up at him, then down at his outstretched palm. Long fingers. Neatly trimmed nails. The hand of a man who had never done a day of physical labour in his life. Yet she had no doubt it could ruin hers.
She placed her smaller hand in his.
He pulled her to her feet effortlessly.
His hand was warm and firm around hers. For a moment, he didn't let go—just studied her face like he was committing it to memory. Then he released her, stepping back with a slight nod.
"Bedroom's down the hall."