Inside a quiet, slightly upscale restaurant tucked away in the heart of the city, Liang Yuna swirled the coffee in her cup absentmindedly, her slender fingers tightening around the handle.
Across from her sat the last person on earth she wanted to see right now: Xiang Zhiwei.
Polished shoes, smug grin, tailored jacket—he was the very image of someone who thought the world rotated just for him. And unfortunately, right now, he was her world. Or at least her partner... thanks to his shameless connections within the Hunter Association.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "So," she said, voice dripping ice, "to what do I owe the honor of your charming presence, Agent Xiang?"
Zhiwei leaned back in his chair, flashing a grin that could probably blind someone on a sunny day. "Oh, come on, Yuna. Don't make that face. It's not like I wanted this either."
Liang Yuna resisted the urge to flip the table.
She had spent months building her cover identity as a simple English teacher at Huayan University—staying under the radar, slowly closing in on the target: a dangerous vampire- a peak awakening stage vampire who had been weaving through this society causing trouble almost undetected.
She won't have been here if it's just a peak awakened but their investigation made them to know that this vampire might be related to a dangerous criminal they are looking for – the bloodsucker who's half-step to the Beast transformation realm
And then, this guy. Posted right to where she is investigating.
By "coincidence."
By "merit."
By "the will of the Association."
She snorted silently to herself. More like the will of whoever was holding his leash.
"Let's just be clear," she said, fixing him with a sharp look. "You're here because someone up top owed your uncle a favor. You're not here because you're qualified."
Zhiwei feigned a wounded expression, clutching his chest. "Ouch. Right to the heart, Yuna. You know, there are gentler ways to admit you missed me."
She picked up her fork and pointed it at him, deadly serious. "One more word like that and you'll be eating it."
He chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I'm not here to cramp your style. I'm here for the same reason you are: to catch that bloodsucking bastard."
Yuna's eyes narrowed further. "I had a plan.
"And you still can," he said smoothly. "Think of me as... backup.
"I have to make sure you are safe". he grinned
She tapped her fingers against the table, a sign of her impatience leaking through. "Backup doesn't wear three-piece suits and flirt with every waitress in sight."
As if on cue, the waitress at the counter giggled shyly when Zhiwei flashed her a wink.
Liang Yuna groaned under her breath.
"Listen," Zhiwei said, leaning in slightly, lowering his voice. "The Association wants results. Word is, this bloodsucker isn't just hiding. He's building something. Connections. Power. Maybe even an army. And if that's true... they're worried."
Yuna's expression hardened. "I know. That's why I'm here."
"And that's why I'm here too. "Like it or not, we're stuck together until this mission is done."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Technically, she could protest. Raise hell with her handler. File complaints.
But in practice? Fighting the political games inside the Hunter Association was like punching water. Useless. Exhausting. And only hurting herself.
She sighed, picking up her cup and sipping it slowly to cool her temper.
"Fine," she muttered finally. "But understand this, Xiang Zhiwei: if you mess up my cover, if you blow my mission, if you so much as breathe the wrong way around my students, I will make sure you regret every life decision that brought you to my table."
He grinned wide, as if she had just proposed marriage instead of murder.
"Understood, Agent Liang."
"Ms. Liang," she corrected sharply. "Teacher Liang, to you."
"Teacher Liang," he repeated dramatically, placing a hand over his heart like a knight swearing loyalty. "At your service."
She rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they stayed in her skull.
And somewhere, deep down, she already knew: this partnership was going to be a nightmare.
Liang Yuna stood up with a sharp, almost impatient movement, brushing imaginary dust from her sleeve as if the very air around Xiang Zhiwei had dirtied her.
"I'm done here," she said coldly, not sparing him another glance.
Zhiwei's smile slipped the moment she turned her back. His handsome face twisted into something cold.
Staring at her retreating figure, he muttered under his breath, his voice low and dripping malice,
"Play hard to get all you want, Liang Yuna. Sooner or later, you'll end up in my bed. Whether you like it or not."
But just as a passing waiter walked by, he immediately plastered that fake gentleman's smile back on and stood up, leaving a generous tip like a model citizen.
Slipping out of the restaurant, he spotted Yuna already a few steps ahead, weaving through the light crowd.
He jogged up beside her.
"Hey, Yuna, wait up!" he called.
She quickened her pace without answering.
He didn't take the hint. "C'mon, don't be so cold. Let's watch a movie together. Relax a little. You need to loosen up."
"Not interested," she said flatly, not even turning her head.
"Just one movie. It's not a marriage proposal," he teased, nudging her shoulder lightly.
"Touch me again and I'll break your fingers," she said sharply, pulling away.
He laughed it off, unfazed, and kept pestering her like a fly buzzing around an annoyed cat.
She would have punched him since he is just an level 5 initiate and she is level 7 blood hunter but the problem of beating him will be greater
That's when LiWei, walking lazily back from the little "lesson" he had given those thugs earlier, spotted them across the street.
He froze for a moment, squinting.
Was that... Ms. Liang?
And some creep bothering her?
At first, he shrugged it off. Not his problem. Life was peaceful when you minded your own business.
But as he watched the guy lean closer to her, refusing to back off, something inside him twitched.
Tsk. So annoying.
With a heavy sigh, LiWei adjusted his jacket and crossed the street, heading straight toward them.
"Hey, babe! Sorry I'm late!" LiWei called out loudly, grinning as he waved at Ms. Liang.
Both Yuna and Zhiwei turned.
Ms. Liang's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
LiWei jogged over and, without hesitation, slung an arm casually around her shoulders, ignoring the stiff way she froze.
He flashed a bright, obnoxious smile at Xiang Zhiwei.
"Who's this guy? A stray?"
Zhiwei's face darkened instantly.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
LiWei widened his eyes innocently. "Me? I'm her boyfriend, obviously."
Ms. Liang coughed slightly, but to his relief, she didn't deny it.
"You're lying!" Zhiwei barked, pointing at him.
LiWei shrugged. "Believe what you want, bro. But honestly..." he eyed Zhiwei from head to toe, looking unimpressed. "With your face and those cheap shoes, you really think you can compete?"
A small, sharp sound escaped Yuna's throat—half-cough, half-laugh—but she quickly masked it.
Zhiwei's face twisted in fury. Without warning, he lunged forward, trying to grab LiWei's collar.
LiWei moved faster.
In one smooth motion, he dodged the grab and sent a light slap across Zhiwei's face—not a heavy punch, but the kind of slap that hurt a man's pride much worse than it hurt his skin.
SMACK.
The sound echoed a little too loudly in the open air.
People passing by turned to look.
Zhiwei staggered back, stunned, clutching his cheek.
"You—" he growled, eyes red.
Also surprised how the hell this guy is strong
LiWei smiled lazily. "What? You want another?"
Zhiwei hesitated for half a second—enough for anyone to see he wasn't confident anymore.
"Scram before I really embarrass you," LiWei added coolly, his voice dropping to something dangerously calm.
Zhiwei clenched his fists, shot a burning glare at Ms. Liang, and finally turned on his heel, storming away like a dog with its tail between its legs.
LiWei watched him disappear, then dropped his arm from Ms. Liang's shoulders and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Uh... sorry about that, Miss Liang. I just thought... you know, he was annoying."
For a moment, Yuna just stared at him, unreadable.
Then she surprised him.
"You did well," she said quietly. "Thank you."
But you shouldn't have beaten him,he has a background
LiWei blinked. Coming from someone like her, it sounded almost like high praise.
He didn't even think of the thought of Zhiwei and his background
He grinned. "No problem! I mean, what are boyfriends for, right?"
She gave him a sharp look.
He raised his hands quickly. "Kidding! Kidding!"
For the first time since he had known her, Liang Yuna's lips twitched slightly, almost like she was suppressing a real smile.
Almost.
As she turned to leave, LiWei stuffed his hands into his pockets and watched her go.