Mr. Song, you have crossed the line.

Rong Zheng originally thought this was a meal to reminisce and that she would enjoy it, but because Song Shiyan was sitting next to her, she ate the meal very reservedly and didn't dare to look at the person next to her at all.

He only spoke to Zhang Bonian and Zhou Chiyao, and apart from the initial greeting with Song Shiyan, he didn't exchange a single word with him.

Song Shiyan was a man of few words. He only responded occasionally when Zhang Bonian offered his polite greetings, remaining completely silent throughout.

Zhou Chiyao glanced back and forth between Song Shiyan and Rong Zheng without making a sound, a smile flashing across his eyes before he quickly concealed it and continued talking to Zhang Bonian as if nothing had happened.

As the meal drew to a close, Rong Zheng put down her chopsticks and said, "I'm finished eating. You guys continue eating. I'm going to the restroom." She then got up and left the private room.

After Rong Zheng left, Song Shiyan also got up and said, "Let's go out for a smoke."

Zhou Chiyao smiled ambiguously, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "Take it easy with your smoking."

Song Shiyan glanced at Zhou Chiyao indifferently, then stepped out of the private room.

When Rong Zheng came out of the restroom, she immediately saw Song Shiyan standing next to the ashtray, smoking.

He stood tall and straight, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette. He wore a crisp black shirt and perfectly pressed black trousers without a single wrinkle. His sophisticated dark-colored attire gave off an invisible sense of pressure simply by standing there.

After exhaling a puff of bluish-white smoke, Song Shiyan turned to look at her.

When Rong Zheng met his deep, unfathomable gaze, the enchanting images from that spring dream flashed uncontrollably through her mind again. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately lowered her eyes, frozen in place.

Song Shiyan stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette on the ashtray and walked towards Rong Zheng.

Rong Zheng heard the steady sound of a man's leather shoes on the floor, and her heart beat faster and faster as the sound drew closer.

What is she doing standing here?

We should leave.

Or you can say whatever you want.

It would be very awkward to just stand there like that.

When Song Shiyan approached her, she casually looked up at him, forced a smile, and said, "You're here to use the restroom too?"

Song Shiyan just looked at her without saying a word.

Rong Zheng felt the atmosphere growing increasingly awkward, and the smile on her lips almost crumbled. "I'm going back now." She took a step forward, but her wrist was grabbed by a large hand after only one step.

She looked at Song Shiyan in astonishment, "Brother Yan..."

Before she could finish speaking, Song Shiyan pulled her toward the stairwell to the side.

Rong Zheng tried to pull her hand away, but the man held it tightly, and she couldn't break free. She was forced to follow him. "Brother Yan, is there something you need?"

The man didn't speak or turn around.

Looking at the man's tall and aloof back, Rong Zheng felt inexplicably flustered. The man's legs were so long that his stride was so wide that she had to jog to keep up with him.

Song Shiyan pushed open the stairwell door, pulled Rong Zheng into the stairwell, and released Rong Zheng's hand the instant the door closed.

The sound of the door closing turned on the motion-activated lights in the stairwell.

Rong Zheng looked at the man standing in front of her, who was more than half a head taller than her, with a flustered expression. "Brother Yan, is something the matter?"

Song Shiyan's deep gaze fixed on Rong Zheng. "Why are you avoiding me?"

Rong Zheng's heart trembled slightly. She didn't dare to meet Song Shiyan's gaze and lowered her eyes. "I wasn't avoiding you."

His voice was low, clearly lacking confidence.

"Did Shuyan say something to you?"

A deep, clear voice drifted down from above her head. Rong Zheng shook her head. "No."

Song Shiyan took a step closer to Rong Zheng.

Rong Zheng immediately took two steps back.

Song Shiyan pressed closer again until Rong Zheng was cornered against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat. "If you're not avoiding me, what are you doing?"

Rong Zheng: "..."

He approached, and she panicked. Couldn't she back away?

Rong Zheng swallowed hard, her throat dry and tight, and mustered her courage to look up at Song Shiyan. "You've misunderstood. Why would I be avoiding you for no reason?"

"Yeah, why are you avoiding me all of a sudden?" Song Shiyan asked back, echoing her words.

Rong Zheng was momentarily speechless at his words. Feeling guilty, she looked away and remained silent for several seconds before weakly replying, "I wasn't avoiding you."

"Then why don't you dare look at me?"

Rong Zheng: "..."

She hadn't expected Song Shiyan to ask so bluntly, and she was momentarily speechless.

Surely she can't just say that seeing his face reminds her of that beautiful dream?

Rong Zheng stared silently at a point in the void, saying nothing.

The motion-activated lights in the stairwell went out after a period of inactivity, plunging the area into darkness.

When vision is lost, other sensory nerves become unusually clear and sensitive, such as the sense of smell.

At this moment, Rong Zheng felt that her breath was completely invaded by the cool, woody fragrance emanating from Song Shiyan, enveloping her so tightly that she felt somewhat suffocated.

She subconsciously reached out and pushed Song Shiyan, trying to push him away, but in the next instant, Song Shiyan grabbed her wrist.

The man's palm was dry and hot, making her tremble all over.

Rong Zheng immediately tried to pull her hand back, but the man seemed to have anticipated her move and increased his strength. She couldn't pull it away. "Brother Yan, let go of me."

She deliberately raised her voice slightly, and the motion-activated light turned on in response.

She disliked the feeling of being unable to see clearly in the pitch black; it inexplicably gave her a sense of unreality and loss of control.

The moment the lights came on, Song Shiyan released Rong Zheng's hand and suppressed the unfathomable emotions in his eyes. "You're not allowed to hide from me anymore."

The man's voice was deep and tinged with an ambiguous quality that was hard to define.

Is this the kind of thing he could say to her?

Rong Zheng felt that Song Shiyan was acting strangely. In fact, it wasn't just this sentence that was strange; it was also strange that he blocked her at the bathroom door and insisted on dragging her here.

Yes, she was avoiding him because she had that dream and was too embarrassed to see him.

But what effect does her avoiding him have on him?

She's not his client, nor is she anyone important to him. He can just avoid her and not see her.

Is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of this?

She must be very embarrassed by being so blunt.

Rong Zheng gave an awkward smile and said, "I understand."

"You still haven't told me why you're avoiding me?"

Rong Zheng: "..."

Why is this person so fixated on this issue?

Rong Zheng's fingers curled slightly at her sides. Mustering her courage, she looked up at Song Shiyan and fired back, "Does my avoiding you have a big impact on you?"

Song Shiyan's deep gaze was fixed on Rong Zheng's eyes, his thin lips slightly pursed, and he remained silent.

Why aren't you saying anything?

What does it mean to just stare at her?

Doesn't he realize how intimidating his gaze is?

Rong Zheng was struggling to cope, but she persevered and did not back down.

Then she heard Song Shiyan sigh softly, seemingly helpless about her problem, "Yes, it has a big impact."

Rong Zheng was stunned, not expecting his answer. Almost instinctively, she asked, "What kind of impact?"