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"I think... my boyfriend might want to kill me." The McDonald's on Sunday was packed with parents and their children, the screams and laughter from the kids' play area echoing incessantly. In such an environment, it was naturally hard for Sophie to take her friend's words seriously. "Don't be ridiculous! Even if you two had a fight, don’t make him out to be so evil," Sophie, plump and fair-skinned, scolded with a laugh. After a pause, she raised an eyebrow and asked hesitantly, "... You don’t get physical when you argue, do you?" Sitting across from her was a woman in her twenties. She had delicate features, though in this bustling international city, she wasn’t exactly a rare beauty. What stood out most were her slightly upturned, large eyes, their light-colored pupils with an amber hue that reminded one of a cat just waking up in the morning. Emma shook her head and didn’t continue. No wonder Sophie didn’t believe her—even Emma herself found it absurd as soon as the words left her mouth. It must be because she hadn’t been sleeping well lately, feeling a bit anxious... Emma took a couple of sips of her Coke, relaxed her expression, and said half-jokingly, "If one day, the police come asking you who I usually have conflicts with..." "Cut it out!" The teasing tone in Sophie’s voice instantly dispelled the faint trace of doubt that had lingered on her face. She waved her hand with a laugh, "Honestly, you’re complaining while having it so good! Tell me, what flaws does Buck have—" The rest of the words were one Emma had heard countless times before; this time, they blew past her ears like the wind, not registering in her mind at all. Just then, her eyes suddenly swept across the window, and the line of her jaw tightened. She quickly lowered her head as if to hide, taking a bite of her burger. The moment she bit into the bun, the noisy McDonald's entrance fell silent for a few seconds. As the light at the door dimmed, a tall man walked in unhurriedly. Several customers in line instinctively stepped back, making way for him. A tailored iron-gray shirt with the signature Armani waistline design exuded a sense of refined stability from every seam. His crisp, elegant dark trousers were free of even a single wrinkle, as if they were professionally pressed at all times—coupled with the rare nine-head-tall proportion and handsome features of an Asian man, Buck always looked like a top model fresh off a fashion shoot. Walking into a McDonald's, it was no wonder people turned their heads. As he sat down, a faint scent of Davidoff Cool Water filled the air. "Why are you eating fast food again?" He nodded at Sophie in greeting, then affectionately and helplessly ruffled Emma’s hair, his Patek Philippe watch half-hidden in her dark locks. "I was planning to take you to that Japanese restaurant we went to last time tonight." "I got hungry while passing by, so..." Emma forced a smile, avoiding Buck’s gaze as she picked up a fry and put it in her mouth. Her long hair slipped over her shoulder, hiding her expression. —Sophie was right, Buck had no flaws. He seemed as though he had stepped directly from the pages of a romantic novel. After spending a few months with Emma, Buck, with his flawless demeanor, effortlessly charmed all her closest friends—and Emma herself. Yet, it wasn’t merely his demeanor; his appearance, wealth, and personality were all impeccable. He was the embodiment of every woman's ideal. Everyone said she was incredibly lucky. When she first started this relationship, Emma couldn’t believe her good fortune. Every morning, she woke up with a smile, facing a whole new world that Buck had brought into her life. Until... she found herself less and less happy. ...When did it start feeling off? Suddenly, Sophie’s enthusiastic voice interrupted her thoughts. "... I’ve taken up Emma’s whole day today, so I won’t keep you two from your private time! She mentioned she’s a bit tired anyway, so why don’t you head home—" Emma was abruptly pulled back to reality. Buck’s warm voice, always carrying a proper hint of a smile, said, "Let us walk you out. It’s been so hot lately." Sophie, with her childlike nature, immediately laughed and said, "Well, I won’t say no! It’s been scorching today. I’ve been sweating buckets just from walking a little..." Her back was still damp from the heat. Since she didn’t have much of an appetite anyway, Emma stood up obligingly after her friend finished eating, following her boyfriend and friend out of McDonald's. Outside, the heatwave that had been baking the streets all afternoon enveloped the three of them. It was already October, but the sweltering heat showed no signs of relenting, still firmly ruling over the city. People on the street, struggling through the heat, some with umbrellas, others drenched in sweat, all wore expressions of discomfort—it was unbearably hot, even hotter than the peak of summer! Sophie, who hated the heat, was already sweating profusely after just a few steps, constantly wiping her forehead. Emma felt the hair on the back of her neck sticking to her skin. The discomfort made her feel awful, and she couldn’t help but ask, "Where did you park the car?" Buck tilted his chin toward a spot not far away, his smooth, clean skin showing no trace of sweat. "Just up ahead." After a pause, his demeanor as elegant and composed as ever, he added, "I’ve told you several times, not having a car is inconvenient. Now that you’ve got your license, would you like to buy one?" Sophie immediately exclaimed in admiration, "You’re buying Emma a car? You really are the perfect guy... All my boyfriend got me for my birthday was a teddy bear..." Emma mumbled a few vague responses, her mind not on the car at all. Fortunately, Sophie was lively, and her chatter with Buck seemed to keep him from noticing Emma’s distraction. ...Three months ago, after countless requests from Buck, Emma had finally sweetly agreed to move in with him. She packed up her things, gave up her apartment, and moved into his penthouse in the city center. Friends and colleagues who visited her new home were practically green with envy, pulling her aside as soon as they left to say, "Emma, you’ve got to hold onto a man like that!" "Does Buck have any brothers? Any single friends? Don’t forget to introduce me to one!" "You should talk to him about marriage soon..." The excited voices of her friends still seemed to echo in her ears. At the time, Emma’s own excitement and anticipation were several times greater than theirs—but after living together for a while, the intelligence that had been dulled by her infatuation began to slowly return. She started noticing certain details in their daily life. Now, Emma couldn’t quite explain why— She was a little afraid of Buck. Watching Sophie disappear around the corner of the old neighborhood, Buck started the car again, and it silently merged into the traffic. About twenty minutes later, they arrived home. Buck’s apartment was located in the most expensive part of the city, built just two years ago, every brick and tile representing a lifestyle that Emma, an ordinary person, had never dared to dream of before. And now, she was almost getting used to her new life—if it weren’t for the dark cloud of suspicion growing heavier in her heart by the day... The penthouse occupied the entire 38th floor. As the private elevator dinged and the doors opened, the two stepped into the living room. Sensing the elevator’s movement, the soft lights in the living room gradually lit up. "I bought some Coke today. Do you want a can?" Putting down her bag, Emma walked toward the kitchen, forcing herself to suppress her racing heart as she smiled nonchalantly at Buck—she thought her expression was flawless. Buck also walked over, still with that gentle smile. "Sure, anything you buy is good." Anything you buy is good? At some point, this kind of sugary, storybook-like sweet talk had started to make Emma uncomfortable, even a bit awkward. Did people really talk like this in real life? Not knowing how to respond, she quickly handed him the Coke—as he pulled the tab, the bubbles in the drink rushed out with a fizzing sound. Perhaps to make her happy, Buck drank nearly half the can in one go. Emma hid behind the open refrigerator door, her body tense, ears pricked, not daring to miss a single sound. The room was quiet for half a minute. Second by second passed, until Buck broke the silence with a laugh, "What are you looking for in the fridge?" Emma’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach. She closed the door and glanced at Buck casually, as if nothing was wrong. No reaction. A freshly opened can of ice-cold Coke, full of carbonation, had been drunk, yet Buck showed no sign of even a burp—it was as if it had been poured into a dark, still pool of water. "Nothing, just checking if there are any snacks," she forced a smile. In the three months they’d lived together, she had never seen Buck burp. Not just burping—coughing, sneezing, passing gas, sweating... all those things that, while not exactly elegant, everyone does from time to time, Emma had never witnessed from Buck. Come to think of it, she wasn’t even sure if she’d ever seen him use the bathroom. "You didn’t eat much earlier. Why don’t we go out for dinner tonight?" Buck took her hands and kissed her neck. A shiver ran down her spine. "No, I’m too lazy to move... Besides, I want to go to bed early. I have to get up early tomorrow." "Then I’ll cook salmon for you," Buck said with a smile. Emma nodded hurriedly. Buck’s cooking, like the man himself, was flawless. After finishing the meticulously prepared dinner, the sun outside the glass wall of the living room was gradually setting. The sky darkened bit by bit, eventually giving way to night and stars. "The ongoing global heatwave and drought have now lasted for 104 days..." After cleaning up the dishes, Emma pretended to be engrossed in the news on TV—she really didn’t want to make eye contact with Buck. "Following heat-related deaths in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, the number of heatstroke fatalities in our country has reached 67. Experts warn..." She felt Buck walk over and sit down beside her. The couch sank under his weight. An arm naturally draped over her shoulders, and Emma stiffened. Though she didn’t turn around, she could clearly feel that Buck wasn’t watching the TV. His gaze was fixed on her back—not the usual tender, loving look, but a naked— A gaze like a snake watching a frog...