His Treasure

Unexpected reunion

The soft hum of jazz music filled the dimly lit lounge, where crystal glasses clinked and laughter echoed. Zhi Rho adjusted the strap of her emerald-green dress, feeling slightly out of place among her old classmates. She had only agreed to come because her best friend, **Lina** , had begged

her.

*"Come on, Rho! You've been hiding in your art studio for months. Live a little!"* Lina had said.

Now, as she sipped her champagne, she regretted it.

**Across the room**

, in a more

secluded VIP area, **Yang Chen** sat with his usual cold detachment, swirling a glass of whiskey. His friends-**Wei Jie, Zhang Li, and Hao Ran**-were deep in conversation about mergers and acquisitions when Wei Jie suddenly smirked.

*"Hey, Chen. Guess who's here?"*

Yang Chen didn't bother looking up.

*"Who?"*

*"The Zhi princess.

"*

His fingers stilled around his glass.

Zhang Li chuckled. *"Zhi Rho, right?

The youngest daughter of the Zhi family. I heard she's stunning but completely untamed."*

Hao Ran smirked. *"And completely uninterested in you, Chen. Rumor has it she's terrified of your 'killer aura."* G

A slow, dangerous smirk curled on Yang Chen's lips. *"Is that so?"*

Meanwhile, Zhi Rho felt a sudden chill down her spine. She turned her head-and there he was.

**Yang Chen. **

Tall, imposing, his sharp jawline accentuated by the low lighting, his obsidian eyes locked onto hers like a predator spotting prey.

Her breath hitched.

*"Oh no,"* Lina whispered, following her gaze. *"Isn't that-"*

*"Yang Chen,"* Zhi Rho finished, her voice tight.

Their eyes clashed.

And then-he stood up.

Her heartbeat spiked. *No, no, no.

He's coming over.*

Yang Chen strode toward her with effortless dominance, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. The air around him was heavy, suffocating.

Zhi Rho stiffened as he stopped inches away, his deep voice smooth as velvet.

*"Zhi Rho."*

She forced a polite smile. *"Yang Chen."*

A beat of silence. His gaze flickered over her, assessing, before he spoke again.

*"I didn't expect to see you here."*

*"Likewise,"* she replied, her fingers tightening around her glass.

His lips twitched-amused by her unease. *"You look... nervous."*

*"Do I?"* She lifted her chin. *"Maybe you're just imagining things."*

His friends, watching from a distance, exchanged amused glances.

Wei Jie muttered, *"Damn, she actually talks back to him."*

Yang Chen took a deliberate step closer, his voice dropping to a murmur only she could hear.

*"Tell me, Zhi Rho... why do you fear me?"*

Her pulse jumped. *"I don't."*

*"Liar."* His thumb brushed the rim of her glass, his touch feather-light yet electrifying. *"Your hands are shaking."*

She clenched them into fists. *"Maybe I just don't like being cornered. "*

A slow, dark chuckle escaped him.

*"Then run."*

Her eyes flashed. *"I don't run."*

A smirk. *"Good."*

The tension between them crackled - charged with something neither could name.

Then, Lina cleared her throat. *"Uh, Rho? Maybe we should-"*

*"Dance,"* Yang Chen interrupted, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

*"You heard me."* His hand extended toward her. *"Unless you're scared?"* @

A challenge.

Her pride flared.

*"Fine.'

"* She placed her hand in his, ignoring the way her skin burned at the contact. *"But don't blame me if I step on your feet."*

His grip tightened. *"I'd like to see you try."*

And with that, he led her to the dance floor-under the stunned gazes of both their friends.

The music shifted into a slow, sultry melody as Yang Chen pulled Zhi Rho into the center of the dance floor. His hand settled firmly on her waist, his grip unyielding, while his other hand held hers with deliberate control.

Zhi Rho stiffened, her body resisting his lead. *"I didn't agree to a slow dance."*

Yang Chen's lips curled. *"Afraid you'll lose control if it's too intimate?"*

Her eyes flashed. *"In your dreams."*

Yet despite her defiance, her traitorous pulse raced as his warmth seeped through the thin fabric of her dress. His scent-a mix of sandalwood and something darker, more dangerous -wrapped around her, intoxicating.

Around them, whispers erupted.

*"Is that Yang Chen dancing with Zhi Rho?"*

*"I heard their families are rivals!"*

*"Since when does the Ice Prince of Beijing dance?"*

Zhi Rho ignored them, focusing instead on keeping her breathing steady. But Yang Chen wasn't making it easy. His thumb traced slow circles on her waist, sending shivers down her spine.

*"Relax,"* he murmured, his voice a low rumble. *"I don't bite... unless provoked."*

She scoffed. *"Should I be flattered or terrified?"*

Before he could respond, a voice-sharp as shattered glass-cut through the air.

***"Yang Chen."***

Both of them turned.

A woman stood at the edge of the dance floor, her crimson dress clinging to her curves, her lips painted in the same venomous shade. Her eyes, lined with kohl, burned with icy fury.

**Lu Mei.**

Yang Chen's ex-fiancée.

**The Ex Who Won't Let Go**

Zhi Rho felt Yang Chen's grip tighten imperceptibly, his expression hardening.

Lu Mei sauntered forward, her stilettos clicking like a ticking time bomb. *"How... unexpected. I didn't realize you'd downgraded your taste."* Her gaze flicked dismissively over Zhi Rho.

Zhi Rho arched a brow. *"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about him."*

A muscle ticked in Yang Chen's jaw.

Lu Mei's smile was poison. *"Cute.

But little girls shouldn't play with fire."* She turned back to Yang Chen.

*"You've been ignoring my calls."*

*"For a reason,"* Yang Chen said coldly.

Zhi Rho tried to step back, but his arm locked around her, trapping her in place.

Lu Mei's eyes narrowed. *"Is this why? Her?"* A bitter laugh. *"Don't tell me you actually fell for the spoiled Zhi princess?"*

Yang Chen's voice turned lethal.

*"Careful, Mei."*

Zhi Rho had had enough. *"Wow.

This is awkward. "* She forced a sweet smile. *"But since you two clearly have unfinished business, I'll just-"*

*"Stay,

"* Yang Chen commanded, his

gaze never leaving Lu Mei.

Lu Mei's nails dug into her palms.

*"You humiliated me when you called off our engagement. And now you flaunt *her* in my face?"*

Zhi Rho blinked. *Wait. He dumped her?*

Yang Chen's tone was glacial. *"The engagement was a business arrangement. You knew that."*

*"And yet here you are,"* Lu Mei hissed, *"holding her like she's yours.

A tense silence fell.

Then—

Zhi Rho smirked. *"Oh, honey. If you think *this* is possessive, you should see him when he's really jealous."*

Yang Chen's gaze snapped to her, something dark flickering in his eyes. *

Lu Mei's face twisted. *"You little-"*

*"Enough."* Yang Chen's voice cracked like a whip. *"Mei, walk away.

Now.”

For a second, it looked like she might lunge at Zhi Rho. But then, with a final scathing glare, she spun on her heel and stormed off.

The music resumed, the crowd murmuring in shock.