CHAPTER 3

🖤 The Manipulator’s Obsession

Chapter 3 — A Dangerous Attention

The atmosphere slowly returned to normal.

Conversations resumed. Glasses clinked. Soft music filled the air again.

As if nothing had happened.

But for Su Yanxin—

something had already changed.

He now knew.

The man standing at the center of the room…

the one everyone watched, respected, and quietly feared—

was Chi Cheng.

Yanxin stood a few steps away, pretending to stay focused on his work.

But his mind—

was elsewhere.

Chi Cheng…

The name echoed again and again.

His patient’s trembling voice replayed in his head.

“He won’t let me go…”

“If I leave, it means betrayal…”

Yanxin’s brows furrowed slightly.

What kind of person thinks like that…?

His gaze unconsciously drifted back—

toward Chi Cheng.

Across the hall—

Chi Cheng stood surrounded by businessmen, his posture relaxed, expression calm.

Yet his presence alone controlled the space.

He didn’t need to speak loudly.

Didn’t need attention.

It came to him naturally.

And yet—

he noticed.

That gaze.

Light.

Curious.

Unaware of its own boldness.

Chi Cheng’s eyes shifted slightly.

Just once.

Their gazes met.

Yanxin froze for half a second.

Something about those eyes—

cold, sharp, unreadable—

sent a strange chill through him.

Like being seen too clearly.

He looked away immediately.

Too quickly.

As if avoiding something dangerous.

A faint pause.

Then—

Chi Cheng looked away as well.

As if nothing had happened.

But inside—

something registered.

Interesting.

The evening continued.

Chi Weiwei moved gracefully among the guests, handling conversations with ease, her presence warm and polite—completely different from her brother’s quiet dominance.

Meanwhile, Yanxin tried to focus on his work.

But his thoughts kept returning.

Again and again.

To the same man.

Why is he like that…?

Why doesn’t he let people go…?

Does he really think he owns them?

The more he thought—

the more it bothered him.

A while later—

Chi Cheng walked toward the bar area.

Unhurried.

Effortless.

As if the space naturally opened for him.

Yanxin was already standing nearby, speaking with a waiter about some arrangements.

He noticed him immediately.

Didn’t turn fully—

but he knew.

Chi Cheng stood beside him, engaged in conversation with another businessman.

“Business is business,” Chi Cheng said calmly, his voice low but clear. “But the people who work under me…”

A slight pause.

“…should understand loyalty.”

The businessman nodded quickly.

“Of course, President Chi.”

Chi Cheng’s gaze remained steady.

“If someone leaves in the middle,” he continued, tone unchanged, “that’s not a career decision.”

A faint pause.

“It’s betrayal.”

Yanxin’s fingers tightened slightly.

There it was.

Exactly the same words.

Something inside him stirred—

not fear.

But anger.

He couldn’t confront him directly.

Not here.

Not at Ji Yang’s workplace.

But…

he didn’t stay silent either.

Turning slightly toward the waiter beside him, Yanxin spoke—his tone calm, but just loud enough.

“You know,” he began casually, “everyone has their own life.”

The waiter blinked, confused.

“…Sir?”

Yanxin continued, as if explaining something simple.

“Everyone has the right to choose what they want to do,” he said. “Where they want to go.”

His voice remained gentle.

But his words—

sharp.

“If someone decides to leave a job,” he added lightly, “it doesn’t mean they’re betraying anyone.”

The waiter stared at him, completely lost.

“…We were talking about food, sir…”

Yanxin smiled faintly.

“I know.”

Then, softer—

“It just came to mind.”

Silence lingered for a second.

Chi Cheng heard every word.

Clearly.

Precisely.

He didn’t react.

Didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t even look at him immediately.

But slowly—

his attention shifted.

Toward Yanxin.

Not with anger.

Not with irritation.

With interest.

No one talks like that…

Not here.

And certainly—

not to him.

For the first time—

Su Yanxin had stepped into his awareness.

Dinner began shortly after.

The atmosphere softened slightly as guests moved toward the buffet area, conversations becoming lighter.

Everything seemed… normal.

Until—

a sudden flicker.

Near the buffet—

one of the chafing dishes flared up.

A small flame—

suddenly rising higher than it should.

“Ah—!”

Chi Weiwei stepped back instinctively.

The fire wasn’t large—

but it was enough.

Her breathing hitched.

Her body froze.

“No…”

Her voice trembled.

Her eyes widened—not at the present—

but at something else.

Something remembered.

“Weiwei.”

Chi Cheng was already there.

In seconds.

He reached her side, his hand steady as he held her shoulders.

“Look at me,” he said calmly.

Not loud.

Not panicked.

Controlled.

“Nothing is happening. You’re safe.”

But she wasn’t listening.

Her breathing became uneven.

Her hands trembled.

“Chi Cheng gege… I— I can’t—”

The staff quickly put out the flame.

The fire was gone.

But the panic remained.

Guests began to gather, whispering.

The atmosphere tensed again.

From a distance—

Yanxin saw everything.

And in that moment—

he stopped thinking.

He moved.

Pushing through the small crowd, he stepped forward without hesitation.

“Excuse me,” he said calmly.

Then—

he gently took Chi Weiwei’s hand.

Chi Cheng’s eyes snapped toward him.

Sharp.

Cold.

Protective.

But Yanxin didn’t step back.

“I’m a therapist,” he said quickly, his voice steady. “Let me help.”

A brief pause.

A silent tension.

Then—

Chi Cheng didn’t stop him.

Yanxin turned his full attention to her.

“Hey… look at me,” he said softly.

No pressure.

No force.

Just calm.

Her breathing was still uneven.

Her eyes unfocused.

“It’s okay,” Yanxin continued gently, his thumb slowly rubbing the back of her hand in a steady rhythm.

“Nothing is burning now. You’re safe.”

Step by step.

Word by word.

“Breathe with me,” he said.

“In… and out.”

At first—

she couldn’t.

But Yanxin didn’t rush her.

Didn’t force her.

Just stayed there.

Grounding her.

Minutes passed.

Not long.

But enough.

Her breathing slowly steadied.

Her hands stopped trembling.

Her eyes regained focus.

“…I’m okay…” she whispered weakly.

Yanxin smiled softly.

“Good.”

Beside them—

Chi Cheng was watching.

Closely.

Something in his gaze had changed.

Just slightly.

Ten minutes.

That’s all it took.

Usually—

it took much longer.

Half an hour.

Sometimes more.

But this time—

she calmed down in ten minutes.

Because of him.

“Thank you…” Chi Weiwei said, looking at Yanxin with genuine gratitude.

She extended her hand politely.

“I’m Chi Weiwei.”

Yanxin smiled warmly, about to shake her hand—

But before he could—

another hand reached out.

Firm.

Cold.

Controlled.

Chi Cheng.

He held Yanxin’s hand instead.

His grip steady.

His expression unreadable.

“Thank you,” he said calmly.

A slight pause.

“Doctor…?”

Yanxin felt it.

That cold touch.

It sent a faint shiver through his body.

But he didn’t pull away.

“Dr. Su Yanxin,” he replied. “Therapist.”

Silence.

For a moment—

their hands remained connected.

And their eyes met.

This time—

neither looked away.

Yanxin felt it again.

That gaze.

Not just looking.

But understanding.

Measuring.

Chi Cheng said nothing.

But something had already been decided.

And Yanxin—

without realizing it—

had stepped deeper into his world.

Chi Wie Wie

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