CHAPTER 4

🖤 The Manipulator’s Obsession

Chapter 4 — The Man He Noticed

The tension didn’t disappear immediately.

Even after Chi Weiwei calmed down…

the atmosphere still held traces of what had just happened.

Whispers lingered.

Eyes watched.

Carefully.

Su Yanxin slowly let go of her hand, his movements gentle, as if afraid to disturb the fragile calm that had just returned.

“You’re alright now,” he said softly.

Chi Weiwei nodded, offering him a small, grateful smile.

“Thank you… really.”

Before Yanxin could respond—

hurried footsteps approached.

“Yanxin—!”

Ji Yang appeared, slightly out of breath, his face pale as he looked between them.

“I—I’m so sorry!” he immediately bowed slightly, panic evident in his voice. “I didn’t know something like this would happen. I swear everything was checked properly—this shouldn’t have—”

He kept talking, words rushing out one after another.

Apology after apology.

Chi Cheng’s gaze shifted to him.

Cold.

Sharp.

Heavy.

Ji Yang’s voice faltered.

“…I—”

The words stuck in his throat.

That look—

it was enough to make anyone freeze.

For a moment—

it felt like the air had turned solid.

Then—

“Gege.”

Chi Weiwei’s voice broke through the silence.

She stepped slightly forward, her expression calm now, though still a little pale.

“It’s okay,” she said softly.

Chi Cheng’s gaze moved to her instantly.

The coldness eased.

Just slightly.

“I’m fine,” she continued, then glanced at Yanxin with a small smile. “Your friend helped me.”

A pause.

Then, gently—

“So nothing is going to happen.”

The meaning was clear.

Ji Yang blinked.

Relief flooded his face so quickly it almost looked unreal.

“Th-thank you, Miss Chi! Thank you so much!” he said, bowing again, this time repeatedly.

Chi Cheng didn’t respond.

But he didn’t say anything either.

And that—

was already permission.

Ji Yang exhaled deeply, like someone who had just escaped death.

Then he turned to Yanxin, whispering urgently,

“You just saved my life.”

Yanxin sighed quietly.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not,” Ji Yang muttered. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Yanxin didn’t reply.

Because he did know.

At least…

a little.

His gaze shifted—

unconsciously—

back to Chi Cheng.

And once again—

their eyes met.

This time—

it wasn’t accidental.

Chi Cheng was already looking at him.

Not briefly.

Not casually.

Directly.

Yanxin felt that same strange tension rise in his chest.

That feeling of being seen too clearly.

But instead of looking away immediately—

he held it.

Just for a second longer.

Then—

he turned his head.

Calmly.

As if unaffected.

A faint pause.

Chi Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Not in anger.

Not in annoyance.

But in thought.

He didn’t avoid it this time…

Interesting.

“Doctor Su Yanxin.”

The voice came unexpectedly.

Low.

Calm.

Controlled.

Yanxin turned back.

Chi Cheng was standing right in front of him now.

Closer than before.

“I didn’t expect to find someone like you here,” Chi Cheng said.

His tone was neutral.

But his eyes—

weren’t.

Yanxin straightened slightly.

“I’m just helping a friend,” he replied simply.

No nervousness.

No hesitation.

Chi Cheng studied him for a moment.

Every detail.

Every reaction.

“Your methods are effective,” he said.

A pause.

“My sister doesn’t calm down easily.”

Yanxin blinked once, then smiled faintly.

“She just needed someone to guide her breathing,” he said. “It’s not difficult.”

“Not difficult?” Chi Cheng repeated.

There was something unreadable in his voice.

Yanxin nodded lightly.

“For me.”

A silence followed.

Not awkward.

Not tense.

Just… quiet.

But beneath it—

something shifted.

Something subtle.

Chi Weiwei looked between them, her eyes sparkling slightly with curiosity.

“Gege, you should thank him properly,” she said with a teasing smile. “You’re being too cold.”

Chi Cheng didn’t respond to that.

But his gaze remained on Yanxin.

“Dr. Su Yanxin,” he repeated slowly.

As if memorizing it.

Yanxin felt it again.

That strange feeling.

As if his name—

had just been taken.

“Yanxin!”

Ji Yang’s voice cut in again, pulling him slightly back.

“Come with me, I need help on the other side,” he said quickly, clearly wanting to escape this intense situation.

Yanxin nodded.

Then glanced once more at Chi Cheng.

“Excuse me,” he said politely.

Chi Cheng didn’t stop him.

Didn’t respond.

But he watched.

Watched as Yanxin walked away.

Step by step.

Without looking back.

A faint silence settled.

“Gege,” Chi Weiwei said softly, a small smile playing on her lips, “you’re staring.”

Chi Cheng didn’t deny it.

His gaze remained fixed in the direction Yanxin had gone.

“…He’s different,” he said quietly.

Not soft.

Not warm.

Just… certain.

And for the first time—

there was something new in his eyes.

Not curiosity.

Not interest.

Something deeper.

Something far more dangerous.

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