The night after the confrontation at the family estate, a strange stillness lingered in the air. Though there was a sense of tentative victory after Lu Cheng's declaration of his intentions, Su Nian could feel the storm brewing. His family had not given up—they were just waiting for the right moment to strike again.
Su Nian sat in the quiet of her apartment, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her coffee mug. The weight of everything—Lu Cheng's family, the constant pressure, and her own fears—was starting to take its toll. She loved him, and in this moment, she knew that her heart had already been claimed by him. But the obstacles they faced seemed endless. Was love really enough to withstand the power of his family? Or would it crumble under the weight of their expectations?
The sudden buzz of her phone broke through her thoughts. It was a message from Lu Cheng.
"I'm coming over tonight. There's something I need to discuss with you. Don't worry, it's not bad news."
Her heart fluttered, even though her mind was full of questions. What could it be? After the dramatic confrontation with his family, Su Nian wasn't sure what to expect anymore.
Later that evening, Su Nian opened the door to find Lu Cheng standing in the hallway, his presence both commanding and comforting. He was dressed casually, but the familiar tension in his jaw and the exhaustion in his eyes told her that the battle wasn't over yet.
"I'm sorry to drop by so late," he said softly, his eyes softening when they met hers. "I just… needed to see you."
Su Nian smiled, stepping aside to let him in. "I'm glad you came. I was starting to worry about you."
As he walked past her, Lu Cheng paused for a moment, turning to look at her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. "You have every right to worry," he murmured. "Things are escalating with my family. They're not backing down, NianNian. I know they'll try to manipulate you, try to make you doubt us. But I need you to promise me something."
Su Nian's heart skipped. "What is it?"
"Promise me that no matter what happens, you won't walk away," he said, his voice low and filled with raw emotion. "Promise me that we'll face this together, and that you won't let them tear us apart."
She could hear the vulnerability in his voice, the unspoken fear of losing her. It broke her heart in a way she didn't expect. Her love for him was fierce and unwavering, and in that moment, Su Nian knew that there was no turning back for her.
"I promise, Cheng," she whispered. "I'll never leave you."
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence thick with the weight of their words. Then, in a move so swift it caught her off guard, Lu Cheng reached for her, pulling her close.
His lips crashed against hers, demanding and desperate. The kiss was a burst of heat that sent a shiver down her spine. Su Nian's breath caught as his hands slid to the back of her neck, pulling her deeper into the kiss. The tension between them had been building for weeks, and now, with the weight of everything they were fighting for pressing down on them, they couldn't hold back any longer.
As the kiss deepened, Lu Cheng's hands moved lower, his fingers grazing the curve of her waist, making her skin tingle. Su Nian responded instinctively, her hands finding his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm.
But then, just as quickly as it had started, Lu Cheng pulled back, his breath ragged, his eyes dark with desire. "We can't do this, NianNian," he said, his voice thick with frustration. "Not now. I've never wanted you more in my life, but with everything going on… I need to be sure that we're doing this for the right reasons."
Su Nian's pulse was still racing, the fire of his kiss lingering on her lips. She knew what he meant. They were both on the edge—of a relationship, of a war, of an uncertain future. But the connection between them was undeniable, and in that moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.
"I understand," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "But, Cheng... we can't keep fighting like this. The world is against us, but what if... what if this is the only thing we have left? The only thing we can control?"
Lu Cheng's eyes softened, and he cupped her face gently, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "You're right. We can't control anything else. But I'll fight for us, NianNian. I'll fight for you."
His words were like a balm to her wounded heart, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to believe in them—believe in him.
Later that night, after their conversation had quieted into comfortable silence, Su Nian found herself lying next to Lu Cheng on the couch. He had wrapped her in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head. His breathing had slowed, but she could feel the tension still coiling in his muscles.
She turned her head to look up at him, meeting his gaze. The vulnerability in his eyes made her heart ache.
"You're afraid, aren't you?" she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.
Lu Cheng didn't answer right away. Instead, he tightened his arms around her, as if grounding himself with her presence. "I've never been afraid of anything," he said finally, his voice tinged with a raw honesty that surprised her. "But with you, NianNian... I'm afraid of losing you. I'm afraid that no matter how hard we fight, we won't be able to escape the weight of my family's expectations."
Su Nian reached up, brushing her fingers across his cheek. "You don't have to carry this burden alone. I'm with you, Cheng. Always."
He leaned down, his lips brushing softly against her forehead. It was a gesture full of tenderness, but the quiet intimacy between them spoke volumes. There was a sweetness in the way he held her, a protective quality that she had never experienced before.
"I'm scared too," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "But I don't want to lose you either."
For a long moment, they just held each other, the world outside fading away. In each other's arms, they were free. Free from the demands of his family, free from the expectations that had been placed on them.
But as the night wore on, Su Nian could feel the stirrings of something more—something deeper. She could feel the passion rising again, the way Lu Cheng's touch became more insistent, his lips more demanding. His hand brushed along the curve of her waist, making her breath hitch in her throat.
He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "Are you sure?" His voice was husky, filled with a mix of desire and concern.
Su Nian didn't need to think. She had never been more sure of anything in her life. She leaned up to kiss him again, this time slower, deeper. It wasn't just about passion—it was about trust, about surrendering to what they were becoming.
Their kisses grew more urgent, the heat between them building as the walls around them seemed to crumble. Lu Cheng's hands were everywhere now, tracing the outline of her body, memorizing every curve, every inch of her. He pulled her closer, his body pressing against hers, and she felt the undeniable connection between them.
But as their kisses deepened, he pulled back once more, his breath heavy. "We should slow down," he murmured, his forehead resting against hers.
Su Nian's eyes fluttered open, a mixture of longing and understanding in her gaze. "I know," she whispered. "But just know, Cheng… no matter what happens, I'll never regret this."