Zoe Pierce had no idea how much time she and Chase Shaw had wasted in the greenhouse.

It was just a kiss, an embrace.

And somehow, the sky had already grown dim.

They might have exchanged a few words, but Zoe’s memory of what nonsense she’d babbled was hazy.

They finished the snacks they’d bought earlier on the amusement street and ate some specially prepared food. By then, night had completely fallen.

Even with nightfall, the entire greenhouse was lit by bright lamps. They mimicked the glow of torches, illuminating the whole area. Dimmer than ordinary lights, they added a certain ambiance.

A different kind of beauty.

She saw fireflies dancing by the small creek, flitting around the flowers.

After she had admired the view for a while, Chase Shaw reminded Zoe to put on her jacket.

Zoe put it on, not understanding why, and followed him.

The greenhouse was like a huge, sprawling maze with multiple winding paths. But Chase Shaw navigated it with ease, and after just two minutes of walking, they arrived at the greenhouse’s outer edge.

It was a huge terrace.

Before she even stepped out of the transparent greenhouse, Zoe saw the sky full of stars.

Splendid and dazzling, like the Milky Way itself.

As she stepped out of the greenhouse and walked to the terrace railing, she saw the city lights below, a brilliant expanse that shimmered just as brightly as the stars above.

It felt as if the entire world was spread out at her feet.

It was a sight that made you want to stop and linger.

A cool breeze swept through her hair. Zoe tucked a stray strand from her cheek behind her ear, and her gaze met Chase’s.

He wasn’t looking at the night sky, nor at the lights on the ground. He was only looking at her.

Her fingers twitched. She averted her gaze, not daring to meet his.

’Everything is a mess.’

’My heart, my actions...’

’I’m heading in a direction I can’t control. It turns out a person’s heart really can be divided into pieces, each occupied by someone different.’

It wasn’t until late that night, close to midnight, that Chase Shaw finally took Zoe home.

Zoe wasn’t used to having maids around at night anymore, so only the robots were on duty. Sensing her return, one prepared a pair of slippers and placed them by the door.

"Welcome home, Master." It scanned Chase Shaw. "Welcome back, Master’s companion."

It quickly retrieved another pair of slippers and placed them nearby.

Zoe put on the slippers and took off her jacket. Chase, following behind her, was silent, but his presence was immense.

She braced her hands on the edge of a table and looked up at him.

’He still hasn’t left. What is he planning to do?’

Her eyes asked the question for her. Chase Shaw answered succinctly, "I’ll leave after you’ve fallen asleep."

’So, he’s going to watch me sleep?’

Zoe tapped her foot on the floor. After a pause of a few seconds, she said, "Okay."

’He’s torn through another of my defenses.’

She stood up. "I’m going to take a shower."

Ignoring the eyes on her back, Zoe went into the bathroom. As the hot water streamed over her, she wiped her face, sending the droplets clinging to her eyelashes tumbling down.

She took longer in the shower than usual.

Her skin was flushed from the billowing steam. She dried herself, slipped on her nightgown, and opened the door.

The only light in the room came from a single, dim bedside lamp. Heavy curtains blocked the view outside, shrouding the rest of the space in darkness.

The dim light illuminated the edge of the Imperial Concubine Couch. A man sat there, his legs straight, hands clasped with thumbs intertwined. The glow caught only half his body and the corner of his jaw, casting a long, slanted shadow that was impossible to ignore.

Stepping from the bright light into the dimness, Zoe’s eyes took a few seconds to adjust.

Chase, however, could see her perfectly.

The thin straps pressed into her fair, rounded shoulders, accentuating her lovely collarbones and the swell of her breasts.

And that skin, as delicate as white porcelain...

She seemed to be bathed in a soft halo, a sight so dazzling his gaze couldn’t help but follow her every move.

She lifted the covers and slid beneath them, concealing her body. Her long, jet-black hair fanned out across the pillow as she turned onto her side. Her eyes immediately fell on the man, just a few meters away.

"You’re just going to watch me sleep like this?" Zoe’s voice was low.

A deep, hoarse "Mm" rumbled in Chase’s throat.

Zoe turned off the light.

The room plunged into absolute silence and darkness.

As if with a will of its own, her Perception activated. She could sense the soft whisper of his breath, even the flutter of his blinking eyelids.

Zoe rolled over, trying desperately to ignore it all.

’But I’m only fooling myself.’

After a long moment, Zoe sat up, pushing the hair back from her forehead. She looked toward the figure in the darkness. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Chase."

The man strode over from the Imperial Concubine Couch. "Hmm?"

"I can’t sleep."

He stood by the bed.

Zoe let out a long sigh. "Do you have a change of clothes?"

"..."

"Yes."

"Go take a shower. Change, then come here." She pulled the covers up and lay back down, refusing to look at him.

Steady footsteps receded toward the bathroom. Zoe pulled the blanket up to her eyes. ’I’m going crazy,’ she thought. ’Completely and utterly insane.’

’The things I’m doing... they’re becoming more and more irrational.’

’And yet, even now, I don’t regret any of it.’

’That’s the scariest part. My boundaries keep getting pushed further and further back...’

’I’m sure I won’t do anything with Chase tonight, but I can’t guarantee I’ll feel the same in the future.’

She tossed and turned.

Then, the bathroom door was pulled open, and light from inside spilled out onto her back. Her eyes fell on the Imperial Concubine Couch where Chase had just been sitting, and she heard him turn off the light.

The covers were lifted, and a rush of cold air came in.

But it was immediately followed by a body, far warmer than hers, pressing slowly against her back.

A broad chest, hard abs...

He was only wearing a tank top, and she could feel its outline against her shoulder blades.

His arm wrapped around her waist, and his hand grasped hers.

"Zoe..."

Curled up together, her bent legs brushed against his own firm, long ones.

She could faintly smell the clean scent of Cedar on him—a cool, woody fragrance.

It made her throat dry.

"Let’s just... sleep like this..." Zoe closed her eyes. They had held each other while sleeping before, but now, a searing heat pulsed between them.

’Maybe it’s because it wasn’t in a bed before.’

’Maybe it’s because we had never kissed so intimately, so passionately.’

’But now, we’ve done it all.’

His palm didn’t just cup hers; his other hand rested on her waist. It was a large hand, one that could easily span her waist, pinning her beneath him like a butterfly specimen.

It was even harder to fall asleep than before.

Zoe’s mind was a jumble; she couldn’t form a coherent thought.

But the man was always one to press his advantage. Judging from her breathing that she was still awake, he took her hand, guided it beneath his tank top, and made her touch his firm muscles.

"What are you doing..." Her body turned reflexively until she was facing Chase.

"You like it," he said. "When we were on the motorcycle earlier, I felt you. You subtly pinched my waist a couple of times."

Her hand trembled as she tried to pull it away. Touching his bare abs was a little too much for her. Still, they felt exactly as good as she’d imagined—resilient and firm.

’What is he, if not an incubus?’

His tank top was bunched up at his chest, revealing his sculpted pecs, which were even more tempting.

Zoe didn’t know if she was still clear-headed. She probably wasn’t, because she gave in to the impulse and slid her hand upward. It cupped his pec, her fingers even brushing against the thumb-sized point that was a shade darker than the rest of his skin.

The man’s breathing instantly hitched, and he let out a stifled groan.