It arrived during breakfast, tucked inside a folded napkin handed to her by one of the kitchen staff.
A small black walkie-talkie—no brand, no tag, just a press-to-talk button and a tiny green light blinking at the edge.
Her chest tightened.
She rushed to her room, shut the windows, and turned it on.
For a moment, silence.
Then—his voice crackled through the static.
> "Mei. Can you hear me?"
Her heart squeezed.
Chen. Her boyfriend. The man who sent her into the lion's den.
> "I miss you," he said softly.
Her grip tightened on the device. She glanced out the window at the guards patrolling like shadows near the cliffs.
> "Chen… get me out of here," she whispered.
> "What?"
> "This place is dangerous," she said quickly. "He almost caught me last night. I was in his room—he was back early. I lied to him. Barely made it out."
> "Did he hurt you?" he asked.
> "No," she said, "but he's suspicious. He's too smart. And too—"
She stopped.
She wasn't ready to admit that part yet. That Qin Rui wasn't just dangerous — he was captivating in a way she hadn't expected.
> "Take me off the island. Please."
There was a pause.
Then Chen's voice returned — colder now, focused.
> "Did you find anything?"
She hesitated. "No."
> "Then you're not leaving."
Her mouth went dry.
> "Chen—"
> "You said he's suspicious. That's good. Push further. Try a bolder method. He won't open up with you playing sweet yoga girl. Get him drunk. Get him talking."
> "So that's it?" she said bitterly. "I'm bait now?"
> "You're undercover," he snapped. "Act like it."
And the line went dead.
--- Silence
Li Mei sat alone for a long while, the walkie-talkie clenched in her fist, heart pounding with cold betrayal.
She thought he cared.
Maybe he still did.
But now, his love came second to the mission.
She was trapped—not by Qin Rui.
By the man who sent her here in the first place.
--- The Plan
That evening, she stood in front of her mirror, staring at herself.
She wore a black silk dress—one slit high along her thigh, the neckline deep enough to suggest more than it showed.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for perfume.
> "Bolder method," he had said.
She was about to do something dangerous.
She was about to invite the devil to dinner.
Chapter 8: The Price of a Dinner
She rehearsed the lines in her head a hundred times.
"You're always so busy, Mr. Qin. I thought you might like some company for dinner tonight."
Casual. Light. Flirtatious.
But when Li Mei knocked on the heavy door of his office, her heart still pounded like a war drum beneath her ribs.
A guard opened it halfway and peered at her with tired eyes.
> "He's in a meeting."
She smiled. "I'll wait."
---
⏳ Five Hours
The sun dipped behind the sea.
The light in the hallway dimmed to orange, then dusky blue, then night.
And still — she sat. Silent. Poised.
The guards changed shifts. Staff passed by. No one said anything.
Until finally, after five long hours, the door opened again.
And he was there.
Qin Rui. Coat gone, sleeves rolled up, collar slightly open, as if he'd stepped out of power itself.
His dark eyes swept over her once.
> "Still here?" he said simply.
Li Mei stood, spine straight. "I wanted to ask you something."
> "Then ask."
---The Invitation
She swallowed her pride.
> "You're always surrounded by people... but never with anyone. I thought maybe tonight you'd like company. Dinner. With me."
He stared at her for a beat too long.
No smirk. No surprise.
Just silence.
Then he turned back inside his office.
> "Come in."
She followed, heart in her throat. His office was sleek, dark, silent—like the inside of his mind.
He walked behind his desk, poured himself a glass of something amber.
> "You want a dinner with me," he said slowly, "and yet I know nothing about you."
She stayed quiet.
> "Dinner isn't free, Miss Li Na."
He sat down, fingers tapping the glass.
> "You want one night with me. In exchange, I want your story."
> "My story?" she asked.
> "Your life. From the beginning. No lies. No smiles. Just you."
She hesitated.
He didn't move, but his voice lowered.
> "You want to eat with me like we're equal? Then bleed like I bleed."
---her Decision
Li Mei stared at him, stunned by the demand.
No games. No teasing.
He didn't want seduction.
He wanted truth.
Or maybe he just wanted to see if she could survive being vulnerable in front of him.
She nodded slowly.
> "Okay," she whispered. "Dinner. I'll tell you everything."
For the first time, something flickered in Qin Rui's gaze — interest... or maybe curiosity.
> "Good," he said. "Then I'll be expecting you at 9."