Chapter 12: The Elevator

Duan Sili, holding a cold drink, leaned against the counter.
He watched Xu Yin unhurriedly unpack a cake box, light candles, and create an ambiance.
She moved as if she were in her own home.
Between Gao Minglang and Duan Sili, there was still a hint of awkwardness.
The atmosphere felt delicate.

Finally, steeling himself, Gao Minglang grabbed a paper birthday crown and approached Duan Sili.
“Master Si… birthday…”
A single cold glance from Duan Sili forced him to retreat.
Duan Sili went to the bar, grabbed a glass of iced water, and downed it.
Turning back to Gao Minglang, he said, “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.”

Gao Minglang instinctively glanced at Xu Yin, who gave him an encouraging look.
He steadied himself, stepped forward, face flushed, and hesitated for ages but couldn’t get a word out.
Duan Sili rattled the ice in his glass.
Just as Xu Yin thought he minded her presence and was about to tactfully slip out to the balcony, Duan Sili spoke up.
“How’s the middle schooler doing?”

The question was like popping the cap off a soda bottle.
The tense atmosphere instantly eased.
Gao Minglang’s heart warmed.
“She ran off to the beach alone, trying to scare me. You know how she is, all loud and dramatic. I was genuinely freaked out.”
He’d rehearsed a whole speech, and now it finally spilled out.
“I’ve always known your goals. You don’t want to be controlled by your brother, having every detail of your life arranged, even your marriage. I know how stifled and suppressed you’ve felt all these years… As your brother, I should support you unconditionally, not pick fights…”
On and on he went, endless chatter.

Duan Sili shot several glances at Xu Yin, who kept her eyes down, focused on arranging the small cake, nose to heart, pretending she heard nothing.
Finally, he cut Gao Minglang off.
“Enough. It’s the middle of the night. I’m not here for your nonsense.”
“Uh…” Gao Minglang’s outpouring stopped.

Xu Yin checked the time on her phone.
“It’s almost midnight. Hurry up?”
“Oh, right, right!” Gao Minglang snapped awake, grabbing the paper crown.
“Master Si, this year, no matter what, you’re letting me celebrate your birthday.”
He moved to place the crown on Duan Sili’s head, but Duan Sili warned coldly, “Want to die?”
The paper crown was sheepishly set aside.
“Then… blowing out candles is fine, right?”

Xu Yin walked to the wall, pressed a button, and turned off the lights.
Duan Sili’s head throbbed, his temples pulsing.
But strangely, he didn’t feel annoyed by their intrusion.
“Xu Yin suggested we come celebrate your birthday. We rushed out, scoured the city.” Gao Minglang carefully placed the small cake on the bar.
“The cake shops were closing, but we found one willing to stay late and whip this up. It’s just a small one, though.”

Duan Sili glanced at Xu Yin.
In the flickering candlelight, the girl’s sweet, clear face glowed warmly, her eyes dancing with the flames.
He’d guessed this was her idea.
Gao Minglang, that guy, would never be thoughtful enough to remember it was his birthday too.

Xu Yin looked up, meeting Duan Sili’s gaze.
The moment their eyes locked, a faint electric current seemed to pass between them.
They both looked away almost simultaneously.
Nothing had happened, yet there was an inexplicable, shared sense of secrecy.

Xu Yin handed the cake to Duan Sili and began singing a birthday song.
Her voice was soft and gentle.
Gao Minglang joined in, clapping, his off-key notes blending with her sweet tone, creating a lively mix.
This was the first time—the first time anyone had sung this song for him.
The first time anyone celebrated his existence.
Maybe… it wasn’t so bad.

After the song, Xu Yin clapped happily.
“Duan Sili, happy birthday!”
“Yeah! Happy birthday, Master Si! May you have today every year, this moment every age!”
Duan Sili sat on a high stool, casually propping his foot on the chair opposite, and blew out the candles.

The room plunged into pitch-black darkness.
With vision gone, his other senses sharpened.
He distinctly felt someone draw closer.
The air carried the cake’s sweet scent and a faint trace of jasmine from her.
Click. The lights snapped back on.
Xu Yin was still in her original spot, smiling softly, her expression gentle and obedient, as if the closeness had been his imagination.

It was just past midnight.
Xu Yin glanced at her phone.
“My brother’s calling me home. I’ve got to go.”
Gao Minglang jumped in.
“Perfect, I should head back too. Let’s go together.”
“Mm, I’ll see you downstairs.”

Gao Minglang looked at her reluctantly.
Though he didn’t want her to go out in the cold night air, he wanted even less to part with her.
“Alright, alright, thanks for the trouble.”
Duan Sili, arms crossed, watched them head toward the elevator with an expressionless face, then muttered, “What, you throw me a birthday party and don’t even have a gift prepared?”

The question stumped Gao Minglang.
The birthday plan was spur-of-the-moment.
He hadn’t had time to prepare anything, not even the cake, which was a rushed purchase.
Duan Sili never accepted gifts in past years, so it hadn’t crossed his mind.
“Of course I prepared something.” He fumbled, trying to cover.
“I just left in a hurry and forgot it. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

Duan Sili didn’t even look at him, his dark eyes fixed on Xu Yin.
Gao Minglang, ever helpful, tried to cover for her too.
“Her gift’s with me too…”
Before he could finish, Xu Yin set down her backpack.
“Oh, almost forgot.”

Gao Minglang was stunned.
Xu Yin pulled a small red dinosaur charm from her bag.
“I didn’t prepare anything else, but this… I found it at the cold drink shop. It’s yours, right?”
“Isn’t that the one Master Si lost?” Gao Minglang was shocked and thrilled.
“I can’t believe Yin-Yin got it back for you. This gift’s perfect! Who knew Yin-Yin had this up her sleeve!”
He was clearly trying hard to talk her up, worried Duan Sili might reject it and embarrass her.

Duan Sili took the charm from Xu Yin, glancing at it.
In an instant, he saw through it.
At the same time, he looked up at Xu Yin.
The girl’s eyes were soft, her smile sweet.
It looked similar.
But it wasn’t the one he’d lost.
She’d given him a brand-new one.

Xu Yin saw Gao Minglang out of the apartment lobby.
The night breeze was cool, and the boy’s face was flushed as he thanked her profusely.
“If it weren’t for your idea, Master Si and I might’ve fallen out for good.”
“Thanks, Yin-Yin. You’re amazing.”
“No big deal.” Xu Yin brushed it off.
“And thanks for inviting me to the birthday party. I had fun.”

Gao Minglang’s face reddened, and he stammered, “Yin-Yin, actually, I…”
Her phone rang at the perfect moment, cutting him off.
Xu Yin glanced at the screen.
“Sorry, my brother’s calling again. It’s late, I’ve got to head back.”
“Okay, okay, go on then.”
“Mm, bye.”

Xu Yin waved goodbye and hurried back to the apartment lobby, pressing the elevator button.
The doors slid open, revealing Duan Sili, one hand in his pocket, his sharp figure standing in the center.
Under the bright overhead light, his face was striking—angular, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes shadowed in darkness.
“Duan…”

Before she could finish, he grabbed her slender wrist, pinning her against the cold elevator wall with force.
Ding!
The doors closed, and the elevator began to rise.
In the confined space, their breaths mingled, eyes locked.
“You like this sneaky thrill, huh? Getting my brother to cover for you, throwing a birthday party, slipping me a gift on the sly…”
The boy leaned closer, his voice low and cold.
“You enjoy tempting me like this?”

Duan Sili bent down, his hand gripping her jaw, fingers tightening, holding her still.
At such close range, his face—a masterpiece of beauty—was overwhelming.
Xu Yin had seen plenty of attractive people, herself included.
But few could wield their looks alone to create such suffocating psychological pressure.
Duan Sili was one of them.
Like a blade pressed to her throat.

“I came to celebrate your birthday sincerely.” The girl averted her eyes.
“No other intentions.”
“Afraid I’d turn you down?” Duan Sili smirked, gazing at her.
“When something this pretty offers itself up, I might not say no.”
“Do you have to talk like that, Duan Sili?”
His rough fingers grazed her jaw, slow and deliberate.
“What are you pretending to be?”

Xu Yin trembled slightly, the touch ticklish.
She looked up, meeting his dangerously alluring eyes.
“Duan… Sili.” Her voice was almost pleading, soft like an injured lamb, barely holding together.
“It hurts…”
She knew he didn’t respond to defiance, so she played soft—she was skilled at it.
But the more pitiful she seemed, the more Duan Sili wanted to break her.

“If you just want to sleep with me, we can go to my place right now.” He leaned close to her ear, his breath hot and wet, his tone gentle yet cruel.
“If you’re after something else, you saw my choice today. Give up now.”
“Duan Sili, you’re drunk.”
“You know I’m not.”

Ding. The elevator doors opened, and Xu Yan stood outside like a ghost.
“Yin-Yin.”
Xu Yin quickly broke free from Duan Sili’s grip, stepping out and hiding behind her brother.
Duan Sili let out a mocking chuckle, turning to face the siblings.
As the doors began to close, he raised his hand, waving two fingers in a casual, provocative goodbye to Xu Yin.

Xu Yan’s gaze was icy, and in that single look, Duan Sili was certain.
That wasn’t the look of a brother.
These damn siblings were hiding something.

“By the way, Dad called earlier. He can’t come this week; he’s flying to Europe for business.” Xu Yan handed Xu Yin a glass of water after they entered.
“Yin-Yin?”
Xu Yin snapped out of her daze, taking the glass.
“Huh?”
“Dad can’t come this week. Maybe next week.”
“Oh, okay.” Xu Yin paused.
“Why?”
“Business in Europe.”
“Oh.”

Xu Yan’s calm eyes lingered on her face.
“Brother, I’m tired. Heading to bed.”
As she turned, Xu Yan grabbed her hand.
“Yin-Yin, be careful around Duan Sili. The plan matters, but you matter more. Protect yourself.”
“I know.” Xu Yin nodded.
“I checked before. His record’s clean, here and in Moscow. No messy relationships. He shouldn’t cross any lines.”
“Still, stay cautious.”
“Got it, Brother. Good night.”
“Good night.”

Xu Yan watched the girl’s pure white figure vanish behind the door.
He stared for a long time.

The Student Union’s recruitment exams and interviews began.
Xu Yin and Qi Youwei both signed up.
Lu Qi, despite his busy sports training, saw Qi Youwei’s name on the list and, fearing she’d be eaten alive by the “wolves and tigers” of the Student Union, hurriedly signed up too.
At Pu Jing Private High, the Student Union had its own grand, European-style building called the “Student Union Center.”
The fourth floor had six classrooms set up as exam venues.

Qi Youwei was a nervous wreck, cramming knowledge points right up to the last minute.
Lu Qi, on the other hand, didn’t take it seriously.
He knew he wouldn’t get in—kids from families without money or influence never did.
That “arena of fame and power” was basically monopolized by those with connections.

As they waited in the hallway, Chi Huanyi strode over with her roommate, Li Jiayao.
Seeing them, she sneered.
“Well, well, rare guests. You’re actually here for the exam?”
“Why can’t we be?” Xu Yin shot back.
“Sure, whatever. Cannon fodder’s welcome too.”
Chi Huanyi strutted past, head high.

She arranged for Li Jiayao to sit in Classroom 403, where she was proctoring.
Qi Youwei whispered to Xu Yin, “Chi Huanyi’s in the publicity department. She’s definitely slipping her roommate some help. Oh, and Li Jiayao? She ran for English class rep last time but lost to you. Now she’s banking on Student Union points to boost her grades.”
“If Chi Huanyi’s in the Student Union, why isn’t she in A-class?” Xu Yin asked.
Lu Qi’s loud voice chimed in.
“Her grades are trash. Even the Union’s high points can’t save her.”
Chi Huanyi overheard, whipping around to glare at him.

Qi Youwei tugged his sleeve, urging him to hush.
“Careful, or she’ll sabotage you.”
“I’m not in her exam room. What’s she gonna do?”
Xu Yin pulled out her exam slip—
Classroom 403.
Lu Qi and Qi Youwei saw it, swallowed hard, and said in unison, “Good luck.”

Soon, the three headed to their respective exam rooms.
Xu Yin found her seat and sat down.
Li Jiayao was right behind her.
Xu Yin noticed Chi Huanyi, sorting exam papers at the front, exchanging glances with Li Jiayao several times.

Just then, a commotion stirred in the hallway.
Duan Sili, in a crisp uniform, strode in, followed by several Student Union members, including Gao Minglang.
He walked straight into Classroom 403.
Chi Huanyi’s cheeks flushed as she hurried to greet him.
“President.”
Duan Sili set his black shoulder bag by the podium.
“I’m proctoring here on short notice.”
“Oh, you’re proctoring this room?”
“Mm.” Duan Sili said firmly, “This is my first recruitment as president. I’ll pick my own people, so I’m handling everything—proctoring, grading, interviews.”

He said it to Chi Huanyi, but also to every student in the room.
“Oh, uh, alright.” Chi Huanyi quietly moved to the back of the classroom.
Duan Sili began distributing exam papers.
The girls, faces flushed, were too distracted to focus on the test.
Xu Yin’s gaze fell on the black shoulder bag on the podium.