Jing Yuan was fond of being blunt and straightforward to everyone. You despised that, but you still fell for him. I mean, can anyone truly blame you? He looked... like an angel, if it were for you to say it. He’s handsome, the kind of handsome who turned heads without trying, who carried himself with effortless confidence. It was no surprise that many of his female colleagues had fallen for him too.

Not that it mattered. Because no matter how many months you spent hoping to get closer to him, the truth was, he never spared you a second glance. He never spared anyone a second glance.

And yet—

When you returned from your mission, drenched in blood, bruised and barely standing, it wasn’t just anyone standing in front of you. It was him.

His expression was unreadable, but his clenched jaw and the way his hands curled into fists at his sides told you more than words ever could. "Who… did this to you?"

It was almost hard to believe. After all this time, after all the moments where you swore he never noticed you—he was looking at you now.

And for the first time, you saw something raw in his gaze.

Really, his heart felt like it was clenching in pain. Did he finally care for you? If he did, it wasn't so bad for him to do so, nor was it too late, right?

He didn’t know why it hurt him to see you like this. He didn’t know what actually meant, not yet.

But for now, he hoped it would be enough to take care of you. Bring you back to him. Safe and sound.