You Shouldn’t Have Run

The moment he touched her—

Fang Jia froze.

Her breath hitched.

Her heart betrayed her.

Again.

“You’re trembling,” He Yichen said quietly, his thumb still resting under her chin.

His touch wasn’t rough.

But it wasn’t gentle either.

It was… possessive.

“I—I’m not—”

“Don’t lie to me.”

His voice dropped.

Low. Controlled. Dangerous.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Fang Jia clenched her fists.

“Sir… we shouldn’t—”

“We already did.”

The words cut through her.

Sharp.

Unforgiving.

Silence fell between them.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

The rain continued to fall, soft and distant—like the world was pretending nothing had happened.

But everything had.

Everything changed that night.

“You left.”

Yichen’s voice came again.

Colder this time.

“You disappeared like it meant nothing.”

Fang Jia lowered her gaze.

Because she didn’t have the courage to look at him.

“It had to mean nothing.”

A pause.

Then—

a soft, humorless chuckle.

“It had to?”

His fingers tightened slightly under her chin.

“Or you wanted it to?”

Her chest tightened.

“I know my place.”

The words barely escaped her lips.

But they were enough.

Enough to make something in him snap.

“Say that again.”

She hesitated.

Then forced herself.

“I’m just a maid.”

A mistake.

In one swift movement—

Yichen pulled her closer.

Too close.

Her back hit the cold wall behind her.

“You think that’s all you are?”

His voice dropped to a whisper near her ear.

“Then why do you still look at me like that?”

Her eyes widened.

“I don’t—”

“You do.”

His grip shifted to her wrist.

Firm.

Unyielding.

“As if you still want me.”

Her pulse spiraled out of control.

Because she did.

And that was the problem.

“Let me go…”

Her voice was softer now.

Weaker.

But she still tried.

Still resisted.

Even when every part of her was breaking.

Yichen didn’t move.

Didn’t let go.

Instead, he leaned closer—

his lips just inches away from hers.

“Say it.”

His breath brushed against her skin.

“Say you don’t feel anything.”

Fang Jia’s lips parted.

But no words came out.

Because she couldn’t lie.

Not like this.

Not when he was this close.

Footsteps.

Sharp.

Sudden.

The moment shattered.

Fang Jia pushed him away—

hard.

This time, he let her.

Barely.

“Young Master—”

A servant’s voice echoed from the hallway.

“They’re waiting for you.”

Reality came crashing back.

Yichen stepped away slowly.

His expression returned to cold.

Untouchable.

As if nothing had happened.

“Fix yourself,” he said flatly.

Then he walked away.

Just like that.

Leaving her behind.

Fang Jia stood there alone.

Her legs felt weak.

Her heart… even worse.

Why does he always do this?

Why does he make it so hard to leave?

She pressed a hand against her chest.

Trying to steady her breathing.

Trying to forget.

But one thought kept repeating—

What if I can’t run this time?

That night, the mansion glowed with light, laughter, and luxury.

Everything she didn’t belong to.

Fang Jia stood quietly at the side, holding a tray.

Invisible.

At least… she tried to be.

“Hey.”

A familiar voice spoke softly beside her.

She turned—

and saw Li Wei.

“You look like you’re about to collapse.”

“I’m fine.”

“You always say that.”

His eyes softened.

“You don’t have to pretend around me.”

Something in her chest tightened.

Because with him—

she could breathe.

For once.

Across the room—

Yichen watched.

Silent.

Still.

But his grip on the glass tightened.

A faint crack formed.

Barely visible.

But dangerous.

Very dangerous.

“Yichen?”

A soft voice called.

Li Lan’er stepped closer, her smile flawless.

“Is something wrong?”

He didn’t answer.

His gaze never left Fang Jia—

or the man standing too close to her.

Back near the table—

Li Wei leaned slightly closer.

“Come with me after this,” he said quietly.

“We need to talk.”

Fang Jia hesitated.

Just for a second.

But that second—

was enough.

Across the room—

Yichen finally moved.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Like a storm that had been waiting too long.

He stopped right in front of them.

His presence alone silenced everything.

“Enjoying yourself?”

His tone was calm.

Too calm.

Li Wei met his gaze.

“We were just talking.”

“Talking?”

Yichen’s eyes darkened.

Then—

he reached out.

Grabbing Fang Jia’s wrist.

Pulling her slightly toward him.

“Since when… did she become someone you could talk to?”

The room fell silent.

And Fang Jia’s heart dropped.

Yichen leaned closer.

His voice low.

Only for her to hear.

“You’re coming with me.”

A pause.

Then—

“…unless you want me to tell everyone what happened that night.”

Fang Jia froze.

Completely.

Because in that moment—

she realized something terrifying.

She never escaped him.

Not then.

Not now.

What would you do if you were her? Stay… or run? 🥺