The automated privacy screens of Qin Feng's bedroom slid shut behind them, the soft whoosh amplifying the sudden silence. The room was a study in understated luxury, mirroring the minimalist aesthetic of the living area but infused with a subtle personal touch. A large panoramic window offered a breathtaking view of the glittering cityscape, the distant hum of Neo-Shanghai a constant, low thrum.
A king-sized platform bed dominated the center of the room, its crisp, white linens stark against the dark, polished wood of the frame. The air felt charged with an unspoken tension, the weight of Mei Qin's well-meaning interference hanging heavy between them.
Qin Feng turned to Lin Wei, his expression a careful mask of neutrality. "Ms. Lin Wei," he began, his voice low, "I apologize for the… unexpected turn of events. My grandmother… she can be rather… persuasive."
Lin Wei nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar space. "It's quite alright, CEO Qin. I understand her intentions are good." Though a small, rebellious part of her couldn't help but feel a flicker of annoyance at being maneuvered into this situation.
"Nevertheless," Qin Feng continued, a hint of formality returning to his tone, "our agreement remains. The sleeping arrangements… will be respected." He gestured towards a sleek, minimalist chaise lounge positioned near the window. "That should be sufficiently comfortable for the night."
Lin Wei's relief was palpable. The chaise, while not ideal, was a clear indication of his intent to maintain their agreed-upon boundaries. "Thank you, CEO Qin. That will be fine." She turned to gather her overnight bag from the small autonomous luggage carrier that had followed them into the room. "I'll just… change into something more comfortable."
Qin Feng nodded curtly, turning towards the far side of the room, his gaze fixed on the cityscape, his hands clasped behind his back. The distant hum of the city seemed to amplify the quiet within the room. Lin Wei moved towards the en-suite bathroom, a sense of needing a moment of privacy washing over her.
Inside the spacious bathroom, with its cool, polished surfaces, Lin Wei quickly changed out of the elaborate memory-weave gown and into a simple, comfortable set of sleep clothes. As she adjusted the soft fabric, a sudden thought occurred to her. She had left her skincare serum in her overnight bag, which was still in the main bedroom.
Taking a deep breath, she cautiously opened the bathroom door, intending to quickly retrieve her bag. Her eyes widened in surprise. Qin Feng was in the process of changing as well. He had shed his formal jacket and shirt and was reaching for a folded set of sleepwear on a nearby console, his back mostly to her.
Before Lin Wei could react or announce her presence, Qin Feng turned slightly, just as he was about to pull on his sleep shirt. He froze, a flicker of surprise – and something that might have been a fleeting hint of… vulnerability? – crossing his features.
Lin Wei's mind went blank for a split second. The unexpected glimpse of his bare upper torso, the lean muscle and the unexpected… humanity of the moment, caught her off guard. A wave of heat flushed her cheeks.
Instinctively, her hands flew up, covering her eyes. "Oh! I… I'm so sorry!" she stammered, her voice a mortified whisper. "I just needed my… my serum."
A beat of silence hung in the air, thick with awkwardness. Lin Wei could hear the faint rustle of fabric as Qin Feng quickly finished dressing.
"Ms. Lin Wei," Qin Feng said, his voice regaining its usual composure, though there was a subtle undercurrent of something else beneath the surface. "It's… quite alright. I was also… changing."
Lin Wei slowly lowered her hands, peeking through her fingers. Qin Feng was now fully clothed in a simple, dark sleep set, his expression carefully neutral once more.
"I… I didn't realize," Lin Wei mumbled, her cheeks still burning. She quickly located her overnight bag and grabbed the small vial of serum, her movements jerky and uncoordinated.
"Perhaps," Qin Feng said, his gaze lingering on her for a fraction of a second longer than strictly necessary, "it would be best if we both… maintained a degree of… awareness of each other's movements within the shared space."
Lin Wei nodded quickly, avoiding his eyes. "Yes. Of course. My apologies again." She retreated back into the sanctuary of the bathroom, her heart still pounding slightly.
Leaning against the cool porcelain of the sink, she took another deep breath. The unexpected glimpse, the shared vulnerability of that moment, however brief, had injected a new, unsettling element into their carefully constructed distance. The shared sanctuary of Qin Feng's bedroom had just become a little less divided, the weight of unspoken words now accompanied by the lingering awareness of an unexpected, intimate glimpse. The night, it seemed, might not be as straightforward as she had initially hoped.