Why?

It was a quiet Saturday evening, and as usual, Bo Qiang made his way downstairs for dinner with Lina. Their shared meals had become a comfortable routine, something he had grown to expect without giving it much thought. But tonight, as he entered the dining room, something was off. Lina, who was never late, wasn't there. He glanced at the clock on the wall, feeling a small but nagging sense of unease creep in. It wasn't like her to be late for anything, let alone dinner.

Bo Qiang sat at the table, waiting. Several minutes passed, and just as he was about to stand and search for her, the sound of high heels clicking against the polished wooden floor echoed from the staircase. His attention snapped toward the source of the noise.

When he looked up, his breath caught in his throat. There, descending the stairs with graceful, measured steps, was Lina. Her usually carefree red hair had been straightened to a sleek shine, falling elegantly over her shoulders. She wore a white dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves that accentuated her delicate collarbones. The way the dress hugged her figure and the confident way she moved made his heart skip a beat. He stared at her in stunned silence, his thoughts jumbled, until he blurted out without thinking, "Where are you going dressed like that?"

Lina met his wide-eyed stare with a playful smile, seemingly unaware of the effect she had on him. "Oh," she said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I'm going on a blind date."

Bo Qiang blinked, caught completely off guard. "A blind date? With who?" His voice came out sharper than he intended, but he couldn't help it. The idea of Lina going on a date with some stranger unsettled him in a way he didn't fully understand.

Still oblivious to his growing irritation, Lina tilted her head slightly. "Uncle Wei didn't tell you? He arranged it for me."

At that, Bo Qiang's jaw tightened. Uncle Wei, Lina's affectionate nickname for his father, echoed in his mind. His anger flared at the thought of his father meddling in Lina's personal life. What's my father up to now? His mind raced with frustration. Why would his father set her up on a blind date? He couldn't shake the annoyance that burned in his chest, but what bothered him even more was the realization that he cared far more than he should about something as trivial as a blind date.

Lina noticed his silence but misinterpreted it, flashing him an innocent smile. "I'd better get going. He's probably waiting for me."

Bo Qiang snapped back to reality, his mind whirling with thoughts he couldn't quite sort out. Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her hand before she could walk away. "Send me the address of the date," he said, his voice firm.

Lina blinked, confused by his sudden seriousness. "Why?"

His mind scrambled for an excuse. "Because if it ends late, it's not safe for you to take a taxi home. I'll come pick you up."

She seemed to consider his words for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Alright, that makes sense," she said as she pulled out her phone. Moments later, Bo Qiang felt his phone vibrate in his pocket as she sent him the location of the restaurant. Lina tucked her phone back into her purse and smiled at him one last time before heading for the door. "Don't worry, I've sent you the address. Enjoy dinner!" she called out cheerfully, her voice fading as she stepped outside.

Bo Qiang stood frozen in place, staring at the door she had just walked through. He had no idea why, but the thought of Lina on this date was driving him insane. In the minutes that followed, he couldn't focus on anything, not even the untouched food in front of him. His mind kept drifting back to Lina—what she was doing, who she was with, what they might be talking about. He tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept returning, gnawing at him relentlessly.

For the first time in a long while, Bo Qiang felt completely out of control. His usual calm, collected demeanor was nowhere to be found. He didn't like the feeling one bit. Frustrated with himself, he muttered a curse under his breath. "Fuck."

Before he knew it, he was grabbing his keys and heading out the door, his body moving on instinct. He didn't know exactly what he was going to do, but one thing was certain—he couldn't just sit there and let her go.

Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Lina sat at a beautifully set table for two, but her blind date had yet to arrive. She glanced at her phone, checking the time, and frowned slightly. It had been over fifteen minutes. Sighing, she dialed Uncle Wei's number, but it went straight to voicemail.

With a shrug, she decided not to let the evening go to waste. She ordered herself a meal and a glass of wine. As the waiter poured her drink, Lina couldn't help but smile to herself. She had always loved indulging in a good glass of wine, but ever since she had arrived in this new world, she hadn't had much opportunity to enjoy it. Tonight, though, she felt like treating herself.

She swirled the wine in her glass, admiring its deep red color before taking a sip. It was exquisite, the taste rich and smooth, just as she had remembered. A sense of contentment washed over her as she leaned back in her chair, savoring the moment. She might have been stood up, but at least she had this—good food, good wine, and a rare chance to unwind.

Little did she know, Bo Qiang was already on his way, his mind racing with emotions he had yet to fully understand.