Beneath a Clearing Sky

Rain had stopped.

The dawn that followed seemed washed clean.

Morning sun climbed above the clouds in pale gold streams, pouring across the runways of Woodland City International Airport. Water still clung to the tarmac in silver patches, reflecting aircraft wings like broken mirrors.

A flight from Valemont had just landed.

Its engines quieted.

Passengers flowed out.

And among them—Julian D’Aurelius and Bianca De Dominicis had already disembarked from the plane.

Bianca stepped down in heels as though she were descending onto a fashion runway rather than an airport staircase. Her crimson hair shimmered in the sun, and the fitted business dress she wore did absolutely nothing to reduce the number of heads turning.

Julian noticed.

Of course he noticed.

He simply pretended not to.

After getting off the plane, Bianca continued to cling to Julian’s arm with a bright smile.

Being close to Julian made her incredibly happy.

She practically leaned into him as they walked through arrivals, her perfume drifting faintly—warm and floral.

Julian glanced sideways and laughed.

"Why are you clinging to me like a koala?"

His tone was teasing.

Bianca lifted a brow.

"Only now you notice?"

She tightened her grip.

"Careful," Julian muttered. "People will misunderstand."

Bianca looked innocent.

"Good."

Seeing Bianca’s happy face, Julian laughed and asked again, softer this time,

"Seriously... why are you in such a good mood?"

She leaned close enough for her lips to nearly brush his ear.

"Because koalas hang on trees," she whispered.

"I haven’t hung on you yet."

Julian nearly choked.

"...That sounded wrong."

Bianca’s eyes gleamed wickedly.

Then she added in a hushed voice,

"But I could treat you like a pole, wear a bunny girl outfit, and do a pole dance on you... then I could hang on you."

Silence.

Julian’s footsteps actually slowed.

His imagination betrayed him instantly.

[Whoa, that sounds kind of nice?]

[No, I can’t think dirty thoughts.]

[If we keep talking about this like lewd topics, then I’ll lose control and pin her somewhere right here and make that dream about our first night reality.]

He cleared his throat hard.

Very hard.

"Miss De Dominicis," he said in a strainedly dignified voice, "please respect public morality."

Bianca nearly burst out laughing.

Inside, she was laughing wildly.

This hidden lewdness was still pretending with her.

She looked at his ears.

Slightly red.

Caught.

"Public morality?" she murmured. "And here I thought President D’Aurelius was bold."

Julian muttered, "I am bold in regulated quantities."

That nearly made her laugh aloud.

However... she did bring a bunny girl outfit this time.

Folded.

Packed.

Hidden.

Just in case.

And suddenly the business trip felt much less like business.

It was rare for them to come out alone on a trip.

Wasn’t this just a disguised vacation?

Bianca certainly thought so.

After leaving the airport, the two took a car to the hotel.

Rainwater still streaked along the windows as the city passed outside—glass towers, old stone streets, flashes of morning vendors.

Bianca opened a folder and shifted, one thigh brushing Julian’s.

"If this project merges, how do you think the shares should be distributed? They’re saying they want thirty percent after the merger, which I think is unreasonable."

She handed the documents to Julian.

He glanced at them lazily.

Then smiled.

"Let’s discuss it when we meet."

Bianca narrowed her eyes.

"That means you already have opinions."

"I always have opinions."

"Dangerous trait."

"Useful trait."

He set the documents down.

[There’s nothing much to discuss, this business won’t work out anyway.]

Bianca froze internally.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

[It’s all part of Lucas’s damn scheme.]

Her pulse skipped.

Lucas?

A new name.

A dangerous one, judging by Julian’s tone.

[He plans to trick you, drug you, and then play the hero to take advantage.]

A chill passed beneath her skin.

Yet Julian beside her looked utterly calm.

As if discussing weather.

[Sigh, compared to him, Obsidan King Evan is at least half a pure-hearted warrior.]

Bianca almost laughed despite herself.

What kind of comparison was that?

But beneath the humor—anger burned.

Someone intended to scheme against her?

Her?

How brave.

Or how stupid.

Hearing Julian’s inner thoughts, Bianca was stunned.

Lu—Lucas?

Who was that?

It sounded like he was similar to Evan.

And he was plotting against her?

Her expression didn’t change.

But her eyes narrowed.

Predatory.

She casually unlocked her phone.

Sent a message.

Fast.

Invisible.

She squinted her eyes and quickly sent a message on her phone.

Since the incident with Evan, the De Dominicis household had started recruiting, hiring several Old Martial Arts experts to guard them.

She now had two of them secretly protecting her.

Her message was simple:

Stay close.

Watch for traps.

Wait for my signal.

After sending a message to her bodyguards, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

If someone dared play dirty with her...

They better not fall into her hands.

Because she did not forgive elegantly.

She punished artistically.

Yet even while calculating revenge, another emotion rose.

Warm.

Dangerously warm.

Julian had known there was a trap.

And still came.

For her.

That thought made her chest soften.

She shifted closer.

Rested her head against his shoulder.

Clinging to Julian’s arm, she happily leaned against him and said,

"After we finish this business, let’s stay here for a few days."

Julian blinked.

"A few days?"

"Mm."

"Vacation?"

"Inspection."

He looked skeptical.

"Inspection wearing bunny outfits?"

She nearly laughed herself breathless.

"You remembered that?"

"I’m trying not to."

She lifted a finger and poked his chest.

"Stay a few days with me."

Her voice had softened unexpectedly.

Not playful.

Almost sincere.

Julian looked out the rain-streaked window.

Sunlight had fully broken through.

Woodland glowed.

Danger ahead.

Schemes ahead.

An enemy already waiting.

And yet...

A few days with Bianca in another city did sound suspiciously pleasant.

Too pleasant.

Which made it dangerous.

[Focus. Trap first. Vacation later. Possibly bunny girl after...]

His eyes widened internally.

(What am I thinking?)

Bianca bit her lip hard to stop smiling.

Then she asked casually,

"What are you thinking about?"

Julian answered too quickly.

"Shares."

"Liar."

He coughed.

The car rolled toward Starlight Tower.

Far ahead, hidden behind mirrored glass and luxury decor, Lucas was already waiting.

The board was set.

Pieces moving.

But in the backseat of a moving car, with Bianca leaning against him and morning light touching her hair—

For one fragile moment,

it felt less like entering a trap...

and more like the beginning of something dangerously sweet.