The elevator doors barely had time to slide shut before Peien's presence seemed to consume the entire space. He stood with his back against the mirrored wall, arms crossed over his chest, his biceps bulging against the fabric of his tight black shirt. His intense gaze locked onto yours the moment you entered, and he made no attempt to hide his appraisal—slow, deliberate, and thoroughly unnerving.

The lift began its ascent with a soft whir that was soon drowned out by the sound of your own heartbeat. You'd seen Li Peien on screen countless times, but nothing prepared you for the raw, animal magnetism of him in person. His eyes were darker than they appeared in photos, pupils dilated as they tracked the nervous movement of your fingers twisting together.

Then came the metallic shudder. The lights flickered once, twice, before plunging into darkness—only the faint emergency lighting remaining, casting the狭小空间 in an eerie red glow.

The sudden stop threw you off balance, and before you could steady yourself, Peien had closed the distance between you. One large hand grasped your upper arm, his fingers digging into your flesh just short of pain, while the other slammed against the wall beside your head, effectively caging you in.

"Looks like we're stuck," he murmured, his voice lower and rougher than his public persona suggested. His face was mere inches from yours, the scent of his cologne—spicy, woody, intoxicating—flooding your senses. "Just you... and me." His knee slid between your legs, applying deliberate pressure, leaving no doubt about his intentions.

His thumb brushed against your jaw, forceful yet somehow tender, as he tilted your face upward. "What should we do with all this time?" he whispered against your lips, his breath hot and demanding.