The Devil CEO’s Reborn Lover

The forest was unnaturally quiet.

No birds. No wind. Just the crackling of scorched leaves beneath their boots as the group stepped into the desolate valley where the ruined temple awaited like a forgotten god.

"This place… feels cursed," Zhao Xi muttered, scanning the blackened stones. "Are you sure the Ember Mirror is here?"

Shao Wei knelt, fingers brushing over ancient runes carved into cracked pillars. "It is. I can feel the remnants of something powerful. Sealed. Waiting."

Wu Mei's heartbeat quickened. The magic they'd been chasing was real—and it was close. Closer than her next breath.

Qin Yanzhou's hand found hers without a word. His palm was warm, steady.

"Don't let go," she whispered.

"Never."

The moment shattered.

A low, guttural growl echoed from within the collapsed altar.

Then it appeared.

A monstrous, shifting creature of ash and shadow, its claws dripping with black smoke and its eyes glowing like twin embers from hell. The Ash Fiend.

"It's guarding the magic!" Shao Wei gasped. "It's been feeding on it—twisting it!"

The beast lunged.

Straight for Qin Yanzhou.

Wu Mei's body moved on instinct.

She shoved him aside just as the Fiend's claw sliced through the air—catching her arm instead.

A flash of pain. Warm blood exploded down her sleeve.

She stumbled, her vision swimming, but didn't cry out.

"WU MEI!" Qin Yanzhou's roar ripped through the chaos as he caught her in his arms. He saw the blood pouring from her wrist and went pale.

"I'm fine," she lied, teeth clenched. "You'd better not die on me."

"You call this fine?" His voice was sharp, furious—and trembling.

Behind them, Shao Wei threw glowing talismans while Zhao Xi circled the creature, shouting incantations. But all Yanzhou could see was the blood soaking into Wu Mei's robes.

He carried her into a sheltered alcove of stone and dropped to his knees.

"Let me see it."

"No time," she said, voice hoarse. "You need to help them—"

"No." He tore off a strip of his tunic and bound her arm, tight but gentle. His hands were shaking. "You come first. Always."

She met his gaze, eyes shining despite the pain. "You're going soft on me, Yanzhou."

He leaned in, brushing his forehead against hers. "You're bleeding for me, and all you can do is tease?"

"It's my love language," she whispered.

His lips hovered over hers. "You keep playing with fire, Wu Mei… and I'll burn for you."

She smiled faintly.

Their lips nearly touched—but a fresh shriek from the creature broke the moment.

Shao Wei burst into the alcove, panting. "We're losing control. We need both of you. Now."

Wu Mei pushed herself up, ignoring the white-hot pain. "Let's finish this."

Qin Yanzhou stood, reluctantly helping her up. "Stay close. One more drop of your blood and I swear—"

"You'll kiss it better?" she teased.

His dark eyes glittered. "More than that."

Back in the main hall, chaos reigned.

The Ash Fiend towered above them, thrashing in fury. Zhao Xi was barely holding it back, and Shao Wei was chanting faster, holding the Ember Mirror like it would shatter in her hands.

"We have one shot!" she yelled. "Yanzhou, now!"

He surged forward with his blade, slashing deep into the Fiend's chest.

But it retaliated faster than anyone expected—rushing at him, claws raised.

"No!" Wu Mei screamed.

In that moment, time slowed.

She raised her wounded arm, and with the blood still dripping from her fingertips, something inside her snapped—then awakened.

A raw surge of heat exploded from her palm.

Magic.

Pure, burning, and terrifying.

It slammed into the Fiend like a thunderbolt.

The creature screamed, its body distorting, smoke ripping from its core.

"What the hell—" Zhao Xi blinked. "She… she just—"

"Awakened," Shao Wei whispered, in awe.

Wu Mei swayed, panting, her arm trembling.

Qin Yanzhou caught her before she collapsed again. He looked at her like she was something divine.

"You have magic," he breathed.

"I didn't mean to…" Her voice trembled.

"I don't care how. You saved me again."

He touched her face, gently—so gently that her heart nearly cracked.

"I'm falling for you," he whispered. "More than I can control."

Wu Mei smiled, eyes misting.

He kissed her.

It was fierce. Breathless. Desperate.

His hands cradled her face, and her fingers curled in his robe. She forgot the pain, the blood, the danger. There was only him—his mouth on hers, tasting like fire and fate.

When they broke apart, barely breathing, she whispered, "You said you'd burn for me…"

"I already am."

Behind them, Zhao Xi shouted, "Now, Shao Wei!"

She raised the Ember Mirror one last time. A torrent of flame poured out, engulfing the Fiend in holy fire. Its death scream echoed into the night—and then, silence.

The creature was gone.

The temple was still.

They had survived.

And Wu Mei—bleeding, breathless, newly awakened—had just changed everything.

Qin Yanzhou didn't let go of her even as the flames died down and the silence wrapped around them like mist. His hand remained at her waist, grounding her as she leaned into his chest, heart still pounding.

"You scared me," he murmured against her hair.

Wu Mei chuckled weakly. "That makes two of us."

He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "Promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't ever do something that reckless again for me."

Her lips curved. "So I can be reckless with you?"

He sighed, brushing a thumb across the smudge of blood on her cheek. "You're impossible."

"And you love it."

Before he could respond, Shao Wei approached, her eyes wide with something between admiration and worry. "You… your blood woke the spell. That shouldn't have been possible."

Wu Mei blinked. "Then why did it work?"

Shao Wei hesitated. "Because you're not just any traveler. There's more to you than we thought."

Behind her, Zhao Xi was staring, but his gaze wasn't on Wu Mei. It was on Shao Wei.

Quiet. Intense.

Wu Mei noticed—and smiled faintly.

The forest might have gone still again, but the true storm was only just beginning.