Swamp Murder

Swamp Murder. 28

Wang's Pov.

It's been a week, and I'm relieved my parents are gone. My mom was suffocating me with her constant nagging. At least we agreed that Lusi would stay for another two weeks before leaving.

To pass the time, I take her out shopping, to fancy restaurants, and for evening walks. She clings to me like a lost puppy, but I don't mind.

One thing is clear—Lusi has never lifted a finger in the kitchen. She doesn't even know how to warm food, let alone cook. Watching her struggle with a microwave is almost amusing... almost.

Seeing Zhan every two days is the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks to Dre, who always has an excuse—some boy's hangout, a game night—I get to escape, even if just for a while. It's not ideal, but we take what we can get.

Lusi and I haven't even shared a kiss. I told her it's against my beliefs to do so before marriage, and she accepted it without question. I tolerate her excesses, staying polite. I refuse to give my mom any reason to blame Zhan.

Dre is picking me up, but Lusi insists on coming along. I tried reasoning with her, but she wouldn't budge.

I told Dre, and he laughed. "We'll make her so exhausted that she'll beg to leave."

Tonight wasn't actually game night, but Dre worked his magic and pulled a good crowd. Since Lusi insisted on coming, I drove behind him. The moment we arrived, it was obvious—she was the only female among at least thirty guys.

I made sure to introduce her to every single one of them, one by one. She smiled politely at first, but I could already see the discomfort creeping in.

Once the games started, the room exploded with noise—drinks flowing, guys shouting, bets being placed. Lusi tried betting a few times but lost.

I scanned the room for Zhan. He wasn't here yet.

Just as I was beginning to feel impatient, Zhan walked in, looking like a damn bag of snacks.

He wore a deep blue shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off those toned arms. Paired with sleek black trousers, he looked effortlessly perfect. But it was the undone buttons—two of them—that made my stomach clench. The hint of his collarbone, the tease of skin—I twitched with need.

He smiled at everyone except me. Our eyes met for a fleeting second before he looked away, leaving me burning.

Lusi, completely oblivious, sighed beside me. "Finally, some eye candy."

I clenched my jaw. Mine.

Jealousy burned through me like wildfire the moment Lusi sighed dreamily.

"He looks so cute and calm," she said, eyes following him across the room. Then she turned to me with a teasing smile. "But don't be jealous. I'm with you, and you're the most handsome."

I forced a smile, gripping my drink tighter. Jealous? Maybe. No—definitely. The way she looked at him, even for a second, made my blood simmer.

But what stung more? Zhan still hadn't looked at me again.

I exhaled sharply. Two can play this game.

"Come on," I said, grabbing Lusi's hand. "Let's get something to drink."

Lusi beamed as I led her toward the drinks table, but my mind was elsewhere—on Zhan. He was across the room, laughing at something Dre said, still ignoring me. The heat of my jealousy only grew stronger.

I poured Lusi a drink, my grip a little too tight on the bottle. She kept rambling about how fun this was, how nice everyone seemed, but I wasn't really listening. My eyes kept drifting to Zhan.