Sienna couldn't wrap her head around her last conversation with Li. She hated lying to herself. She knew being entangled with him would have to end sooner rather than later. But she didn't want it to, and neither did he. Yet, defining what they were didn't feel right. Truth be told, she was scared of facing her real feelings. Putting the conversation off until 'later' seemed like the safest option.

Now as she sat on the floor of what would soon be Li Wei's office, she was in the middle of unrolling a set of custom blinds when the front door chimed. The tapping of heels followed, precise and quick.

Xiao-Ming.

"Ms. Carter?"

"In the office," Sienna answered, rising to her feet as Xiao-Ming appeared in the doorway, her usual bright and cheerful presence filling the space.

"The transformation in here so far is... wow," Xiao-Ming said, eyes sweeping over the room.

"Not just the office. The entire penthouse looks like a completely different space. I can't imagine what it will look like when you're done in a few weeks."

"Thank you—I appreciate that. It's been a lot of hard work."

"I can imagine," Xiao-Ming said with a subtle smile before clasping her hands together.

"I actually stopped by because Mr. Wei wanted me to extend an invitation to you for dinner tonight with himself and Mr. Wang. He instructed me to ensure that you do not say no."

Sienna blinked. "Oh?"

"Yes—he has arranged for a driver to pick you up at seven."

"Thank you Xiao-Ming."

Sienna's thoughts got the better of her. She quickly wrapped up putting up the blinds in Li Wei's office and headed back down to her rental to get ready.

The restaurant was elegant yet intimate, its warm lighting casting a golden glow over the sleek marble surfaces. Sienna had half-expected to see Chen waiting at the table, but as she was led to a secluded booth near the back, only Li Wei was there.

"Just us?" she asked as she slid into the seat opposite him.

He smirked slightly, pouring her a glass of wine. "Chen had an assignment."

Sienna arched a brow. "Had an assignment?"

Li Wei lifted his glass, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say I made sure he wouldn't be able to join us."

She shook her head with a small laugh but didn't press the issue. Their time together, even stolen moments like this, had become something she cherished more than she wanted to admit.

As the server came to take their orders, Li Wei barely glanced at the menu, ordering in smooth, fluid Mandarin. Sienna had picked up enough during her time in Beijing and Shanghai to follow along, but still took a moment to decide before giving her order.

The male server, young and charming, gave her a polite smile. "You have a beautiful accent," he said in English before his gaze flickered over her appreciatively. "And you're very beautiful, Miss."

Sienna smiled politely. "That's very kind of you, thank you."

The moment the server turned away, Sienna caught the slight twitch in Li Wei's jaw, the way his fingers curled against the table as if resisting the urge to react.

"You look irritated, are you ok?" she teased, swirling her wine.

"I am not irritated," he muttered, adjusting his cuff.

"Oh?" She leaned forward, her voice laced with amusement. "You sure? Because if I didn't know better, I'd think you were jealous of the server."

Li Wei exhaled sharply, then looked at her, his gaze dark and unreadable. "I don't like other men complimenting what's mine."

Sienna all but choked on her wine and her breath hitched at the quiet possessiveness in his tone. A warmth unfurled in her chest, a dangerous thrill that she wasn't sure she should welcome—but she did.

She tilted her head, deciding to push just a little. "Yours?"

Li Wei leaned in and reached across the table, a smile curling on his lips as he brushed his fingers over hers. "Tell me I'm wrong."

She hesitated, her heart hammering, but before she could respond, the food arrived, breaking the moment and saving her.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics as they ate, but eventually, it circled back to what neither of them had dared to discuss until now.

"What happens when you finish the project?" Li Wei asked, watching her carefully.

Sienna took a slow sip of her wine, then set the glass down. "I have to go to Manhattan. My team has been there in my absence working in person while I have guided them from afar."

Li Wei's expression didn't change, but she could see the tension in his posture. "Stay longer," he said. "I can extend the project. Find something else for you to work on."

A part of her wanted to say yes. To abandon logic and stay wrapped in the bubble they had created. But she had responsibilities and commitments.

"I can't," she said gently. "I have to wrap up this project waiting for me in Manhattan. I already committed before I came to Shanghai."

He nodded, exhaling as he leaned back. "I figured you'd say that."

For a moment, Li Wei looked like he wanted to say more. The topic of hiding them, of defining what they were, lingered in the air between them. She could see it in his eyes. But then, just as quickly, he let it go, taking a sip of his wine instead.

Sienna reached for his hand, squeezing it lightly. "We knew this wasn't forever. But I'm enjoying these moments."

Li Wei looked at her for a long moment before bringing her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

"Even as an actor, there are some endings I don't like," he murmured.

She swallowed hard, pushing down the ache rising in her chest. "Neither do I."

The rest of the evening passed in quiet moments and stolen touches, but beneath the warmth, the inevitable loomed.

Because no matter how much they tried to ignore it—time was running out.