The soft morning light filtered through the blinds as Linda stirred awake, her body sore and reluctant to move. The events of the night before played in her mind like fragments of a dream—wet streets, gunshots, a man in a drenched suit, and the strange calm that had followed it all.
She brushed her teeth sluggishly, splashing cold water on her face to wash away the weight of sleep. When she stepped out of her room, dressed in fresh clothes but still visibly tired, what she saw in the living room made her pause.
There, tidying the space with quiet precision, was the man who had introduced himself as Mr. Fang Leng. He was already dressed in the same sweatpants and T-shirt she had given him, sleeves slightly rolled up, and was gently wiping down the center table.
Linda blinked in surprise, not expecting to find him awake—let alone cleaning. She quickly walked up and whispered, "Good morning."
The man turned at the sound of her voice, offering her a warm smile. "Good morning, Linda. How was your night?"
She rubbed her arms, suddenly feeling a bit awkward under his kind gaze. "It was... fine. Thanks. And yours?"
"I slept well. Your couch is more comfortable than I expected."
She glanced at the wiper in his hand, a mix of amusement and discomfort on her face. "You didn't have to do this, you know. You had a rough day yesterday—you should rest."
He chuckled softly and gently refused to hand over the cleaning tool. "It's alright. I'm used to waking up early. At home, I'm usually up before six to prepare for work. This is actually relaxing."
Linda nodded slowly, still a little unsure how to respond to a man his age doing chores like a house guest with no ego. "Well... I guess I'll go prepare breakfast then. You hungry?"
Before he could respond, Linda's eyes darted around. "Wait... where's Sophia?"
"She stepped out to throw out some garbage."
Linda's brows furrowed. "With the baby?"
As if on cue, the front door opened and Sophia stepped in, cradling baby Jack in her arms. She looked slightly flushed from the brisk air.
"I couldn't leave him behind. He was crying nonstop," Sophia explained as she walked in. "It's the only thing that calms him sometimes. He wanted me to carry him out."
Linda smiled faintly. "You should've called me. I could've watched him."
"You needed the sleep," Sophia said, glancing at her. "You were completely worn out last night."
Linda looked surprised, then even more surprised when Sophia added casually, "I made a little breakfast—just rice porridge with egg and some kimchi. Nothing fancy."
Her heart warmed at the gesture. "Thank you, Sophia. You didn't have to..."
Sophia shrugged and smiled. "Well, I'm living here now. Might as well pull my weight."
Linda turned to the man and gestured toward the kitchen. "Come on. Let's eat before it gets cold."
And so, the three of them sat together around the small kitchen table, steam rising from their bowls. For a moment, it felt like peace—strange, borrowed peace—but peace nonetheless.
After the quiet warmth of breakfast, Sophia gently patted baby Jack's back and looked at Linda.
"I think I'll take him to the hospital for a quick check-up," she said. "Nothing serious, just routine."
"I'll come with you," Linda offered quickly, already rising to her feet.
But Sophia waved her hand. "No, it's fine. You should get ready for school. I'll be okay."
Linda hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Just be careful."
Sophia smiled, adjusted Jack on her hip, and left through the door.
Meanwhile, Mr. Fang—no, Mr. Adam—had settled on the couch, quietly flipping through a newspaper he had found on the table. Linda approached him.
"So… when are you planning to go back to your house?" she asked casually, though her eyes stayed on him, curious.
The man paused, as if the thought hadn't occurred to him. "Ah… you're right." He smiled faintly. "I've been enjoying my stay here so much, I nearly forgot this isn't my home."
Linda giggled softly. "That's a bit worrying."
He chuckled. "I suppose I'll call my boss first. I need to inform him about the incident. Then I'll head home."
Linda nodded. "That sounds better."
There was a brief silence before he looked up at her again. "By the way, yesterday… When you stood under that shade, I noticed you had a helmet and a motorbike. Was that yours?"
She smiled, slightly proud. "Yeah. It's mine."
"Can I replace it for you?" he asked sincerely.
Linda blinked, surprised. "What? No—no need for that. If you're a kid and lose your bike, you go get it back. If it's been stolen or broken, you report it, not just replace it with money. You don't just throw cash at problems."
She tilted her head. Who is this man? Is he rich or something?
"I'll just retrieve it myself," she added, brushing off the thought.
"Okay," he replied simply, not wanting to raise more questions about himself. Letting her assume he was just a normal man was safer.
Linda glanced at the time. "Well, I better get ready for school. If your car's not too damaged from last night, maybe you could drop me off on your way."
He nodded. "Sure. I'd be happy to."
She walked off to her room, and as he watched her disappear behind the door, a subtle admiration crept into his eyes.
Confident. Independent. Sharp.
When Linda finished getting ready, she returned to the living room—only to find it empty.
The couch where he sat was now vacant. His suit still lay folded neatly on the armrest.
Her heart skipped. Did something happen? Was he kidnapped?
But then her eyes caught something on the center table—a white envelope. Her name wasn't on it, but it was signed: Mr. Adam.
Frowning in confusion, she picked it up and opened it. Inside was a cheque—her breath caught. The amount was... in the millions.
Shocked, she reached back into the envelope and found a folded letter. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it and read silently:
---
Dear Linda,
I apologize for leaving without saying goodbye. You've done more for me in the past day than most people have in my entire life. Thank you—for your kindness, your strength, and for taking care of me when you didn't have to.
That cheque enclosed is not a gift—it's my way of compensating you for the trouble I brought into your peaceful life. I know no amount can truly repay you for risking yourself, for trusting a stranger. Still, I hope it helps, in some way.
Please take care of yourself. The world needs more people like you.
—Mr. Adam
---
Linda stared at the signature. Mr. Adam? she repeated in her mind. Wait… I thought he said his name was Mr. Fang Leng.
The name didn't ring a bell, not yet. She had no idea that the man she sheltered, fed, and protected was the legendary Mr. Adam—the elusive billionaire and business tycoon whispered about in headlines.
She felt a quiet pang in her chest. He left without saying goodbye.
With a long breath, she folded the cheque and the letter neatly, tucked them inside her bag, and walked out the door. Hailing a taxi, she headed off to school, her thoughts swirling.
—
From inside a sleek black car parked down the street, Mr. Adam watched her silently. His eyes followed the taxi as it pulled away.
"She saved you," Secretary Kim said from the driver's seat, his tone casual but laced with subtle meaning.
"Yeah," Mr. Adam replied with a faint smile. "The kid's got some serious skills."
He leaned back in the seat, eyes still on the road ahead.
"Let's go."
The car pulled into traffic and disappeared into the bustling city streets.