The night was long.
Qin Yue tossed on her thin mattress, the springs groaning with every shift. The words still rang in her head like a broken record.
Get in.
She shut her eyes tighter, burying her face into the pillow. Why should she care? He was just another arrogant man with too much money, used to snapping his fingers and watching the world bend. She'd walked away. She should be proud.
And yet, why did her heart still pound when she thought of his eyes — sharp, like they could slice right through her?
The city's neon lights blinked through the cracked window, and Qin Yue sighed. She needed sleep. Tomorrow would bring more job hunting, more rejections. Han Jin was nothing but a passing storm in her sky.
At least, that's what she told herself.
---
Morning Tensions
The next day began with stale bread and weak tea. Qin Yue tied her hair into a ponytail and slipped on her cleanest shirt, determined not to let yesterday's humiliation follow her.
As she walked toward the bus stop, she kept glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting the sleek black car to reappear. But the street was empty. Relief and disappointment twisted in her chest, and she shook her head.
"Don't be stupid, Qin Yue," she muttered. "Men like him don't waste their time on people like us."
But men like him weren't normal. And she was about to learn that the hard way.
---
The Office Lobby
By noon, Qin Yue found herself in the lobby of a small publishing company. It wasn't glamorous, but it was respectable. If she could just land an assistant role here, maybe she could finally stop dragging Qing Feng into her problems.
She handed over her résumé with a polite bow, forcing a smile even though her legs trembled from exhaustion.
The receptionist returned her smile warmly. "We'll review it and call you if you're shortlisted. Don't lose hope, okay?"
Those words were kind, but Qin Yue knew better. She walked out, clutching her folder, when a shadow stretched across her path.
She froze.
The black car was waiting at the curb.
The window rolled down. And there he was again.
Han Jin.
Calm, composed, as if the world itself obeyed him.
Her pulse spiked.
"You again?" she whispered.
His lips curved faintly. "Get in."
Qin Yue's brows knitted. "What is your problem? Do you follow every stranger you bump into?"
He ignored her irritation. "You're wasting your time with these petty offices." His gaze flicked to her folder. "You want stability. A chance to prove yourself. You won't find it this way."
Her eyes widened. "Were you… watching me?"
"Observing," he corrected smoothly. "I don't waste time on things that don't interest me."
Qin Yue's breath caught. He was insulting her — and yet, beneath it, there was an admission. She interested him.
"Mr. Han," she said tightly, "whatever you think I want, you're wrong. I'm not—"
"You want a job," he interrupted, voice low but firm. "I'll give you one."
Her mouth fell open.
---
The Offer
Qin Yue blinked at him. Surely she'd misheard. "Excuse me?"
Han Jin's eyes never wavered. "Be my assistant. Temporary, if you like. I'll pay you three times the average wage."
The words hit like thunder.
Qin Yue staggered back a step, gripping her folder like a shield. "Assistant? Me? I—I don't even know you!"
Han Jin's lips twitched, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You'll know enough. My office needs someone who isn't afraid to think for themselves. You seem… suitable."
Suitable? Qin Yue's cheeks flushed hot. "Why me?"
"Because you didn't get in the car yesterday." His tone was sharp, cutting. "Most people obey when I speak. You didn't. That makes you useful."
Qin Yue's heart slammed against her ribs. She had no idea whether to be insulted or… oddly flattered.
"You're insane," she muttered.
Han Jin leaned slightly forward, his gaze piercing. "Maybe. But my offer is real. Think carefully, Miss Qin. You can keep chasing dead ends… or you can step into a world where your efforts actually matter."
The sleekness of his words wrapped around her like velvet, dangerous and tempting.
Qin Yue shook her head hard. "No. I don't need your charity."
Han Jin didn't flinch. "It's not charity. It's an exchange. You work for me. I pay you. Simple."
Her throat tightened. It did sound simple — but nothing about this man felt simple.
"I'll… think about it," she finally muttered, turning away.
For once, Han Jin didn't press. His eyes followed her, unreadable. "Don't take too long. Opportunities don't wait."
The car rolled away, leaving Qin Yue trembling on the sidewalk, her mind a storm of doubt and curiosity.
---
The Long Walk Home
All through the evening, Han Jin's words circled her mind. Be my assistant.
She thought of her empty wallet, her growing rent debt, her parents' worried voices back home. She thought of Qing Feng, who was already carrying too much of her burden.
But then she thought of Han Jin's cold smile, his sharp eyes.
What kind of job came with a man like that?
Her heart whispered: danger.
Her stomach whispered: money.
And her pride whispered: freedom.
She curled up on her bed, hugging her pillow tightly. "What do I do?"
The city outside didn't answer. But somehow, she knew she hadn't seen the last of Han Jin.
---
Closing
The offer hung in the air like smoke, suffocating and inescapable. Qin Yue told herself she would never accept.
But fate had already chosen its path.
And Han Jin wasn't a man who allowed rejection twice.
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
If you were Qin Yue, would you accept Han Jin's job offer despite the danger, or refuse him and keep struggling on your own?
---