The weekend passed in a blur. Qin Yue spent most of it catching up on sleep and finishing small part-time tutoring jobs. Yet, no matter how much she tried to rest, her thoughts kept circling back to her boss.
Li Feng.
Every little thing he had done—giving her a ride, telling her not to go into the rain, even that grudging compliment—clung to her mind. Why did it matter? He was arrogant, sharp-tongued, and as unreachable as the stars. She had promised herself not to get tangled with people like him. And yet… she remembered the faint amusement in his voice when he said, "Don't get used to it."
On Monday morning, she pushed those thoughts aside and dressed carefully in her cleanest white blouse and black skirt. No matter what, she had to remain professional.
---
The week began with chaos.
The moment Qin Yue entered the top floor, she noticed the tense air. Assistants were running back and forth, the phones rang non-stop, and the sound of footsteps echoed everywhere.
"What's going on?" she whispered to one of the secretaries.
"Haven't you heard? The board meeting got moved up by two days, and there's an investor from abroad arriving today. President Li wants everything prepared before noon."
Her heart skipped. Noon was only a few hours away.
She rushed into Li Feng's office, finding him standing by the window, speaking into his phone in fluent English. His brows were furrowed, jaw tight, and the air around him carried that cold, commanding pressure she was starting to recognize.
When he hung up, his gaze flicked to her. "You're late."
She looked at the clock—it was 8:03. Three minutes late.
"I'm sorry. The bus—"
"Excuses don't matter. Results do," he cut her off, his tone sharp. "Prepare the investor file. You'll find it in the archives. Meeting starts at eleven."
She nodded quickly, hurrying out.
---
The archives room was huge, filled with rows of neatly labeled cabinets. Qin Yue bit her lip as she searched through them, praying she wouldn't make a mistake. It took her nearly half an hour before she found the folder labeled Global Investment Group.
But just as she grabbed it, a tall figure appeared at the doorway.
Han Jie, the deputy manager.
He was a man in his late twenties with a sly smile that didn't reach his eyes. She had met him once before, and his words then had unsettled her: "Pretty assistants don't usually last long here. Unless they know how to please the boss."
"Looking for files, Miss Qin?" Han Jie drawled, leaning against the doorframe.
"Yes," she said curtly, clutching the folder. "If you'll excuse me—"
He blocked her way with a step. "President Li must really like you, sending you for important tasks already. Newcomers don't usually get trusted this fast."
Her pulse raced, but she tried to keep calm. "I'm just doing my job."
Han Jie smirked. "Be careful. This company is full of sharp knives. One misstep, and you'll bleed."
With that cryptic remark, he moved aside, letting her pass. Qin Yue hurried back to Li Feng's office, her hands trembling slightly.
---
By the time she returned, Li Feng was at his desk, reviewing documents. She set the folder down carefully.
"Hmm." He glanced at it. "On time."
Her chest filled with a strange mix of relief and pride.
"Now prepare a summary of the last three quarters' profits. Investors want clarity."
Qin Yue blinked. "A summary? But I—"
"Are you telling me you can't do it?" His tone was ice.
Her lips pressed together. "No, sir."
She sat down and got to work. Though the financial documents were overwhelming, her tutoring experience in math and her natural quick thinking helped. By the time it was nearly eleven, she had neatly typed a one-page summary and handed it over.
Li Feng read it, his face unreadable. Then, he slid the paper onto his folder and stood.
"Come with me."
Her eyes widened. "To the meeting?"
"You'll take notes. Don't speak unless spoken to."
Her heart thumped as she followed him.
---
The boardroom was massive, with a polished mahogany table and leather chairs. Several directors were already seated, along with two foreign investors. Qin Yue sat quietly at the side, pen in hand, as the meeting began.
Li Feng was… different here.
Calm, confident, with a cutting elegance in his words. He spoke fluently in both Chinese and English, switching effortlessly as he explained projections and strategies. Even the stern-looking investors seemed impressed.
And Qin Yue, though focused on writing notes, couldn't help but watch him with quiet awe. He was still arrogant, still sharp—but in this room, he shone like a man carved from steel and fire.
At one point, one of the investors asked a complex question about market expansion. Qin Yue instinctively glanced at the data sheets and caught a small error in the graph that the assistant had printed. Her breath hitched—if presented, it would undermine their credibility.
Without thinking, she leaned closer and whispered, "Page 7, the graph scale is off."
Li Feng's pen paused for a fraction of a second. Then, smoothly, he adjusted his explanation, dismissing the page and moving forward with confident words. The investors didn't even notice.
The meeting ended successfully, the clients shaking hands with satisfied smiles.
When they left, the directors began murmuring their praises, but Li Feng didn't linger. He strode out, and Qin Yue followed.
Inside the empty corridor, he finally stopped and turned to her.
"That whisper," he said, his gaze piercing. "You saw the mistake?"
Her throat went dry. "Yes. I—I didn't mean to overstep, but—"
"You did well."
She froze. Did he just… praise me outright?
His eyes softened for just a second before the usual coolness returned. "You'll continue assisting in meetings. Don't disappoint me."
---
That evening, as she left the building, rain drizzled again. Qin Yue pulled her thin jacket tighter around her shoulders. She had barely reached the bus stop when a sleek black car slowed beside her.
The window rolled down, and Li Feng's face appeared.
"Get in," he said simply.
Her heart gave a startled leap. "President Li, I can just take the bus—"
"Do you want to wait thirty minutes in the rain?"
She bit her lip. He wasn't wrong. Reluctantly, she climbed in.
The silence inside was heavy, broken only by the rhythm of the rain against the car. She kept her gaze on her lap, nervous, but then his voice came quietly.
"You're not as useless as I thought."
Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
It wasn't much. But from him, it felt like the rarest of treasures.
And as the city lights blurred through the rain-streaked windows, Qin Yue realized something dangerous: her heart was starting to betray her.
---