The ride home that night lingered in Qin Yue's thoughts longer than she cared to admit. She replayed every word, every silence, every subtle shift in his expression. It was just a car ride, she told herself. Nothing more.
And yet, she couldn't deny the faint warmth that had settled in her chest when he said, "You're not as useless as I thought."
It wasn't a confession. Not even a real compliment. But to someone who had faced rejection after rejection, it was the first flicker of acknowledgment she'd received in a long time.
Still, Qin Yue knew better than to let herself drift too far. Men like Li Feng were dangerous. Their worlds weren't made for people like her.
---
The next morning, she arrived earlier than usual, determined to avoid being even three minutes late again. The office was quiet, most employees not yet at their desks. She set her bag down and began reviewing the schedule.
Her peace didn't last long.
The elevator chimed, and Li Feng strode out, tall and commanding as always. His gaze immediately found her, scanning her like a hawk.
"You're early," he remarked, voice cool.
"Yes, President Li," she answered, standing straight.
He gave a faint nod and moved toward his office, then stopped mid-step. "Coffee. Black. No sugar."
Qin Yue blinked. She hadn't been asked to make coffee before, but she hurried off anyway. The small pantry smelled faintly of roasted beans, and she carefully prepared the drink, double-checking that it matched the instructions.
When she returned, Li Feng was seated at his desk, already flipping through files. She placed the mug gently in front of him.
He took a sip, then frowned.
"This isn't strong enough."
Her heart dropped. "I—I followed the machine's instructions—"
"Instructions are for people who don't think," he interrupted coldly. "If you want to be useful, learn my preferences, not what a machine tells you."
Qin Yue bit her lip. Anger flared briefly inside her, but she swallowed it down. She bowed slightly. "I understand."
She turned to leave, but his voice came again.
"Where are you going?"
"To make another cup."
His eyes narrowed, sharp with authority. "Don't repeat mistakes. Fix them before they happen."
She froze, frustration simmering. Does he expect me to read his mind?
For a moment, she wanted to argue, to throw the mug back and say she wasn't his servant. But then she saw the weight of the documents scattered across his desk, the deep lines of tension etched in his face, and something in her softened.
Instead, she quietly returned to the pantry, tested different brews until the aroma was stronger, and finally brought him a second cup.
This time, he drank it in silence. No complaint.
That was the closest she would get to approval.
---
The rest of the day passed in a storm of tasks—drafting reports, organizing schedules, even following Li Feng into a meeting where she was asked to take detailed notes.
But Qin Yue wasn't prepared for what happened afterward.
In the hallway, she overheard two senior staff whispering near the copy machine.
"Did you see how President Li let the new assistant sit in again?"
"Unbelievable. She hasn't even been here a month. Do you think…?"
The words trailed off, heavy with implication.
Qin Yue felt her cheeks burn. She wanted to walk away, pretend she hadn't heard—but before she could, a sharp voice cut in.
"If you have time to gossip, you have time to work."
Li Feng's tall figure appeared at the end of the hallway, his eyes icy as they swept over the whispering staff. They stammered apologies and scurried off.
Then his gaze landed on her.
"You. Come with me."
Her pulse quickened as she followed him into his office. He closed the door, the click echoing like thunder.
"You heard them, didn't you?" His tone was flat, unreadable.
Qin Yue lowered her gaze. "I… yes."
His eyes darkened. "This company thrives on discipline, not rumors. If anyone dares to suggest otherwise—"
"President Li," she interrupted softly, "you don't have to defend me."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
For a second, the room was silent. Then his brows furrowed, his expression cooling further. "You think I did that for you?"
Her heart skipped. "Didn't you?"
"I don't waste energy protecting people," he said coldly. "I was protecting the company's image."
The sting of his words cut deeper than she expected. She forced a smile, brittle at the edges. "Of course. I understand."
But the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
He noticed. His sharp eyes softened for the briefest moment before he turned away, loosening his tie with a sigh.
"You're too easily shaken," he said quietly. "If gossip can rattle you, you won't last here."
His words were harsh, but the undertone… was it worry?
Qin Yue stood straighter, her pride igniting. "I may be poor, President Li. I may not belong in a place like this. But I'm not weak. If you think I'll run just because of whispers, then you underestimate me."
Her voice was firm, clear.
For once, Li Feng seemed caught off guard. His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary, as if seeing her in a new light.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Interesting. You finally show some spine."
Her cheeks heated, but she held his gaze. "I've always had it. You just didn't bother to notice."
The silence stretched, charged with something unspoken. The air between them felt heavier, tighter—almost suffocating.
Then, as if realizing the dangerous tension, Li Feng looked away and reached for another document. "Go prepare the meeting minutes."
Dismissed.
Qin Yue exhaled slowly, forcing her steps to remain steady as she left the office. But inside, her heart raced.
Not just from anger. Not just from pride.
But from the way his eyes had lingered on her, sharp and unreadable, like he was trying to unravel her piece by piece.
---
That night, as Qin Yue lay in bed, exhaustion pulling at her body, she couldn't stop thinking about the clash in his office.
His words had cut her, yes. But the way he looked at her—like she wasn't just another assistant, like she was something else—kept replaying in her mind.
Dangerous. That was what he was.
And yet, even knowing that, her heart beat faster at the thought of him.
---