The city had gone quiet by the time Qin Yue returned to her small rented apartment. The day's noise—the horns, hurried footsteps, endless chatter of strangers—had all faded into a low hum outside her window. The neon lights from across the street bled through the thin curtains, painting her desk in pale red and blue.
She dropped her bag on the chair and exhaled deeply, as though she had been holding her breath the entire day. Her body ached, but her mind refused to rest.
The interview had gone better than expected. The manager seemed polite, the questions were answerable, and for once, she hadn't stuttered when she spoke about her skills. Yet, the shadow of doubt clung to her. "Why would they choose me? There are so many with higher degrees, polished English, better confidence."
Her phone buzzed.
—[Qing Feng: Did you reach home safe?]
Qin Yue smiled faintly at the message. Qing Feng never failed to check in. Typing back, she wrote:
—[Qin Yue: Mm. I'm fine. Just tired.]
Almost instantly came the reply:
—[Qing Feng: Rest early. Tomorrow is a new day, Xiao Yue. Who knows, luck might knock on your door.]
Her smile deepened, warmth spreading in her chest. Tomorrow… yes, maybe tomorrow will be different.
But sleep refused to come. She lay on her narrow bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. The air was thick, humid, and the fan above her creaked with every spin. Her thoughts drifted, uninvited, to the tall man with sharp eyes she had encountered in the company lobby earlier that week. Han Jin.
She still remembered the way he had looked at her, as though her presence was nothing but a passing annoyance. His words had been clipped, cold, yet there was something about him that unsettled her. He was arrogant, yes, but beyond that arrogance was a kind of loneliness, one that she caught only for a fleeting second in his gaze.
Why am I even thinking about him? Qin Yue frowned and turned to the side. But her heart refused to obey her mind.
---
Meanwhile, in a luxurious penthouse several districts away, Han Jin stood by the wide glass window, overlooking the sleeping city. His hand held a glass of whiskey, untouched. The amber liquid caught the light, but he wasn't drinking.
His mind wandered back to that same girl. The one with clear black eyes and a stubborn innocence in her face. Qin Yue.
He had met countless women—daughters of rich families, socialites, women who spoke with elegance and acted with practiced grace. Yet, none of them lingered in his thoughts the way she did.
It irritated him.
Why should I care about a girl like her? Poor, ordinary, insignificant. He clenched his jaw, taking a sharp breath. Yet the image of her nervous smile, her determined voice, and the way she bit her lip when uncertain—none of it left him.
Han Jin turned away from the window and tossed the glass aside. It landed on the carpet with a soft thud, the whiskey spilling but forgotten. His eyes darkened.
She's nothing to me. Nothing.
And yet, deep down, he knew he was lying to himself.
---
The next morning, Qin Yue woke to the shrill cry of her alarm clock. Her head pounded; sleep had been restless. She washed up quickly, pulled on her plain shirt and trousers, and grabbed a piece of bread before hurrying out.
Her phone rang again just as she was about to board the bus. This time, it wasn't Qing Feng.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the number. It was the company she had interviewed for.
"Hello? Qin Yue speaking," she answered, her voice trembling slightly.
"Miss Qin Yue, this is HR from Starbright Corporation," the voice on the other end said. "We'd like to inform you that you've been shortlisted. Please report tomorrow morning for your orientation."
For a moment, Qin Yue froze. The bus doors closed in front of her, and she didn't even notice. "I… I got the job?"
"Yes. Congratulations."
Her hands shook as she ended the call. Joy surged in her chest, her eyes burning with tears. She had made it. Against all odds, she had secured a place in one of the most reputable companies in the city.
She wanted to scream, to laugh, to cry all at once. Immediately, she dialed Qing Feng's number.
"Xiao Yue? What's wrong?" her best friend's worried voice came through.
"I got it! Qing Feng, I got the job!" Qin Yue almost shouted into the receiver, unable to contain her happiness.
On the other end, Qing Feng let out a squeal. "I told you! I told you you'd make it! See? Your hard work is paying off!"
Qin Yue laughed through her tears, her heart light for the first time in weeks. She didn't know what awaited her inside Starbright Corporation. She didn't know that fate had already set her on a collision course with someone she wanted to avoid.
Han Jin.
---
That night, while she prepared her worn-out bag and ironed her only presentable blouse, Qin Yue felt nervous again. Excitement mingled with fear.
"What if they find out I don't belong? What if I mess up on the first day?" she whispered to herself, pressing her hands together.
But then she remembered Qing Feng's words. "You're smarter than you think. Just be yourself."
And so she promised herself that no matter how difficult it became, she would not run.
Because tomorrow, her real story would begin.
---