Qin Yue sat quietly at her small wooden desk, her fingers brushing lightly against the notepad that lay open before her. Her pen had long stopped moving, and instead of working, her mind drifted endlessly back to the same thought: the interview from yesterday and the man she had unexpectedly met.
Qing Feng had reminded her countless times to stop overthinking, but the image of that arrogant man — the way he looked at her, as though she was both amusing and insignificant — refused to leave her head. His sharp gaze seemed to dig deep into her heart, forcing her to question herself.
Why am I even thinking about him? she scolded herself silently, biting down on her lower lip. He is a man from a completely different world. Rich, powerful, and arrogant. And me? Just a poor girl searching for work.
Her phone buzzed against the table, pulling her from her storm of thoughts. It was a message from Qing Feng.
Qing Feng: Yue, don't forget you promised to visit me today! No excuses!
A small smile tugged at Qin Yue's lips. At least she had one person in this city who always stood by her side. She quickly typed back a reply before shutting her notepad and standing up.
The day outside was warm but not too hot, the late afternoon breeze brushing gently against her cheeks as she walked toward the bus station. She had barely taken a few steps when she noticed a sleek black car parked across the street. It wasn't just any car — it was a luxury brand she had only ever seen in magazines.
Her heart skipped.
The window rolled down slightly, and her breath caught when she saw him.
Han Jin.
His presence was like a shadow stretching across her path, dark and unmovable. He leaned casually against the leather seat, his expression unreadable, but his eyes glinted with something she couldn't place — interest, irritation, maybe both.
"Qin Yue," he called her name smoothly, as though it belonged to him.
She froze in her tracks. "Why are you here?" she asked cautiously, her brows knitting.
Instead of answering directly, he opened the car door and stepped out. His tall figure towered over her, dressed in a sharp black suit that made him look even more imposing. People passing by slowed down, curious, whispering under their breath.
Qin Yue wanted to shrink away, but her pride wouldn't let her. She stood straighter. "If you're here to mock me again, then don't bother."
Han Jin's lips curved slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "Mock you? I don't waste time on people who don't matter to me."
His words stung, but before she could reply, he leaned closer, his voice dropping so only she could hear. "But somehow, you keep showing up in my path. Don't you find that strange?"
Her heartbeat quickened. She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. She hated how easily he could shake her composure.
"Come with me," he said simply, stepping back and gesturing toward his car.
Her eyes widened. "What? Why would I—"
Before she could finish, he cut her off. "You need a job, don't you?" His eyes narrowed slightly, reading her like an open book. "I might have something for you. Unless, of course, you prefer wasting time chasing hopeless interviews."
Qin Yue's pride screamed at her to walk away. But her reality — her lack of money, her family's needs — forced her to stay rooted in place.
She clenched her fists tightly. "Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "I'll listen."
Han Jin's smirk deepened, as though he had been waiting for her answer all along. "Good. Get in."
---
The car ride was tense. Qin Yue sat stiffly, her hands clutched tightly in her lap, refusing to look at him. But she could feel his gaze flicker toward her every now and then, making her cheeks heat up.
Finally, unable to bear the silence, she snapped. "If you have something to say, then just say it. Stop staring at me."
Han Jin chuckled, the sound low and teasing. "You're bold for someone who claims to be so ordinary."
She glared at him. "Being poor doesn't mean I have to bow down to you."
His expression shifted slightly, almost surprised, but he quickly masked it. "Interesting. Most people would beg for my favor, yet here you are, glaring at me."
"I'm not most people," she retorted.
For a moment, silence stretched between them again. Then, unexpectedly, he said, "Good. Don't be."
Her heart jolted. She turned away, staring stubbornly out the window, trying to calm the strange flutter in her chest.
---
When the car finally stopped, Qin Yue blinked in confusion. They were standing outside a towering office building, its glass walls reflecting the city lights. It was the kind of place she would never dream of stepping inside.
"What is this?" she asked cautiously.
Han Jin's tone was casual. "My company. From today, you'll work here."
Her jaw dropped. "What?!"
"You wanted a job, didn't you?" His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Consider this a generous offer. You'll be my assistant."
Her mind reeled. Assistant to Han Jin? That sounded more like walking into a trap than an opportunity.
She shook her head firmly. "No. I don't want to be indebted to you."
Han Jin stepped closer, his gaze sharp and commanding. "This isn't about debt. It's about capability. You said you wouldn't bow down, right? Prove it. Work under me. Show me you're more than a poor girl waiting at bus stops."
His words pierced her heart. She hated his arrogance, but there was also a challenge hidden in his tone, one she couldn't ignore.
She swallowed hard. "And if I refuse?"
His smirk returned, cold and confident. "Then you'll regret it."
Her breath caught. She stared at him for a long moment, then finally whispered, "Fine. I'll do it."
But in her heart, Qin Yue made a silent vow: I won't let him control me. Not now, not ever.
---
Later that night, lying in her small rented room, Qin Yue stared up at the ceiling. Her entire world seemed to have shifted in just a few hours. She was stepping into a dangerous game with a man who was both her savior and her tormentor.
She didn't know if she could win. But she knew one thing for certain.
This was only the beginning.
And Han Jin… he wasn't a man who played fair.
---