Qin Yue stood frozen in front of the glass doors of Han Jin's towering company. The reflection staring back at her didn't look like the girl she knew — messy ponytail, tired eyes, and clothes that were far too simple compared to the elegant men and women stepping in and out of the building.
Her hand clenched tightly around the strap of her worn bag. What am I even doing here? she thought.
The revolving doors seemed like a portal into another world, one she didn't belong in. The shiny marble floors, the scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air, and the sound of polished heels clicking against the tiles made her heart race with unease.
"Move," a stern voice from behind said.
She flinched, stepping aside quickly as two women in pencil skirts and stiletto heels brushed past her. They didn't even look back, but she caught the faint sneer on their lips.
"Where did she crawl out from?" one whispered.
"Probably lost. This isn't the place for beggars."
Qin Yue's face burned, but she lifted her chin. I came here for a reason. I can't run away.
Summoning her courage, she walked through the entrance.
---
The receptionist glanced at her the moment she stepped up to the counter. The woman was beautiful, with perfect makeup and sharp red nails. Her smile, however, didn't reach her eyes.
"Yes? Do you have an appointment?" she asked flatly.
Qin Yue's voice trembled slightly, but she forced it out. "I… I was told to come. Han Jin asked me to work here."
The receptionist's eyes flickered with disbelief, then with poorly concealed disdain. "Mr. Han? You?"
Her cheeks reddened. "Yes," she said firmly.
The receptionist let out a soft laugh, then reached for the phone. "Wait here."
Within minutes, an assistant appeared and gestured for Qin Yue to follow. As she walked past the other employees, she felt their eyes on her — sharp, judging, whispering.
"Who is she?"
"She doesn't look qualified…"
"Did she seduce the boss?"
Their voices stung like needles, but Qin Yue bit down on her lip and kept walking.
---
The assistant led her into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. The higher they went, the heavier the air seemed to become. Qin Yue's palms grew damp with sweat.
When the doors opened, she stepped into a spacious office floor that screamed power and authority. At the far end, behind a large glass desk, sat Han Jin.
He didn't even look up from his papers as he spoke. "You're late."
Her jaw tightened. "I wasn't given a time."
Finally, he lifted his gaze, sharp and piercing. His lips curved slightly. "Excuses already? Not a good start."
She wanted to snap back, but she swallowed her words. This was his territory. One wrong move, and she'd lose before she even began.
Han Jin rose from his chair and walked toward her, each step measured and confident. He stopped just a breath away, his presence overwhelming. "From today, you'll be my assistant. You'll do everything I ask without question. Understood?"
Her fists clenched at her sides. "I'm not your servant."
His smirk deepened. "No. You're mine."
Her heart skipped, and heat rushed to her face. She hated how easily he could rattle her.
Seeing her flustered, Han Jin's eyes glinted with amusement. "Don't worry. If you do well, you'll be rewarded. If you fail…" He leaned closer, his voice a dangerous whisper. "You'll regret it."
---
The next few hours were pure chaos.
Qin Yue was given a stack of files thicker than her textbooks in school. She was expected to memorize schedules, manage phone calls, and even prepare coffee exactly the way Han Jin liked it.
Employees stopped by her desk just to stare. Some openly whispered insults, while others gave her fake smiles dripping with poison.
"She won't last a week."
"She must have used her looks to get in."
"She doesn't even know how to dress properly."
Her hands trembled as she tried to type an email, the keys clicking unevenly. Her mind screamed at her to run away, but she forced herself to keep going. I need this job. No matter what.
---
By lunchtime, she was exhausted.
She sat alone in the corner of the cafeteria, pushing her food around on the tray. But the whispers followed her even here.
"Did you hear? Mr. Han personally brought her in."
"Of course. Why else would someone like her get this position?"
Her throat tightened. She wanted to shout that they were wrong, that she hadn't asked for this. But she knew it wouldn't matter.
Suddenly, a shadow fell across her table.
She looked up — and her breath caught.
Han Jin.
The entire cafeteria went silent as he set his tray down and sat across from her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her eyes widened. "What are you—"
"Eat," he interrupted, his tone commanding.
"I'm not hungry," she muttered.
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto hers. "Qin Yue, in this building, your strength is everything. If you break this easily, you're useless to me. Eat."
The cafeteria buzzed with whispers, eyes darting between them.
Humiliated, Qin Yue picked up her chopsticks and forced herself to eat. Each bite felt heavy, but she refused to let him win by walking away.
When she set the chopsticks down, he leaned back with satisfaction. "Good. Maybe you'll survive after all."
Her cheeks burned. "I don't need your pity."
Han Jin's lips curved into that dangerous smile again. "Who said this was pity? This is training."
---
The rest of the day tested her patience to the limit.
At one point, he called her into his office and handed her a contract. "Sign this," he said simply.
She glanced at the paper. It wasn't a standard work agreement. Instead, it was filled with rules that bound her completely to him: no resigning without his permission, no refusing his orders, and no contact with rival companies.
Her eyes widened. "This… this isn't a job contract. This is slavery!"
Han Jin's expression remained calm, almost amused. "Then don't sign it."
She hesitated, clutching the paper tightly. If she didn't sign, she'd lose everything. If she did, she'd be chained to him.
Seeing her conflict, Han Jin stepped closer. His voice dropped to a low, velvety tone. "Qin Yue, you're already mine. Signing this just makes it official."
Her heart pounded painfully. She wanted to throw the paper in his face, but her family's image flashed in her mind — her mother waiting for medicine, the unpaid rent.
Her hand shook as she picked up the pen. Slowly, unwillingly, she wrote her name.
Han Jin's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he took the paper back. "Good girl."
The words sent shivers down her spine. She wasn't sure if she had just gained a lifeline… or signed away her freedom.
---
That night, back in her small room, Qin Yue sat on her bed with the contract in her bag. The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest.
She had officially stepped into Han Jin's world.
A world where rules didn't favor her. A world where he held all the power.
She hugged her knees tightly, whispering to herself. "I won't let him break me. No matter what he does, I'll survive."
But deep down, she knew the battle had only just begun.
And Han Jin… was not the kind of man who played fair.
---