The morning light crept into Qin Yue's small rented room, but instead of comfort, it brought a heavy knot in her stomach. She hadn't slept properly. Every time she closed her eyes, the words from last night's contract echoed in her mind:
You belong to me.
She groaned softly and sat up, rubbing her temples. "Why did I sign it…"
But then, her mother's frail voice filled her memory. Rent overdue. Hospital bills unpaid. Her younger brother's textbooks still waiting to be bought.
She had no choice.
Dragging herself up, Qin Yue pulled on her modest white blouse and navy skirt. No matter how much she tried, her clothes would never match the fashionable attire of the employees she saw yesterday.
Still, she straightened her shoulders. "I just need to endure."
---
The company lobby was already buzzing when she arrived. Qin Yue stepped inside, clutching her bag tightly, ignoring the stares that immediately followed.
"Oh, look, she's back."
"I thought she'd run away after one day."
"She probably begged Mr. Han to keep her."
Their words burned, but Qin Yue forced her steps forward. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.
When she reached her desk, however, she froze.
Her stack of organized files from yesterday had been scattered across the floor. Coffee stains marred several papers, and her pen holder lay broken.
Her chest tightened. "Who…"
A group of women nearby giggled. One of them, with perfectly curled hair and a designer blazer, looked straight at her. "Oops. Did a cat knock things over?"
The others laughed.
Qin Yue's fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to scream at them, but her voice stuck in her throat. If I fight back, they'll only make it worse.
So she knelt silently and began picking up the papers one by one.
---
But Han Jin had sharp eyes.
From his office window, he watched the entire scene unfold. His jaw tightened, and his gaze darkened. The employees under him dared to treat her like this?
Slamming his pen down, he pressed the intercom. "Send Qin Yue to my office. Now."
Minutes later, she entered hesitantly, clutching the slightly crumpled files. "You called me?"
Han Jin's eyes swept over her, noting the coffee stains on her blouse. His voice was calm, but dangerously cold. "Who did it?"
Her lips parted, but she hesitated. If she told him, wouldn't it look like she was tattling? They would hate her even more.
"No one," she whispered. "I just… dropped them."
Han Jin stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. He walked to her, towering over her small frame. "Don't lie to me."
Her heart skipped. His piercing gaze seemed to strip away her defenses. "I—"
Before she could finish, he leaned down, his lips near her ear. "Qin Yue, you signed yourself to me. That means no one touches what's mine. If they do, they answer to me. Understand?"
Her breath hitched. The heat of his words sent shivers down her spine. But her pride fought back. "I don't need your protection."
Han Jin chuckled, low and dangerous. "You don't get to decide that."
---
That afternoon, a storm swept through the office.
Han Jin personally called in the women who mocked Qin Yue. His sharp voice echoed through the hallway as everyone overheard.
"Mess with my assistant again, and you'll be out of this company before you can blink."
The women left his office pale, their arrogance stripped away. The entire floor went silent, and whispers spread like wildfire.
"Mr. Han actually defended her?"
"She must be really important to him…"
Qin Yue sat at her desk, stunned. She hadn't asked for this, but now the spotlight on her was even brighter.
Her cheeks burned with frustration. Why does he always make things worse?
---
Later in the evening, Qin Yue brought Han Jin his coffee, as instructed. She placed it carefully on his desk, but as she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.
"Sit."
She hesitated, then obeyed, perching awkwardly on the chair opposite him.
Han Jin leaned back, his fingers steepled under his chin. "Do you hate me, Qin Yue?"
Her eyes widened. She hadn't expected such a direct question.
She swallowed. "…Yes."
A smirk curved his lips. "Good."
Her brows furrowed. "What?"
"The more you resist, the more interesting you are." His eyes gleamed with an intensity that made her heart pound. "But don't forget, you signed that contract. Hate me all you want… but you'll stay by my side."
Her fists tightened in her lap. "You're cruel."
Han Jin leaned forward slowly, his gaze locking onto hers. "I'm not cruel. I'm honest. In this world, power decides everything. You either bend to it or get crushed."
His words cut deep, because she knew they were true.
But she still whispered, "Then I'll fight."
Han Jin froze for a moment, then a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. "Good. Let's see how long you last."
---
The clock ticked past nine that night. Most employees had gone home, but Qin Yue was still buried in paperwork.
Her eyes burned with exhaustion, but she forced herself to keep going. If she gave up now, Han Jin would win.
Suddenly, a shadow fell across her desk.
She looked up — Han Jin stood there, his coat draped over his arm.
"Still working?"
She nodded stiffly. "I need to finish these."
He set his coat around her shoulders without asking. The sudden warmth startled her. "What—"
"You'll freeze walking home this late," he said simply.
Her chest tightened. For a moment, she saw something softer in his eyes, something dangerously close to care.
But before she could speak, he straightened. "Come. I'll drive you."
She shook her head quickly. "No. I'll be fine."
His gaze darkened. "Qin Yue."
Her heart skipped. Whenever he said her name like that, it felt like chains locking around her.
Defeated, she rose silently and followed him out.
---
The ride was quiet. The city lights blurred past as Qin Yue sat stiffly in the passenger seat, clutching his coat around her.
Han Jin glanced at her occasionally, his lips curving slightly. She looked so small in his car, yet she carried herself with stubborn pride.
When they reached her shabby neighborhood, he stopped the car. His eyes lingered on the cracked walls of the building, the dimly lit stairwell.
"You live here?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
Her cheeks burned with shame. "It's all I can afford."
For once, his voice softened. "You deserve better."
She turned to him sharply. "Don't pity me."
He chuckled, leaning closer until his breath brushed her cheek. "Pity? No. Desire."
Her entire body froze.
His hand lifted, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was gentle, yet his eyes burned with possession.
"Remember this, Qin Yue," he whispered. "You can hate me all you want. But from the moment you signed that contract, your life is mine to control."
Her heart thundered wildly. She wanted to push him away, to scream at him. But instead, she stumbled out of the car, slamming the door behind her.
From inside, Han Jin's low laugh followed her into the night.
---
Qin Yue climbed the stairs to her room, her chest heaving. She pressed a hand against her racing heart, her face flushed.
"Why… why does he affect me like this?"
She hated him. She despised his arrogance.
And yet, his shadow lingered in her mind, dark and unshakable.
No matter how much she resisted, she couldn't deny it anymore—
Han Jin was already consuming her world.
---