The alarm buzzed sharply, breaking Qin Yue's shallow sleep. She groaned, covering her face with her pillow. Her body ached from exhaustion, but her mind refused to calm down after last night.
Every time she closed her eyes, Han Jin's words echoed:
"From the moment you signed that contract, your life is mine to control."
She sat up suddenly, clutching her blanket. "He's insane… completely insane."
But no matter how hard she tried, her heart still beat faster when she remembered the warmth of his coat, his fingers brushing her hair.
Why does he make me feel this way?
---
By the time she reached the company, Qin Yue had plastered a determined look on her face. She couldn't let anyone see her weakness. Not after yesterday's chaos.
But of course, whispers followed her the moment she stepped into the lobby.
"She's still here? I thought she'd be gone by now."
"Didn't you hear? Mr. Han scolded the entire department just because of her."
"She must have something on him. There's no other explanation."
Qin Yue's steps faltered, but she clenched her jaw. Ignore them. Just work.
When she reached her desk, however, a surprise awaited her.
A brand-new pen holder, elegant and sleek, sat neatly at the corner of her desk. A small note lay beside it:
'Do not let small people shake you. — H.J.'
Her heart jumped. She quickly shoved the note into her drawer before anyone saw. But a strange warmth spread in her chest.
Why does he do things like this? One moment he's cruel, the next…
---
By afternoon, Han Jin called for her again. Qin Yue carried the files into his office carefully, keeping her head low.
"Leave them there," he said, not looking up from his laptop.
She set the files on his desk and turned to leave. But his voice stopped her.
"Qin Yue."
Her steps froze.
"Lunch."
She blinked, confused. "…What?"
Han Jin finally looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "You haven't eaten, have you?"
She stiffened. How did he know?
"I—"
Before she could finish, he stood and buttoned his suit jacket. "Come with me."
Her eyes widened. "No! I—I can't. People will—"
He arched a brow. "Do you think I care about people?"
Her lips trembled. Of course he didn't. Han Jin was the kind of man who lived above everyone else, untouchable.
But she… she didn't want to be the center of gossip again.
"I'll just eat at the cafeteria," she mumbled.
His gaze darkened. In two strides, he was in front of her, his hand gripping her wrist firmly.
"You'll eat with me." His voice was low, commanding. "Stop resisting every little thing. Or do you want me to remind you of the contract?"
Her heart skipped wildly.
She hated this. Hated how powerless she felt before him.
But in the end, she followed.
---
The restaurant Han Jin took her to was elegant, far too luxurious for someone like Qin Yue. She sat stiffly in her seat, trying not to touch anything as the waiter laid down expensive dishes she couldn't even pronounce.
She fidgeted with her chopsticks, whispering, "This is too much… I can't eat this."
Han Jin leaned back, smirking as he watched her struggle. "Why? Do you think you don't deserve it?"
She glared at him. "I don't belong here. I don't belong in your world."
He leaned forward, his voice a low purr. "And yet… you're here. Sitting across from me."
Her cheeks burned. She looked away, stabbing at her rice just to avoid his gaze.
"Eat," he ordered. "If you starve yourself, you'll collapse. I don't want my assistant fainting on me."
The words were cold, but somewhere underneath, she sensed a sliver of care.
And that terrified her even more.
---
Later that evening, Qin Yue stayed behind to finish paperwork. Most of the office had gone home, leaving the floor quiet.
She rubbed her tired eyes, muttering, "Just a few more pages…"
Suddenly, the power flickered. The lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.
Her heart leapt into her throat. "What—?"
The emergency lights glowed dimly, but the silence of the empty building pressed down on her chest. She had always hated the dark.
Panic clawed at her throat. She stood quickly, fumbling for her phone.
Before she could turn on the flashlight, the door opened.
"Qin Yue."
Her breath caught. Han Jin's tall figure appeared in the faint light, his sharp features casting deep shadows across his face.
"W-Why are you—"
He strode toward her, unbothered by the darkness. "You're still here. Alone."
Her voice trembled. "I-I was just finishing work…"
His gaze softened briefly. He knew fear when he saw it. Without a word, he shrugged off his coat and draped it around her shoulders again.
Her body stiffened. "You… keep doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Making me think you're human."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, unexpectedly, Han Jin laughed — a low, genuine laugh that made her heart skip.
"Careful, Qin Yue," he said, leaning closer. "If you keep seeing me as human, you might start falling for me."
Her breath hitched. She wanted to deny it, to scream at him, but the words refused to come out.
Instead, she whispered, "That will never happen."
Han Jin's smile was sharp, almost predatory. "We'll see."
---
The next morning, Qin Yue walked into the office with heavy eyes. She had barely slept again. Every time she thought of him, her chest felt like it was on fire.
At her desk, she found another note waiting:
'Don't fear the dark. As long as I'm here, you're not alone.'
Her fingers trembled as she held the slip of paper. She wanted to tear it apart, to throw it away.
But instead, she carefully tucked it into her notebook.
Her heart whispered what her mind refused to admit—
Han Jin's shadow was no longer something she could escape.
It was already wrapping around her, slowly, inescapably.
---