The following morning, Qin Yue arrived at the office earlier than usual. She hoped the quietness of dawn would shield her from whispers and glances.
But even with no one around, her chest was heavy.
Han Jin's words from last night wouldn't leave her mind.
"You're already mine, Qin Yue. Whether you admit it or not."
She pressed a hand to her chest, closing her eyes. "Why does he keep breaking down my walls?"
With a sigh, she sat at her desk, determined to bury herself in work. But just as she opened the first file, the sharp sound of heels clicked behind her.
"Starting early, I see."
Qin Yue stiffened. Lin Jia stood there, flawless as always, her smile carrying hidden daggers.
"Good morning, Miss Lin," Qin Yue said politely.
Lin Jia tilted her head, studying her. "You really are different from the others. Simple. Ordinary. But somehow…" Her lips curved. "…interesting enough to catch his eye."
Qin Yue's stomach knotted.
"Don't misunderstand," Lin Jia continued smoothly. "Han Jin has always been… generous with his attention. But it never lasts. Not for anyone."
Her voice softened, but her eyes were sharp. "Don't mistake a fleeting desire for something real."
With that, she walked away, leaving Qin Yue frozen in her seat.
Her chest ached. Is she right? Am I just a passing fancy to him?
---
When she entered Han Jin's office later with documents, he immediately noticed her pale face.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied quickly.
He narrowed his eyes. "You're a terrible liar."
She forced a small smile. "I'm fine."
Han Jin stood slowly, walking around his desk. His presence loomed over her, making her heart race.
"Qin Yue." His voice was low. "If someone hurt you, tell me."
Her lips parted. For a fleeting second, she wanted to spill everything—to tell him about Lin Jia's words, her fears, her doubts.
But then she remembered the contract, the chains binding her.
Her voice trembled. "It doesn't matter. I'm just your assistant."
His jaw clenched. "Is that what you think?"
She looked away. "…Isn't it true?"
The silence between them grew heavy. Then, abruptly, Han Jin gripped her wrist, pulling her closer until she collided against his chest.
Her eyes widened. "Han Jin—!"
"Stop belittling yourself," he growled. "You're not just an assistant. Do you understand?"
Her heart thundered wildly. His warmth surrounded her, his scent clouding her senses. For a terrifying moment, she thought he might actually kiss her.
But then she pushed him away, stumbling back. "Don't—don't do this to me."
His gaze darkened. "Do what?"
"Confuse me!" she burst out, tears brimming in her eyes. "One moment you treat me like nothing. The next, you act like I matter. Which is it, Han Jin? What am I to you?"
Her words cut through the air like glass.
Han Jin froze. For the first time, he didn't have an immediate answer.
---
That night, Qin Yue couldn't sleep. She lay awake, staring at the cracked ceiling of her tiny room.
What am I to him?
The question haunted her. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, her heart longed for an answer she was afraid to hear.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed.
She grabbed it, blinking at the screen.
[Han Jin: Come outside.]
Her breath hitched. She hurried to the window, and sure enough, his car was parked below her building.
---
She hesitated for a long moment before going down. The cool night air brushed against her as she approached the car.
Han Jin stepped out, his tall figure illuminated by the streetlamp.
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.
"Couldn't sleep," he said simply. His eyes swept over her, as if confirming she was real.
Qin Yue wrapped her arms around herself. "You shouldn't be here."
"And yet I am," he replied.
For a while, they just stood in silence, the night filled only with distant traffic.
Finally, Han Jin spoke. "Earlier… you asked me what you are to me."
Her chest tightened.
He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "You're the first person who's ever dared to fight me. To make me feel… human."
Her eyes widened. "Han Jin…"
"I don't care what anyone else says. To me, you're not just an assistant. You're—" He stopped abruptly, jaw tightening. His fists clenched at his sides as if battling himself.
"You're mine," he finished finally.
Her heart pounded painfully.
She wanted to reject his words, to push him away again. But her body betrayed her, trembling not with fear but with something far more dangerous.
"…You can't just claim me like that," she whispered.
Han Jin's lips curved faintly. "Watch me."
Before she could protest, he leaned in, his face so close she could feel his breath.
Her entire world spun.
But just as his lips brushed against hers, headlights flashed across the street. A black car slowed, stopping nearby.
Han Jin's eyes flickered sharply toward it, his body tensing.
The window rolled down, revealing Lin Jia's smirking face.
"Well, well," she drawled. "So this is where you've been spending your nights."
Qin Yue's blood ran cold.
Han Jin's arm shifted protectively, pulling her slightly behind him. His voice turned icy. "Lin Jia. Leave."
But Lin Jia's smirk only deepened. "You can't hide her forever, Han Jin. The higher you lift her up, the harder she'll fall."
With that, the car drove off into the night, leaving Qin Yue trembling in his grasp.
She looked up at Han Jin, fear and doubt swirling in her chest.
"Han Jin… what have you dragged me into?"
---
Back in her room, Qin Yue sat on her bed, knees pulled to her chest. Her lips still tingled where his breath had almost touched. Her heart still raced from his words.
But Lin Jia's warning echoed louder than anything else.
The higher you lift her up, the harder she'll fall.
Qin Yue clenched her fists. She didn't know if she could survive that fall.
Yet deep down, she also knew… she couldn't stop herself from stepping closer to the edge.
---