The boardroom was still echoing in Qin Yue's ears long after she left it.
The contract.
Lin Jia's poisonous words.
Han Jin's steady voice telling her to sign it.
Even as she walked down the quiet corridors, her legs felt weak, like each step threatened to give way. She didn't know how she made it to her small office cubicle, didn't know how she managed to sit in her chair without breaking down in tears.
Her trembling hand pressed against her chest, as if that could still her wild heartbeat.
What am I supposed to do now?
---
The Weight of the Contract
She stared blankly at the computer screen, her mind replaying everything. The contract wasn't just a piece of paper — it was a line she couldn't uncross.
Signing it meant giving herself over, not just as an assistant, but as someone tied to Han Jin personally. His companion. His shield. His possession.
The memory of his words cut through her doubt like fire.
"Because you're the only one who makes me feel human."
She closed her eyes, clutching her pen until her knuckles turned white. A part of her, a dangerous part, wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe she wasn't just another girl caught in the orbit of a powerful man.
But then Lin Jia's voice echoed cruelly in her head:
"You've made yourself a target, Qin Yue. And when this little secret spreads, you'll wish you had never stepped into this company."
Her stomach twisted. What if Lin Jia was right? What if Han Jin's protection wasn't enough to shield her from the ridicule, the whispers, the hatred that would surely follow?
And more importantly… what if she lost herself completely in him?
---
Han Jin's Office
A sharp knock at her door startled her. Before she could respond, the door opened, and there he was.
Han Jin.
Imposing. Calm. Intimidating in the way only he could be.
"Come with me," he said simply, no room for argument.
Her heart lurched. She scrambled to her feet, her instinct to obey clashing violently with her desire to resist. "I—I still have work—"
"That wasn't a request," he interrupted, his tone brooking no refusal.
She swallowed hard, then followed him silently. His stride was long and certain, forcing her to quicken her pace. Colleagues turned their heads as the two passed, whispers immediately sparking in the air.
Her cheeks burned, but Han Jin didn't falter. His aura alone silenced anyone foolish enough to linger with their stares.
When they reached his office, he closed the door behind them with a definitive click. The sound echoed like the sealing of fate.
---
A Dangerous Conversation
He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Have you thought about it?"
She hugged her arms around herself. "How could I not? That contract… it isn't just business, Han Jin. It's—"
"Personal," he finished for her. His dark eyes bore into hers. "Yes. Because you're not just my assistant, Qin Yue. You're more than that."
Her lips trembled. "Do you even hear yourself? Do you know how insane this sounds?"
"I know exactly how it sounds," he replied coolly. "And I mean every word."
Frustration bubbled inside her, sharp and bitter. "You don't get it! If I sign that contract, I'm giving up everything I have. My independence. My dignity. People will think I've slept my way into this position. They'll hate me."
His jaw tightened. He stepped closer, his voice low and commanding. "Then let them hate you. As long as you stand with me, no one can touch you."
Her heart ached. His certainty, his arrogance—it was suffocating and intoxicating all at once.
Tears welled in her eyes. "But what about me? What if I don't want to be 'protected'? What if I want to stand on my own, fight my own battles?"
For the first time, he faltered. His gaze softened, and something vulnerable flickered across his face.
"You already are fighting. Every day, in a world that wants to crush you. But even the strongest fighter needs an ally, Qin Yue. And I'm asking—no, I'm telling you—I will be that ally. Even if you hate me for it."
Her chest tightened. The sincerity in his tone tore at the walls she had built around her heart.
---
The Moment That Changed Everything
The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words.
Then, before she could think, before she could stop herself, she whispered, "Why me, Han Jin?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Because when you look at me, you don't see a cold, untouchable president. You see a man. Do you know how rare that is?"
Her breath caught. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, as he stepped closer.
Slowly, deliberately, he raised a hand to her face, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, almost reverent.
And then… he leaned in.
Her heart stopped. Her mind screamed to pull away, but her body refused.
His lips pressed against hers in a kiss that was both fierce and unbearably tender.
The world fell away. There was no office, no whispers, no Lin Jia—only the warmth of his lips, the steady hand cupping her face, the undeniable truth that she wanted this, even if she was terrified to admit it.
Her hands clenched at his shirt, trembling, as though holding on would keep her from falling apart completely.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers. His breath was uneven, but his voice was steady.
"Tell me you don't feel it," he whispered. "Tell me this means nothing, and I'll let you go."
Her lips parted, but no words came out. Because she did feel it. Every nerve in her body screamed the truth she wanted to deny.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "You're cruel…"
His thumb brushed her tears away. "No. I'm in love with you."
---
Lin Jia's Shadow
Before she could respond, the sound of a door opening interrupted them.
Qin Yue spun around, panic flooding her chest.
Lin Jia.
Standing in the doorway, her eyes wide, her lips curling into a slow, venomous smile.
"Well, isn't this… intimate," she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery.
Qin Yue froze, horror gripping her. If Lin Jia had proof—if she told the board—
Han Jin's expression turned deadly. "Get out."
But Lin Jia's smile only widened. "Oh no, President Han. This time, I think I'll stay. After all, this little scandal is far too delicious to waste."
Qin Yue's legs trembled. Her career, her dignity—it could all be destroyed in a moment.
Han Jin stepped forward, his body shielding hers. His voice was ice. "If you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I will end you, Lin Jia. Don't test me."
For a moment, Lin Jia faltered. But then she smirked, tilting her head. "You're protecting her with everything you have. How… touching. But tell me, President Han, how long before she breaks under the weight of your world?"
Her laughter echoed as she turned and left, leaving a trail of poison behind her.
---
Aftermath
Qin Yue collapsed into the chair behind her, shaking. "It's over. She'll tell everyone. I'll be ruined."
Han Jin knelt in front of her, gripping her trembling hands. "No. I won't let her. Do you hear me? You're mine, Qin Yue. And I'll burn the world down before I let anyone take you from me."
Her eyes searched his, desperate and afraid. "You can't promise that…"
"Yes, I can," he said fiercely. "Because I don't make promises I can't keep."
She wanted to believe him. She wanted to surrender to the certainty in his eyes.
But deep down, she knew the storm had only just begun.
---