The rain had started sometime after midnight, a steady rhythm that wrapped the city in a gray haze the following morning. Qin Yue arrived at the office earlier than usual, her umbrella dripping as she shook it out in the lobby.
She told herself it was habit now—arrive early, stay late, keep her head down. But if she was honest with herself, part of the reason she came so early was him.
Li Feng.
The image of him last night, pale and shaken, his hand pressed against his side, refused to leave her mind. She hadn't slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him staggering, saw the sharp mask of control slipping for just a second.
She should have walked away. Pretended she hadn't seen anything. That's what he wanted. But she couldn't.
And that terrified her more than anything.
---
When she stepped off the elevator, the office was eerily quiet. Only one light was on—the faint glow spilling out from Li Feng's office.
Her heart thudded.
She approached cautiously, peeking through the half-open door.
He was there, as always, but this morning he looked… worse. His tie was discarded, the top buttons of his shirt undone, his skin faintly pale beneath the dim light. He was leaning against his desk, one hand gripping the edge as though the weight of the world pressed on his shoulders.
"Mr. Li," she said softly.
His eyes snapped to hers, sharp and cold as ever. "Why are you here so early?"
"I… I just thought it would be better to start ahead of schedule."
He studied her, his gaze lingering in a way that made her want to squirm. Finally, he straightened, though she noticed the faint wince in his movement.
"Coffee," he said simply, as if last night hadn't happened.
---
She brought it quickly, setting the steaming cup in front of him. As she did, her eyes caught on something beneath the edge of his shirt—a faint smear of blood.
Her breath hitched.
"You're hurt," she whispered.
He froze, then slowly set down the coffee. His gaze lifted to hers, colder than ice. "That's none of your concern."
She shook her head, her fists tightening. "Of course it's my concern! You're my boss. If something happens to you—"
"Enough," he cut her off, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't need your pity. And I don't need your concern."
Her chest ached at his words. But instead of backing down, she met his gaze.
"I wasn't offering pity. I was offering help."
For a heartbeat, silence filled the room. His expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes—something too quick to catch, too raw to name.
Then, as always, the wall went back up.
"Get to work, Miss Qin."
---
The day dragged on, heavy with unspoken words. Qin Yue buried herself in tasks, but her mind kept circling back to him. She noticed every wince, every faint crease of his brow when he thought no one was looking.
And the whispers began again.
In the hallway, she overheard two executives muttering about a "deal gone wrong" and "Zhao family interference."
Her stomach tightened. Was his injury connected? Was the elegant woman from yesterday not just a visitor, but part of something much deeper—something dangerous?
---
That evening, most of the staff had left when Qin Yue gathered her things. She hesitated at her desk, glancing at the light still burning in his office.
Should she check on him? Or should she leave him alone, as he clearly wanted?
Her decision was made for her when the door opened suddenly and he stepped out.
"Miss Qin," he said, his tone unreadable.
She stood quickly. "Yes, Mr. Li?"
"You're still here."
"Yes, I was just finishing up—"
He studied her for a long moment, then said quietly, "Walk with me."
Her breath caught. She followed him to the elevator, her pulse racing as the doors closed and the city lights blurred outside the glass walls.
---
They ended up in the underground parking lot, the sound of rain echoing against the concrete. Li Feng's sleek black car waited at the far end, glistening with droplets.
"Drive me," he said suddenly, tossing her the keys.
Her eyes widened. "What? Me? But—I don't—"
"You do," he interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument.
And she did. Barely. Her license was new, her experience minimal. But under his gaze, she couldn't refuse.
With trembling hands, she started the engine, guiding the car carefully into the rainy streets.
The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the patter of rain and the hum of the engine. Finally, she dared to ask:
"Where are we going?"
He leaned back, his eyes closed, his jaw tight. "Somewhere quiet."
Her heart pounded.
---
They ended up on the outskirts of the city, where the neon lights faded into dim, sleepy streets. He directed her toward a small, secluded tea house, tucked away behind rows of lanterns.
Inside, the air was warm, filled with the soft aroma of jasmine.
He chose a corner table, sitting with the same commanding presence he carried in the boardroom. Yet here, in this quiet place, something about him seemed different. Less untouchable.
She sat across from him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
For a long time, neither spoke. The silence stretched, until finally, he opened his eyes and said softly:
"Do you know why people fear me, Miss Qin?"
Her breath caught. She shook her head.
"Because I don't allow myself weakness. Not in business. Not in family. Not in life. To them, weakness is blood in the water."
His voice was low, almost bitter.
"But you…" He stopped, his gaze sharp on hers. "You keep trying to see it."
Her chest tightened.
"I don't see weakness," she whispered. "I see a man carrying too much alone."
For the first time, Li Feng didn't look away. His eyes locked onto hers, and in that moment, the storm outside seemed to fade, leaving only the weight of his silence pressing down between them.
---
Neither noticed the figure watching from across the street.
A man in a dark coat, his face shadowed, holding a phone to his ear.
"She's with him," the man said quietly. "Yes. The girl."
---
By the time Qin Yue dropped Li Feng back at the office to pick up his own car, her heart was a mess of emotions she couldn't untangle.
He had let her closer tonight—not much, but enough to glimpse the truth beneath his armor.
But even as she tried to hold onto that fragile connection, a new question clawed at her mind:
If others were watching him… then wasn't she in danger too, simply by standing at his side?
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
Now that Qin Yue has stepped into Li Feng's hidden world, will she become his shield… or his greatest weakness?