Previously, Qin Yue had been pulled deeper into Li Feng's world. She glimpsed his hidden pain, his unshakable walls, and for the first time, he let her close enough to feel the silence between them. But in the shadows, unseen eyes were already watching, and Qin Yue's place at Li Feng's side was no longer just about work—it was about survival.
---
The rain had not stopped. It fell in silver sheets over the city, painting the night in broken reflections of neon and streetlamps. Qin Yue stood at her window, the faint light from her phone screen casting her face in soft glow. She hadn't been able to sleep since dropping Li Feng off.
Her thoughts circled like restless birds—his words, his silence, the way his eyes had lingered on hers.
"You keep trying to see it," he had said.
And she had answered without hesitation. "I don't see weakness. I see a man carrying too much alone."
The memory made her chest ache, even now.
But more than that, the memory of the figure in the shadows outside the teahouse gnawed at her. She hadn't seen him, but she felt it—the way Li Feng's world wasn't just glittering skyscrapers and contracts. It was something darker. Something that could swallow her whole.
She pressed a hand to her chest, whispering to herself. "What am I doing…?"
Her phone buzzed, startling her. It was a message from Qing Feng.
[Qing Feng]: Did you get home safe?
Qin Yue quickly typed back.
[Qin Yue]: Yes. Don't worry. Just tired.
Her friend didn't reply immediately, but another message came through a minute later.
[Qing Feng]: Be careful, Yue. People like him… they burn anyone who gets too close.
Qin Yue bit her lip, her chest tightening. Wasn't she already too close?
---
The next morning, Qin Yue arrived at the office earlier than ever. Her nerves buzzed under her skin, but her determination was firmer than it had been in weeks. If she was going to survive in this world—his world—then she needed to be strong.
She straightened her shoulders and pushed open the door to his office.
Li Feng was already there, as though he hadn't left at all. His suit was immaculate, his tie perfectly knotted, but his eyes carried the faint shadow of exhaustion.
"Good morning, Mr. Li," she said softly.
He looked up, his gaze sweeping over her. "You're early."
"So are you."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth curved faintly. "You're learning."
Her heart skipped, though she forced her voice steady. "I'm here to work."
"Good," he replied, sliding a folder across the desk. "Then start with this."
She took it, her eyes scanning the endless lines of text. But even as she focused on the task, she couldn't shake the feeling that something unspoken lingered in the air between them.
---
The day unfolded in relentless rhythm. Qin Yue darted between departments, coordinated with executives, fielded calls at his command. Her notebook was a mess of scribbles and reminders, but she refused to falter.
By noon, whispers had spread again—rumors of mergers, of the Zhao family circling like sharks, of Li Feng holding the empire together with sheer will.
And always, always, Qin Yue felt the weight of eyes on her. Colleagues who wondered why she was still here, why she of all people lasted where others had broken.
In the break room, one of the women smirked as Qin Yue poured herself tea. "Careful, little assistant. The higher you climb, the harder the fall."
Qin Yue met her gaze calmly. "Then I'll climb carefully."
The woman blinked, clearly not expecting a reply, before turning away with a huff.
---
That evening, when most of the building had emptied, Qin Yue found herself once again in his office, delivering the last of the reports.
He was at his desk, his jacket discarded, his sleeves rolled up. The faint line of strain between his brows softened when he saw her.
"You've improved," he said simply.
She blinked, startled. "I… have?"
"You're quicker. Sharper. Less hesitant."
Her chest warmed at the rare praise. "I'm trying."
His eyes held hers for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in their depths. Then he leaned back, folding his arms. "Why?"
The question caught her off guard. "Why… what?"
"Why are you trying so hard? You could have left weeks ago. Most would have."
Her lips parted, but no words came. Why hadn't she left? The late nights, the impossible demands, the sharp edges of his temper—they should have driven her away.
And yet…
"Because," she whispered, "I don't want to be the kind of person who runs at the first storm."
His gaze sharpened, a strange intensity filling the space between them. "And if the storm destroys you?"
"Then at least I stood my ground."
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then, slowly, Li Feng rose from his chair. He moved toward her, each step deliberate, until he stood only a breath away.
Her pulse raced.
"You don't know what you're saying, Qin Yue," he murmured. "Storms don't forgive. They don't care who they break."
Her chin lifted stubbornly. "Neither do I."
The faintest flicker of emotion crossed his face—something raw, almost vulnerable. His hand lifted, as though to touch her cheek, but at the last second, he pulled back.
Instead, he said quietly, "Go home."
Her chest ached at the dismissal, but she obeyed, gathering her things with trembling hands.
---
Outside, the rain had eased to a drizzle. Qin Yue walked quickly, her thoughts a tangle of fear, pride, and something she couldn't name.
She didn't notice the figure following her until it was too late.
"Miss Qin?"
She froze, turning. A man in a dark coat stepped from the shadows, his smile cold.
"You work for Li Feng, don't you?"
Her heart stuttered. "Who are you?"
The man's smile widened. "Just someone interested in making sure you don't end up in the wrong place… at the wrong time."
Before she could reply, a black car pulled up sharply at the curb. The window rolled down, revealing Li Feng's icy gaze.
"Get in."
Qin Yue hesitated, but the man's smirk sent a chill down her spine. Without another word, she slipped into the car, the door shutting firmly behind her.
The car pulled away, the city lights streaking past in a blur. Qin Yue's hands trembled in her lap, but she didn't speak.
Li Feng did. His voice was low, dangerous. "From now on, you don't go anywhere alone."
Her eyes widened. "What? That's—"
"Not up for discussion," he cut her off. His jaw tightened, his hands gripping the wheel. "You've already caught their attention. And they will use you if they can."
Her breath caught. "The Zhao family?"
His silence was answer enough.
Qin Yue's chest tightened, fear curling deep inside her. But beneath it, something else flickered. He was protecting her. Fiercely.
And that realization scared her most of all.
---
The ride ended at her apartment. But when she reached for the door, he stopped her.
"Qin Yue."
She turned, startled.
His gaze was intense, unreadable. "Do you regret it? Signing that contract. Stepping into my world."
Her lips parted, the words tangled on her tongue. Did she regret it? The exhaustion, the whispers, the danger closing in?
Or did she regret something else entirely—the way her heart betrayed her every time he looked at her?
"I don't know," she whispered honestly.
For the first time, Li Feng's expression softened, almost imperceptibly. "Neither do I."
Then he looked away, his walls slamming back into place. "Go inside."
She obeyed, stepping into the quiet of her apartment. But as the door shut behind her, her heart thundered with unspoken questions.
---
Meanwhile, Li Feng remained in the car, his gaze fixed on the shadows beyond. The storm was coming closer. And this time, Qin Yue was no longer just a bystander.
She was already at the center of it.
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
Now that Qin Yue has been pulled directly into Li Feng's dangerous world, will she find the strength to fight beside him… or will she become the very leverage his enemies need to bring him down?