Previously, Qin Yue had been confronted by a mysterious man while walking home, only to be pulled to safety by Li Feng. His order was clear—she was no longer to go anywhere alone. But in the silence between them, questions remained unspoken, and Qin Yue began to realize that her life was already bound to his in ways she had never expected.
---
The night was restless.
Qin Yue tossed in bed, sleep slipping through her fingers like sand. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the stranger's cold smirk in the shadows. His words echoed in her ears: wrong place, wrong time.
She pressed her face into her pillow, her chest tightening. What did they want from her? She was just an assistant. She wasn't important—at least, not compared to the empire Li Feng commanded.
But then why had they approached her?
The truth pressed against her ribs, heavy and undeniable. Because she was close to him.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She fumbled for it, her heart racing. A message blinked on the screen.
[Li Feng]: Are you safe?
Her lips parted. The time read nearly two in the morning. Had he been awake this whole time?
She typed with trembling fingers.
[Qin Yue]: Yes. I'm fine. Please don't worry.
The reply came almost instantly.
[Li Feng]: I will worry. Sleep.
Qin Yue stared at the short words, her throat tightening. In all the weeks she had worked for him, he had never once admitted something so plain, so unguarded.
She hugged the phone to her chest, whispering into the dark. "Why are you making this harder…"
---
Morning arrived with gray skies and a damp chill clinging to the city. Qin Yue dressed carefully, her reflection in the mirror showing faint shadows beneath her eyes.
When she reached the company lobby, the first thing she noticed was the black car waiting at the curb. The driver stepped forward immediately.
"Miss Qin. Mr. Li instructed me to bring you in from now on."
Her eyes widened. "Every day?"
"Yes, Miss."
The weight of it sank in. Li Feng wasn't simply protecting her—he was placing her under his constant watch.
The car ride was silent, but when she entered the building, whispers followed her like shadows. Employees exchanged glances, voices hushed.
"That's her…"
"She's with him again…"
"Why is he treating her differently?"
Qin Yue lifted her chin, forcing her steps steady. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
---
Inside the office, Li Feng was already at his desk. His suit was charcoal gray today, his tie a deep navy, his presence commanding as always.
He glanced up when she entered. "Sit."
She obeyed, setting down her bag and preparing his schedule. But the tension between them was palpable, charged with what had happened last night.
Finally, she gathered her courage. "About yesterday…"
His gaze snapped to hers, sharp. "Forget it."
She blinked. "Forget—? How can I, when someone—"
"You'll forget it," he interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. But his eyes… his eyes betrayed something else. Fear.
She leaned forward, her voice firm. "I'm not a child, Mr. Li. I deserve to know what I'm walking into."
His jaw tightened, his hand curling on the desk. For a moment, she thought he would shut her down completely. But then, slowly, he spoke.
"They're watching. They'll try to use anyone near me. That includes you."
Her chest constricted. "The Zhao family?"
He didn't answer, but the silence was confirmation enough.
Her hands curled into fists on her lap. "Then I'll be careful. I won't be a weakness for you."
The faintest flicker of surprise crossed his face. But then he leaned back, his eyes unreadable. "You already are."
Her heart stumbled.
---
The day passed in relentless rhythm—meetings, negotiations, endless streams of numbers and signatures. Yet beneath it all, Qin Yue could feel the storm pressing closer.
By evening, she followed him into a boardroom where the directors had gathered. Tension hung in the air like a blade.
"Mr. Li," one of the older men began, his voice clipped. "We've received word that the Zhao family intends to sabotage the East District project. They're leveraging our suppliers."
A murmur rippled through the room.
Li Feng's expression was steel. "Then we'll cut ties with the suppliers and find new ones. By the end of the week."
The directors exchanged uneasy glances. "That's… ambitious."
"It's necessary," Li Feng said, his tone final.
Qin Yue scribbled notes furiously, her heart hammering. This wasn't just business—it was war.
When the meeting ended, she lingered by his side, her voice low. "Are you… alright?"
He gave her a sharp look, then sighed softly. "Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to."
But she did want them. More than anything.
---
Late that night, the office emptied until only the two of them remained. The city lights painted the glass walls in shifting colors, reflections of red and blue.
Qin Yue sat at her desk, finishing the last of the reports, when Li Feng's voice broke the silence.
"Come here."
Startled, she rose and approached. He stood by the window, his hands in his pockets, his posture deceptively calm.
"Do you regret it?" he asked suddenly.
Her breath caught. "Regret what?"
"Working here. Signing that contract. Standing beside me." His eyes found hers, sharp and searching. "Do you regret it, knowing what it means?"
Her heart raced, but she met his gaze without wavering. "I told you before. I don't run from storms."
The silence stretched, heavy and charged. Then, to her shock, he reached out and brushed his fingers lightly against her wrist. Just a fleeting touch, but it sent her pulse skittering.
"You're reckless," he murmured.
"You're the one who keeps testing me," she whispered back.
Their eyes locked, the air between them electric. But before either could move closer, the office phone rang sharply, shattering the moment.
Li Feng snatched it up. His expression darkened instantly. "What did you say?"
Qin Yue's stomach twisted.
He ended the call and turned to her, his voice grim. "There's been a breach at the East District site. Someone's forcing our workers out."
Her blood ran cold. "The Zhao family?"
"Who else?" His eyes narrowed. "It seems they've decided to stop hiding in the shadows."
Qin Yue's heart pounded, a terrible realization dawning. This wasn't just about business anymore. It was about power. Control. Survival.
And now, she was tangled in it too.
---
That night, as the city slept restlessly, Qin Yue sat by her window again, staring out at the rain-slick streets.
Her phone buzzed. A new message from Li Feng.
[Li Feng]: No matter what happens, don't leave my side.
She read it three times, her chest tightening. The words were a command, but they felt like something more.
She typed back slowly.
[Qin Yue]: I won't.
As she hit send, she knew it was a promise she could no longer take back.
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
Now that the Zhao family has openly moved against Li Feng, and Qin Yue has promised not to leave his side, will she truly be able to withstand the storm that's coming—or will this promise cost her everything?