By the time Jiang Yue walked into Li Zhenkai's office the next morning, the entire company already had a nickname for her:
The CEO's Shadow.
Not that she cared.
If sticking to Li Zhenkai like a bad sticker kept her from being crushed by falling billboards or randomly attacked by malfunctioning vending machines, then she was willing to be the most loyal shadow in existence.
Except today, Li Zhenkai didn't look amused.
He was sitting at his desk, crisp suit immaculate, gaze sharp as he set down a folder in front of her.
"Sit," he ordered.
Jiang Yue hesitated. "...Are you firing me?"
"No."
"Demoting me?"
"No."
"Are you—"
"Sit, Jiang Yue."
She plopped into the chair like a scolded puppy. "Okay. But if this is about the chandelier incident—"
"It isn't," he interrupted smoothly. "This is about you."
She tilted her head. "Me?"
He pushed the folder toward her.
On the front was a single title:
'Proximity Management Contract.'
Jiang Yue blinked. "Proximi—what now?"
"Read it," he said, leaning back with all the calm authority of a man who could buy small countries if he got bored.
She flipped it open.
---
Proximity Management Contract
Clause 1: Jiang Yue must remain within three meters of Li Zhenkai at all times during working hours.
Clause 2: Jiang Yue will not engage in reckless behavior that endangers herself, him, or anyone within a five-meter radius.
Clause 3: In exchange for this proximity privilege, Jiang Yue must follow company policies and stop using phrases like "human luck battery" in public.
Clause 4: Termination of contract only by mutual consent or death.
Signed:
Li Zhenkai (CEO)
Jiang Yue (Walking Disaster)
---
Jiang Yue stared at the paper. Then at him.
"You… made a contract."
"Yes," he said.
"For me to… stick to you."
"Yes."
She slapped a hand over her mouth. "You admit it! You admit I need to be near you to survive!"
"I admit nothing," he said flatly, but the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
Jiang Yue leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Boss… are you secretly soft?"
He arched an eyebrow. "Sign the contract, Jiang Yue."
She tapped the paper thoughtfully. "What if I add a clause?"
Li Zhenkai's gaze narrowed. "What clause?"
"That you buy me coffee every Monday."she just had to push for a mile more after being given meters..
"No."
"Fine, then I add a clause where you can't complain if I call you my lucky charm."
His jaw tightened. "Absolutely not."
The system pinged:
[Negotiation Detected. Iceberg CEO Affinity +1.]
Finally, he exhaled sharply. "Sign it. Or I'll have security escort you out of this building for good."
She grinned, snatched the pen, and scribbled her name in bold letters.
"Done!"
He leaned back, satisfied, but the faintest sigh escaped him. "You're a walking disaster, Jiang Yue."
She beamed at him, completely unoffended. "And you're my lucky charm."
For the first time, he froze.
It was subtle, just a pause, a faint tightening of his jaw, but she saw it.
Jiang Yue tilted her head. "Did I… break you a little?"
"No," he said too quickly, eyes narrowing like he was trying to will the moment out of existence. "Get out of my office."
The system dinged:
[Affinity Increase: Iceberg CEO +2.]
[Luck Boost Sustained.]
Jiang Yue skipped out of his office like she had just won the lottery, contract in hand.
Meanwhile, Li Zhenkai sat in silence for a long moment, staring at the signed paper on his desk.
And for the briefest second, he almost let out a obvious smile.
---
The Company Gossip Mill
By noon, everyone in Liu Corporation knew about "The Contract."
"She really signed it?"
"Three meters at all times? That's… insane."
"Does this mean she's untouchable now?"
"Forget untouchable. She's basically the CEO's… human sidekick."
Lin Meiyu, who overheard the whispers, nearly shattered her coffee cup.
She stormed down the hallway in perfect, controlled rage. This wasn't how the story was supposed to go.
She was supposed to be the one in Li Zhenkai's orbit, not… that cursed girl who treated him like a walking four-leaf clover.
This was war.
---
That evening, Jiang Yue proudly followed Li Zhenkai out of the building, contract tucked safely in her bag.
"You know," she said, matching his stride, "this means you can't get rid of me now."
He gave her a sidelong glance. "I could revoke it at any time."
"Nope," she said cheerfully. "Clause Four: Termination only by mutual consent or death. And you wouldn't kill me."
He didn't answer.
She smirked. "Because if you do, my bad luck will haunt you."
He glanced at her for a long moment, lips pressed in a tight line… and then, faintly, very faintly.. He almost looked amused.
"Stay close, Jiang Yue," he said at last.
Her heart stuttered.
And for once, she didn't argue.