The next day, I went to work with a strange feeling in my chest.
Something was off. I could feel it.
When I arrived at the office Monday morning, I tried to scan my badge at the entrance to my department.
Beep.
❌ Access denied.
Huh?
I tried again.
❌ Wrong ID.
What the—?
Did I suddenly get fired without anyone telling me?!
Confused, I rushed down the hallway toward Yichen's office. Maybe he'd know something.
I knocked once. No answer.
Twice.
Still nothing.
I tried the handle. Locked.
Wait... did he—did he actually go to Hawaii without me?!
"Miss Hua?"
I jumped. My heart almost flew out of my chest. I turned around, half-hoping—just a little—that it would be him.
But it was Zhang Wei, his assistant.
He gave me a polite smile. "Yichen's department doesn't exist anymore. Since his promotion, it's been restructured."
"...Promotion?"
"Yes. He's now the Director of the Innovation Lab."
Promoted?!
That's amazing! I should be happy for him!
So why does my stomach feel like a knot?
I swallowed. "What about the rest of the team?"
"Zhou Yue and I were reassigned to work directly under Director Yichen. And you—"
He paused dramatically.
I held my breath. "And me...?"
"You'll rejoin your old department, in Accounting and Audit. But with a promotion."
I blinked. "Promotion?"
"Yes. You're now the manager. And your salary will reflect that. Congratulations."
Manager... me?
After all those years of feeling invisible?
My jaw dropped. "W-wait—are you serious?"
He chuckled softly. "You earned it, Miss Hua. Follow me. I'll show you your new office."
When we arrived, nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks.
Same walls. Same buzzing printer. Same smell of burnt coffee and old paperwork.
Same familiar faces—though now, every single one of them was staring at me like I was a zoo exhibit.
Ah, right.
I almost forgot.
I was now officially the wife of the CEO's son.
Great.
Totally great.
Zhang Wei opened a door. "This will be your new space."
My own office.
I stepped in, smiling—until I noticed someone already sitting at one of the desks, typing.
So not completely private.
"This is Mr. Wang, the Chief of Audit," Zhang Wei said.
I froze. "Mr. Wang?"
He turned—and his kind eyes lit up.
"Hua! It's been a while!"
My heart softened instantly. He was the best boss ever—kind, generous, and always bringing snacks to the office. He treated me like a daughter since his real one studied abroad. Maybe that's why we'd always shared this gentle, comforting bond.
Zhang Wei clapped his hands. "Well, I'll leave you two to catch up. Have a good day, Manager Hua."
When he left, a strange silence filled the room.
I suddenly missed my old team. The chaos, the teasing, the long nights... and of course, Yichen.
__
The week that followed was painfully quiet.
Almost too quiet.
I spent my days staring at Excel sheets, drinking lukewarm coffee, and pretending not to miss someone who apparently decided to vanish right after marrying me.
And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about him.
His initials started appearing on my notebook.
Y.C.
Over and over again.
And sometimes, I'd just... daydream.
About that night.
The night in his apartment — the one where we were a little drunk, the city lights flickering through his window, his voice low and unguarded when he said I was his type.
What if, instead of laughing it off, I'd leaned closer?
What if I'd let that tiny, impossible distance between us disappear?
I could almost see it — the way he'd look at me, startled at first, then that slow, dark smile curving his lips. He'd whisper my name like it was something sacred before kissing me — gently at first, then deeper, needier, like he'd been holding back for too long.
He would've carried me, his hands firm at my waist, setting me down on the cold marble of his counter. Our lips would part just long enough for a breath — his, warm and uneven against my skin.
Not only our lips would touch, but our bodies too. Every heartbeat, every inhale, colliding.
I'd run my fingers through his hair, tugging softly, giving him that slow, teasing massage at the nape of his neck that always made him exhale sharply. My palms would trail down to his jaw, his chest — tracing the shape of him like I was memorizing something forbidden.
Then lower.
To his abdomen.
Stopping just at the waistband of his joggers.
My fingertips playing with the laces — a whisper of temptation.
One pull — and —
"Miss Hua?"
I jolted so hard my pen flew across the table.
Crap. Meeting.
Right. I was still in a meeting.
Everyone was staring at me.
One of the analysts coughed. "Could we... maybe hear your analysis on those numbers?"
I forced a smile that was about as genuine as instant noodles labeled "handmade."
"Of course!"
***
By the end of the day, I was exhausted.
Luckily, my boss decided to reward two employees who'd done great work recently with a dinner—and invited me too.
It was a fancy place. White tablecloths. Jazz music. Expensive wine that tasted like regret.
The air outside was warm when we left.
The sound of cars, the city lights... it all reminded me of when Yichen used to drive me home.
I missed his car.
No—let's be honest.
I missed him.
By the time we hit the karaoke bar after dinner, I was several glasses in and officially drunk.
Mr. Wang was singing an old love ballad completely off-key, two of my coworkers were dancing like maniacs, and I—
I was slumped over the table, my head spinning.
"I hate you," I whispered.
"I hate you so much..."
My voice cracked.
Why did he leave me alone like this?
Why show me what it feels like to be a princess—
—and then disappear?
Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them.
Mr. Wang came over, gently patting my shoulder. "Oh dear Hua, you've had too much."
His breath smelled like whiskey.
The other two were still screaming into the mic.
Yep. I was officially the most sober drunk person here.
After the song ended, so did the night.
Outside, Mr. Wang tried to help one of the employees, a young guy named Zi Tan, who could barely stand.
The other girl, Qianlu, waved her hand. "I have to catch the last train! Thanks for tonight!"
And just like that, she was gone.
Mr. Wang called a taxi. "You want a ride with us?"
I shook my head. "I'll walk. I need fresh air."
It was the beginning of summer. The night was warm and sticky. My heels clicked unevenly against the pavement as I wandered aimlessly.
Until I saw it.
The fountain.
"The fountain!" I gasped, running toward it.
Coins. I needed coins.
I rummaged through my bag, finally finding one.
"Gotcha!"
But as I pulled it out—
Clink.
It slipped from my fingers and started rolling away.
"Hey! Come back!"
I stumbled after it, laughing to myself, chasing it like it was the last coin on Earth.
Then—
Bam!
I slammed right into someone.
"Ouch!" I groaned, rubbing my head. "I'm so sorry—"
And then I saw them.
The shoes.
Those ridiculously shiny, perfectly polished, the clown shoes.
I looked up.
And froze.
"...Yichen?"
He stared down at me, expression unreadable as always.
"You really need to stop drinking," he said, voice monotone but... softer, somehow.
That voice. That annoying, robotic, emotionless voice I'd missed so much.
Without thinking, I started grinning like an idiot. My rabbit teeth probably showed, but I didn't care.
"Yichen!" I squealed and threw my arms around him.
He stiffened, clearly not expecting it, but then—
his arms wrapped around me.
Warm. Solid. Real.
My heart trembled.
I buried my face against his chest. He still smelled the same—clean, elegant, faintly like cedarwood and something uniquely him.
In that moment, I realized it.
That warmth in my stomach.
That peace I felt whenever he was near.
That aching pull that made me miss him even when he annoyed me.
It was love.
I was in love with him.
My eyes met his, and before I could stop myself—
I rose on my tiptoes.
And kissed him.
For real this time.
No pretending. No contract. No staged ceremony.
Just me and him.
And even if I'd regret it tomorrow...
Right now, it was exactly what I wanted.