A Week After the Probation
Leng Xuanmo was a man of power, pride, and poise. But lately, he had been reduced to something else entirely — a man who willingly carried a pink umbrella over Lu Jingyan's head during a drizzle, held her makeup bag while she filmed, and waited outside her dressing room with a warm drink like an overly attentive assistant.
"Are you seriously still here?" Lu Jingyan raised a brow, stepping out of the set in her elaborate costume.
"Where else would I be?" Leng Xuanmo smiled, handing her the thermos. "You haven't had anything warm all day."
She rolled her eyes, but her fingers curled around the warm cup anyway.
Behind them, crew members giggled quietly. "Isn't that the president of Leng Conglomerate?" one whispered. "Why does he look like he's cosplaying a doting boyfriend?"
"Not even a boyfriend," another chuckled. "A golden retriever."
***
*Day Three of "Probation"*
Lu Jingyan walked into the dressing room to find a small bento box placed on the table with a note in his sharp handwriting:
*You skipped breakfast again. – L.X.M.*
She stared at it for a beat before Mei Xiaotong peeked over her shoulder.
"Honestly," Xiaotong snorted. "He's acting like you rescued him from a cold alley and he imprinted on you."
Lu Jingyan sighed. "Don't say that. He's on probation."
"Then explain why he was spotted outside your apartment building last night," Xiaotong grinned. "He sat in the car for three hours, apparently waiting for you to get home safely."
***
*Day Five*
The netizens were obsessed.
*#LengPresidentGoneSoft* trended on Weibo.
#"This man went from ice king to simp king. Character development 100%."#
#"I want my own Leng Xuanmo to bring me soup on set."#
#"At this point, if she doesn't marry him, I will."#
Lu Jingyan didn't comment, though she read the posts. Late at night, curled on her couch, she found herself smiling at one meme showing Leng Xuanmo standing beside her in the rain, holding an umbrella like a loyal servant.
Underneath, it read:
*"Find you a man who doesn't mind becoming a background prop in your spotlight."*
***
*Day Seven*
She was working late on a shoot near a riverbank when the director shouted a break.
A small breeze chilled the air, and just as she folded her arms, a jacket dropped over her shoulders.
"I knew you wouldn't bring a coat," Leng Xuanmo said behind her, casually leaning in.
"You can't keep doing this," she murmured.
"I can," he replied. "And I will. Until you see that I mean every word."
"You already told me you love me."
"And I'll keep saying it," he said, tone softer now. "But love isn't enough, is it? I hurt you. This is me trying to build trust again — by showing up, every day, until you believe it."
She turned to face him, caught off-guard by the openness in his eyes.
"Are you really okay with being reduced to a... shadow?"
"For you?" He smirked faintly. "I'd be your shadow, your assistant, your umbrella holder, your dog."
She blinked, startled by his shamelessness.
He continued, voice quiet but steady, "This version of me might be ridiculous, but it's real. And it's yours. If you want it."
A pause. Her lips twitched, but she bit them back.
"Three more weeks," she finally said. "That's how long your probation lasts."
"And after that?"
She smirked. "We'll see."
***
Backstage, Mei Xiaotong held her phone up, recording Leng Xuanmo as he trailed behind Lu Jingyan carrying her tote, three coffee cups, and her script binder like a dutiful intern.
She posted it with the caption:
#"Ladies and gentlemen, the CEO of Leng Conglomerate, also known as Lu Jingyan's #1 fan. 🐶"#
It went viral in ten minutes.
Netizens lost their minds:
#"I can't believe this man used to be untouchable."#
#"He's whipped and it's glorious."#
#"If this isn't endgame romance, I don't want it."#
And Lu Jingyan? She just watched the chaos unfold with a quiet laugh, jacket still draped over her shoulders — and his scent lingering faintly in the breeze.