The morning sun had barely warmed the resort grounds when the next round of retreat activities began. Zhiyuan and Xinyi moved together with an effortless rhythm, their earlier three-legged race mishaps giving way to quiet coordination. Every step, every brush of hands, seemed charged, and even their colleagues started noticing the unusual closeness.
Zhiyuan's eyes never left her, scanning her expressions with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. She rolled her eyes at his subtle intensity but secretly felt a flutter in her chest.
"Try not to cheat," Xinyi muttered as they lined up for the next game, a playful obstacle course involving balance beams and tossing beanbags.
"Cheat?" Zhiyuan echoed, bending slightly so his lips were close to her ear. "With you?" His voice was low, teasing, almost dangerous. "Impossible."
Xinyi bit back a laugh, cheeks heating. The world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them, even as colleagues cheered and shouted instructions from the sidelines.
Later, the group paused for lunch under the sprawling shade of a giant tree. Xinyi reached for a bottle of water, and Zhiyuan's hand brushed hers as he passed it. She froze, pretending to fumble with the cap.
"Relax," he murmured, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. "I'm not going to bite… yet."
She felt heat climb her neck and turned slightly, pretending to sip her water while stealing a glance at him. That faint, smug smile of his, the one that always suggested he knew more than he let on, made her pulse quicken.
After lunch, the retreat continued with team challenges that forced unexpected closeness: carrying logs together, negotiating balance exercises, and even a playful water balloon toss that ended with Xinyi shrieking as a balloon burst against her shoulder, drenching her shirt. Zhiyuan's laugh was low and warm as he stepped close, brushing wet strands of hair from her face.
"You're lucky I'm not merciless with these games," he whispered, his lips dangerously close to hers. "I might have let you win if you were less… distracting."
Xinyi's face heated. "Distracting? Me? How dare you!"
He chuckled softly, tracing a finger along her arm before letting it fall away. "Just saying. Keep up, or I might have to carry you."
The subtle tension between them didn't go unnoticed. Assistant Zhou, clipboard clutched tightly, watched from a distance. He tilted his head, brow furrowed as he scribbled notes. There was something unusual about how Zhiyuan hovered near Xinyi, the way she glanced at him with a mix of annoyance and fondness. His suspicion grew, though he couldn't quite pin down what was happening.
As the day wound down, the group gathered near the resort's small amphitheater for an evening bonfire. Xinyi and Zhiyuan found themselves seated next to each other, legs touching, hands occasionally brushing. The air smelled of wood smoke and pine, and the soft crackle of firelight painted their faces in warm hues.
"Quiet, aren't you?" Zhiyuan murmured, leaning just enough to let his shoulder brush hers.
"Just… enjoying the fire," she said, heart racing. "Don't try anything."
"Hmm… don't tempt me," he teased, his lips brushing her temple as he spoke, just enough to make her shiver.
Xinyi laughed softly, though the warmth spreading through her chest was undeniable. Around them, colleagues were chatting and singing along to the guitar strumming nearby, but for a moment, the retreat seemed to shrink to just the two of them: playful, intimate, teasing, and perfectly synchronized in unspoken understanding.
And as the firelight flickered across their faces, Assistant Zhou scribbled furiously in his notebook, suspicion finally blooming into certainty that something between the two was… not just professional.
The evening air grew cooler as the group settled around the bonfire. Logs cracked and sparks danced skyward, mingling with the laughter and chatter of exhausted colleagues. Zhiyuan and Xinyi found themselves again seated side by side, the warmth from the fire brushing against their arms.
"Not too tired to join the last activity?" Zhiyuan asked, tilting his head toward the small stack of cards Assistant Zhou had brought.
Xinyi raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
"We're going to share stories," Zhiyuan said with a playful smirk. "Childhood memories, funny experiences, anything that'll make everyone laugh—or cry."
The group gathered closer, the glow of the fire casting everyone in soft, golden light. One by one, colleagues told tales—embarrassing moments at school, their first jobs, awkward family holidays. Laughter echoed through the trees, the night carrying their joy far into the mountains.
Zhiyuan leaned slightly toward Xinyi, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She rolled her eyes, pretending annoyance, but her heart fluttered at the subtle intimacy.
When it was her turn, Xinyi shared a story about her first attempt at baking in school—how she had accidentally set the oven too high and produced a charred, smoke-filled disaster. Zhiyuan chuckled, squeezing her hand under the table in silent support.
"That's nothing," he whispered. "I've ruined at least three dishes that way, and none of them made it to anyone's stomach."
She laughed, shaking her head. "I should've known the great chef would have a few disasters under his belt."
Even from across the circle, Assistant Zhou scribbled furiously, brow furrowed in suspicion. There was something undeniably… different about how Zhiyuan and Xinyi interacted. Close, teasing, intimate in ways most couples wouldn't dare in front of colleagues.
As the stories wound down, the group relaxed into a comfortable silence, the fire crackling softly. Zhiyuan slid an arm around Xinyi's shoulders, pulling her just a little closer. She leaned against him, a contented smile on her face.
The night ended quietly, with soft laughter still lingering in the air, hearts warmed by shared memories and unspoken closeness. Zhiyuan's eyes never left her, and Xinyi, though pretending to focus on the fire, knew he felt the same—a silent acknowledgment of their bond beneath the playful chaos of the retreat.