The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, revealing the polished marble lobby of Silver Tower Enterprises. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, glinting off the sleek chrome fixtures. Kai Zhang, CEO, leaned against his office doorway, eyes scanning the bustling staff below. Known for his cold demeanor, no one dared approach him without purpose. Yet today, something—a ripple in his otherwise meticulous schedule—made him glance toward the elevators a second too long.
The doors opened again, and in stepped Li Wei, twenty-three, carrying the easy charm of someone who could light up a room without trying. His green eyes flicked around, a mix of nervousness and excitement painting his youthful face. Dressed in a casual but neat outfit, he looked almost out of place among the sharp suits, yet he carried himself with quiet confidence.
"Welcome to Silver Tower," the HR manager said, leading him toward the elevator. "Your office is on the twenty-third floor. And… Mr. Zhang will meet you shortly."
Li Wei's heart skipped. The murmurs of the staff mentioned Kai's reputation—ruthless, cold, nearly untouchable. Yet there was something magnetic in the name, something that made him want to meet the man behind the legend.
As the elevator doors closed, Kai observed him from the glass walls of his office. The way Li Wei moved—light on his feet, observing everything with those bright green eyes—sparked a curious interest in the otherwise impenetrable CEO. He felt a flicker of something he hadn't allowed himself in years: intrigue.
Hours passed, and Li Wei settled into the rhythm of his new role. Yet every glance at the top floor, at the corner office with the panoramic city view, made his pulse quicken. He hadn't expected to notice him so soon.
Finally, as the office cleared late in the evening, Kai descended. His footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent corridor. Li Wei looked up, meeting the intense gaze of someone whose eyes seemed to see right through him.
"You're Li Wei," Kai said, his voice calm but sharp.
"Yes, sir," Li Wei replied, keeping his tone neutral, hiding the rapid thump of his heartbeat.
Kai's lips curved into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile. "I'll be watching."
The elevator doors opened behind them with a soft ding, and as Li Wei turned back, he noticed a folder dropped silently at his desk. No note, no explanation—just Kai's emblem stamped on the cover. Opening it, he found a single line: "Some secrets are safer left untouched. Some truths demand discovery."
The room's lights flickered, and a chill ran down Li Wei's spine. Something told him this first day was only the beginning.
As Li Wei stared at the folder, the office lights went out completely—except for one beam illuminating Kai's face outside the glass wall.