"Qinran, we have a meeting today with the CEO."
"Alright." She saved her work without looking up. "I'll be there in a minute."
Team Lead Guo nodded and left.
She closed two tabs, picked up her notebook, and headed to the conference room.
The meeting was about the CRAFT project — integration timeline, resource allocation, a few technical bottlenecks the development side needed to flag. Standard stuff. She answered what was directed at her, clearly and without excess.
Beichuan sat at the head of the table.
He asked her two questions directly. She answered both.
That was the extent of it.
A few days later—
"Qinran." Team Lead Guo appeared at her desk. "The CEO would like a direct update on CRAFT. Go up and report to his office."
She looked up.
"His office?"
"The seventh floor meeting room is under renovation starting today."
She saved her file and stood.
Let's get it over with.
This was the third time this week he'd called for her specifically. Not Guo. Her.
Team Lead Guo has the full project overview. He's been on CRAFT longer than I have. Yet.
She picked up her notebook and headed to the elevator.
His office was quiet. Large windows. The city spread out below, indifferent and unhurried.
She gave the update standing. Clear, concise, no excess.
He listened without interrupting. When she finished he asked one question. She answered it.
A beat of silence.
"Thank you Miss Lin. That'll be all."
She nodded and turned to leave.
"Miss Lin."
She stopped.
"Same time tomorrow."
She turned slightly. "Understood."
The elevator ride down was quiet.
Same time tomorrow.
She looked at the floor numbers descending.
Her phone buzzed.
A voice message. From the nanny's number.
She pressed play.
A small voice filled the elevator.
"Mom… when are you coming home… I miss you…"
A pause. Shuffling. Then quieter, like he'd pressed his face too close to the phone —
"...come home soon okay"
The elevator doors opened.
She stood there a second after it ended. Then typed back — On my way soon. Be good. — and pocketed her phone.
She walked back to her desk and sat down.
Across the room Han Ming was drinking her coffee with great focus.