The next morning arrived with relentless sunlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Guàn Jǐngchén's office, but Lin Yuè felt like he hadn't slept at all.
He'd patched the vulnerability by 2 AM, left a neatly commented report on the shared drive, and slipped out of the building like a shadow—hood up, steps silent. Back in his tiny rented apartment on the outskirts, he'd stared at the ceiling for hours, replaying that single brush of fingers on his wrist.
*It was nothing,* he told himself. *Just a power play. CEOs like him test boundaries.*
But his skin still tingled where the touch had been.
Now, at 8:45 AM, he stood outside the CEO's door again, coffee tray in hand (black for Guàn Jǐngchén, latte with extra foam for Assistant Chen—details he'd noted yesterday like any good intern). His sweater today was soft gray, sleeves long enough to hide any lingering redness on his wrist.
He knocked softly.
"Come in."
Guàn Jǐngchén was already at his desk, sleeves rolled again, scrolling through overnight logs. He looked up as Lin Yuè entered, expression unreadable.
"Good morning, CEO Guàn." Lin Yuè set the tray down carefully, voice gentle. "I... brought coffee. And I finished the patch report last night. It's in the drive if you want to review."
Guàn Jǐngchén leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "You left without saying goodbye."
Lin Yuè blinked, then ducked his head with a small, apologetic smile. "I didn't want to disturb you. You seemed busy."
A beat of silence.
Then Guàn Jǐngchén stood, circling the desk with slow, deliberate steps. He stopped just in front of Lin Yuè—close enough that the boy had to tilt his head up to meet his gaze.
"You work fast," the CEO said quietly. "Too fast, perhaps."
Lin Yuè's pulse jumped. He kept his expression soft, confused. "I just... wanted to do a good job."
Guàn Jǐngchén reached out—slowly this time, giving Lin Yuè every chance to step back.
He didn't.
Fingertips ghosted along the edge of Lin Yuè's sleeve, then pushed it up again. The skin was unmarked now, but the memory lingered.
"You're still shaking a little," Guàn Jǐngchén observed, thumb pressing lightly over the pulse point. "Even after a full night."
Lin Yuè's breath caught. Heat flooded his face—part act, part genuine. "I... I'm not used to—"
"Being touched?" Guàn Jǐngchén finished, voice dropping. His thumb circled once, slow and deliberate. "Or being seen?"
Lin Yuè's eyes widened fractionally. For a split second, something raw flickered in them—vulnerability? Recognition?—before he blinked it away, lashes lowering.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
Guàn Jǐngchén studied him for a long moment, then released his wrist. But he didn't step back.
"Today you'll shadow me in the boardroom. Full access to the executive network. I want your eyes on every line of code during the AI defense presentation."
Lin Yuè nodded quickly. "Yes, CEO Guàn."
As the CEO turned to grab his jacket, Lin Yuè's fingers flexed at his sides.
*Full access.*
Exactly what Eclipse needed to plant the subtle tracker he'd prepared weeks ago—nothing destructive, just a quiet backdoor for monitoring. Insurance, in case things went south.
But as Guàn Jǐngchén shrugged into the jacket and glanced back, something in his expression made Lin Yuè's chest tighten.
The CEO looked... almost gentle.
"Stay close to me today," he said, low enough that only Lin Yuè could hear. "I don't want you getting lost in the crowd."
Lin Yuè swallowed, smile small and sweet. "I won't, sir."
But inside, Eclipse whispered: *Too late. You're already lost.*
End of Chapter 3