Liu Yan wasn't sure whether something was wrong with Luo Zheng's massage technique or if the car's air conditioning had been turned up too high. It was only April—how could it feel this hot? Or… was she simply wearing too much? Her thoughts drifted aimlessly until a sudden, subtle sensation snapped her back to reality. Something felt off. Her personal space—her boundaries—had been quietly crossed.
She immediately turned her head and pulled her arm back, putting a bit of distance between them.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, Boss," she said quickly, trying to regain composure.
"So fast?" Luo Zheng raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
Liu Yan forced herself to nod. "Mhm… Boss, you give a very good massage."
"Then I'll make sure to massage you often from now on," Luo Zheng replied shamelessly, his tone far too casual.
Only then did Liu Yan fully realize—she had been played. A stiff, polite smile formed on her lips as she responded, "Thank you, Boss," even though her inner thoughts were far less polite.
The car stopped, and the two stepped out before heading toward Xu Jinglei's apartment. Luo Zheng knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
A moment later, footsteps approached, and the door opened. Xu Jinglei stood there, looking noticeably thinner and slightly worn out, dressed casually in loose pajamas. The wide neckline slipped low over her shoulder, exposing smooth skin, while her shorts revealed her long legs without restraint. She looked fragile, but there was a quiet intensity in her eyes.
Before Luo Zheng could say anything, she suddenly threw herself into his arms.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly, steadying himself and catching her without losing balance. His first thought was unexpected—she had lost weight. Not drastically, but enough to notice.
"You're here…" Xu Jinglei murmured, her voice soft as she buried her face against his shoulder.
"Mhm. Are you alright?" Luo Zheng asked, his tone softening slightly.
She shook her head gently, clinging to him like someone who had been holding everything in for far too long.
A light cough broke the moment.
"Ahem."
Liu Yan stood nearby, her presence impossible to ignore any longer. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Xu Jinglei stepped back, finally noticing her.
"This is…?" she asked.
"My secretary," Luo Zheng answered simply.
"Oh." The tension in Xu Jinglei's expression eased. She nodded, then turned back to Luo Zheng with a faint smile. "Come in."
The door closed.
And Liu Yan was left outside.
She stared at the solid door for a second, then glanced downstairs toward the parked car. With a small, frustrated stomp of her foot, she resigned herself to waiting.
She checked the time.
Two hours until the flight. One hour to reach the airport. Thirty minutes required for boarding procedures.
That left… roughly half an hour.
Her expression turned calm, almost calculating.
Inside the apartment, the atmosphere was entirely different. Words became unnecessary as the distance between them vanished. Emotions that had been suppressed for days poured out in a rush. The room gradually fell into a quiet rhythm, filled with tension, closeness, and unspoken understanding.
Time passed quickly—too quickly.
Outside, Liu Yan silently counted down under her breath.
"3… 2… 1…"
Right on cue, the door opened.
Luo Zheng stepped out, holding his jacket casually as if nothing unusual had happened. Inside, Xu Jinglei had already fallen asleep, exhaustion finally catching up to her.
"Boss, that must have been… hard work," Liu Yan said with a slight bow, her tone perfectly neutral—perhaps too neutral.
Luo Zheng paused for a moment, sensing something beneath her words. Sarcasm? Jealousy? He couldn't quite tell, but he chose to interpret it in his own way.
"Not really," he said lightly. "I'm in great shape. If you don't believe me, you can test it yourself."
Liu Yan felt irritation rise instantly, but she suppressed it. If not for his position—and his face—she might have already walked away from this job.
"Let's go. We still have a flight to catch," he added, oblivious to her mood.
She took the jacket from his hand and led the way without another word.
On the drive to the airport, Luo Zheng made a call to Wang Zhongjun from Huayi Brothers, apologizing for postponing their scheduled meeting. Due to issues with the editing of Saw, he had to fly to the U.S. immediately.
Wang Zhongjun was understanding, but after the call ended, Wang Zhonglei—who had been listening nearby—was clearly annoyed.
"Big brother, is he messing with us? Keeps delaying like this—does he think too little of us?" he complained.
"What nonsense," Wang Zhongjun snapped. "Didn't you hear? There's a problem with his project in the U.S. A man at his level wouldn't lie about something like that."
Feng Xiaogang, sitting nearby, nodded calmly. "I agree. This doesn't sound like an excuse."
Seeing both of them against him, Wang Zhonglei had no choice but to shut up, though his frustration lingered.
New York.
By the time Luo Zheng landed, it was already night. He hadn't slept much on the plane, trying to adjust to the time difference. With no real way to pass time, his boredom turned into something… less harmless.
For Liu Yan, seated beside him, it was a different kind of struggle.
Every time she drifted toward sleep, she felt something subtle—something she couldn't quite confirm. When she opened her eyes, everything appeared normal. No movement. No evidence.
At one point, she even wondered if she was imagining things.
Until she finally fell asleep completely.
When she woke up later, she noticed something unmistakable—one of the buttons on her shirt had been fastened incorrectly.
Her suspicion became certainty.
There was definitely someone taking advantage of the situation.
She turned to Luo Zheng, her jaw tightening slightly. "Didn't you say you were adjusting to jet lag, Boss?"
He looked at her innocently. "I was."
"Oh… that must be tiring."
"Not really."
"Would you like some water?"
"No."
"Was it comfortable?"
"…Comfortable."
The moment the word left his mouth, Luo Zheng froze.
Liu Yan, teeth clenched, calmly fixed the misaligned button on her shirt, her expression unreadable.
The silence between them stretched for a moment.
"Um…" Luo Zheng cleared his throat awkwardly. "Let me explain."