Morning. Yang capital.
Li Lian stepped into the building, ready to begin another day.
"Good morning, Mr. Zhang," she greeted her senior politely before settling into her seat.
She powered on her laptop and got to work, occasionally sipping her coffee, stretching to ease the tension in her limbs, and standing whenever a superior called on her.
She was typing away when Yang Yufan's secretary, Mr. Shen, approached her desk.
"Miss Lian, the president would like to see you. Please bring the research on Zhaoyi Holdings with you."
"Okay, sir," she replied, standing up and carefully picking up the spiral-bound files.
When she reached the door to the CEO's office, she took a steadying breath before stepping inside.
Li Lian stepped into the CEO's office, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The air was crisp and cool, scented faintly with leather and expensive cologne. Yang Yufan sat behind his massive desk, looking effortlessly powerful in a black suit, eyes lifted from his tablet to meet hers with quiet intensity.
"Good morning, sir," she said, steadying her voice.
Yufan smiled. "Morning. Have a seat."
Li Lian sat down across from Yang Yufan, handing him the neatly spiral-bound file. He flipped through a few pages, then closed it and leaned back in his chair, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"Give me a verbal summary instead," he said, folding his arms.
Li Lian gave a slight nod, composed and professional.
"Zhaoyi Holdings was established in 2001, with its headquarters in Beijing, China. It currently operates two additional international branches—one in Tokyo, Japan, and another in New York City, USA. The company specializes in high-end real estate development and urban infrastructure projects.
"Zhaoyi's mission is to redefine modern urban living by designing and constructing innovative, sustainable spaces that are not only functional but also architecturally significant. Their portfolio includes luxury residential complexes, commercial hubs, and smart city integrations.
"In the last fiscal year, Zhaoyi recorded a 14% increase in revenue, driven by successful project launches in both Beijing and Tokyo. The company has also shifted toward integrating green building technologies and AI-driven property management systems to improve operational efficiency and environmental impact."
She paused, hands neatly folded in her lap. "That's a brief overview of their current structure and performance, sir."
"Good, you can...".
Yang Yufan's words were cut off by a knock on the door.
"Sir, Young Master Zhao is here," Secretary Shen announced from outside.
Before Yufan could respond, Li Lian abruptly stood from her chair, her hands quickly moving to ruffle her hair in an attempt to obscure part of her face.
"I'll take my leave now, sir," she said in a rush, bowing briefly before turning to exit.
Just as she opened the door, she nearly collided with Zhao Yifan. Without lifting her head or making eye contact, she mumbled a quick, "Sorry," and hurried past him without waiting for a response.
Yifan turned slightly, watching her retreating figure with a faint furrow in his brows, while Yufan leaned back in his seat with a thoughtful expression.
"...That was Lian, wasn't it?" Yifan spoke first, a faint, sad chuckle slipping past his lips as he kept his gaze fixed on the now-closed door.
Yufan studied his expression for a moment before giving a slow nod.
"Yes," he replied simply, his tone quiet.
"…She ran out because of me?" Yifan asked, his voice low, hesitant, like he already knew the answer but dreaded hearing it.
"…Yes."
Yufan's reply was soft but firm, and it shattered what little composure Yifan had left.
Yifan's hands clenched into fists as he turned away and walked slowly to the sofa, sinking into it without a word. Yufan stood from behind his desk and joined him in silence, the weight of the moment settling between them.
Meanwhile.
Li Lian hurried down the stairs, her footsteps quick and unsteady. She dropped the file on her desk without a second thought and made a beeline for the vending machine, selecting an energy drink with trembling fingers. Her heart pounded in her chest—she couldn't tell if it was from joy, panic, or the ache of old wounds reopening.
Gripping the cold can tightly, her breath caught. Then, without warning, she sank to the floor and let the tears fall—silent at first, then wracking sobs she could no longer hold in.
A warm hand rested gently on her back.
"I don't know what happened, but it's okay, Lian Lian," Wang Yixi said softly, her voice soothing as she crouched beside her, gently rubbing her back.
They stayed like that, two girls crouched in a quiet corner, the noise of the office fading away as one tried to piece herself back together in the comfort of quiet understanding.
Finally, the two stood up, their fingers still loosely entwined for comfort. Hand in hand, they walked back into the office, the air between them lighter, more settled.
"Let's go for a drink tonight, just a girls' night out," Wang Yixi said with a warm smile.
Li Lian hesitated for a second before nodding. "...Okay."
"Cheer up, alright? You've got me now," Yixi added, nudging her gently with her shoulder.
A faint smile tugged at Lian's lips as they returned to their desks.
Meanwhile. Zhaoyue pavilion.
"Welcome home, Master, Madam," the maids greeted in unison as Zhao Jingyuan and Qin Lihua stepped out of the car and entered the grand foyer of the mansion.
"Where is that brat?" Zhao Jingyuan asked, his tone gruff as his sharp eyes scanned the room.
"Young Master is currently at the office, sir," the head maid replied respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Alright, take our luggage upstairs," Zhao Jingyuan instructed, waving a hand as he and Qin Lihua made their way to the living room.
They both settled into the plush cushions of the sofa, the atmosphere quiet but warm.
"I can't wait for Yifan to come home. I've missed him," Qin Lihua said with a soft pout.
Jingyuan shook his head with a sigh. "With the way he acts cold and distant and yet you still miss him every second."
"...He's still our son," she replied gently, her eyes soft with motherly affection.
Back at Yang capital.
The day finally came to an end. Yufan and Yifan descended to the ground floor, walking side by side toward the exit where their car awaited. But Yifan suddenly slowed his pace, his eyes catching sight of a familiar figure crouching awkwardly under a nearby desk.
Li Lian.
She was hiding, clearly trying to make herself invisible. Her eyes were squeezed shut, lips pressed in a silent plea not to be seen. The sight of her like that, awkward, vulnerable, and oddly endearing, almost made Yifan smile. Almost.
But the curve of his lips stalled, the weight of her avoidance sinking in. She was hiding from him.
Without saying a word or breaking stride, he turned his gaze back ahead and continued walking beside Yufan. Moments later, their car pulled away from the building.
The second they were gone, Li Lian let out a deep sigh of relief and crawled out from her hiding spot. She dusted herself off, gathered her things, and tidied up her desk before making her way over to Wang Yixi.
With a quiet nod, the two girls walked out of the building together, the cool evening air welcoming them into the night.