The glass doors of Lu Corporation gleamed like judgment.
Xu Yinyin stood in front of them, chewing the last bite of her breakfast bun, one eyebrow raised at her reflection.
"First day. Try not to get fired, mmkay?" she told herself, brushing powdered sugar off her cheap blazer.
Inside the building, people wore suits like armor and walked like their souls were uploaded to spreadsheets. But Yinyin? She walked in with a big pink tote bag, cartoon phone case swinging from her wrist, and a folder of fake résumés she found on a job forum.
She didn't mean to lie.
Well, okay—maybe she meant it a little.
After all, what were the chances the world's coldest CEO would even notice her?
"You. Stop."
A low voice, calm as a glacier, echoed through the lobby.
Xu Yinyin froze mid-step, one foot in the air, like a cat caught knocking over a vase.
A man stood behind the front desk. Tall, terrifyingly handsome, and dressed like money. His eyes were sharp like they could slice through lies—and her fake work experience.
Lu Zeyan.
Oh crap.
She was face to face with the actual CEO.
"Do you work here?" he asked, eyeing her name badge suspiciously.
"Um…" she glanced at her badge. It said Xiu Ying, not Xu Yinyin. Whoops. "Yes! Yes, I'm the new… sandwich technician."
"…Pardon?"
"I-I mean assistant! Assistant to someone. Probably not you. Definitely not you."
He stared at her like she was a smudge on his glasses. "Why are you holding a plushie?"
She looked down. Oh. She had brought her lucky stuffed frog. "Emotional support. For the printer."
He blinked once. Then twice.
"Human Resources."
"Oh no no, they're already tired of me," she said cheerfully. "But you! You look like you need a smile. Want a jellybean?"
She offered him a candy from her bag like it was a peace treaty.
He didn't take it.
But for some reason… he didn't walk away either.
Ten minutes later, Xu Yinyin was sitting in an expensive chair in an expensive office with her cheap sneakers dangling off the edge.
And sitting across from her, stone-faced like a bored deity, was Lu Zeyan.
"You're unqualified," he said flatly.
"I agree!" she said brightly.
"You faked your résumé."
"Technically, my cousin faked it. I just emailed it."
"You talk too much."
"You should talk more. Like, smile once a day. Good for digestion."
He stared at her again.
She smiled at him. The kind of smile that made men lose money.
Then—
He sighed.
Why? Why didn't he fire her?
"Report to my office every morning at eight," he said.
She blinked. "Wait… are you hiring me?"
"You said you needed the job. Don't make me regret it."
She jumped to her feet. "Aye aye, Captain Cold!"
He looked up sharply. "What did you just call me?"
She was already skipping out the door, humming happily.
He stared at the closing door.
What. Just. Happened?