Heartbeat in the Lobby
The ding from the elevator made Wang Xiaoxi instinctively straighten her posture. Her heart beat faster, breath caught in her throat. For a split second, she was sure that the elevator doors would reveal the figure she had only ever seen on screen.
"Oh God… don't tell me it's him. Not now. My hair's a mess, my face looks like a zombie after an all-nighter… please, universe, don't let me die of embarrassment here."
The elevator doors opened slowly.
Xiaoxi froze, both hands gripping the black folder that held the script, almost raising it to cover her face.
Her heartbeat thundered so loudly it felt as if the entire lobby could hear it.
But instead of Wei Yu Chen, a young woman appeared — neatly dressed in a crisp white shirt, a black pencil skirt, and thin glasses perched on her nose. A polite, professional smile adorned her face.
"Good morning, Miss Wang? I'm Mr. Wei's personal secretary. Please, allow me to escort you to the meeting room," she said courteously.
Xiaoxi held her breath, then exhaled long and slow.
Her body, tense just moments ago, finally relaxed a little. A wave of relief washed over her, though her heartbeat remained unsteady — a mix of fear, nervousness, and immense gratitude.
"Not him… thank God, not him. I'm not mentally ready for direct eye contact with that superstar. I'd end up on tomorrow's headlines as 'Extinguisher Girl: Episode Two.'"
She hurriedly stood, straightened her blazer as best as she could, and followed the secretary's lead. Even though her heart felt lighter, her steps still moved awkwardly — half wanting to get it over with, half wishing she could delay the inevitable.
Yet beneath that fleeting relief, another rhythm pulsed quietly.
A premonition — that the unavoidable meeting was only minutes away.
Shadows in the Meeting Room
The corridor leading to X Dragon's meeting room felt long and silent.
The soft echo of Xiaoxi's low heels followed the steady rhythm of the secretary walking ahead. The faint aroma of fresh coffee drifted from the nearby pantry, mingling with the warm scent of cinnamon from the room's diffuser.
Xiaoxi lowered her gaze, trying to steady her breathing. Her fingers unconsciously squeezed the black folder that had never left her grip.
"Come on, Wang Xiaoxi, head up. You're just an editor. Your job is only to hand over the script. Period."
The door to the meeting room opened with a gentle sound.
For a moment, Xiaoxi was stunned. The room was spacious, with a long oval table whose glossy surface shone like glass. Rows of black leather chairs lined up neatly, already occupied by formally dressed staff. On the front wall, a large LED screen displayed the X Dragon Studio logo.
Several eyes turned toward her. Some nodded politely, while others gave brief glances before returning to their tablets. The atmosphere was strictly professional—tense, but dignified.
The secretary stepped aside, gesturing for Xiaoxi to enter.
"Please have a seat, Miss Wang. Mr. Wei will be here shortly."
Xiaoxi's heartbeat surged again.
She walked slowly toward the guest chair provided — directly facing the main seat at the end of the table. It was empty, clearly reserved for someone whose presence alone could fill the room with authority, even before he arrived.
"That's his chair… Wei Yu Chen's chair. God, I'm really here. Why does my life feel like some absurd corporate drama?!"
She sat down awkwardly, placed the folder on the table, and tried to fix her hair — a hopeless effort after a sleepless night. Meanwhile, the wall clock ticked softly, as if deliberately prolonging her torment.
Xiaoxi looked down, biting her lip. Her heart thudded wildly — a mixture of anxiety and disbelief.
Only one thought rang clear in her mind: the door could open at any moment, and when it did, all her panic would truly begin.
Delayed
Inside a black car crawling through the city's traffic, Wei Yu Chen sat reclined in the back seat. The half-open window revealed a line of vehicles barely moving. Horns blared, red lights blinked impatiently, and pedestrians on the sidewalk moved faster than the cars themselves.
Beside him, Jiang Fan stared at a tablet displaying the latest script draft. His brows furrowed.
"Our schedule's too packed. If this script is a priority, the meeting should've started by now. But looking at this traffic…" He glanced out the window in annoyance. "…I doubt we'll be moving anytime soon."
Yu Chen glanced at his watch. The long hand had just passed ten. Time kept slipping, while staff and editors were already waiting in the meeting room. He exhaled deeply, his voice calm yet firm.
"There's no point forcing it," he said flatly. "If I can't make it on time, the meeting should go on. Everyone's time is too valuable to waste."
He turned to Jiang Fan, his gaze sharp with quiet authority.
"Call the secretary. Tell her to start the meeting now. I'll follow as soon as I arrive."
Jiang Fan nodded and quickly dialed the number.
Soft, efficient words flowed from his lips.
Outside, a light drizzle began to fall, fogging up the car windows. Yu Chen stared straight ahead, his expression utterly composed — the look of a man long accustomed to grand stages and chaotic schedules.
A Meeting Without a Shadow
Wang Xiaoxi sat upright in her chair, trying to suppress her anxiety. The X Dragon meeting room was silent, save for the ticking clock and the faint hum of the air conditioner. She bit her lower lip, fingers tapping nervously against the folder on the table.
"Why is it so quiet… it feels like every second lasts three times longer. Is he coming in now? Am I ready if that door suddenly opens?"
Her eyes flicked toward the secretary standing at the side of the room, phone pressed to her ear. Xiaoxi couldn't make out the conversation — only faint murmurs and small nods that made the air feel even heavier.
A few staff members waited patiently, some scrolling through documents on their tablets. Xiaoxi, on the other hand, could barely sit still. Her chest felt tight, like waiting for an unavoidable verdict.
Finally, the secretary lowered her phone and looked around the room. Her clear voice carried news that immediately shifted the mood.
"Mr. Wei is stuck in traffic. He asks that the meeting begin without him. He'll join as soon as he arrives."
For a moment, Xiaoxi's chest loosened. The air that had been pressing against her lungs finally escaped. She took a deep breath, barely believing the wave of relief washing through her.
"Thank goodness… not yet. I still have time to breathe before having to face him."
But beneath that relief, another feeling stirred — the awareness that the meeting was merely postponed, not canceled.
Crossroads
The meeting ended close to noon. The tense atmosphere slowly eased as staff began tidying their tablets and documents. Chairs creaked, footsteps clicked against marble floors — the sound of a long session finally wrapping up.
Wang Xiaoxi exhaled deeply, reached for her black folder, and carefully slipped it into her bag. Her body still ached from the all-nighter, but at least her biggest task — delivering the revised script — was done.
"Thank God… I made it through without fainting or causing chaos. Time to head back to the office and pretend today was just another normal meeting."
She stood, straightened her blazer, and walked out of the meeting room. The corridor felt calmer than when she'd first arrived. Every step toward the lobby seemed to carry her closer to freedom — and further from the shadow that had haunted her all morning.
But fate often chooses the most unexpected timing.
Just as Xiaoxi pressed the elevator button, on the other side of the building, a black car pulled up at the main entrance. The back door opened, and Wei Yu Chen stepped out calmly, sunglasses masking part of his face. Behind him, Jiang Fan followed, tablet in hand.
The two walked toward the lobby.
Meanwhile, upstairs, the elevator chimed softly. The doors slid open, revealing Wang Xiaoxi stepping out, her bag slung over her shoulder.
Their steps — one descending, one ascending — slowly moved toward the same point.
Would their paths cross?
Xiaoxi herself didn't yet know that the next few seconds might become the most defining moment of her life.