Yun stood there, momentarily stunned by the dismissal. Then, with a final glare at both Chenxiu and Mina, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
In the sudden silence, Mina found herself studying Chenxiu. Despite the confrontation, he appeared completely unruffled, as if arguing with his cousin was no more taxing than discussing the weather.
"Well," Chenxiu said, a hint of amusement coloring his tone, "that was invigorating. Nothing like a bit of family drama to start the day, wouldn't you agree, Dr. Han?"
Mina couldn't help but smile at his nonchalance. "I'm not sure 'invigorating' is the word I'd choose, Chengxiu. Are you sure you're not overtaxing yourself?"
Chenxiu waved away her concern. "I assure you, it takes far more than my cousin's histrionics to ruffle my feathers."
He moved around the desk, leaning against it casually as he faced Mina. For a moment, she was struck by how different he looked from the man she'd first treated - gone was the pallor of near-death, replaced by a vitality that was almost magnetic.
"I must admit," Chenxiu continued, his dark eyes studying her intently, "I'm curious about your take on all this, Dr. Han. You've been thrust into quite the corporate soap opera."
Mina considered her words carefully. "It's... not what I expected when I took on your case, I'll admit. But I meant what I said to your cousin. My primary concern is your health and recovery."
"And how would you say I'm progressing?" Chenxiu asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.
Mina stepped closer, her professional instincts taking over. "Physically, you're healing remarkably well. But I'm concerned about the stress of this situation. Corporate politics can be as damaging as any physical wound."
Chenxiu's lips curved in a wry smile. "Ah, but you forget, Dr. Han. This is the world I thrive in. The machinations, the power plays - they're as natural to me as breathing."
"Even so," Mina pressed, surprising herself with her boldness, "you're not invincible, Chenxiu. You've been through a traumatic experience. It's okay to admit that it's affecting you."
For a moment, Chenxiu's carefully constructed mask slipped, and Mina caught a glimpse of something vulnerable in his eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by his usual inscrutable expression.
"Your concern is... appreciated," he said softly. "But unnecessary. I've faced far worse than my cousin's clumsy attempts at usurpation."
Mina found herself drawn in by the intensity of his gaze. "And what if I told you that my concern goes beyond the professional?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Chenxiu's eyebrow arched, a spark of interest igniting in his dark eyes. "Now that," he murmured, leaning in slightly, "is a fascinating development."
The air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken tension. Mina was acutely aware of how close they were standing, of the faint scent of his cologne, of the way his presence seemed to fill the room.
"I-" Mina began, but was cut off by a knock at the door.
Chenxiu straightened, the moment broken. "Enter," he called, his voice once again the cool tone of a CEO.
As Feng entered with a stack of reports, Mina took a step back, her heart racing. What had just happened? And more importantly, what was she going to do about these unexpected feelings for her patient?
Chenxiu's eyes met hers over Feng's head, and the ghost of a smile played at his lips. "We'll continue this discussion later, Dr. Han," he said softly. "I find I'm quite interested in exploring this... development."
Mina nodded, not trusting herself to speak. As she left the room, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just stepped onto a path that would change everything. The question was, was she ready for where it might lead?