The morning after their late-night dinner, Xia Yi sat at her desk, replaying the previous night's conversation with He Shihan.
His words lingered in her mind longer than she wanted to admit. Curiosity isn't enough. But it's a start.
Just as she was gathering her thoughts, her phone buzzed. A message from He Shihan:
He Shihan: "We have a meeting in 10 minutes. Don't be late, Yiyi."
She frowned at the audacity of his informal tone. Yiyi? It was the first time he'd used her nickname so casually.
Before she could decide whether to be annoyed or amused, the time forced her to rush.
___
Inside the meeting room, He Shihan was already seated, flipping through some documents.
His eyes met hers briefly as she entered.
"You're cutting it close," he said, a teasing lilt in his voice.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Xia Yi retorted, sitting across from him.
The meeting proceeded smoothly, but tension simmered beneath every glance they exchanged.
At one point, He Shihan leaned closer to her side of the table to show a graph.
"You missed this adjustment," he whispered, his shoulder brushing against hers deliberately.
Xia Yi stiffened but kept her tone even.
"Not everything requires your micromanagement, Mr. He."
He smiled—slow, confident, and maddeningly attractive.
"You call it micromanagement. I call it teamwork."
She shot him a look.
"Careful. Keep pushing, and you'll find where my patience ends."
"Maybe I like pushing boundaries," He Shihan replied smoothly.
___
Later that day, Xia Yi decided to set things straight.
She cornered He Shihan in the hallway after their meeting.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
He looked amused. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Xia Yi hissed.
"All these little moments. The late-night dinner, the nickname, the unnecessary touches. What game are you playing, He Shihan?"
He leaned against the wall casually, his eyes never leaving hers.
"No game, Yiyi. I'm just getting to know you."
"And if I don't want you to?"
His gaze softened, but there was no hesitation in his reply.
"Then tell me to stop."
Xia Yi opened her mouth but found no words. For a moment, she was caught—trapped in the pull of his gaze. He wasn't just playing with her; he was waiting for her to decide.
"I thought so," He Shihan murmured with a knowing smile.
"I'll see you at dinner tonight."
Before she could respond, he walked away, leaving her standing in the hallway, heart racing.