Xu Liyu stepped out of the cab, her heart racing as she gazed up at the towering building in front of her. The Chen Media Complex was a sprawling structure of steel and glass, standing proudly in the heart of the city like a monument to the success of the Chen family. It was a place she had only heard about in the news, and now, she was about to step inside.
Her mind was a whirl of emotions as she adjusted her blouse and checked her appearance in the reflection of the building's polished surface. Today marked the first day of her new job as a secretary, a position she had worked hard to secure. The opportunity was too good to pass up—working for one of the most influential media companies in the country.
But there was something else that made this moment particularly nerve-wracking. It had been years since she last saw him.
She pushed open the glass doors and entered the lobby, the hum of conversation and the soft click of heels on the marble floor immediately filling her ears. The air was cool and crisp, the scent of fresh coffee wafting from the nearby café. She walked past the reception desk, her gaze scanning the room for the elevator.
As she approached the elevator bank, a figure stepped into her line of sight, and her heart skipped a beat.
Standing in front of her, dressed in a sharp black suit, was none other than Chen Tianyu—the man who had been her best friend in high school. The boy who had once shared everything with her, from homework to late-night conversations about their dreams and fears. The same boy who had promised they would always be there for each other.
Except, they weren't anymore.
Chen Tianyu stood there, his gaze focused on the digital display of the elevator as it flickered between floors. His expression was calm, composed—so much so that it took a moment for Xu Liyu to process what was happening. It was only when he looked up, his eyes meeting hers, that the realization hit her like a wave.
He had changed. He was no longer the carefree teenager she once knew. Now, he was the CEO of one of the most powerful companies in the entertainment industry.
"Xu Liyu?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Xu Liyu froze, momentarily caught off guard by the sound of her name on his lips. She hadn't expected him to recognize her immediately, especially after all these years. Her mind raced as she tried to formulate a response, but words seemed to escape her.
"Chen Tianyu?" she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
His lips twitched into a smile, though it seemed forced, as though he was unsure of how to react. "It's been a long time," he said, his tone polite, yet distant. "You look... different. But still, the same in some ways."
She nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She had spent years trying to move on from their past, but seeing him again stirred up feelings she thought she had buried long ago.
"Yeah, it's been a while," she said, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. She quickly added, "I didn't expect to see you here."
Chen Tianyu's smile faltered for a moment before he cleared his throat. "I guess neither did I. But it seems we're both here for the same reason."
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, offering a moment of reprieve. They both stepped inside, and Xu Liyu couldn't help but notice how much had changed. The man beside her, once her confidant and partner in crime, was now the CEO of a multimillion-dollar corporation. The man she had once laughed with, shared her deepest secrets with, was now a stranger—one with power, influence, and a world of responsibility on his shoulders.
As the elevator ascended, Xu Liyu stole a quick glance at him. He hadn't changed much physically—still tall, with his sharp jawline and tousled hair. But there was something different about him now, something she couldn't quite place. He exuded an air of authority, and it was clear that he was no longer the boy she had once known.
The silence between them was thick with unspoken words, both of them avoiding the elephant in the room. There was so much history between them, so many memories, and yet, they both knew better than to address it. Not here. Not now.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Xu Liyu followed Chen Tianyu down the hallway. He led her into a spacious office area, where a team of employees were already hard at work, typing away at their computers, answering phones, and attending to various tasks. It was a well-oiled machine, each person playing their part in the larger operation.
Chen Tianyu gestured to a desk near the window, a sleek, modern setup with a clear view of the city skyline. "This will be your workspace," he said, his voice professional. "You'll be reporting directly to me, so if you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."
Xu Liyu nodded, her heart still pounding in her chest. "Thank you, Mr. Chen," she said, automatically slipping into formalities.
There was a brief pause before Chen Tianyu spoke again. "You don't have to call me that. Just Tianyu is fine. We've known each other long enough, haven't we?"
The use of his first name sent a jolt of electricity through her. She hadn't heard it in so long. But it didn't feel the same now. There was a distance between them, one that neither of them could bridge easily.
She forced a smile. "Right. Tianyu. I'll keep that in mind."
The tension in the air was palpable, and neither of them seemed to know how to break it. They were both pretending that the past didn't matter, that the years of friendship and shared memories had no bearing on the present. But it did. It always would.
Just then, a voice called out from the other side of the office. "Tianyu, the meeting is about to start."
Chen Tianyu nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll be right there."
He turned to Xu Liyu, his gaze softening for a brief moment before he quickly masked it with his usual professional demeanor. "I'll leave you to get settled in. We'll talk later."
With that, he turned and walked toward the conference room, leaving Xu Liyu standing in the midst of the bustling office, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.
She couldn't deny the sense of nostalgia that washed over her as she stood there, staring at the spot where he had just been. It felt like a lifetime ago that they had been inseparable, laughing and dreaming about the future. But now, everything had changed. They were no longer the same people. They couldn't be.
Xu Liyu took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. She was here for a reason, and that reason was to succeed in her new role. She couldn't afford to get distracted by the past. Not now.
As she settled into her desk, she noticed the glances from her new colleagues—curious eyes following her every move. They were all wondering who she was, why she was here, and what her connection to the CEO might be. She could feel the weight of their stares, but she chose to ignore it. This was her fresh start, and she was determined to make the most of it.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from her old friend Xiao Fang, who had sent her a warm welcome text, asking how her first day was going.
Xu Liyu smiled, grateful for the familiarity of Xiao Fang's words. At least some things hadn't changed.
She quickly typed a reply, letting Xiao Fang know that everything was going fine, despite the unexpected reunion with Chen Tianyu. She wasn't sure if she was ready to talk about it just yet, but she knew she would eventually.
As the day went on, Xu Liyu kept herself busy, diving into her work and trying to ignore the growing tension that lingered in the air. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much more complicated.
Something that would force her to confront her past, her feelings, and the man who had once been her everything.
But for now, all she could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time.