The door swung closed behind him, leaving Liu Xin alone on the rooftop. The soft glow of lanterns, the distant hum of city life, and the whisper of the evening breeze all felt suspended—like time had momentarily stopped.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
Did he really just storm off?
Liu stared at the untouched wineglass, the half-open menu, and the empty chair across from her. For a man who treated emotion like a contaminant, Wu Jian had reacted like something had punched him straight in the gut. And it wasn't her.
What happened?
She slowly sat down, her heart still thudding. No message, no follow-up. Just a sudden departure. It wasn't anger. That wasn't fury in his eyes. It was something else. Something broken.
Her fingers brushed against the wine glass. The color. Crimson red.
She thought back to the odd comment from earlier—about perfume, about distractions. Now this.
Red.
She filed the thought away. She couldn't afford to dwell on it. He might be mysterious, but she had a job to do. And if he thought this dinner was cancelled, fine. She could still meet the vendors, take notes, and prove she was serious.
Two hours later, Liu Xin had learned more about floral imports, custom centerpieces, and event lighting than she had in all her internships combined. One of the vendors, Mr. Han, gave her a sympathetic smile.
"You know," he said kindly, "Wu Jian doesn't usually let people into his orbit. If he walked out, that says more about him than you."
Liu Xin managed a tight smile. "Thanks. But I'm not here to be in his orbit. I'm here to deliver results."
---
The next morning, she arrived earlier than usual, balancing a takeaway coffee in one hand and a folder of notes in the other. When she stepped onto the top floor, the tension practically vibrated in the air.
His assistant looked up sharply. "He's not in a good mood today."
"Was he ever?" Liu Xin muttered under her breath, before knocking lightly on the door.
"Come in," came the curt reply.
Wu Jian sat behind his desk, dressed in another dark suit, but the shadows beneath his eyes looked deeper today. He was flipping through an email, expression unreadable.
"Your venue list," she said, placing the folder on the table. "I added vendor insights from last night and updated the projected budget based on initial quotes."
He glanced at the file, then at her. "You stayed?"
"Of course. Someone had to do the job."
His eyes held hers for a second too long. There was something cautious behind them. Like he was studying her for weaknesses—or trying not to reveal his own.
"I assume you want the gala to reflect the brand's legacy but also show evolution," she said, pressing on. "I have two contrasting theme options. One leans into tradition. The other goes ultra-modern. Both can be scaled depending on the budget."
"You prepared this overnight?"
She nodded. "You said no extensions."
For a moment, the corner of his mouth twitched. Almost imperceptibly. A ghost of something softer. Amusement? Approval? It was gone before she could be sure.
"We'll review both. Schedule a vendor walkthrough for tomorrow. I'll join."
She paused. "You don't need to micromanage—"
His tone turned sharp. "I don't micromanage. I supervise. That is my job."
Liu Xin swallowed the retort that burned at the edge of her tongue. This wasn't a battle worth fighting.
He looked back at the folder. "Good work. Dismissed."
She turned to leave.
"Miss Liu."
She paused.
"No red in the color palette."
There it was again. The aversion. A soft puzzle piece falling into place. He hadn't flinched at the workload, the planning, or the stress.
But red?
He couldn't stand red.
---
By noon, Liu Xin was back in the thick of planning. She barely noticed the hours flying by, her screen filled with mood boards, virtual mockups, and endless estimates.
Her coworkers started to warm up to her. One even dropped off a latte with a Post-it note that said "Hang in there, Warrior Queen".
She smiled. Maybe she wasn't entirely alone.
At 5:17 PM, a calendar notification popped up on her screen.
Meeting: Gala Theme Finalization
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: CEO's Private Boardroom
Liu Xin checked the note again. Private boardroom?
It wasn't on the floor plan she was given.
After a brief check-in with his assistant, she was led through a side corridor that led to a door with no label. Beyond it was a sleek, soundproofed room with dark wood, a glass ceiling, and an interactive display screen mounted on the far wall.
Wu Jian was already there, sleeves rolled up slightly, fingers flying over a tablet.
He didn't look up when she entered. "Which theme did you decide?"
Liu Xin stepped forward, heartbeat ticking. "Neither. I created a hybrid version. Tradition at the entrance. Innovation at the core. It'll guide guests through the brand's journey."
He looked up.
Their eyes locked.
Silence stretched between them. He stared at her like he was seeing something new.
Then, slowly, he nodded. "Show me."
She activated the touchscreen. A digital walkthrough began to play—flowing visuals, guest pathing, stage designs, even scent and lighting cues. Liu Xin explained her concept with practiced confidence, keeping her voice level.
When it ended, she turned to him.
He said nothing for a moment.
Then, softly, almost too soft to catch: "That could work."
Liu Xin couldn't help herself. "Is that your version of high praise?"
His lips curved slightly. Just a flicker. Not quite a smile.
"Don't get used to it."
She laughed before she could stop herself. "Too late."
For a second, the air between them changed. Less ice. Less fire. Just curiosity.
But before she could say more, the intercom buzzed.
"CEO Wu," came the assistant's voice. "Your grandmother has arrived. She insists on seeing you."
Wu Jian closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, the ice was back. "Cancel my next hour."
Liu Xin stepped back. "I'll get out of your way—"
"No. Stay."
She blinked. "Sorry?"
His jaw tightened. "She's going to assume things. Let her. Maybe she'll stop trying to marry me off."
Liu Xin's breath caught.
Before she could protest, the door opened.
And in walked a woman in pearls and a cloud of expensive perfume, her eyes sharp and immediately zeroing in on Liu Xin.
"Oh?" she said, smiling. "And who might you be, dear?"
Liu Xin looked between Wu Jian and the woman—and realized she was officially in deep.
To Be Continued...