Morning arrived gently, wrapped in the familiar sounds of home.
The apartment stirred awake with the soft clatter of bowls and the rhythmic movements of her mother in the kitchen. Oil hissed faintly in the pan, followed by the comforting aroma of fried eggs. From the living room came the sound of a cartoon playing at low volume, punctuated by an occasional burst of laughter.
Xiaoyu stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the front of her blouse for the third time. Cream-colored, neatly pressed, modest. She had chosen it carefully—professional without being stiff, simple without looking careless. Her hair was tied back cleanly, makeup minimal. Sensible. Safe.
Today was her first day at work.
She took a slow breath and turned away before she could overthink it.
"Jie, you're blocking the mirror again," a voice complained from behind her.
Xiaoyu turned to see her younger brother leaning against the doorframe, still in his pajamas, hair sticking up in several directions. He squinted at her outfit with exaggerated seriousness.
"You look like those people in TV dramas who work in big buildings," he declared.
She laughed despite herself. "Is that a compliment?"
He shrugged. "I think so. You look important."
"Eat your breakfast," she said, nudging him aside as she stepped out of the room.
At the dining table, her parents were already seated. Her father folded his newspaper neatly and glanced up when she arrived. Her mother placed another bowl on the table, then turned to call, "Xiao Rui, stop watching TV and come eat."
Her brother groaned but obeyed, sliding into his seat and immediately reaching for an egg.
"Wash your hands first," their mother scolded.
He sighed dramatically but got up again.
Xiaoyu sat down, hands folded around her bowl. Her father studied her quietly for a moment before nodding. "You look very proper."
Her mother smiled openly. "Just like a real office worker now."
Xiaoyu smiled faintly. "I hope I don't mess anything up on the first day."
Her brother returned, hands still damp, and leaned close to inspect her face. "Do CEOs shout at people?"
She blinked. "Why would they shout?"
"On TV they always do," he said seriously. "If your boss shouts at you, should I come scare him?"
Their parents laughed.
Her father shook his head. "Just focus on your work. No one will shout if you do things right."
Her mother added gently, "First days are always hard. Listen carefully, don't rush, and don't be afraid to ask."
Xiaoyu nodded, though her stomach felt tight. She ate slowly, barely tasting the food, her thoughts already racing ahead—to the office, the people, the expectations waiting for her.
As she stood to leave, her brother suddenly said, "Jie."
She paused.
"Don't forget your lunch card," he said, sliding it toward her. "You always forget things when you're nervous."
She stared at him for a moment, surprised, then smiled and tucked it into her bag. "Thank you."
Her mother walked her to the door, straightening her sleeve. "Text me when you arrive."
"I will."
Her father cleared his throat. "Work hard, but don't exhaust yourself."
Xiaoyu nodded and slipped on her shoes. When the door closed behind her, the hallway felt unusually quiet.
The headquarters of Horizon Group stood tall against the morning sky, glass walls reflecting sunlight with a cool, distant elegance. Xiaoyu stopped across the street, adjusting the strap of her bag, grounding herself before crossing.
This was where she would work.
Inside, the lobby was wide and minimalist. Polished floors gleamed beneath soft lighting. Employees moved in steady streams, conversations low and purposeful. Xiaoyu followed the signs toward Human Resources, heart beating faster with each step.
After registration and paperwork, she was led upstairs to the marketing department. The elevator ride felt longer than it should have, even though she reminded herself it was only nerves.
The office was bright and open, desks arranged neatly, screens filled with data, designs, and charts. Manager Chen greeted her with a firm handshake.
"Welcome. We have several new hires today. You'll start with orientation."
As he introduced her to the team, one familiar face made her pause.
"Xiaoyu?" a man said, standing up in surprise. "Is that you?"
She blinked. "Senior Lin?"
Lin Wei smiled. "I thought so. It's been a while."
Relief washed over her. He had been her senior at university—competent, reliable, someone professors trusted. Seeing him here eased her nerves more than she expected.
"I didn't know you worked here," she said.
"I joined last year," he replied. "Looks like we're colleagues now."
She nodded, grateful.
She was then introduced to two other new hires: Mei Qian, lively and expressive, already chatting easily, and Su An, quiet and observant, her gaze thoughtful. The three exchanged polite smiles, the silent bond of people starting from the same line.
Manager Chen explained expectations, workflow, and responsibilities. Xiaoyu listened intently, writing everything down.
The morning passed quickly—system logins, explanations, introductions. Xiaoyu focused on keeping up, careful not to miss details.
Then, just before noon, the atmosphere shifted.
It was subtle but unmistakable.
Voices lowered. Chairs straightened. Someone near the window murmured, "He's here."
Xiaoyu looked up.
Manager Chen adjusted his posture. "The CEO is on this floor today."
CEO?
A ripple of movement passed through the office. Employees stood almost instinctively, attention drawn to the glass doors.
Xiaoyu followed their gaze.
Executives entered first, followed by a tall man in a tailored dark suit. His presence was calm yet commanding, his steps steady, expression composed.
Her breath caught.
It was him.
The man from the elevator.
The same sharp features, the same quiet authority, the same restrained aura that had filled that small space days ago. Only now, the meaning of his presence was entirely different.
"Good morning, CEO Liang."
"Welcome, President Liang."
Greetings echoed softly as he passed, nodding briefly in acknowledgment. He didn't stop. He didn't look around.
He didn't see her.
But Xiaoyu saw him clearly.
Her fingers tightened around her notebook as realization washed over her. The man she had spoken to casually, the one she had mistaken for a regular employee—was Liang Wei , the CEO of Horizon Group.
Beside her, Mei Qian leaned close and whispered excitedly, "That's our CEO. You didn't know?"
Xiaoyu shook her head slowly. "No…"
Mei Qian stared. "You're kidding."
"I met him before," Xiaoyu admitted quietly.
Lin Wei turned. "Met him?"
"In the elevator," she said, embarrassment creeping up her neck. "I didn't know who he was."
Mei Qian's eyes widened. "You talked to him?"
Xiaoyu nodded, mortified.
She remembered her polite but casual tone, her complete ignorance. Heat rose to her face.
Yet as she watched Liang Wei disappear down the corridor, she felt something unexpected.
Not fear.
Not regret.
But a quiet sense of awe and respect.
There had been no arrogance in his manner—only calm authority. Someone used to carrying weight without announcing it.
And he hadn't recognized her.
That eased her embarrassment more than she expected.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Training sessions, basic tasks, internal systems. Xiaoyu worked carefully, double-checking everything.
At lunch, the new hires sat together.
"I still can't believe you met the CEO," Mei Qian said. "That's like something from a novel."
Xiaoyu shook her head. "Please don't say that. I just hope he doesn't remember."
Lin Wei smiled. "Trust me. To him, it was probably nothing."
She hoped so.
When she finally stepped outside that evening, the sky was painted in soft gold and fading blue. Xiaoyu paused, looking back at the towering building.
Her world had expanded quietly today.
She had entered a place far larger than herself, unknowingly crossed paths with the man at its center, and realized how much she still had to learn.
As she walked toward the bus stop, she straightened her shoulders.
Tomorrow, she would return not as a nervous graduate—but as someone determined to earn her place.
The light that had found her was still faint.
But it was steady.