Xinyue's brain officially short-circuited the moment she looked up.
Her heart did a full somersault.
No. No. No. No. This cannot be happening.
The stranger from the rain.
He's the CEO.
"Miss Xinyue," he said smoothly, his dark eyes resting on her face like he already knew the answer to something she hadn't said yet. "Have we met before?"
Her soul left her body.
"Oh! N-no," she blurted out, way too fast. "I mean—uh—sorry, sir. I think you mistook me for someone else."
Inside her head, chaos erupted.
YOU LIAR. YOU ABSOLUTE LIAR. THIS IS THE CEO. DAY ONE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONAL,
Zhenwei studied her for a moment longer, the faintest curve of amusement tugging at the corner of his lips. He could hear her heartbeat. Fast. Nervous. Honest in ways her words weren't.
"Is that so?" he murmured.
She nodded so hard her neck almost snapped. "Yes, sir. Completely different person. Definitely not me."
A beat passed.
Then he leaned back slightly, eyes glinting. "I see."
The way he said it made her feel like he absolutely did not see.
"Y-you'll excuse me!" Xinyue squeaked, bowing a little too deeply before spinning around and practically sprinting out of the office.
The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Zhenwei let out a quiet breath.
"Little liar ," he said to the empty room, amused. "Interesting."
Xinyue did not stop walking until she reached the far end of the hallway.
She pressed her hands against the cool wall, trying to slow her breathing.
"I just lied to the CEO," she whispered. "I lied. To. The CEO."
"First day?" a cheerful voice asked from beside her instead.
Xinyue jumped.
Two girls stood there, both wearing ID badges and warm, curious smiles.
"I'm Lina," said the taller one with a sleek bob and sharp eyes that missed nothing. "And this is Jiawen."
Jiawen, shorter and soft-spoken, waved shyly. "You look like you just saw a ghost."
Xinyue laughed nervously. "Something like that."
"New hire?" Lina guessed.
Xinyue nodded. "Management trainee. First day."
"Welcome to the chaos," Lina grinned. "Come on. We'll show you where the good coffee is. That's the real orientation."
By mid-morning, Xinyue found herself sitting between Lina and Jiawen in the break area, clutching a warm paper cup like it was emotional support.
"So," Lina leaned in. "You met him, didn't you?"
Xinyue blinked. "Met who?"
"The CEO," Jiawen whispered dramatically. "Mr. Wei Zhenwei himself."
Xinyue almost choked on her coffee.
"I—uh—maybe."
Lina smirked. "Your face says yes."
Jiawen clasped her hands. " So what do you think...Is he really as cold as everyone says?"
Xinyue thought of his quiet voice. The way he'd looked at her like he knew more than he should.
"He's… intimidating," she said carefully.
"That's corporate speak for 'dangerously handsome,'" Lina teased.
By lunchtime, the three of them were inseparable.
They took their trays to a sunny corner of the cafeteria, gossip flowing as easily as the soup in their bowls.
"Okay," Lina said, lowering her voice. "Rumor is, HR recruited three new people overnight because someone went on maternity leave, i wonder who was lucky."
Xinyue froze mid-bite.
Jiawen nodded. "Yeah, apparently the order came straight from the CEO. It wouldn't be you Xinyue right?"
Her spoon hovered in the air.
Lina continued, "And get this...people say he doesn't sleep. Like, ever."
Jiawen shivered. "My cousin swears she saw him in the office at 3 a.m. once."
Xinyue laughed weakly, grateful for the change of topic "That's… probably just workaholism."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of forms, training videos, and awkward introductions.
Xinyue spilled tea on her desk.
Accidentally sent a message meant for Lina to a department group chat.
And somehow ended up in the wrong meeting room twice.
By the time the clock hit five, her brain felt like it had run a marathon.
Lina leaned over her desk. "Hot pot tonight."
Xinyue blinked. "Tonight?"
"Yep. You're coming," Lina said firmly. "First day tradition. We celebrate surviving."
Jiawen nodded in agreement.
They left work together, the evening air cool and refreshing after a day under fluorescent lights.
The hot pot restaurant was warm and lively, steam fogging up the windows and the scent of broth and spices wrapping around them like a blanket.
They squeezed into a booth, jackets tossed aside, hair already starting to smell like chili and garlic.
"This," Lina said, pointing at the bubbling pot, "is the true cure for corporate stress."
Jiawen raised her glass. "To Xinyue. For surviving Day One."
Xinyue laughed and clinked her drink against theirs. "To not getting lost tomorrow."
They ate and talked, sharing stories that had nothing to do with work.
Lina told them about her failed attempt at learning guitar.
Jiawen confessed she still slept with a nightlight
Xinyue listened, smiling more than she spoke, warmth settling into her chest in a way she hadn't realized she'd been missing.
For the first time all day, she felt like she truly belonged somewhere.
When she finally headed home, the city lights shimmered against the dark sky, reflections dancing on the pavement.
She walked slower than she had that morning.
Calmer.
Her phone buzzed with a message from the group chat Lina had made ~ a picture of the empty hot pot and the caption: Next time, you're paying.
Xinyue smiled to herself.
As she reached her building, she paused for a moment, glancing at the sky.
No rain tonight.
Still, her fingers brushed her wrist unconsciously, remembering the place where someone had once held her there.
"Strange world," she murmured softly.
Inside, far above the city, Zhenwei stood by a tall window in his quiet office, looking out at the same night sky.