The next morning, Lin Xiaoyu walked into the office feeling lighter than usual — almost floating.
Which was dangerous, because people who float tend to attract attention.
And attention arrived immediately.
---
The Ride Everyone Knows About
Chen Mei, Xiaoyu's closest coworker (and full-time gossip queen), slammed her coffee down dramatically.
"XIAOYU.
You.
Were not at the bus stop yesterday."
Xiaoyu froze.
"Uh… yeah, the rain was heavy."
"So you magically teleported home?"
"Of course not."
"Then WHO dropped you off?"
Xiaoyu took a slow breath.
"…Director Li."
The entire office went silent.
Someone actually dropped a stapler.
"YOU got a ride from THE Li Junhao?! Our cold CEO?!"
"Did you talk? Did he smile? Did he exist like a normal human?"
Xiaoyu threw her hands up.
"It was just a ride!"
But nobody believed her.
Especially when the receptionist poked her head in and said casually:
"Director Li arrived today looking… different. Happier?"
The office erupted.
---
The Bet
By lunchtime, Chen Mei cornered Xiaoyu again.
"Okay, listen. We've made a bet."
Xiaoyu blinked. "A… bet?"
"Yes. On whether you and Director Li are secretly dating."
"We're NOT!"
"Exactly. That's why I bet that he likes you but you don't know."
"How is that better?!"
Chen Mei leaned in.
"Yesterday he ordered the long route home for you, didn't he?"
Xiaoyu almost choked on air.
"How do you know that?!"
"The driver told security guard Liang. Security guard Liang told the janitor. Janitor told me."
"…That's terrifying."
"It's called information flow."
---
The Almost Confession
Xiaoyu escaped to the rooftop for a quiet break, but of course, destiny wasn't done torturing her.
Li Junhao was there.
Hands inside his pockets, shirt sleeves rolled up, looking like a calm storm.
"Miss Lin."
"Director Li… you're here early."
"Needed air. What about you?"
"Needed… less people."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Trouble?"
She exhaled.
"Everyone thinks… you and I…"
"Are what?"
"Um. Something."
He stepped a little closer.
The wind brushed her hair.
Her heartbeat went wild.
"And what do you think, Xiaoyu?"
His voice was low, warm, too close.
She swallowed hard.
What did she think?
She liked him — of course she did.
But saying it felt impossible.
"Director Li, I…"
A loud clang interrupted her — the rooftop door slammed open.
Chen Mei burst out holding noodles.
"Xiaoyu, emergency! They're increasing the bet price—"
She froze.
Saw Li Junhao.
Saw how close they were.
"Oh.
Ohhhh.
Sorry! Just… pretend I wasn't here!"
She backed out so fast she almost tripped.
The moment was gone.
Xiaoyu covered her face.
"That was embarrassing."
Li Junhao chuckled softly — the rare, warm kind she hardly ever heard.
"Don't worry," he said. "We'll finish that conversation… another time."
She tried to breathe normally again, but her heart had already decided it was done for the day.
---