The next activity on the company trip schedule was the famous mountain hot spring.
Relaxing. Calm. Peaceful.
That's what the brochure said.
Reality, however, had different plans.
---
Girls' Side Chaos
The women gathered in the changing room.
Everyone was excited, except Xiaoyu, who was dying inside.
Chen Mei whispered dramatically,
"So… how was sleeping next to our CEO?"
Xiaoyu blushed so hard she almost exploded.
"Stop! Nothing happened!"
"Did he snore?"
"No."
"Talk in his sleep?"
"No."
"Hug you by accident?"
"…maybe."
All the girls screamed.
Xiaoyu almost hid inside her towel.
---
The Hot Spring
The hot spring pool was gorgeous — surrounded by bamboo trees and soft mist.
Xiaoyu sat quietly in the corner, trying to soak in peace.
She couldn't.
Because someone kept looking at her.
Li Junhao.
He was on the men's side, separated by a wooden wall, but the top part was open.
And from that opening… she could see him.
And he could see her.
He sat casually in the water, hair slightly wet, looking unfairly handsome.
Chen Mei whispered,
"He's staring at YOU."
"Stop it!"
"Look, look! He's doing it again!"
Chen Mei waved wildly.
Junhao looked directly at Xiaoyu and gave the smallest nod — subtle but powerful.
Her heart flipped like a pancake.
---
The Jealous Moment
Everything was peaceful until a new staff member — tall, friendly, too friendly — sat beside Xiaoyu.
"Hi, I'm Wen Hao. I just joined last month."
"Oh, hello—"
"I heard you're really talented in design! Would you like to work on a project with me sometime?"
Xiaoyu smiled politely.
"Sure, maybe—"
Before she could finish, someone on the other side coughed — loudly.
Xiaoyu looked up.
Junhao.
Expression calm.
Eyes not calm at all.
He looked like someone who wanted to break the bamboo fence.
Wen Hao kept talking.
"You should give me your contact. It'll be easy to coordinate."
Xiaoyu opened her mouth to reply—
Splash.
Junhao stood up on his side of the pool.
Water sliding off his shoulders.
Looking way too serious for a hot spring.
He said calmly,
"Miss Lin, I need to speak with you."
Xiaoyu squeaked.
"Me? Now? Why?"
"Company matter."
He didn't blink.
He didn't breathe.
He didn't hide the glare he gave Wen Hao.
Xiaoyu got up, wrapped a towel around herself, and rushed out of the pool.
---
Behind the Bamboo Fence
She walked to the private corner near the changing area where Junhao was waiting, wearing a robe now, hair still dripping water.
"Director Li? What company matter?"
He looked away, jaw tight.
> "There is no company matter."
"…Then why did you call me?"
He didn't answer for a moment.
He just stared — the kind of stare that made her knees feel unreliable.
"I didn't like how he was talking to you."
Xiaoyu blinked.
"Are you… jealous?"
He paused.
Then admitted quietly,
"…Yes."
Her heart stopped.
"I don't want him getting too close."
"Why?" she whispered.
He took a step closer.
Just one.
Enough to trap the air.
"Because I haven't finished what you almost confessed yesterday."
Xiaoyu's breath caught.
Her cheeks burned.
She wanted to hide in the hot spring.
But she stood still.
"Xiaoyu," he said softly, "tell me. Were you trying to say you like me?"
Her voice became tiny.
"…Maybe."
Junhao's lips curved.
"Then I have something to tell you too."
She froze.
"I've liked you for a long time."
Her brain stopped.
Her heart became a drum.
She whispered,
"Really?"
"Yes."
He said it gently, simply, as if it was the most natural truth.
"And seeing other men talk to you… I don't like it."
Xiaoyu's face turned into a cherry.
"I—um—I don't know what to say—"
"Say nothing."
He reached out and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear.
A soft, careful touch.
"Just don't run from me again."
Xiaoyu felt like melting into the floor.