Chapter 14 — "Two Hearts, One Confession"
(Mid-long, soft, romantic, simple, emotional… carrying the same story flow you loved.)
The next morning arrived quietly, as if the city itself decided to slow down just for Lin Xiaoyu. She woke up feeling… lighter. As if all the stress, all the running in circles, all the misunderstandings, were finally settling into place like pieces of a puzzle.
But there was still one piece missing.
Her confession… and his.
She stood in front of her mirror, smoothing her soft blue blouse, practicing her lines for maybe the thousandth time.
> "President Li, I… I like you."
"Li Wenxun, I've liked you for a long time."
"Sir, please don't fire me after this."
She groaned, covering her face.
"Why am I like this?" she muttered to herself. "I can negotiate with angry suppliers but I can't confess to the man I like."
She grabbed her bag dramatically like a soldier heading into war.
"Anyway, today… I will try."
---
At the Office…
The moment she stepped inside, she almost collided with Li Wenxun — again.
He blinked. She blinked. The universe blinked with them.
And then he said, gently, "Good morning… Xiaoyu."
Why did the way he said her name feel like he practiced it too?
Her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She bowed slightly, like a malfunctioning robot.
"Yes! Good—morning—sir!"
Wenxun hid his smile. She was adorable. He almost reached out to fix the small loose strand of hair near her ear but stopped himself.
Not yet.
Not until she gave him a little sign.
"Are you free after work?" he asked suddenly, voice low, warm.
She froze.
"I—I—after work—today—uh—yes?"
It sounded like a question but he accepted it as a yes.
"Good," he said. "I want to talk to you about something important."
Important? IMPORTANT?
Her brain exploded like fireworks.
---
After Work — The Twist
Lin Xiaoyu waited in the lobby, hands sweating, heart racing.
Then she saw him coming down the stairs — tall, confident, wearing a black coat that made him look like a CEO from a romantic drama.
When he reached her, Xiaoyu swallowed.
"President Li… about what you wanted to talk about—"
He shook his head.
"We can talk somewhere quieter. Come with me."
He took her to the rooftop. The evening sky was painted in pink and gold, as if preparing the perfect romantic stage.
She stood there nervously while he leaned on the railing, watching her with soft eyes.
"Xiaoyu," he said finally, "there's something I've been hiding."
Her breath caught.
"A secret?" she whispered.
He nodded.
"A… big one."
Her mind jumped to the most dramatic conclusion possible.
He's getting married?! He's secretly a prince?! He's actually broke?! He's moving abroad?!
But he stepped closer and said:
"I think I might like you."
Xiaoyu's brain stopped functioning.
"L-Like me?"
"Yes."
A tiny smile tugged at his lips. "Actually, I've liked you for a long time."
Her eyes widened so much he almost laughed.
"You… liked… me?"
He gave a guilty nod. "Yes."
Suddenly Xiaoyu burst out:
"Why didn't you say earlier?! I was dying every day!"
He blinked.
"Dying?"
"Yes! You looked at me like you hated me sometimes. You're too perfect and too handsome, and I thought you found me annoying! I even practiced my confession thirty times!"
Wenxun stared at her.
"You practiced?"
"Yes! In front of the mirror! My neighbors probably think I'm insane!"
And then—
For the first time ever—
Li Wenxun… laughed.
A real laugh.
Warm, deep, completely heartfelt.
Xiaoyu froze. Because he looked way too handsome when he laughed.
He stepped even closer, voice gentle:
"If I knew you were suffering like this… I would have confessed sooner."
She covered her face with both hands out of pure embarrassment.
"I can't believe this is real," she mumbled.
He slowly removed her hands from her face, holding them gently.
"This is real, Xiaoyu."
Her heart melted.
---
A Soft, Sweet Ending to the Chapter
The wind brushed against them, the sky glowing behind their silhouettes.
Xiaoyu finally gathered all her courage.
"Li Wenxun… I like you too."
His eyes softened instantly.
"I know," he whispered.
"How?"
"You blush every time I walk near you."
She turned red again.
And he… laughed again.
But this time, he took her hands in his—firmly, warmly.
"Let's start again," he said.
"Not as boss and employee… but as two people who have liked each other for too long."
Xiaoyu smiled shyly.
"Okay."
He squeezed her hand.
"Then… shall we call this our first date?"
She blinked.
"Um… are rooftop confessions counted as dates?"
"They are if I say so."
She rolled her eyes, laughing.
And the two of them stood there, under the soft evening sky — finally not running, finally not misunderstanding, finally standing face-to-face with the feelings they'd been hiding for months.