The bar smelled like alcohol and citrus.
Chen Le Xin sat at the counter, shoulders tense, eyes fixed on the amber liquid in her glass. She wasn't drunk—she refused to give Liu Kai Ying that satisfaction—but the edge in her chest hadn't dulled.
"Drink slower," Wong Tian Rong said quietly. "You look like you're about to start a fight."
Le Xin gave a humorless laugh. "I already did. Twelve hours ago."
Tian Rong followed her gaze to the mirror behind the bar.
And froze.
"Oh," she said. "You've got to be kidding me."
Liu Kai Ying had just walked in.
Black suit. Crisp. Untouched by the chaos of the world. Glasses reflecting neon light, blue eyes cold as they scanned the room.
They landed on Le Xin immediately.
And didn't soften.
Le Xin's grip tightened on her glass.
Of all places.
Kai Ying didn't hesitate. She walked straight toward the bar, heels clicking with quiet authority.
"This is a private space," Le Xin said flatly, before Kai Ying could speak.
Kai Ying stopped beside her. "This is a public establishment."
"And I'm off the clock."
Kai Ying looked down at her. Slowly. Critically. Like she was evaluating a weak point.
"Your behavior today suggests otherwise."
That did it.
Le Xin turned in her seat, eyes sharp. "You don't get to comment on my behavior outside the office."
Tian Rong cleared her throat. "Boss—uh—Senior Manager Liu, right? Can I get you something?"
"Water," Kai Ying said without looking away from Le Xin.
Of course.
Le Xin scoffed. "Still pretending you don't need anything."
Kai Ying's gaze flicked to her glass. "You've had enough."
"Don't."
The word came out low and dangerous.
"Don't what?" Kai Ying asked calmly.
"Don't talk to me like I'm your subordinate here."
Kai Ying stepped closer.
Not touching. Never touching.
"Then don't act like one," she replied coolly.
The air tightened.
Tian Rong suddenly found something very interesting to clean on the far end of the bar.
"You came here to intimidate me?" Le Xin asked.
Kai Ying's lips curved slightly. "If I wanted to intimidate you, you'd know."
Le Xin stood abruptly, chair scraping the floor. Now they were at the same eye level.
Good.
"You think because you sit higher up, you can crush anyone beneath you," Le Xin said. "I'm not one of them."
Kai Ying's eyes darkened—just a shade.
"I know," she said. "That's the problem."
Le Xin stiffened.
"You challenge authority," Kai Ying continued. "You undermine decisions. And you do it with a smile."
"Maybe your decisions deserve it."
Silence snapped between them.
For a moment, it looked like Kai Ying might snap back.
Instead, she leaned in slightly, voice low and precise.
"You want to survive in my department," she said, "you learn when to stop."
Le Xin leaned in too. Closer. Reckless. "And you learn you don't scare me."
Their faces were inches apart.
Anyone watching would think they were about to kiss.
They were not.
Tension burned sharp, bitter, unresolved.
Kai Ying straightened first.
"Enjoy your drink," she said coldly. "You'll need the energy. Tomorrow won't be kind."
Le Xin laughed without humor. "Is that a threat?"
"It's a warning."
Kai Ying turned and walked away.
The door closed behind her with a quiet finality.
Le Xin stood there, breathing hard.
Tian Rong finally returned. "So," she said carefully, "do you two always argue like that?"
Le Xin sat back down heavily.
"No," she muttered. "Usually she ignores me."
Tian Rong raised an eyebrow. "That worse?"
Le Xin stared into her glass.
"…Yes."
Because being noticed by Liu Kai Ying meant something was about to break.
And this time, Le Xin wasn't sure who would lose.
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Thank you for reading my novel