Lin Yue sat quietly in the small café near the office district, staring at the cup of coffee in front of her.
It had already gone cold.
She didn't notice.
Her mind was still stuck on what she had seen an hour ago.
Han Jun.
Her boyfriend of two years.
Laughing.
Holding another woman's hand.
At first she thought she was mistaken. But when she walked closer, there was no doubt left.
Han Jun hadn't even tried to deny it.
"It's not what you think," he had said quickly.
But the girl beside him didn't look confused at all. She looked annoyed.
Then Han Jun sighed and said the words Lin Yue never expected.
"You're too ordinary, Lin Yue. I need someone who can help my career."
Two years.
That was apparently all it took to become "ordinary."
Lin Yue slowly exhaled and pushed the cup away.
"Unbelievable," she muttered to herself.
Her phone buzzed on the table.
It was her best friend, Wang Mei.
Lin Yue answered.
"Tell me you threw coffee on him," Wang Mei said immediately.
Lin Yue almost smiled.
"No. I just left."
"What? That's it?"
"I'm not wasting energy on someone like him."
Wang Mei sighed loudly through the phone.
"You're too nice."
"Or maybe I'm just tired."
There was a short pause before Wang Mei spoke again.
"So what now?"
Lin Yue leaned back in the chair and looked out the café window at the busy street.
"Now I focus on work."
She had just started her job at Chen Group, one of the biggest companies in the city. It was a good opportunity and she didn't plan on losing it over heartbreak.
"Alright," Wang Mei said. "But if you need to cry later, call me."
Lin Yue laughed softly.
"I'll survive."
They hung up a few minutes later.
Lin Yue grabbed her bag and stepped out of the café.
She had exactly fifteen minutes to get back to the office.
—
Inside Chen Group Headquarters, the atmosphere was completely different.
Employees walked quickly through the hallways, carrying files and laptops. The company never seemed to slow down.
Lin Yue hurried toward the elevator.
Just as the doors opened, someone rushed past her.
"Sorry!" the man said quickly.
It was Zhang Ming.
He stepped into the elevator with a stack of papers in his arms and pressed the button for the executive floor.
Lin Yue entered too.
They stood quietly for a moment before Zhang Ming glanced at her.
"New employee?" he asked casually.
Lin Yue nodded.
"Yes. Marketing department."
"Ah," Zhang Ming said thoughtfully.
Then he sighed.
"You look normal."
Lin Yue blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing," he said quickly. "Just thinking out loud."
The elevator stopped on the executive floor.
Lin Yue stepped out first, confused by the strange comment.
Meanwhile Zhang Ming hurried straight toward the CEO's office.
He burst through the door dramatically.
"Boss, I have news."
Li Wei Chen didn't look up from his laptop.
"Please tell me you found a solution," Zhang Ming said.
Li Wei Chen finally glanced at him.
"You're the one who was supposed to find a wife candidate."
"I'm working on it," Zhang Ming replied defensively.
Then he placed a file on the desk.
"But before that… I think I accidentally found someone interesting."
Li Wei Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.
Zhang Ming opened the file.
It contained basic employee information.
Photo.
Name.
Department.
"She's new," Zhang Ming said. "Joined this week."
Li Wei Chen looked down at the page.
Lin Yue
Marketing Department.
Age: 23.
Simple background.
No connections to powerful families.
Exactly the type of person who wouldn't cause problems.
"Why her?" Li Wei Chen asked calmly.
Zhang Ming shrugged.
"Because she looks like someone who desperately needs a lucky opportunity."
Li Wei Chen closed the file.
Then he stood up.
"Arrange a meeting."
Zhang Ming's eyes widened.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"Boss, you're about to propose a fake marriage to a stranger."
Li Wei Chen walked toward the door.
"That's the point."
Zhang Ming hurried after him.
"Wait, how are you even going to ask?"
Li Wei Chen stopped outside the marketing office.
Through the glass wall he saw Lin Yue sitting at her desk, focused on her computer.
For a moment he simply watched.
Then he said calmly,
"I'll make her an offer."
An offer that would change both of their lives completely.