Of course a few minutes later, the tall, composed figure of Shen Rui, Yifan's trusted secretary, appeared in the lobby. He spotted her immediately, offering a polite nod before gesturing for her to follow him.
"This way, Miss Li," he said in a tone that was formal but not cold.
They entered the elevator, and Lian stood stiffly beside him as they ascended in silence. Her reflection stared back at her from the polished steel walls... slightly tousled hair, faint shadows under her eyes, and a look of unease she couldn't hide. She hadn't stepped into this place before. Not as a visitor. Not as his guest.
When the elevator doors slid open on the top floor, Shen Rui stepped out first and led her down a quiet hallway until they reached a dark-paneled double door.
"This is the President's office," he said, opening one side for her. "He should be done soon. You can wait here."
And just like that, he was gone.
The silence hit her first. It was a huge office... minimalistic, sleek, and expensive-looking in the way that made her feel out of place. There was a heavy scent of leather and wood, probably from the massive bookshelf lining one wall and the understated leather couches facing the floor-to-ceiling window. The city stretched out beyond it, glittering even in daylight.
She wandered in slowly, her curiosity beating out her nerves.
The desk was spotless, except for a neat stack of documents and an untouched glass of water. On one end, a black Montblanc pen rested beside an embossed notepad with Zhao Yifan engraved at the top. The pen alone looked like it cost more than her brother's house.
Lian glanced around to make sure she was still alone.
Then, with the childish curiosity she never quite grew out of, she began exploring the office like a kid left unsupervised. She peeked into the cabinet near the wall files, more files, and neatly arranged awards. She wandered to the bookshelf and tried to read the titles most were finance-related or in English. She tried on the massive leather chair behind his desk for a second and giggled at the sheer size of it compared to her petite frame.
Everything in here screamed control and cold power, just like Yifan.
Eventually, her energy fizzled out. She curled up on the couch, pulled a throw pillow under her head, and whispered, "Just for a few minutes…"
Her eyes fluttered shut.
The weight of the quiet office, the plush warmth of the couch, and the gentle hum of the air conditioner lulled her into sleep before she realized it.
She didn't even hear the door open.
When the door finally opened, Zhao Yifan walked in, his phone still pressed to his ear.
"Yes, move the valuation meeting to next Monday. I'll review the assets over the weekend," he said as he shut the door behind him.
Walking towards his seat, the sight on his couch made him pause.
There, curled up like a child and fast asleep, was Li Lian.
Yifan's brows drew together in surprise. Her face was turned slightly toward the light, the rise and fall of her chest calm. She looked small in his large office. And completely unbothered.
He ended his call without finishing the sentence.
Quietly, he walked over, watching her for a moment.
"Seriously..." Yifan muttered to himself, his eyes softening as he gazed down at her. "A sleeping beauty with no guard up is bound to make the beast come to eat you, Lian."
His voice was low, almost affectionate, as he watched her sleep soundly. A tiny, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Without another thought, he gently leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her temple, his lips lingering just for a moment.
Pulling his coat off, he draped it over her, making sure she was covered. He then loosened his tie, his movements slow and deliberate, before walking over to his leather chair behind the desk. He sank into it, his gaze still fixed on her peaceful form on the couch.
The quiet hum of the city outside filled the room as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus on the work before him. But his mind kept drifting back to her, curled up and oblivious in his office.
For a moment, he allowed himself to just watch her, letting the tension of the day slip away as she slept in the calm of his space.
It wasn't long before he heard the soft sound of movement, the rustle of fabric and a small yawn. She stirred, slowly sitting up on the couch and rubbing her eyes groggily like a child waking from a nap.
A deep voice cut through the quiet.
"Awake?"
Startled, Lian jerked upright, her head snapping in the direction of the sound.
Her eyes widened when she saw him behind his desk, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"...Yifan," she breathed, her voice laced with surprise and a hint of embarrassment.
Yifan leaned back in his chair, the slow creak of leather sounding almost deliberate, like he was giving her time to fully wake or maybe to squirm under his gaze.
"You're bold," he said finally, his voice deep and smooth. "Sleeping in the CEO's office without permission."
Lian gripped the edge of the couch cushion, trying to gather herself. "I… I wasn't"
"You were," he cut in, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "And ...seems you were wandering around here before, weren't you?"
Her cheeks warmed instantly. "I was just… looking."
"That's called snooping, Lian." He pushed back his chair and rose, the measured sound of his footsteps filling the space as he walked toward her. "Do you know what happens to people who snoop in my office?"
She instinctively pulled his coat tighter around her shoulders, her voice barely above a whisper. "What?"
Yifan stopped in front of her, looking down with the kind of gaze that pinned her in place. His smirk deepened, but his tone softened just enough to unsettle her further. "They get punished."
Lian swallowed, trying to hold his gaze but failing after a few seconds. "I didn't mean to..."
"Hmm... I'll let it go...". He paused, leaning his lips closer to her. A small smirk appearing as he said. "But. Not without a kiss".
Her breath hitched, the air between them suddenly feeling heavier. "Yifan…" she said softly, his name more like a plea than a protest.
He tilted his head, studying her with that calm, dangerous patience of his. "What's wrong? Don't want to?"
"I'm not..." she began, but the words faltered when he closed the small distance between them, his shadow falling over her.
He murmured, his voice low enough to send a shiver down her spine. " We did it before, why shy now? ".
Her fingers tightened around the lapel of the coat. "You're impossible."
His smirk deepened, "And you're still here."
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. The quiet hum of the air conditioner filled the silence, mingling with the faint scent of his cologne that clung to the coat wrapped around her.
Then, just as he leaned in ...A firm knock rattled the door.
"President Zhao, the board is waiting," Shen Rui's voice called from outside.
Yifan's jaw ticked ever so slightly, but he didn't pull back immediately. Instead, his eyes lingered on hers.
"Saved by the knock," he said finally, straightening. "But don't think you're off the hook, Lian."
And with that, he kissed her on the head. " Get ready, we will head home after this". He turned away, his tone shifting into clipped professionalism as he called back, "Two minutes."
She sat there frozen, her pulse pounding in her ears, the ghost of his proximity still clinging to her.