Friday, 9:23 a.m.Zhao Xinyi stood outside the glass-walled boardroom, adjusting the sleeves of her blazer like it might give her actual armor. Her heart pounded louder than her heels on the polished floor.
Inside, the leadership team looked half-bored, half-hungover — until Zhou Yichen walked in.
"Zhao," he said, nodding toward the seat beside him.She almost sat somewhere else on principle, but decided to save her rebellion for when she wasn't under fire.
He gave her the briefest glance. "Ready?"
She muttered back, "Define 'ready' in terms of emotional destruction."
Before he could smirk, the CMO leaned forward. "So… walk us through this 'bold' strategy of yours."And just like that, she was on.
Slides, stats, delivery — smooth. Crisp. Professional. But halfway through, someone's phone buzzed violently. Then another. Then another.
By slide nine, the room was no longer listening.Phones were lighting up. Someone swore.
Yichen's jaw tensed. "What's going on?"
The PR head looked up, pale. "Our new product specs just leaked online. Along with internal documents."
Yiyi blinked. "Leaked? As in—public?"
"All over tech forums," someone muttered. "And it's spreading."
Silence. Then chaos.
Zhou Yichen stood abruptly. "Everyone out. Zhao, stay."
Ten Minutes Later
The boardroom was empty. The city skyline flickered behind Yichen's silhouette as he stood, unreadable.
"Do you know what this means?" he asked quietly.
"That your Friday just got ruined?" Yiyi offered.
He didn't smile. Not this time."This could cost us the entire launch quarter. We need a recovery strategy. Tonight."
She stared at him. "You're serious."
"I'll cancel your weekend. Cancel mine too. Let's fix it."
Her eyes narrowed. "Wait — we're working together?"
"You're the only one who doesn't crumble around me."
She blinked.That sounded dangerously close to a compliment.
"Fine," she said, grabbing her laptop. "But I pick the music."
He hesitated. "No love songs."
She smirked. "That's optimistic of you."
Later That Night...
Takeout boxes. Open tabs. Charts everywhere. The two of them side by side, bathed in lamplight and tension.
There were jokes. Snaps. Silent glances. Accidental touches that lasted a second too long.And at one point, when Yichen stood behind her reading off her screen, she was very aware of how close he was.
"This plan is good," he said finally. "You're good."
She turned. Slowly. "Did Zhou Yichen just say something nice to a human being?"
"Don't get used to it."
"Too late."
For once, they didn't argue.For once… they were just quiet.
And somehow, that said more than words ever could.