Thursday, 6:30 p.m.The office was quiet, shadows stretching across the walls as the sun dipped low.
Zhao Xinyi sat alone at her desk, fingers tapping nervously on her keyboard. She glanced at the photo of her late grandmother pinned to her cubicle — a reminder to stay strong.
Then, footsteps.
Zhou Yichen appeared, carrying two takeout cups.
"Thought you might need this," he said, sliding one across to her.
She hesitated, then took it.
They shared a rare smile.
"Long day," he admitted.
"Understatement," she replied.
They worked side by side, the silence between them softer, less charged.
Then Yichen broke it.
"Xinyi… about everything — the sabotage, the campaign… I'm sorry I doubted you."
She looked up, surprised.
"I was stubborn. But I want to fix this. Fix us."
Her breath caught. "Us?"
He nodded. "I don't want this to be just work anymore."
For a moment, the office faded away.
But then her phone buzzed — a message from an unknown number.
"Be careful who you trust. Some battles aren't just professional."
Her eyes narrowed.