Ailin's alarm chimed softly, pulling her from sleep. She stretched, rubbed her eyes, and slipped out of bed. Today was her first official day at Huaxing Corporation.
After a quick shower, she made herself toast and a steaming cup of coffee. The rich aroma filled the apartment, steadying her a little as she sipped.
At her wardrobe, she scanned the rows of clothes before settling on a crisp blue suit that hugged her figure perfectly. White heels, matching handbag. She brushed her hair until it gleamed and applied light makeup just enough to bring out her natural glow.
Staring at her reflection, she whispered, "You can do this, Ailin."
She packed her documents neatly into a small box and stepped outside, ready to face the day.
A sleek car was waiting by the curb. Ninglan leaned out of the driver's window, grinning.
"Good morning, Miss Ailin! Looks like we're headed the same way."
Ailin blinked, startled. "Ninglan? What are you doing here?"
"What else? Picking you up" Ninglan tapped the steering wheel playfully.
Ailin's lips curved despite herself. Sliding into the passenger seat, she murmured, "You really didn't have to…"
"I know" Ninglan cut in with a wink.
The car glided smoothly through the streets. Conversation flowed easily about the company, their nerves, their hopes for their future bosses. By the time they pulled into Huaxing's underground parking lot, laughter had drowned out most of Ailin's anxiety.
The garage gleamed under bright lights, lined with luxury cars that spoke of the company's prestige.
As they stepped out, Ninglan nudged her with an elbow. "Ready to conquer the fashion world?"
Ailin looked up at the towering glass building. She tightened her grip on her bag, her smile small but sure.
"Ready."
Side by side, they walked toward the gleaming doors, their footsteps echoing with the promise of a new beginning.
~~~
Yichen sat in his sleek black car, phone pressed to his ear, his tone calm but commanding.
Just as he leaned back against the leather seat, a ripple of laughter carried through the air. His head turned instinctively.
Not far away, two young women walked side by side. The moment his gaze landed on her, his eyes sharpened. That hair, those bright blue eyes.
His grip on the phone tightened for an instant. His jaw tightened, memories he'd buried deep pressed at the edges of his mind. Still, his expression didn't shift, his voice remained steady as he wrapped up the call. He refused to let his gaze linger.
By the time he slipped the phone into his pocket, the women had already vanished into the building. He exhaled slowly, a shadow flickering across his eyes.
Later, in his office on the top floor, the weight of his presence filled the room. His assistant, Yize, stood quickly as he entered.
Yichen set a stack of documents on his desk without looking up. His voice was cool, measured.
"Send me the list of the new employees."
Yize hesitated a fraction before replying, "Yes, President."
Leaning back in his chair, Yichen let his fingers drum lightly against the desk. His gaze drifted to the skyline beyond the glass windows, his eyes narrowing with a trace of something unreadable.
Ninglan and Ailin finally stepped into their new office. They paused for a moment, taking it all in, before settling side by side near the center. With small, eager smiles, they began unpacking their boxes—framed photos, notebooks, little trinkets from home carefully arranging everything on their desks.
Ailin set down her pen holder in the corner and smoothed the surface of her desk with her palm. "New beginning" she whispered under her breath.
Before Ninglan could reply, a deep voice cut across the room.
"New staffs, please come with me."
They looked up to see Manager Guo watching them. Exchanging a nervous glance, the two quickly rose and followed him into the meeting room.
Inside, Manager Guo's sharp eyes swept over them, making them instinctively sit straighter.
"Welcome to Huaxing Corporation" he began, his tone steady and authoritative. "This company rewards talent, but discipline is just as important. Work hard, and you'll find your place here."
He outlined their roles, assigning them to different departments and projects. Ailin listened intently, committing everything to memory, while Ninglan scribbled furiously into her notebook.
When the meeting ended, they slipped out together, relief softening their shoulders.
"We survived our first lecture" Ninglan whispered with a quick grin.
"Barely" Ailin murmured back, laughing under her breath.
~~~
Yichen sat behind his imposing desk, his expression as unreadable as stone.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in" he said, his tone cool and clipped.
Yize entered with a neatly stacked folder in hand. He set it carefully on the desk.
"President, this contains the profiles of the new staff members."
Yichen flipped through the pages with effortless precision, eyes scanning one name after another until his hand stilled. A profile photo stared back at him. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Ailin.
Her name was printed in bold, her credentials laid out in crisp detail. Yichen's gaze lingered, for a moment.
He closed the file with deliberate calm.
"Run a full background check on her. Everything" he ordered, his voice low and commanding.
Yize straightened instantly. "Yes, President." He retrieved the file and left, the soft click of the closing door echoing in the still room.
The rest of the day blurred by in a rush of introductions, paperwork, and unfamiliar tasks. By closing time, Ninglan's phone buzzed sharply on her desk. Her smile faltered as she read the screen.
"I have to run, something came up" she said, already gathering her things.
Ailin frowned. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry." Ninglan forced a smile, then hurried off, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
Left alone, Ailin packed her bag more slowly, weariness settling over her shoulders. Stepping out of the towering building, the evening air wrapped around her like a sigh of relief.
Her stomach growled, pulling her toward a small restaurant across the street. She bought a simple meal to go, the warmth of the freshly cooked food comforting her as she rejoined the city's bustle.
Flagging down a cab, she sank into the back seat and leaned her head against the window, watching the lights blur into streaks of gold and white.
~~~
That night, in the most opulent residence in Country J, Yichen reclined in the leather armchair of his study. The chandelier above bathed the room in warm golden light, casting sharp shadows over the thick dossier spread open before him.
Page after page detailed Ailin's life, her education. Yichen's sharp eyes moved steadily across the lines, his fingers paused now and then on certain notes, as though weighing their significance.
At last, he closed the file with a muted thud and reached for his phone.
"Yize" he said, his voice calm, "prepare the necessary documents. I want them on my desk first thing tomorrow."
"Yes, President" came the crisp reply.
Ending the call, Yichen leaned back, his gaze shifting to the glittering city lights beyond the window. His thoughts remained hidden.