Weeks passed, and a rival construction company attempted sabotage. Steel beams were misaligned, equipment tampered with, creating dangers for the workers. Li Yueran intervened quietly, her team repairing and reinforcing the site before any disaster could occur.
Aiden noticed her presence, calm yet decisive, as she coordinated repairs and ensured safety protocols. He glanced at her, something unidentifiable stirring in his chest. There was authority, yes, but also gentleness—a guiding hand that protected rather than dominated.
She made sure he had the safest equipment, fresh water, and shaded rest. She never touched him, never imposed, yet he began to sense her care as more than routine. Slowly, against his better judgment, a thread of trust began to form.
Meilin watched from a distance, her emotions a tangle of admiration, envy, and longing. The subtle, quiet obsession her mother displayed—soft yet unwavering—mesmerized her. She could feel the intensity radiating from Li Yueran toward Aiden, a gentle yet consuming devotion that promised both warmth and danger.