(Back to Jiaxin's POV)
The last thing I remembered was dreaming about carrots. The really good kind — the sweet, crunchy ones that Jinyu would always sneak into the lab for me when he thinks the lab assistants weren't looking. Then, a cold feeling crept through my bones, not the pleasant chill from the air conditioner, but the unsettling shivers from something that felt like my guts were being rearranged, no — not just my guts, my whole body felt like it was going through a transformation.
Tingles and shivers everywhere made me nervous. I decided to wake up if there were some bugs on me, turns out, not at all. If anything, I woke up feeling stretched. Suddenly, my paws weren't like its original form anymore—FIVE WEIRD SKIN-NOODLES had erupted from it and my skin turned from white into "pearl-milk-tea-colored" (you know, that exact shade those C-Drama actresses achieve after 2 hours in makeup—not ghost pale, just that perfect "I-drink-bird's-nest-every-day" glow). Each noodle was tipped with suspiciously elegant "lotus-petal pink" claws, like I'd gotten a manicure in my sleep! I started wiggling them, they looked like they might detach.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps.
Turns out, Jinyu was walking towards me with something in his hands. Something fluffy, pastel pink and sparkly at the edge. A robe? It was so... cute. I blinked up at him, still sitting confused on the floor, my legs were still wobbling because of the sudden transformation.
Without a word, he knelt down beside me. His face was doing that usual serious thing again, but his hands were really gentle, like he was scared I'd break or something.
His hair looked soft and kinda messy nicely, like one of those fancy shampoo ad people. He was wearing a dark shirt with long sleeves and the little shiny buttons undone at the top. His pants were dark too—everything he wore looked super neat, like the kind of stuff I wasn't allowed to roll on. There was a silver thing on his wrist that blinked in the light. Some kind of human leash? (I later found out it was called a watch.)
"Stand up," he whispered, offering me his hand like it was the most casual thing in the world. I took it, still wobbling like a newborn deer, and he caught me by the waist to help me get stable. He guided me carefully to stand up, put my legs inside the robe's opening and wrapped the robe around my shoulders and adjusted it to fit around my body.
Then — click. The magnets on the back of the robe secured it together.
His long fingers brushed my hair as he helped me.
The robe settled comfortably on my body. Not tight, but definitely... shaped. Almost like it already knew my body before I did.
He also made me wear these feet protecting thingies? I'm not sure, but he told me they were just called slippers.
"Did you make this?" I asked, voice hoarse and awkward. It was my first time hearing myself talk like a human. The words came easier than expected, probably because I've heard him talk to me for years.
Still, it was weird to say them.
He gave me a brief nod and turned away, clearly pretending this wasn't weird for him at all. I blinked after him, then turned to the side and spotted the mirror near the lab counter.
Curiosity got the better of me. I waddled over... still unsure on my two legs and stopped dead in front of the reflection.
"...Woaah."
I took another step forward. I saw my reflection in the mirror, it moved with me.... familiar yet unfamiliar all at once.
I leaned in.
"Wait... is that me?"
I raised my hand, and the girl in the mirror did too. She looked confused, flabbergasted. Her lips were parted like she didn't know what to say. I blinked — and so did she. I moved, and so did she. Her eyes looked like she was about to start tearing up for absolutely no reason at all.
"I'm a girl?" I whispered, touching my cheek.
My fingertips brushed against my face... it was soft. Too soft. Like I was going to slide right off myself. My cheeks had a squish to them, like those mochi things Ningyao used to bring when she visited. And my lips were pink, the good type, like jelly, combined with slightly big but round eyes. I poked my lips. Squish. Yup, definitely not fur anymore.
Then I noticed the hair…It was long, fluffy, and dark brown — the soft kind that looked almost black indoors but glowed warm under the light. Not polished or styled, just… wild and petal-light, like I'd been rolling around in a flower bed. (Fair enough. I've never brushed it before.) I leaned in, grabbing a handful. It was mine. My hair. My human hair. What in the carrot-shaped cosmos.
"...Woah, is this what humans think is good hair?" I murmured, lightly tugging on a strand.
It looked exactly like the sparkly cards Ningyao used to show me when she visited — those glittery girls from her Aikatsu and Sailor Moon collection. I remember wanting to look like that when I was a bunny, and now I kind of.. did? I stared. Slightly big eyes, shiny lips, fluffy hair and skin like milk tea jelly.
My hands... well my fingers, were instinctively going to the edge of the robe's edges as I tugged it away just a little to see what was underneath it.
Wait a minute...
My waist curved in. My thighs curved out. There was definitely a chest. Round. Soft. Kind of... jiggly? Definitely way more than I ever expected of myself. There was definitely a chest. Way more than I expected on myself. It wasn't exactly comically huge or something like that — just.. round, full, soft. Like the girls on Jinyu's shelf, the ones with the sparkly eyes and gravity-defying bodies. I poked it once, just to check. I instantly yanked it as if I did something illegal. Oh my god. That's me?! I have THAT?!
I didn't really pay attention before since Jinyu helped adjust my clothes from the back while, but, as I saw him from the mirror while he stood up, oh my god — he is HUGE. I slightly turned to face his direction, the difference was astronomical.
He walked over silently, hands behind his back, as if he was observing an experiment that might burst at any second.
He just smirked while his dark eyes scanned me in such a mischevious way.
I froze.
My brain had cricket noises inside it. My ears used to twitch, now they turned hot and red. His gaze was so casual and nonchalant, but I felt like a science project that grew legs and now he didn't know where to file the results.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I stuttered, pulling the robe tighter like I was in one of those historical dramas Jinyu's mom used to watch in the living room together in Ningyao.
"I'm just checking if the robe fits properly," he replied, voice calm and scientist-coded, but the smirk he put on top of that? oh that was unnecessarily dangerous. He had the audacity to make my heart skip a beat, how dare he!
"It's fine," I said way too fast. "Perfect. Fits like a glove, a very fluffy one. Nothing to see here!"
He arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You're wobbling a bit"
"That's just because I'm uh.... processing my new body! the feeling of standing on 2 legs is new for me, you know, haha..." I nodded aggressively while awkwardly giggling, hoping it would convince him.
I watched him in the mirror. Because turning around meant that I would need to have eye contact with him. And I was NOT emotionally stable enough for that.
I just slowly scooted onto one of the office chairs near the lab counter, tucking my legs up awkwardly and hugging my knees like some kind of oversized
"So.. am I staying like this?" I asked quietly, not even sure who I was asking. Myself? The lab? The universe?
Jinyu turned his head slightly, just enough to see the side of his face. "We'll be monitoring your condition. If the transformation is stable for 48 hours, it's safe to conclude that you've fully adapted."
I blinked.
"... So, I'm gonna be a girl for at least 2 days?"
He hummed an affirmative sound.
I flopped my back onto the mattress dramatically. " I don't even know how to walk in heels yet!"
"You don't have to be able to walk in heels," he replied, still not looking at me.
"...But I want to"
Silence... Then—
"You really haven't changed, have you?" he muttered with a sigh, but I caught the tiniest upward curl on his lips.
I grinned. Victory.
"Alright then, let's get you to do the basic tasks now," Jinyu said to me.
I stared at him from the chair. "Basic tasks? like walking?"
"Walking, eating, writing, brushing your teeth. Maybe even picking out clothes."
Picking out clothes?
Before I could overthink that, he gently nudged my leg off the chair like I was a cat loafing in the sun. My knees buckled slightly once I stood—okay, not from weakness, just surprise! Totally different!
---
9:21 AM
Walking practice. Which sounds ridiculous when you've been walking perfectly fine for the past ten minutes — except apparently when I hopped three times in a row when I saw the snack shelf doesn't count as "human-like motor skills". Rude.
He made me walk down the hallway like it was a runway. I started doing little poses and peace signs like those Aikatsu girls until I nearly tripped on my foot. Jinyu caught my arm without looking away from his clipboard.
"...You're still not balanced yet."
"Maybe I'm just clumsy."
He didn't even answer that.
---
10:03 AM
Breakfast time. My first human meal. The spoon was fine. The fork was... sharp? Pointy? I kept stabbing my carrot slices as if I was in a fencing match. Apparently, I'm supposed to scoop, not stab. Boring.
I tried eating a cherry tomato whole, and it exploded in my mouth. I whimpered a bit.
Jinyu nearly choked on his tea. He didn't say anything, but I swear, I almost saw him smile a bit.
---
11:16 AM
Jinyu handed me this long, skinny wooden thing with fuzzy bristles on one end along with some weird tube
I stared at it.
Them, back at him.
"Is this... a weapon?" I asked carefully, turning the thin stick over in my hands as if it was going to explode. "It's very small. But I think I could stab someone with this if I tried."
He blinked at me with a slightly concerned expression. "It's a toothbrush."
I blinked back, "A tooth... what?"
"Tooth. Brush. You use it to clean your teeth twice a day."
"Ohhh," I said, narrowing my eyes like I understood anything he just said when in reality I didn't have a single clue. "So it's for grooming. Like when you brush bunnies but for teeth?"
"Sure, close enough."
He twisted the cap off the tube and squeezed a bit of paste out onto the bristles. I leaned in to sniff it and backed off instantly. "Why does it smell like crushed leaves and ice? Is this poison?"
"No, it's mint, and you don't eat it."
He gestured for me to try it myself, and I hesitantly brought it up to my face. My arms were Yolo-ing with zero aim control. The brush missed my mouth, tapped my cheek, then got stuck in my hair for 2 seconds. I finally reached but jabbed a bit too hard, resulting in the left end of my mouth hurting.
"Ow!"
He stepped in immediately, gently taking my wrist
"Slow down, you're brushing your teeth, not fencing."
"Sorry, I thought it was a one or two-time big scrub type of thing"
He guided my hand in soft circles, his hands over mine. "Small, constant and with lightly pressured movements."
I nodded, concentrating hard. Foam cornered up on the corners of my lips as I slowly got the gist of it.
"...It still kinda tastes like leaves."
Jinyu sighed. "Just rinse."
When I finally leaned back from the sink and beamed at myself in the mirror, there was a triumphant gleam in my eyes.
"I have never felt so minty fresh in my life."
There was a beat.
Then he said, "You got toothpaste on your forehead."
"What — HOW?!"
---
12:00 PM
We were in this room that had a gigantic table and a bunch of bookshelves and scary-looking papers, Jinyu called this room his "study room". I was being seated on the chair in front of the table, where Jinyu was trying to help me write for the first time.
Writing is weird. I technically know how, but my fingers are wobbly. Holding the pen felt like using chopsticks for the first time. I was gripping the pen too hard, it was like carving words into the table.
Jinyu told me to write my name. I wrote it in cute bubbly hanzis. With sparkles and hearts. He stared at it for 2 seconds. (for context, hanzis are Chinese characters)
"Of course you'd do that." Jinyu laughed a bit.
"Thank you!" I smiled, I thought my work was cute.
"Now, copy this set of information." Jinyu said as he brought out this sheet of paper full of some sentences to show me what to copy.
It took me around 2-3 minutes to copy them.
I looked up, proudly showing him the sentences I'd managed to copy.
"See? It looks like the ones there!" I pointed at the paper that he asked me to copy.
"It... kind of does." Jinyu blinked at the very curved hanzis on my paper.
"Now what? Are we going to eat more carrots?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "No. We're calling someone."
"Who?"
"My assistant."
I gasped. "You have an assistant?"
"She's a professional," he said flatly. "You need real clothes. And I need help to make sure you don't fall into the toilet trying to wear them."
"Fair," I admitted.
"Now, we're going to wait for her to come into the living room." Jinyu directed me to go sit on the couch in the living room with him.
I followed him out of the study room and into the open, soft-looking room I had only seen from a distance before. It was warm. There was a big couch that looked too expensive to sit on, and a few potted plants that looked too fake to be real.
Jinyu sat down on one side of the couch and patted the space next to him without looking at me.
I hopped onto it immediately like I was spring-loaded.
He blinked. "You really don't hesitate, do you?"
"Nope." I grinned. "You told me to."
He let out a quiet breath. I think that was a laugh. Or maybe an exhale of disbelief.
I looked around. The room was so clean, it almost looked fake. Then my eyes landed on something at the edge of the coffee table.
A weird, squishy rectangle with buttons. I'd seen it in his room before.
I leaned forward and poked it.
He reached out, casually moving it away before I could start pressing things.
"Not a toy."
"Well, it looks like one."
He paused, then tilted his head to look at me properly.
"You're really not afraid of anything, are you?"
I thought about it.
"I used to be," I said. "A little."
Jinyu went still.
His gaze didn't leave mine for a long second.
Then he said, almost quietly, "Not anymore?"
I shook my head. "You're here."
His expression didn't change, but I saw his fingers tense around the remote.
Just for a second.
---
12:30 PM
A few minutes later, the door opened, and this super clean-looking girl walked in holding a big bag and a thing I think was called a clipboard. Her footsteps made clicky sounds that felt really serious.
Her hair was shiny and brown and tied all the way low behind her head, like she wasn't even trying to show off, but it still looked cool. She wore a white top with these bouncy sleeve things and soft brown pants that looked really hard to spill stuff on. Even her shoes were fancy and made those cool clicky sounds. I liked her immediately.
"Hi," she said, smiling right at me. "You must be Jiaxin. I'm Rui Ming. I'm here to help you get ready."
I blinked. "Get ready for what? Do I need armor?"
Jinyu sighed. "She means clothes. Just go with her."
Rui Ming gave a polite laugh and nodded toward the hallway. "This way."
Me and Jinyu followed her to another room.
Correction: A fancy sparkly cave of magic.
Okay, fine. It was just a closet.
But it looked like something straight out of Ningyao's anime or dramas — the kind where the heroine opens the door and suddenly there's a glitter explosion.
There were five outfits, neatly arranged on soft hangers like those doll mannequins I always saw in Jinyu's weird magazine rack.
I spun around, eyes wide.
"Are we inside a cave?" I whispered dramatically.
"It's a closet," Jinyu deadpanned.
Same thing.
Rui Ming unzipped the bag she brought and revealed matching shoes, socks, and accessories for each set. She even held out a printed card showing how the pieces were supposed to be worn.
"These are all yours. Dr. Xu had them tailored based on your previous... size. And current transformation."
I didn't ask how. Weird science man.
"Pick whichever one you like," Rui Ming offered with a smile.
My soul left my body.
Let's see...
1. Bunny disguise set!
2. Spinny poofy pink-bottom cloud-top with frilly magic girl fluff in the middle and matching fancy foot protectors. With a bow.
3. Cool girl armor jacket with surprise dress underneath.
4. Run-fast human uniform with sporty foot protectors and a hair tie.
5. Sleepy librarian princess outfit with cute foot protectors and a headband.
I didn't even THINK.
I lunged toward Option Two like it was a carrot on a silver plate.
"IT'S REAL... I CAN FINALLY WEAR IT..."
I held the hanger close to my heart like it was my childhood sweetheart.
Jinyu: "You waited your whole life to wear that?"
"YES."
He nodded once. Reasonable.
"Now," she continued, still smiling like normal, "if you will come with me, I'm going to escort you to the restroom"
She didn't give me time to panic. Just turned around and walked with such smooth confidence, I had no choice but to follow, my hands clenched the outfit set.
There was this white door, and when she opened it, I saw the biggest, fanciest washing room I'd ever been in. There was a shiny sink that looked too pretty to touch, and a long mirror that made my face look like it belonged on TV.
It was a ridiculously clean and sparkly room, it was like the ones from the shiny-floor room in the house Jinyu used to carry me through. Everything smelled like that sweet scent that was in the house as well. I think someone said it was "cherry" once, whatever that is.
The floor was cold and fancy-looking, probably that "marble" stuff Jinyu's housekeeper kept complaining about having to polish.
Inside, neatly placed on a wall-attached mini table was a soft-looking pink bag. I put the clothes I got from Jinyu beside it as well.
"I'll help you get changed here, oh.... we'll also figure out the restroom thing, okay?" Rui Ming said kindly, her voice was kind but professional.
I tilted my head. "What's a restroom?"
Rui Ming blinked back "You... don't know?"
"Nope. Is it where humans groom themselves?" I tilted my head. "Or eat?"
"Definitely not the second one." She chuckled softly, then whispered to me.
"Oh, okay" I nodded.
Rui Ming closed the door.
"Wait, we have to close the door?" I asked her, pointing at the door.
Rui Ming nodded patiently, "Yes, you'll want privacy"
Rui Ming then started opening the pink bag. "Let's start with clothes."
She pulled out a matching pastel pair of these round things — pink, delicate and frilly like the outfit I was holding.
I gasped. "What's that?"
Rui Ming held the thing carefully. "This is for support."
"Huh?" I was so confused.
She pointed at my chest. "Those 2 round things you're looking at right now are called boobs."
I looked down at my chest, and my eyes widened at the realization. "Oh, so it's for these?"
"Yes, it's called a bra," she said while trying to hold back her laugh. "It helps you feel more comfortable. It's normal."
I took the "bra" cautiously, turning it over in my hands....
"Think of it like... how Jinyu always puts covers on his fancy tech when he's not using it," Rui Ming added.
"Oh, so this is basically storage?" I asked for clarification.
"Yeah, sort of, but more of coverage." Rui Ming replied.
She held it up to me and tapped the tag. You see this part? 'D75'. That's your size."
I gasped. "Wait, these things have sizes?!"
I leaned forward dramatically, whispering, "Is that big?"
She gave a slightly guilty smile. "Let's just say... it's definitely not small."
Next, she pulled out 2 questionable looking cloth strips.
"This is an underwear, this is to protect your parts below," she showed me the first one in her left hand, "and these are called safety shorts, it's for extra layering," then she raised her right hand.
I blinked at the two mysterious items in her hands.
"Wait... how do those protect anything?" I pointed at the underwear like it was going against me.
"It stretches," she replied patiently. "Your body goes in here. Like this." She used her fingers to demonstrate how it would sit.
I tilted my head. "But it's so thin! What if my butt falls out?"
Rui Ming let out a short laugh, clearly trying to stay composed. "It won't. Trust me, it's designed that way. I picked breathable fabric, too. You'll feel comfortable."
Then she lifted up the safety shorts.
"Once you put these over it, you'll feel more covered. It's common for girls to wear them under skirts, especially in an office."
I reached out to touch the fabric, poking at it cautiously like it might bite.
"So this goes under the poofy thingy?"
"Yes, and that's called a skirt." She nodded. "Now come on, let's get them on one by one."
I stood there with my arms raised slightly, like a lost puppy. "So... you're gonna... help me again?"
"Yes," she said kindly.
"Alright, now that you know what these are, let's get you changed."
I blinked. "Okay!"
Without hesitation, I turned around and tilted my head back casually. "It unzips from the back."
Rui Ming paused. "...You're really chill about this."
"Why wouldn't I be?" I looked over my shoulder. "I didn't have clothes on for most of my life. Clothes are still an unfamiliar thing for me."
"Right." She let out a short laugh, clearly trying to keep a straight face as she pulled the zipper down. "I keep forgetting you were literally a bunny just yesterday."
The robe slid off my shoulders and pooled around my feet like a dramatic transformation scene. I stepped out of it proudly, standing tall in absolutely nothing.
Rui Ming blinked. "You have no shame, do you?"
"Should I?" I tilted my head. "Isn't it normal?"
She looked like she was buffering for a second before muttering, "Jinyu really didn't give you a sense of modesty, huh?"
"Alright," Rui Ming said, kneeling beside the pink bag she'd brought in. "Let's start with the underwear."
I blinked and leaned forward curiously as she handed it to me. "Okay, I just step into it, right?"
"Yes, but face this way." She gently turned me around. "Left leg first, now right — good. Pull it up slowly... alright."
I looked down as the fabric settled. "Oooh. It feels funny."
"You'll get used to it," she said smoothly, standing and holding out the safety shorts next. "Now for these."
"These go over the underwear," I said proudly, taking them into my hands. I put my legs into the holes of the shorts.
"Yes, just like that."
With both layers on, I stood my hands on my hips like I'd conquered a small kingdom. "Okay, what's next? boob armor?"
Rui Ming choked up a laugh. "Bra."
"Same thing."
She held it up. "Here, you start by sliding your arms through these loops first. That part's easy."
I did so eagerly, but the bang hung loose around my torso.
"Now is the tricky part. You have to hook it at the back."
"How am I supposed to do that if it's behind me?"
"You can try the beginner method: spin it around, hook it in the front, then twist it back and pull the straps up."
"...Straps?" I blinked.
She pointed at the two loops hanging off my shoulders. "These. They go over your shoulders and hold everything up."
"Ohhh." I grabbed one and wiggled it experimentally. "So like... shoulder seatbelts for your chest?"
Rui Ming paused. "...Sure. Let's go with that."
I attempted it with full concentration, lips pursed. "Like this...? Wait, no... this is upside down... oh! wait! Okay... AHA!"
"Got it?"
"YES!" I shouted victoriously as the clasp clicked into place. I rotated it around, tugged it up, and adjusted the straps like she said.
Rui Ming nodded approvingly. "Good job, now just check that everything's comfortable and not twisted."
I bounced lightly on my feet. "It's kind of like a hug! a really firm one!"
She gave me a look. "You're probably the first person to describe a bra like that."
"It's cozy!"
"Well, it'll feel less cozy after eight hours at a desk."
I gasped. "You mean I have to wear this all day?"
"Yes, that's how clothes work."
"I mean, I don't mind," I shrugged, "I don't really feel anything uncomfy to be honest."
"That's because this one is wireless and lightly padded." Rui Ming said, opening the bag again. "You'll be begging for mercy the day you try a strapless one."
"Strapless?" I gasped. "Why would anyone take the straps off their boob armor? wouldn't it be hard to wear without it?"
She smirked. "For fashion. Pain is part of the package."
I stared in silent horror.
Rui Ming took the clothes I picked that had already been set out on the table. "Now, we're gonna be wearing the outer layer, which you've picked before from Jinyu's options."
"Now for this," She pointed at the skirt, "You just step into it and pull it up to your waist."
I grasped the pleated pastel pink skirt, slid my legs in and yanked it up like a little hop. "Make sure the zipper's at the back—good."
"A skirt," I repeated proudly, smoothing it with my palms like I was handling a sacred artifact.
Next, she held up the white thing with the ribbons. "And this is a blouse—it goes on like a jacket, but you button it up instead."
I slid my arms in with determination. "This looked like one of those magical girl outfits Ningyao showed me! The puffy sleeves! The bows!"
"That explains a lot," she muttered under her breath.
"Now that we're done with the main outfit, we're gonna be getting the accessories back in the closet." Rui Ming opened the door as she brought the robe in her other hand.
We got out, and I followed her as I bounced out of the restroom proudly, now fully dressed in my frilly white top and swishy long pink skirt, but still only in my white slippers.
"Not bad," Rui Ming said with a smile.
I followed her back into the room, where the rest of the outfit was waiting, laid out on the seat next to the vanity. A pair of soft-looking white foot protectors and some white shiny chunky-heeled shoes, and a big ribbon I vaguely remembered admiring earlier.
"Now, you will be wearing these first", she held up the soft-looking white foot protectors.
I plopped onto the chair, eagerly holding out my foot. "Okay! These are socks, right? I remember those. Super cozy."
"Correct. Pull them up until they smooth out, and make sure the seams don't sit under your toes."
I wiggled my toes into place and tugged. "Got it! Cozy again!"
"Shoes next. Left foot first," she handed them over. "He picked chunky heels for comfort and style."
"Heels? These don't feel high at all... they feel kind of fun!" I hopped once after slipping them on, nodding in approval.
Rui Ming laughed softly. "You'll think differently after standing in them all day."
"Then I'll train," I grinned. "Like a warrior bunny."
She picked up the last piece — the pink bow. "And for the finishing touch."
I turned around obediently, letting her gather part of my hair into a loose half-up ponytail. The ribbon settled into place like it belonged there.
"Perfect," she said, admiring her work.
I gave her a beaming smile. "I look like a very fancy cupcake."
"Honestly? That's not far off." Rui Ming replied.
"We're leaving," Jinyu said, already putting on his watch.
I blinked. "Where are we going?"
"The office."
I immediately gasped. "I'M GOING TO WORK?!"
"Technically, you've been employed since yesterday."
I followed him out of the apartment, still spinning from the idea that I was about to commute.
We went inside an elevator (which I remember now because Jinyu's carried me on these multiple times) and Jinyu pressed the first floor button. It was the one at the end of the hallway, but no one else was taking it.
---
The elevator doors opened into the lobby (that's what Jinyu said the first floor was).
We stepped out into a cold, quiet space that smelled like fancy soap and metal. There were big, shiny boxes everywhere.
Wait. No, not boxes. Cars.
I recognized them from the things Jinyu used to watch on his iPad and when he took me on trips.
And then, there it was.
The car we were heading to looked sleek and black, but not like the ones those fancy people in the dramas that Jinyu's mom and Ningyao watch together would have. It didn't have any weird gold lines or animal logos or anything. It was just... quietly serious. Like it had some stuff to do.
It blinked at us when we got near, like it knew him.
I stared at it suspiciously.
"Is it alive?" I asked.
"No," Jinyu said flatly as he unlocked the door.
I carefully got in after him, trying really hard not to touch anything weird-looking. Rui Ming slid into the seat in front of us, next to the driver—yep, the same one who always used to give me carrot snacks when Jinyu took me on trips.
It was familiar. But it also... wasn't?
Now that I was a human, the seat felt different. Bigger. My legs dangled a little, and the seatbelt was confusing. I fumbled with it, trying to copy what Rui Ming did up front.
Jinyu glanced over. Without saying a word, he leaned over and clicked it into place for me.
"Thanks," I mumbled, cheeks puffing up a bit.
He nodded like it was nothing and went back to looking at his tablet.
The car started moving, and I pressed my nose to the glass—not out of shock, just pure curiosity. The world looked so different from this angle. I didn't have to peek through a carrier bag or sit on Jinyu's lap this time. I could see everything. And people could probably see me, too.
"Weird," I whispered. "I've been in this car so many times, but it feels totally new."
"You've got longer legs now," Jinyu said without looking up.
"Longer everything," I muttered. "Also... everything itches."
"Your body's still adjusting."
"Hmph."
I slouched a little in my seat, arms folded as I looked out the window.
Outside, the streets moved fast, faster than I remembered. Or maybe it was just my eyes now. I could actually see the buildings go by without squinting from inside a bunny pouch.
I kicked my feet a little, accidentally bumping the seat in front of me. Oops. Rui Ming didn't say anything, but I noticed her silently judging me.
"So, uh... what's it like? Working with him?" I leaned forward, whispering behind Jinyu's head like he couldn't hear me.
"He's alright," she replied, eyes on her tablet. "Efficient, quiet, and never takes breaks."
I stared at the back of Jinyu's head. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
He gave me a look in the rearview mirror but said nothing.
The silence settled for a bit until I blurted "Can I eat snacks in the car?"
"No," Rui Ming said at the same time Jinyu said, "You already ate."
I sank into the seat with a pout.
"Do I look normal?" I asked after a while.
Jinyu finally turned to glance at me, scanning my poofy outfit and sparkly hair bow. "You look like you just stepped out of a magical girl anime."
"Perfect," I said proudly.
I leaned my head against the window, letting out a breath. "This is weird."
"What is?" Jinyu asked.
"Being upright," I mumbled. "Having fingers. Talking out loud. Riding in this car and actually getting my seat."
Jinyu didn't say anything at first. Just that quiet, thoughtful silence he always had when he was processing something. Then—
"You're doing better than expected."
My head perked up instantly. "Was that... praise?"
"No," he said.
"Yes, it was."
"I said you're doing better than expected. Not that you're doing great."
"Still counts," I grinned.
As soon as the car rolled to a smooth stop, the building's massive glass doors slid open like they were welcoming royalty. Above the entrance was a golden phoenix, wings arched into a soft circle, etched against a deep red background.
I recognized it immediately. Xuhuang.
The lobby was giant, with a clean black-marble floor and a gold-toned reception desk shaped like a soft arc. That phoenix logo again—this time three-dimensional, mounted on the wall behind the counter with soft lights casting warm shadows under its wings, along with the 许凰 (Xuhuang) hanzi being boxed in red on the corner of it, you could tell it was fancy and expensive. Wait, no wonder why the logo had a bird on it.
This place... I've been here plenty of times, but it's usually tagging along with Jinyu when he goes to the lab. But this time was different.
This time, I wasn't a bunny hiding in his coat.
This time, I had. And an ID.
And I was there to work.
Jinyu didn't wait—he was already on the move. His usual no-nonsense walk, coat swaying a little with every step. "I have a meeting. Rui Ming will take you up."
He didn't even glance back, but I could tell from the way he slowed at the elevator button that he was making sure I didn't trip over myself.
"C'mon," Rui Ming said, gently nudging me forward with her clipboard.
Several people in business suits passed by us, and I tried to copy the way Rui Ming walked. Cool. Calm. Like I belonged here.
We passed the main reception, where a lady greeted Rui Ming with a polite nod and headed straight for the elevator. Rui Ming swiped a card and pressed the button that had "12" on it. Oh my god, I just realized there's buttons with numbers from 1 to 30?!. We just waited until we arrived on the 12th floor.
The elevator dinged.
I followed Rui Ming out... and immediately gasped.
"WOAH, did we just walk into a palace?"
It looked nothing like the other floors I'd seen before. No cold metal labs, no weird beeping machines. Everything was sparkly. The floor was all shiny, the walls were white with swirly gold things, and it smelled like a fancy face commercial.
Even the light felt expensive. Like the kind that made your skin look better just by existing.
There were glowy walls in this soft jade green color, like the inside of those jelly beans I once tried to steal off Jinyu's desk. Floating screens played videos of pretty people turning their heads in slow motion while flowers exploded behind them. And there were tiny real plants just chilling in the corners, like they owned the place.
"Is this what skincare money buys you?" I whispered. "No wonder rich people glow."
X my eyes caught this super shiny logo on one of the big center walls. It had sparkly gold letters in both alphabet noodle-style and the square scribbly kind, what do you call them again? Oh yeah. Hanzi.
I squinted at the biggest ones.
养生华堂
Above the hanzis, there was this glowing flower. I think it's the same as the ones in Jinyu's garden, what were they called again? Oh. Lotuses. But this time, they weren't just one color, there was a mix of peach, jade, white and gold.
Under that, there were smaller alphabet letters:
Y.S.H.T.
Oh. Ohhhh. Yang Sheng Hua Tang. That fancy skin company name Rui Ming told me earlier. Something about health, beauty, and long life or whatever.
I had to whisper it out loud again, like a spell.
"Yǎng shēng huá táng..."
It sounded like some kind of ancient magic soup.
"Come on," Rui Ming called, already walking off. "Let's get your ID card printed."
"Wait—MY ID card?!" I squeaked, sprinting after her.
The badge-printing place wasn't even a boring machine corner like I imagined. It looked like a mini spa crossed with a high-tech photo booth. There was soft music playing and a lady with super shiny hair sitting behind a curved glass desk.
Rui Ming handed her something. "She's the new assistant. First day. Jinyu approved everything in advance."
The lady glanced at me with polite confusion, like this sparkly girl in bows was going to work here.
I stood taller to look professional. Which mostly meant not bouncing.
She pointed at a little circle on the floor, "Just stand there, sweetie. Don't move. We'll take your photo for your ID card."
I saluted.
"Please don't—never mind."
I stood on the spot, holding my breath as a glowing ring above me blinked. A flash went off. I blinked. Twice. "Wait? That was it?"
"Yeah," the lady replied. "Here's your card," she gave a thin, glossy card to me after she typed some stuff out and printed it out.
"Woah." it had a mini version of my picture (which wasn't actually that bad), the glowing lotus logo again, and the words:
TANG JIAXIN (唐嘉昕)
ASSISTANT INTERN
Y.S.H.T. - SKINCARE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
I stared at my name. My real name. It was printed in gold next to the hanzi Rui Ming told me I could use. Tang (唐)—the fancy one, not the sugar one. Jinyu said it sounded noble. Like... royal bunny core or something.
"I have a last name now," I whispered, holding the card like it was a rare collectible. "I'm... Tang Jiaxin."
I was still staring at my name, heart doing weird fluttery things, when Rui Ming shoved something else into my hands.
It was... another rectangle. But heavier. Shinier. Kinda like a black mirror that lit up.
"Okay now, this is your phone," she said, already pressing buttons like it was second nature. "You need this for calls, apps, messages and everything else. Don't ask questions yet, just pay attention."
I blinked at it. "So this isn't a mini tablet-TV-thingy?
She sighed. "This is going to be a long month."
I poked the screen like it was some alien device, and it lit up. Fancy little icons everywhere. I was sure I wasn't supposed to touch half of them.
"Alright, first rule: don't break it. Second: you need WeChat. It's like the internet's everything here," Rui Ming said, sliding the app over like it was a magic portal.
"Wait... what's WeChat?"
"It's like texting, calling, money, and social stuff packaged into an all-in-one tool. You're about to be added to the intern group chat. Trust me, you wanna see that drama."
I tapped the download button, staring at the loading bar like it was a boss battle.
"Done! Now, let's see if you survive the group chat," Rui Ming smirked.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
A message popped up:
Welcome to Y.S.H.T. Interns WeChat Group!
I stared at that glowing message like I'd just been blasted into a whole new world — because, honestly, I kinda had.
Rui Ming handed the phone back with this sly grin. "Okay, time to see where the magic happens. Let's go meet your new crew."
My feet shuffled after her down the hallway, still half-expecting my phone to start blowing up with weird messages or memes.
The place looked nothing like the boring old labs I'd seen before — everything was shiny and fancy, like some super serious skincare secret base or something.
"This way," she said, guiding me to a smaller open-floor space where maybe ten people around my age were typing stuff, whispering, or pretending to look busy.
A sign overhead said:
INTERN HQ — Admin & Development Support
Inside, there were desks, tables, holographic displays, and a coffee machine that looked like it had more buttons than a TV remote. The room smelled faintly of toner and expensive lotion.
Everyone looked up when we walked in.
And.... immediately looked confused.
Like I'd wandered from a different world.
Some of their eyes widened a little. Some looked impressed. Some just blinked.
One girl gave a polite nod and a small smile. A guy in the back whispered something I couldn't hear and got elbowed.
"Team," Rui Ming said smoothly, "this is Tang Jiaxin, new intern assistant. She's assigned to Executive Ops — assisting Mr. Xu."
I waved.
"Hi! I'm Tang Jiaxin. I'm new. But I work hard!... Also, I don't bite."
Silence.
A second passed.
Then another girl slowly nodded. "That's... good"
Rui Ming acted like everything was normal. "Jiaxin, you'll be here for basic support work when not with Mr. Xu. Copying, sorting errands. If you ever get stuck, Linyue over there will gladly assist you."
She looked at the politely smiling girl, who seemed slightly alarmed.
"I'll be going to the executive floor now," Rui Ming added, already backing away. "Good luck!"
And just like that, she left me there. In a room full of quiet typing, flickering screens and people who wore boring neutral colors.
I sat down in an empty desk's chair.
Time to girlboss like how I saw those iconic ladies in Jinyu's mom's dramas.
"What do I do now?" I tapped my fingers on the table as I asked Linyue.
"Hi," she said. "We've got a few follow-up emails to send to suppliers. Simple stuff; acknowledgements, updates, minor clarifications. Want to give it a try?"
I straightened up as if I were being offered another carrot. "Absolutely! I'm amazing with emails. I send at least three a year!"
She didn't laugh, but the corners of her lips twitched a bit. "Alright. I'll forward you two drafts we normally use, you can reference those for tone. Try replying to these three," she tapped her screen, "and send your drafts back to me before we hit send."
I nodded very seriously. "Understood, I'll make you proud."
She handed me a work iPad, showed me the examples and walked back to her desk.
I cracked my knuckles. Okay, email time. Corporate-style.
How hard could it be?
I sat down, cracked my knuckles like I saw people do in dramas, and put my fingers on the keyboard.
Pause.
...
Wait. Where was the "with thanks" button? Why are there so many keys? Why is the W next to the E? Who thought this layout made sense?
I pecked a few letters with one finger, like I was testing if the keyboard would bite me.
"'N... o... t... e... d...'" I muttered under my breath, sounding it out like a preschooler.
The cursor blinked, judging me.
Behind me, I heard a soft cough.
Linyue had politely walked back over. "Um... do you need help finding the punctuation?"
I froze. "Nope! I totally know where the comma is."
(I didn't.)
She tried to smile. "It's okay if you're not used to the layout. We all needed time."
I panicked. "I'm just... adjusting to this specific brand of keyboard. It's very... sleek."
(It was a normal office keyboard.)
She didn't say anything, but her eyes were kind. "Let me show you a shortcut."
I watched as she typed with lightning speed, fingers flying like magic.
... Okay. Maybe I wasn't born to girlboss quite yet.
But I'd get there. I always do.
Especially once I find out where the comma key is.
Once I finally managed to find the comma key, and figured out how to backspace without deleting the entire sentence, I got the hang of typing. Sort of. I finally finished typing the email.
The first one I wrote was elegant and emotional, like the stuff I saw on Jinyu's dad's laptop. Words like gracefully, acknowledge, synergy, and timeless partnership floated around like confetti. I ended it with:
"May our brands continue to bloom together like peonies in spring."
Then, I decided to write a second option just in case the first one was rejected. This one was breezy, friendly, maybe a bit casual. I used things like hey there, just checking in, and a smiley face. I might've even thrown in a "lol" in parentheses to add some flavor to it.
I looked over both. Honestly, I'd be besties with myself based on those emails. Feeling accomplished, I hit send to forward them to Linyue.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps returning.
She held the tablet like it had a recipe for disaster, and maybe it did.
"Okay..." she said in a voice that could only be described as professionally concerned. "So, I read your drafts."
I grinned nervously. Did I do something wrong? "And?"
There was a long pause.
Then she blinked. Twice. She tilted her head again slightly, the way when the maids at Jinyu's parents' mansion realized that they have to find another small item under the couch again.
That's when it hit her.
This girl has no idea of what she's doing.
She didn't say it out loud, but I felt the realization come off from her like wi-fi.
"I wasn't sure what tone to go for," I explained a little nervously. "So I did one super formal and one casual."
"Well... the second one felt like a text to your cousin," she said slowly.
"Ah." I replied slowly.
"And the first one was actually closer to what we use," she admitted. "Just... more intense. And floral. A lot of floral."
"Is it bad?" I asked.
"It was like being serenaded by a very passionate brochure." she replied to me, giggling a bit.
"Oh."
She sighed, but not unkindly. "Look, the instinct is here. It's just that you're.... unfiltered.
"I'll get better," I promised. "I absorb information very quickly, like a sponge. Or a highly intellectual tofu."
She stared at me.
And then, very quietly said, "I see why Rui Ming ran."
"But you didn't, that's what makes you brave."
Linyue gave me a long look, like she was thinking about her life choices in real-time. Then she sighed and turned the monitor towards me.
"Alright, miss highly intellectual tofu," she said, scooting her chair aside." You wrote it, you should send it too."
I blinked. "Wait, really?"
"Consider it your first official action as an intern. A milestone," She raised an eyebrow. "Unless you prefer me doing it?"
"No!" I jumped forward, almost knocking over a pen holder. "I mean, yes, I want to do it. I want to press send."
I carefully hovered my finger on top of the mouse. The email — my email was sitting there, ready to fly off into the inbox of a brand partner. I glanced once more at the screen, but the words looked a bit... fluffy. But they were mine. My attempt. My flower-scented attempt.
"Okay," I whispered to myself, then clicked .
Sent.
A strange rush hit me; it wasn't like energy, but it was something warm and fizzy in my chest, like soda water and pride mixed together. I turned to Linyue, half-expecting a confetti cannon to go off.
She gave me a slow clap. "Congratulations. You just serenaded a skincare executive in poetic diplomacy."
I smiled brightly, ear-to-ear, where you could see my teeth. "Thank you, I take my duties very seriously."
"And now," she said, standing and reaching for some thick folders from her desk tray, "You'll be organizing the supply closet and delivering these to the executive floor. The ones labeled YSHT go to floor 29, that's our home turf. But the ones marked Xuhuang..." she gave me a look that said good luck, "...those go to floor 30. Just be polite, and don't spill anything."
My smile wobbled. "The what now?"
Linyue just smiled sweetly. "Trial by fire, tofu."
Linyue handed me the folder. "Before you deliver this upstairs, can you tidy up the supply closet first? It's been a mess for weeks."
"Absolutely," I said with the blind confidence of someone who had never seen a supply closet before.
I tucked the folder under one arm and marched off down the hallway like I knew exactly where I was going, only to backpedal two seconds later and peek over my shoulder. "Uh, which way again?"
"Left, down the hall. Door with the faded 'Supplies Room' label." Linyue replied.
"Got it!" I grinned, then set off again. My heart was full of purpose and potential disasters.
The supply closet looked like a polite tornado had hit it; one that only threw around pens, envelopes, and ink containers.
There were boxes labeled things like "URGENT STAMPS" stacked on top of "ABSOLUTELY NON-URGENT STICKY NOTES." Printer paper had somehow become a makeshift bed for an empty coffee cup. A stapler stared at me accusingly from the floor, like I was the one who dropped it.
It actually felt kind of nice; putting things in order, finding the right places for each scattered little object. Maybe it was bunny instincts kicking in, but I liked nest-building.
After making sure the last highlighter stood proudly in its plastic little cup and the sticky notes were organized by size and color, I gave the supply drawer one last satisfied nod. Mission accomplished.
As the folders were still tucked under my arm like it was some ancient scroll with destiny, they had warmed slightly from being held for so long. I gripped it tighter, straightened my back, and glanced at the elevator like it was the final boss of this level.
Floors 29 and 30.
Back when Jinyu was still a teenager, his dad used to say those floors were where the highest ranks of Xuhuang and its subsidiaries worked; reserved for the elite. He'd always mention how Jinyu would have his own office there one day. And he was right.
With everything Jinyu achieved, not only did he earn the CEO position, heck he even got to choose which company would be his focus. Naturally, he picked YSHT.
The air was probably filled with super fancy flowery smells, and the walls might cry if you touched them without further permission. My sparkly socks suddenly felt like a crime.
But I wasn't about to back down. Not when I'd made it this far without knocking someone's coffee over or starting a fire. I fixed my shoulders and headed to the elevator, folder in hand.
Ding.
The elevator opened, polished and silent, like it had been waiting for me. I stepped in, hit the glowing button for 29, and tried to look like I belonged. Like I wasn't just a former bunny clutching corporate paperwork with enough tension to crack it in half.
Each floor passed by like a heartbeat. 12... 17... 24...
When it finally blinked 29, I inhaled sharply. Showtime.
The doors opened to a different world—sleek walls, hushed voices, and people in suits that looked extra crisp and important. I stepped out carefully, trying not to squeak with my shoes or my voice. Everything looked fancy, like the kind of place where even the air wore perfume.
I took a deep breath and clutched the folder tighter. The soft hum of computers and inaudible murmurs filled the air, but the weight of quiet importance pressed down on me.
"Okay, Jiaxin," I whispered to myself, "just deliver the documents and get out. Easy."
I spotted a few doors with polished nameplates; Mr Xu's was among them, shining quietly like a badge of honor. But first, I had to drop off these documents at the directors' offices.
I walked down the glossy hallway, trying to keep the steps light. Every now and then, I caught a glance or two from sharp eyes behind sleek glasses. Probably wondering what the new intern was doing wandering around.
At the first office, I hesitated for a second, then knocked gently. A voice called, "Come in."
I pushed the door open, smiled awkwardly, and said, "Hi! I'm Tang Jiaxin, from the new internship batch — assigned to Executive Ops! Someone asked me to deliver these documents to you!"
The man behind the desk looked up from a stack of printouts, his reading glasses perched on his nose. A small plaque on his desk read Pu Huairen — Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
He gave me a mild nod, his face unreadable but not unfriendly. "Thank you, Miss Tang," he said, accepting the folder with a slow, careful hand, like someone who'd spent decades in labs and had learned to be super careful and detailed about everything.
"One down," I muttered under my breath, "3 more to go."
With each door, my confidence grew a little, but the pressure didn't totally go away. This place felt like a whole different world, and I was still figuring out how to survive in it.
The next office was bright, with enormous glass windows letting in lots of light. I knocked nervously.
"Come in!" a warm voice called.
I stepped inside and was hit with a totally different vibe. The room felt fresh and kinda fun, like someone had sprinkled creativity all over it.
There was a woman behind the desk, and, WOW, she looked way too young to be in a high position. Her skin was flawless and her smile was bright, and she had this calm but friendly energy that made me want to chill instantly.
"Hi, I'm Lin Yifan!, the Chief Marketing Officer here at YSHT," she said, standing up to shake my hand. "You're the new intern delivering documents, right? Don't worry, it's not as scary as it looks."
I handed over the folder and said, "I'm Tang Jiaxin, from the new internship batch. Executive Ops. Here are the documents for you."
She took it with a smile. "Thanks, Jiaxin! It's always great to see new faces here."
For once, I didn't feel like I was about to mess everything up. Small wins.
I left her office with the rest of the folders hugged tightly to my chest like it was going to run away if I loosened my grip. Most were labeled YSHT, but now these had the unmistakable phoenix emboss of Xuhuang.
I'd stared at them like it insulted my family.
Floor 30.
I mean, it's not like I was allergic to elevators, but just like the logo, this felt like willingly walking into a phoenix den. I jabbed the button anyway, watched the floor count rise, and tried not to think about how sweaty my palms were.
Ding.
The doors opened onto floor 30, and yeah, no surprise, it looked expensive. Carpet that probably cost more than my entire lifetime supply of carrots. Air that smelled like money and those neutral hotel candles rich people buy in bulk. Even the silence here was luxurious.
I glanced at the nameplate beside the nearest office door:
陈冠峰 (Chen Guanfeng)
Chief Financial Officer, Xuhuang Group
Oh god.
I double-checked the folder. Yup, his name was there, top of the list. I knocked, light but steadily. The kind of knock that said, please don't eat me alive, sir.
"Come in."
His voice was deep and clipped, the kind of voice that's been in power longer than I've been alive.
I went in cautiously, scared of getting scolded. "Hi! I'm Tang Jiaxin, from the new intern batch. Um, I have some documents for you?"
He looked up slowly from his laptop. Stern. Silent. Thick brows and that kind of stare that made you rethink every life decision you've ever made.
For a second, I wondered if I was breathing too loudly.
"Put them on the desk," he said, nodding toward the empty corner of his massive, scarily neat desk.
"Y-Yes!" I did as told, carefully sliding them into place like they were ancient artifacts.
He gave a small hum, already glancing back at his screen. I stood there for a half-second too long before mentally kicking myself and backing out with a stiff nod and an awkward:
"Okay! Thanks, bye!"
The door clicked shut behind me.
I exhaled like I'd just survived a boss battle.
The hallway felt colder after I had left Chen Guanfeng's office.
I had one last document left, which was apparently for Xuhuang's Chief Strategy Officer?
I went past several doors to find the one with the right title.
I knocked on the door with the same title as the label, and a voice called out, super chill, "Come in."
I stepped in and... almost walked back out instantly.
This guy? WAYYY too smooth. He wore an all black outfit, dress tucked into these expensive-looking pants, a belt with that tiny YSL logo, shiny shoes that looked like they could stomp on someone's salary. He looked like he walked out of a fashion photoshoot but decided to stop by the office for fun. And he smelled rich. Not just "money" rich, but like... "this cologne has French name I can't pronounce" rich. Again, on the table, since he was a chief officer, he had a name plaque; "Wang Yixuan — Chief Strategy Officer."
He glanced up, eyes sharp but kind of lazy. Not unfriendly, just... like how he knew how this conversation would go.
"You're the intern, right?" he said, voice smooth as hell.
"Yup, uh, I'm Jiaxin. I'm just dropping these off." I held out the folder.
He took it, barely glancing at it. "Cool. Just leave it there." he nodded at the desk, giving a light smile.
I did it super carefully, like I might knock something over. I lingered half a second too long before blurting, "Alright, thanks! Bye!" and bolting off like I'd just been chased by some insects.
Once I was outside, I let out a big breath and whispered to myself, "What was that energy..."
He was way too charming to be trusted.
I was still trying to process that whole "too smooth, too scary" vibe. Seriously, who dresses like that for work? Like, did he just walk out of a fashion magazine or what?
I stepped into the elevator, still recovering from the unholy amount of aura personified that was Wang Yixuan. Like—what was that? Was he dipped in luxury or something? I swear, my soul was this close to ascending.
The elevator dinged once I finally reached the 12th floor, and I stepped back into the familiar chaos of the intern room ;people tapping away at keyboards, papers rustling, someone whispering aggressively on the phone in the corner.
I made a beeline for my desk, trying to sneak back in like I hadn't just been stunned into silence by a man who smelled like super floral stuff.
But as I sat down, the guy next to me leaned over dramatically, chin propped on one hand like he was about to interview me for a gossip magazine.
"Well?" he said, wiggling his brows. "Was he hot?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You came back looking like you just walked out of a K-drama," he said. "Don't play with me. Spill. Did you see Wang Yixuan? Was it giving?"
I stared. "Who are you?"
He gasped. "The betrayal. After all we've been through....which is, admittedly, nothing yet. I get this." He held out a hand like he was waiting for a handshake. "Yang Feifan. Biochemistry major. Office slay king. I'm here to make coffee runs and destroy gender norms."
I choked on a laugh. "Tang Jiaxin. Bunny-turned-intern. I deliver documents, and go feral around hot men while internally going crazy."
Feifan nodded very seriously. "As you should."
I snorted, shaking my head as I flopped back in my seat. "Well, that was something."
"Welcome to corporate," he said, already stretching like he just ran a marathon. "Anyway—lunch?"
"Huh? Already?"
He held up his phone. "It's already 1:15. Perfect time for lunch."
"Oh, right," I said, standing up and rubbing my eyes. "Where do people usually go around here?"
"There's a cafeteria on the sixth floor," he said, slinging a canvas tote over one shoulder. "Decent food, good view. Come on, I'll introduce you to the rest of the crew."
"We?"
Feifan grinned. "Yeah. You've only met the glittering tip of the intern iceberg, Jiaxin."
Feifan grabbed his tote and motioned toward the elevator. "Alright, let's roll."
I followed him out of the intern office, the afternoon sun hitting the glass walls like it was showing off or something. On the way to the elevator, we ran into three other girls. Two were gossiping about their weekend plans, and the third was glued to her phone, looking way too chill.
One girl saw me and waved, "Hey Jiaxin! You finally made it!"
"Feifan!" the other called, smirking. "You ready for whatever weird stuff the cafeteria is gonna serve today?"
Feifan laughed. "Only if Jingqi here is brave enough to try it."
The girl on her phone, Deng Jingqi, I heard was her name, shot him a look. "I'll do it. Mostly edible, I swear."
We all squeezed into the elevator as the doors slid shut. Lunch break had officially started.
We went down for a bit before the elevator finally dinged when we reached the 8th floor, and we spilled out like overworked sardines onto the cafeteria floor.
Feifan took one deep inhale and dramatically declared, "Ah yes, Eau De Questionable Chicken."
"I can't tell if that's fish or tofu," one girl muttered, eyeing the trays like they were going to find back.
"I don't think even chefs can tell." Jingqi replied, deadpan as ever, already reaching for a tray like she had nothing to lose.
I shuffled along behind them, sticking close. This was officially my first ever cafeteria experience, and I wasn't about to get lost in the sauce, literally.
The cafeteria trays clattered as we moved along the line. I tried not to look too clueless, but every dish looked either terrifying, soggy, or like it was still processing its trauma.
Feifan poked one with his chopsticks. "Do you think this one screams if I stab it?"
Jingqi didn't even blink. "Only internally."
Then I saw it.
A tray near the end, still steaming: stir-fried pork with green chilli peppers. The color popped more than anything else, bright with red oil and smoky edges. Something about it made me pause.
"Whoa," I said, stepping closer. "That looks... kinda good?"
Jingqi raised an eyebrow. "You've got taste. That's Hunan stir-fried pork. Spicy. Real spicy."
"I've never had it before," I mumbled, though my hands were already reaching for the ladle like they had muscle memory.
As I scooped some onto my plate, the smell hit me: it was deep, smoky, a little sharp and sweet with chilli. It made my stomach growl instantly.
Feifan leaned in, "You like spicy?"
"I don't know," I just honestly. "But this smells... kind of comforting?"
No idea why. It just did.
Feifan tilted his head. "Girl, is this your food soulmate or what?"
"Maybe we were married in a past life," I said dead serious, staring at the pork. "Me and this pork, soul bond."
They laughed, and we moved down the line.
We grabbed our trays and plopped down at this long table beside the windows, and I immediately got distracted by how shiny the utensils were. Like. Look at this spoon. So curvy. So perfect for soup. I kinda wanted to steal it.
Anyway. Food.
I was mid-emotional moment with my pork when Feifan leaned in with a fake-serious voice. "So. Spill. Where's everyone working? Department check."
"Marketing," said a girl with perfect hair. Not just regular nice. Like, she washes her hair so often nice. "But I'm already thinking of switching. My mentor keeps saying things like 'use your initiative' then gets mad when I actually do."
Feifan gasped. "Classic marketing gaslight. They're always like, 'be creative' but then scream if the font is Comic Sans."
The girl next to her poked at her rice. "Mine made me sit through a thirty-minute rant on the history of spreadsheets. Then asked me to color code something that was already color coded."
Jingqi looked up from her phone. "At least yours didn't ask if you knew how to turn on a computer. Mine pointed at the power button like I was a grandma."
I blinked. "Wait, computers have power buttons?"
Feifan full-on clutched his pearls. "BABY."
"Anyway," I said, chewing dramatically, "I just delivered a folder and ran for my life. Dude I met was like... stupidly smooth. All black outfit, sparkly belt, looked like he walked straight out of one of those dramas where the main guy ruins the poor girl's life but also buys her a house."
"Okay, but WAS he hot?" perfect hair girl leaned in like it was life or death.
I slammed my chopsticks down. "He had those sharp cheek things—what are they called?—like, I swear he could slice carrots with his face. And his hair was so shiny I thought it was fake. He smelled like... I dunno. Fancy? Like a rich forest or something."
Feifan gasped. "Like new phone smell??"
"Worse. Like he lives in a place that always smells like soap and never gets sweaty. The kind of person who probably drinks water that comes in glass bottles."
Feifan clutched his heart. "Help."
"Anyway," I said, eyes wide, "he said like, four words and I ran. He smiled a tiny bit, and it was over for me."
"Who was he?" one of them asked.
"I think... Wang something? Yixuan?"
And then they all screamed.
They all stared at me like I'd just spilled the juiciest secret.
"Dude, you have to put that in the group chat," one of the girls said, eyes sparkling. "Like, 'Just survived Wang Yixuan's charm offensive, send help.'"
"Yeah! We need the tea, Jiaxin!" Feifan nodded seriously. "Come on, don't be shy. It's your first day, time to make your grand entrance."
I blinked. "Uh... but I don't even know how to... like... type fancy words yet. And what if I mess up? What if I send the wrong emoji and ruin everything?"
They laughed. "Relax! We'll help. Just say something simple."
I stared down at my phone like it was an alien device. The group chat was blinking with messages I didn't understand, like a secret code.
Finally, I poked at the keyboard, fingers trembling.
"Hey... everyone," I typed, then deleted it.
"Uh... this is Jiaxin. I met Wang Yixuan. He's scary pretty."
I hit send before I could chicken out.
The chat exploded with laughing emojis and welcome messages.
I grinned, thinking, Okay, maybe this isn't so bad.
I didn't know it then, but that lunch break? It was the start of something.
The rest of that first day? A blur.
I survived the cafeteria food, bonded with the other interns over questionable soy milk, and barely stopped myself from licking the Hunan pork plate clean. (No idea why it hit that hard, but it made my nose twitch.)
Then, the next day came. And the next. And somehow... I didn't die. I didn't get fired. I didn't even break the printer. (Okay, just once. And it wasn't entirely my fault.)
Time flew.
🗓 Week One: I spilled coffee all over the intern break room, made the office smell like a haunted plantation, walked into a meeting room too early and stared Jinyu in the eyes like a deer about to be killed. Deng Jingqi saved me from a wardrobe malfunction. Feifan gave me the wrong directions, and I ended up on the finance floor trying to deliver coffee to someone named Mr. Yao, who absolutely does not exist.
🗓 Week Two: The Hunan pork made another appearance. My nose twitched again. Still no clue why. I got adopted by the IT guy after accidentally calling Excel "the square demon."People started saying "hi" to me in the hallway. I even made it through a whole coffee run without crying. Progress!
🗓 Week Three: I mastered the printer. I color-coded documents so well that Linyue went silent for a full five seconds. I started helping the others with minor tasks. And I didn't even set anything on fire. Jinyu passed by me once in the hall and nodded. Like, approved nod. I almost ascended.
🗓 Week Four: Feifan added me to a group chat titled "🐰 Jiaxin's Protection Squad 🛡️". Rui Ming said I was "not entirely unmanageable" and gave me a wink. Even the grumpy receptionist asked if I was the one who brought the snacks. (I wasn't. But I took credit anyway.) Jinyu invited me to sit in on a meeting. Me! I didn't say anything though. I was too busy trying to look normal while eating a mint.
And then one evening, just before the lights dimmed and everyone clocked out, I walked past his office.
He was still inside, scribbling something in a notebook. Doors open, mind somewhere else.
He was humming.
A little tune, soft and familiar, like something I might've dreamed of once. My feet stopped.
It was the same melody I heard in my first dream as a human.
I didn't say anything. I just stood there for a second, staring.
He didn't look up. But the tiniest smile tugged at his lips, like he knew I was there.
Like... he was waiting.