LU VILLA – MORNING BREAKFAST ROOM
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warm and golden. The scent of jasmine tea and warm pastries lingered in the air.
Yueying sat at the long breakfast table, her robe loosely tied at the waist, hair slightly tousled from sleep. Across from her sat Tianlei, his chin barely above the rim of his teacup. He was trying hard to look serious — legs swinging beneath the chair.
Gu Ni, now wrapped in a soft lavender shawl, looked better. Still pale, still healing, but her eyes were clearer and sharp. She fed Tianlei slices of pear while trying not to smile too much when he pouted.
Yueying tore a piece of sweet bread, glancing at them both.
"You know," she said quietly, "This… almost feels normal."
Tianlei blinked. "What's normal?"
Gu Ni smiled faintly. "When people who love each other get to stay in the same room, eat food, and not die in it." she rolled her eyes.
Yueying raised an eyebrow. "That's a low bar."
"Welcome to my standard," Gu Ni smirked.
Laughter floated up like steam from their teacups.
Then—
Footsteps.
Boots on marble.
Lu Quing entered, dressed in a crisp black suit, no tie. Just power in the quiet lines of his collar, authority in the way his cuff was folded back to reveal a silver watch.
His gaze swept the room — and landed on Yueying.
"You're late," Yueying teased.
Lu Quing didn't smile. But his eyes warmed. A flicker of emotion passed through them.
"And you're still beautiful," he replied calmly.
Gu Ni nearly choked on her tea.
Yueying's lips parted slightly, eyes darting down to her cup, face bright red. "That wasn't—never mind."
Lu Quing walked to Tianlei and ruffled his hair.
"Behave today. Don't blow up the library," he said in a serious tone.
"I'll try," Tianlei mumbled through a bite of apple as he giggled.
Then Lu Quing's gaze returned to Yueying.
"We leave in ten. You're coming to the office."
Yueying blinked. "Today?"
"Your ID badge has been printed. Your desk assigned. Dress sharp."
He paused — voice softer.
"And hide the pendant inside your dress."
Yueying's heart gave one small, traitorous flutter.
---
CORPORATION – EXECUTIVE FLOOR, MID-MORNING
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Yueying stepped into the executive floor wearing a fitted white blouse tucked into a high-waist navy skirt, her heels almost silent against the polished marble. The pendant at her neck was hidden — for now — but it pulsed faintly, as if aware that she was once again walking into an enemy territory cloaked as routine.
But this time, she wasn't just another intern.
This time, she was Yueying — The First Flame, protector of a bloodline… and utterly confused by the man who had just appeared behind her like mist. 'he always do that ' she thought as she rolled her eyes.
"Morning," Lu Quing said casually, as if he hadn't followed her up the elevator silently the entire ride or they didn't see at home.
Yueying didn't turn. "You could've taken the stairs."
"I wanted to make sure you didn't vanish halfway up."
"I don't vanish," she replied coolly. "I resign."
They passed through a glass corridor. The staff nodded respectfully, though some slowed their pace to watch. Lu Quing rarely walked anyone through this wing.
Yueying's heels slowed as they neared his office.
"I'm not here for you," she murmured under her breath.
"I know," he said. "You're here for your department review, Ms. Han."
She blinked. "Wait— I— what?"
He held the door open to his office with a slight smirk. "I scheduled it last night. It's quarterly review day. Or did you forget I'm technically still your boss?"
Yueying swallowed. Why did his voice sound deeper when he said "your boss"? But she's also an actress.
With a breath, she walked past him and into his sunlit office — spacious, sleek, with soft grey tones and a wide desk that looked more like a throne than a workspace. The scent of jasmine tea still lingered in the air from earlier.
She stood at the edge of his desk, arms crossed.
He leaned against the desk, hands at his back, regarding her with those unreadable eyes.
"Three departments have tried to request you."
She lifted a brow. "And you blocked all three."
"I like watching you work at home, it wouldn't be a bad idea watching you work in the office."He mostly spends time in the office.
That made her heart trip.
He didn't correct himself.
"You don't have to flirt during reviews," she muttered.
"This isn't flirting." He stepped closer. "This is confession. Slow and honest."
Her breath caught.
And then—
A knock at the door broke the moment.
Lu Quing turned, slightly annoyed. "Come in."
A tall man entered — charming smile, brown hair brushed back, tailored suit.
"Sorry to interrupt, sir. I'm the new associate assigned to Ms. Han's project team — Aaron Li."
Yueying blinked.
Aaron extended a hand to her. "I've heard a lot about you. I've been transferred here from Hong Kong."
She shook it. "Welcome."
Lu Quing didn't speak.
Didn't move.
But the temperature in the room shifted.
Slightly.
Aaron smiled again, glancing between the two. "I hope I won't be in the way."
Lu Quing finally spoke, voice even. "You won't."
But Yueying felt it — a subtle possessiveness, not cruel, not loud… but protective.
She picked up her report folder. "If that's all, I should get to my team."
Lu Quing nodded. "You're dismissed… Yueying."
She didn't miss the way Aaron turned his head at that name — the familiarity.
Nor did she miss the way Lu Quing's gaze followed her all the way to the door.
---
MIDDAY – PROJECT FLOOR
Yueying sat in the project conference room with her team, reviewing slide decks, graphs, and market data. Aaron sat beside her, offering witty remarks and suggestions that were — unfortunately — good.
He was easy to talk to.
Maybe too easy.
"You're better at this than you let on," he said, leaning closer.
"I'm observant," she replied, not looking up.
"Then you've noticed our boss watching you like a silent stormcloud?"
Yueying blinked. "He watches everyone."
Aaron laughed. "Not like that. Not like… he'd burn a building if someone touched you wrong."
She didn't answer.
Because maybe it was true.
Maybe Lu Quing — celestial-blooded or devil-born or something — didn't know how to love softly.
But he stood back.
He let her breathe and mingle with this_Aaron Li.
And that… that was more terrifying than any firestorm.
---
LU CORPORATION – ROOFTOP, LATE AFTERNOON
She didn't expect him there.
But Lu Quing was already leaning on the railing when she stepped out for air.
"I thought you hated heights," she said quietly. "Your ex fell from quiet a height( the plane crash). It's only normal for you to despise some things but it can't stop your everyday routine. For example, taking a flight."
"Hmmm."
Yueying tilted her head.
"You saw me with Aaron," she said.
"I saw you smile."
"And?"
"I didn't like it."
A pause.
She turned. "That's petty."
He nodded. "And human."
She smirked. "You sure you're human?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he took a step toward her — slowly, deliberately — and stopped just a breath away.
"You're allowed to like him," he said. "You're allowed to like anyone."
"Then why do you sound like you're trying not to punch something?" she blinked.
His voice dropped. "Because I told myself I'd wait until you were ready… but I didn't expect someone else to make you laugh like that."
That made her breath hitch.
"Lu Quing…"
He raised a hand — didn't touch her. Just let it hover near her cheek.
"I'm not asking for anything," he said. "Just don't lie to me. If I'm losing… let me lose properly."
Yueying swallowed.
And for once, she didn't look away.
"I'm not ready," she whispered.
"Then I'll wait."
And this time, when he left, she wished he hadn't.
---