Can't let it go

The air in the office was heavy the next morning, thick with an unspoken tension. Lu Xiao arrived early, hoping to clear her mind and prepare for the day ahead. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, the memory of Chen Wei's words and Lei Han's guarded response refused to leave her.

By the time Lei Han arrived, Lu Xiao had already sorted through the day's schedule and prepared his coffee. He stepped into his office, his usual confident stride slightly subdued, and nodded at her in acknowledgment.

"Good morning, Mr. Lei," she said, handing him a file.

"Morning," he replied curtly, his focus already on the documents in his hand.

Lu Xiao hesitated, debating whether to bring up the lingering questions from the day before. Instead, she returned to her desk, deciding it was better to tread carefully.

---

The day unfolded quietly, but Lu Xiao couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. She noticed Lei Han taking several calls behind closed doors, his tone clipped and serious. Whenever she entered his office to deliver papers, she found him staring out the window, lost in thought.

Around midday, Clara approached Lu Xiao's desk with an envelope.

"This came for Mr. Lei," Clara said, lowering her voice. "But it looks… odd."

Lu Xiao took the envelope, its plain, unmarked surface stirring her curiosity. She knocked on Lei Han's door and stepped inside.

"This just arrived for you," she said, placing the envelope on his desk.

Lei Han picked it up, his eyes narrowing as he examined it. Without a word, he opened it and pulled out a single sheet of paper. As he read, his expression hardened.

"What is it?" Lu Xiao asked, unable to contain her concern.

He folded the paper and slipped it back into the envelope. "Nothing you need to worry about," he said firmly.

Her stomach twisted. "Mr. Lei, if there's something going on—"

"Miss Lu," he interrupted, his voice sharper than usual. "I appreciate your concern, but this is not your battle."

The finality in his tone stung, but Lu Xiao knew better than to push further. She nodded and left the room, her heart heavy with frustration and worry.

---

Later that afternoon, as Lu Xiao returned from a brief errand, she spotted Chen Wei in the lobby. He was speaking with a man she didn't recognize, their conversation animated and intense.

Chen Wei glanced in her direction, and a sly grin spread across his face. He leaned closer to the man, whispering something before walking toward her.

"Miss Lu," he greeted, his tone casual. "How fortunate to see you again."

"What do you want, Mr. Chen?" she asked, her patience wearing thin.

"Just a friendly conversation," he said, his smile never wavering. "Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?"

"I don't have time for your games," she replied, turning to leave.

But Chen Wei stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "You really should pay attention, Miss Lu. There's a storm brewing, and when it hits, you'll wish you had been prepared."

Before she could respond, Lei Han's voice cut through the tension.

"Chen Wei."

Both of them turned to see Lei Han striding toward them, his expression cold and commanding.

"Is there a reason you're harassing my assistant?" he asked, his tone laced with authority.

Chen Wei raised his hands in mock surrender. "Just a friendly chat, nothing more."

Lei Han stepped closer, his eyes locked on Chen Wei's. "Stay away from her. This is your only warning."

Chen Wei smirked but didn't respond. With a casual wave, he walked away, leaving Lu Xiao standing next to Lei Han, her heart pounding.

---

Back in the office, Lei Han's demeanor remained tense. Lu Xiao could feel the weight of his frustration as they worked through the afternoon.

As the day came to a close, Lei Han finally broke the silence. "Miss Lu, I'm sorry you had to deal with Chen Wei again."

"It's alright," she said, though the encounter had shaken her. "But I think he's trying to provoke you."

Lei Han leaned back in his chair, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "He's been trying to provoke me for years. This is just another attempt."

"But why? What does he want?"

Lei Han's expression darkened. "Power. Control. And he thinks he can use you to get to me."

Her chest tightened at his words. "I don't want to be a liability, Mr. Lei."

"You're not," he said firmly. "But Chen Wei thrives on manipulation. That's why I need you to trust me and stay out of his way."

Lu Xiao nodded, though her resolve to uncover the truth only grew stronger.

---

That evening, as she walked home, Lu Xiao replayed the events of the day in her mind. The mysterious envelope, Chen Wei's cryptic warnings, and Lei Han's unspoken fears all pointed to a larger, more dangerous game at play.

For the first time, she realized just how deeply she was entangled in Lei Han's world—and how far she was willing to go to protect him.