Can't let it go

The next morning, the office atmosphere was heavier than usual, as if everyone could sense that something was amiss. Lu Xiao arrived early, determined to keep her focus sharp despite the swirling storm of questions in her mind.

She placed a steaming cup of coffee on Lei Han's desk, her footsteps soft on the carpeted floor. Lei Han sat at his desk, staring at his laptop, his fingers drumming against the table.

"Good morning, Mr. Lei," she said, her voice light, masking the tension she felt.

"Good morning, Miss Lu," he replied without looking up. "Anything urgent today?"

"Not yet," she said, handing him the day's schedule.

He took it, scanning the contents briefly. "Clear my afternoon. There's something I need to handle."

Lu Xiao nodded, though her curiosity burned. What could he possibly be dealing with that required such secrecy?

---

By noon, Lei Han's office door remained closed, and Lu Xiao could hear the faint hum of a tense phone call inside. His voice, usually calm and commanding, was sharper, more forceful.

She busied herself with her tasks, but her thoughts kept wandering back to the events of the past few days: Chen Wei's cryptic warnings, the mysterious contract, and Lei Han's insistence on keeping her in the dark.

When Lei Han finally emerged, his expression was stony. He handed her a folder.

"Take this to Mr. Zhang in the legal department immediately," he said.

Lu Xiao took the folder, noticing the tension in his voice. "Yes, Mr. Lei."

As she made her way to the legal department, she couldn't resist the urge to glance at the folder's contents. The papers inside were contracts—detailed, precise, and filled with language that hinted at high-stakes negotiations.

But one name stood out: Chen Wei.

Her heart raced as she handed the folder to Mr. Zhang, who barely glanced at her before taking it.

---

That evening, Lei Han called her into his office as she prepared to leave for the day.

"Sit down," he said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk.

Lu Xiao obeyed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

"I know you're worried," he began, his tone softer than she expected. "And I know you've noticed things happening behind the scenes."

She met his gaze, her heart pounding. "I just want to help, Mr. Lei. But I feel like I'm being kept in the dark."

Lei Han sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's not about keeping you in the dark, Lu Xiao. It's about protecting you. There are forces at play here that are far more dangerous than you realize."

"Like Chen Wei?" she asked boldly.

His expression hardened at the mention of the name. "Yes. Chen Wei is not just an annoyance; he's a threat. And he's been waiting for the right moment to strike."

"But why?"

Lei Han hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. "Chen Wei has always wanted what I have—power, influence, control. But his methods are... underhanded. And now, he's trying to use you to destabilize me."

Lu Xiao's chest tightened. "Why me?"

"Because he sees you as my weakness," Lei Han said quietly.

The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy blanket. She wanted to ask more, to understand the full scope of the danger they faced, but the vulnerability in Lei Han's eyes stopped her.

"Mr. Lei," she said softly, "I'm not afraid. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me."

He gave her a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You're stronger than you realize, Miss Lu. But for now, the best thing you can do is stay vigilant. And trust me."

---

As Lu Xiao walked home that night, her mind swirled with conflicting emotions. She trusted Lei Han, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was carrying too much on his shoulders alone.

Her resolve hardened. If Chen Wei thought she was a weakness, he was wrong. She would find a way to stand by Lei Han's side, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

The words Lei Han had spoken to her echoed in her mind: "You're stronger than you realize."

She would prove him right.