Can't let it go

The early morning sunlight poured through the thin curtains of Lu Xiao's modest apartment, casting a golden glow on the peeling walls. The sound of muffled laughter echoed from the tiny kitchen as her younger siblings prepared breakfast. For a moment, the warmth of their voices was enough to dull the ache in her chest.

It had been two weeks since the gala at Chongqing International Hotel—two weeks since the night that had changed everything. Lu Xiao had returned home with no explanation for her absence, hiding the business card Lei Han had left behind in the bottom drawer of her nightstand. She told herself she would never use it.

"Jie, breakfast is ready!" her youngest brother, Xiao Wei, called out, breaking her thoughts.

Lu Xiao forced a smile as she walked into the cramped kitchen. Xiao Wei, only seven years old, beamed up at her, his small hands carefully holding a plate of fried eggs. Her twin sisters, Mei Ling and Mei Hua, were setting the table, their faces bright despite the difficulties they all endured.

"Looks delicious," Lu Xiao said, ruffling Xiao Wei's hair. "You're becoming quite the chef."

They sat together, eating in relative silence, though the siblings occasionally joked to lighten the mood. Lu Xiao's heart ached as she watched them. They deserved so much more than this. Her parents had vanished without a word, leaving behind a mountain of debt and three children who relied entirely on her.

Her thoughts drifted to the stack of bills waiting on the counter. The salary from her part-time job barely covered their rent and groceries. She'd have to pick up another shift this week, even if it meant less sleep.

"Jie, are you okay?" Mei Ling asked, her dark eyes full of concern.

Lu Xiao blinked, realizing she had been staring at her untouched plate. "I'm fine," she said softly. "Just thinking about work."

Her siblings exchanged worried glances but said nothing. They had learned to accept the burdens their elder sister carried without complaint.

After breakfast, Lu Xiao walked Xiao Wei to school while the twins stayed behind to clean. The brisk morning air was refreshing, but her mind felt clouded. Every step she took reminded her of the widening gap between the life she wanted and the life she had.

By the time she returned home, the phone was ringing. She rushed to answer it, her heart sinking when she recognized the voice on the other end.

"Miss Lu Xiao?" the landlord's gruff tone demanded. "You're late on rent again. I'll give you until the end of the week, or you and your siblings are out."

"I understand," Lu Xiao said, her voice steady despite the panic rising in her chest. "I'll have it by then."

Hanging up, she pressed her forehead against the cool surface of the table. How would she come up with the money? Her part-time job wouldn't pay her until next month, and she had already borrowed from everyone she could.

Her thoughts turned to the business card hidden in her drawer. Lei Han. His name carried a weight she couldn't explain. She didn't know him, yet the memory of his steady gaze and calm demeanor lingered. Could she reach out to him? Would he even remember her?

"No," she whispered to herself, shaking her head. "I can't depend on someone else."

But as the hours passed and desperation set in, she found herself standing in front of the drawer, the card in her hand. She traced the embossed letters with her fingertips, her resolve crumbling.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number. It rang only twice before a crisp, professional voice answered.

"This is Lei Han," he said.

Her throat went dry. "Mr. Lei, it's… it's Lu Xiao. From the gala."

There was a pause, then his voice softened. "Lu Xiao. I remember. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she lied. "I just… I wanted to thank you again for helping me that night."

"You don't need to thank me," he replied. "But something tells me this isn't just a courtesy call."

Lu Xiao hesitated, clutching the phone tightly. "I… I need a job," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lei Han was silent for a moment. "Come to my office tomorrow," he said. "We'll talk."

Relief and anxiety flooded her simultaneously. "Thank you," she said, her voice trembling.

"Don't thank me yet," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Be prepared to work hard."

The call ended, leaving Lu Xiao staring at the phone in her hand. She had taken the first step toward changing her circumstances, but the road ahead was still uncertain.

As she sat in the quiet apartment, her siblings' laughter echoing faintly from the other room, she allowed herself a moment of hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, Lei Han's unexpected presence in her life was a sign that things could get .