Can't let it go

The days following the charity dinner passed quickly, but the tension from that night lingered in Lu Xiao's mind. Lei Han had returned to his usual focused demeanor, but something about his warning regarding Chen Wei gnawed at her.

As she arrived at the office that morning, Lu Xiao noticed an unusual quietness in the air. Normally bustling with activity, the floor was subdued, with employees speaking in hushed tones.

"Miss Lu," Clara called out as Lu Xiao passed her desk. "Mr. Lei has an important meeting today. Make sure his materials are prepared."

Lu Xiao nodded, her curiosity piqued. Clara rarely gave reminders unless the meeting involved high stakes.

By noon, Lu Xiao was standing outside the conference room, a stack of files in her hands. Through the glass doors, she could see Lei Han seated at the head of the table, his expression unreadable as he reviewed documents.

The doors opened, and Lu Xiao entered, placing the files in front of him. "Everything is here, Mr. Lei," she said softly.

He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers briefly. "Thank you. Wait outside until I call you in."

She stepped back into the hallway, her heart pounding. It wasn't often that Lei Han excluded her from meetings, and it only deepened her unease.

Moments later, the doors swung open, and Chen Wei strode out, his expression smug. He paused when he saw Lu Xiao, his lips curling into a sly smile.

"Miss Lu," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Always a pleasure."

Lu Xiao nodded politely, unwilling to engage. Chen Wei's presence unsettled her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing a dangerous game.

Later that afternoon, as Lu Xiao organized files in Lei Han's office, she couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering her.

"Mr. Lei," she began hesitantly, "is everything alright with the company?"

He looked up from his laptop, his expression guarded. "Why do you ask?"

"The meeting earlier… and Chen Wei," she said, choosing her words carefully. "He seemed... different."

Lei Han leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp. "Chen Wei is always different," he said. "But that's none of your concern."

Lu Xiao bit her lip, sensing she had overstepped. "I didn't mean to pry."

He sighed, his tone softening. "I know you're curious, Miss Lu. But there are aspects of this business that are best left unexplored."

She nodded, though his words only deepened her curiosity.

That evening, Lu Xiao stayed late to finish her tasks. The office was quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by the soft whir of air conditioning.

As she organized a stack of files, a document slipped out and fluttered to the floor. Picking it up, she froze. It was a contract, but not an ordinary one. The terms were vague, with clauses that hinted at something more sinister.

Her heart raced as she read further. The name "Chen Wei" appeared several times, alongside references to offshore accounts and undisclosed transactions.

Before she could process what she was seeing, the door opened, and Lei Han stepped in.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Lu Xiao held up the document, her hands trembling. "I-I was organizing the files, and this fell out…"

Lei Han's eyes narrowed as he took the paper from her. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Miss Lu," he said quietly, "there are things happening here that you don't need to be involved in."

"But—"

"No," he interrupted, his voice firm. "This is not your battle to fight."

Lu Xiao felt a lump in her throat. "I just want to help," she said softly.

Lei Han's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. "I know," he said. "But the best way you can help is by staying safe. Trust me on this."

As Lu Xiao walked home that night, her mind swirled with questions. What was Lei Han protecting her from? And why did she feel as though he carried a burden too heavy to bear alone?

Despite his warning, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was already entangled in something much larger than herself.

And as she replayed his words in her mind, a strange determination took root in her heart.

If Lei Han was determined to protect her, then she would find a way to protect him too—even if it meant uncovering the secrets he so desperately wanted to keep .