Zain wiped the coffee stain from his chest, which looked as if it were sculpted from marble, and picked up the new white shirt standing nearby. He put on the shirt with a jerk, but while fastening the buttons, there was a smile on his lips that Qian had never seen in the last 5 years.
Qian closed the door, approached Zain, and spoke softly, "Boss... it seems you have started to like that girl. Even after such a big mistake, you didn't punish her?"
Zain set his cufflinks and took a deep breath, old memories sparkling in his eyes. "It's her, Qian... that same girl from 5 years ago who made me feel for the first time that I am alive. Today she is with me, right before my eyes."
Aanya and Huan Jing were leaving the office.
Outside the Office: Friendship and Teasing
Down on the street, Aanya and Huan Jing were walking together. Aanya was still a bit flustered; her messy hair and red face told the whole story.
Huan Jing (Hitting Aanya's shoulder hard): "Hey! What are you thinking? Still lost in 'Wolf Boss's' shirtless look?"
Aanya glared at her, "Shut up Huan! My day has been very strange."
Huan Jing started her scooty and teased Aanya with a wink, "Bye-bye Mrs. Jeon! See you tomorrow... maybe tomorrow the planning for 'three kids' will happen!"
Huan Jing left laughing. Aanya waved her hand in anger and started her scooty, heading toward her home. She had no idea that Zain was watching her go from above, a storm of strange longing and suspicion in his eyes.
Aanya's Home: Questions from Mom and Uncle
As soon as Aanya reached home, she parked her scooty and entered. In the hall, her Mother and Lu Kang (Uncle) were already sitting, waiting for her.
Mother (Smiling): "My daughter is home! Tell me, how was your first day at Z.Y Empire? Did the Boss trouble you much?"
As soon as Aanya heard the name 'Boss,' the scene of Zain without a shirt and him coming so close flashed in her mind. Her cheeks turned tomato red (blushing).
Lu Kang (Watching Aanya's face closely): "Aanya? Why are your cheeks turning so red? Was it too hot in the office or... is it something else?"
Aanya (Stammering): "N-No Uncle! It... it was just the workload. And... and the office is so big, you know, so I got tired."
Lu Kang's gaze became somewhat serious. He saw that ID Card hanging around Aanya's neck on which Zain had written the message. Lu Kang was beginning to have some suspicion.
Lu Kang: "Aanya, show me your ID card."
Aanya's heart sank. If Uncle read that 'Oppa' and 'Family planning' message, she would be in for it today!
Aanya quickly hid her ID card in her bag and gave a fake laugh. "No Uncle! It... it's a bit dirty, I'll clean it and show it tomorrow. I'm tired now, I'm going to take a shower!"
She ran toward her room without stopping.
Aanya's Room: Confessions and Korean Dreams
Aanya took a cold shower so her mind could calm down a bit. She came out in her loose pajamas, her wet hair scattered over her shoulders. She dried her hair with a towel and began staring at the posters of Jungkook and Byeon Woo-seok on her room walls.
Seeing every poster reminded her of Zain's face—his shirtless look, his sandalwood scent, and him teasing her as 'Mrs. Jeon.'
Aanya (To herself, in anger): "No Aanya! Don't be crazy! You cannot like that 'Wolf Boss.' He is a stone-hearted predator! Your dream is to go to Korea, to settle there. You don't have to settle here with this dangerous man!"
Aanya picked up a pillow and started punching it hard, acting funny like a child. "He's just troubling me! He's playing with my emotions! I won't fall into his trap!"
But still, she was smiling. She stood in front of the mirror repeating the scene that happened in the cabin, blushing to herself and holding her head.
Mother (Screaming from outside): "Aanya! Dinner is served, come quickly!"
Dinner Table: An Unknown Danger
Aanya came downstairs, shaking out her hair. Everyone was having dinner, but Lu Kang was somewhat silent. He was looking at Aanya repeatedly.
There was a strange silence at the dinner table. Lu Wei (Aanya's brother) was eating his food silently, but his mind was racing like a horse. He kept looking at Aanya, and the same question was spinning in his mind:
Lu Wei (To himself): "Zain Yan... why is that wolf giving my sister so much attention? Why did he bring her with him last night? Does he have some old revenge he wants to take through Aanya? No... I won't let him succeed. I will be Aanya's shield."
Outside the House: The Predator's Gaze
Meanwhile, on the dark road, a black gleaming car came to a stop. The address Qian had given Zain was exactly this place.
Zain was sitting in the back seat of the car with a tablet in his hand, but his eyes were fixed on the window of the house in front. He saw Lu Kang, Lu Wei, and Aanya sitting together having dinner. The three of them were laughing and talking—like a happy family.
Zain's eyes suddenly filled with hatred and pain. His body began to tremble with rage.
Zain (Softly, in anger): "So... this is the truth? Aanya... you are the niece of the same Lu Kang who snatched everything from me?"
Zain received the biggest shock seeing that Aanya, who had been the most precious thing to him for 5 years, had now become his enemy's greatest weakness (and strength).
He clenched his fist so hard that his nails dug into his palm. He was so angry he felt like going inside right now and ending everything. But his gaze got fixed on Aanya's innocent smile as she looked at her brother (Lu Wei).
Zain (To himself): "Lu Kang... you made my life hell, and now your most beloved niece is in my grasp. I always thought of her as my 'angel,' but she turned out to be the blood of my enemy."
Zain abruptly rolled up the car window and gestured to Qian to leave. There was now a devilish and mysterious calm on his face.
Dinner Table: Sudden Silence
Suddenly Aanya felt a strange chill. She looked toward the window, but there was only darkness.
Aanya: "Mom... why do I feel like someone is watching me?"
Lu Kang immediately looked outside, but there was no one. Their old enemy had now reached very close to them.
Zain's car speed was talking to the wind. He gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white. A storm of anger and jealousy was rising in his chest.
Zain's Regret and Devilish Intent
Zain gritted his teeth and roared, "Lu Kang... you snatched my smile, now I will snatch your most precious thing! I will capture Aanya for myself. I know very well how to clip a bird's wings to stop it from flying."
Sitting in the back, Qian was stunned hearing all this. Just a few hours ago Zain was smiling like a child because of Aanya, and now the same Zain had become bloodthirsty for her like a hungry wolf. Qian feared that this hatred might turn everything to ash.
Aanya and Huan Jing's Conversation
Meanwhile, Aanya was standing in front of the mirror in her room when Huan Jing's call came.
Huan Jing (Laughing): "Hey! How are things, 'Mrs. Jeon'? Or should I call you 'Mrs. Yan' (Zain Yan) now?"
Aanya screamed into the phone in anger, "Huan! Shut up! Don't talk like that or I'll break your mouth!"
But as soon as she hung up, a faint Cat Smile appeared on her lips. A cute dimple sparkled on her left cheek. She was still somewhat lost in the thoughts of the shirtless scene and Zain's scent. She had no idea that outside, a plan for her death (or marriage?) had been formed.
Penthouse: The Beginning of Revenge
Zain entered his luxurious Penthouse. He threw those wet documents on the table on which Aanya had spilled coffee. Those documents were still sticky and had ugly coffee stains on them.
Zain lit a cigar and gave a cold smile looking at the soaked paper.
Zain: "Qian... send a message to Miss Lu tomorrow morning. Tell her that this project she ruined, she will have to prepare all 500 pages again. And this work must be completed by tomorrow night!"
Qian: "Sir, 500 pages in one day? That's impossible."
Zain (With hatred in his eyes): "I know. I want her to get tired, I want her to cry, I want her to beg me for mercy... so that I can keep her with me. She won't be going home from the office tomorrow night!"