The next morning—
Everything looked the same.
The office.
The desks.
The quiet routine.
But something had changed.
Jisoo stepped inside.
Her steps slowed slightly.
Not because she was tired.
But because now—
She noticed him first.
Shen Yan was already there.
Sitting at his desk.
Working.
Focused.
But not distant.
For a moment—
She just stood there.
Watching.
The way his expression changed while reading.
The way his fingers paused before writing.
Small things.
Things she had never noticed before.
Then—
As if he felt her gaze—
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
No surprise.
No awkwardness.
Just stillness.
A second longer than usual.
Then—
A small nod.
Jisoo nodded back.
Simple.
But different.
She walked to her desk.
Sat down.
Opened her files.
Tried to focus.
But her thoughts kept drifting.
To yesterday.
To the rain.
To him.
Across the room—
Shen Yan glanced at her again.
Not obvious.
But not hidden.
And this time—
She noticed.
She didn't look away immediately.
Just long enough—
To acknowledge it.
Then she returned to her work.
But her heartbeat had already changed.
Later—
A document was placed on her desk.
Jisoo looked up.
Shen Yan stood there.
"You missed this," he said.
His voice calm.
Natural.
"Thank you," she replied.
A pause.
Neither moved.
"Did you sleep?" he asked.
Jisoo hesitated.
"Not really."
He nodded.
"Me neither."
Silence.
But not empty.
Shared.
"We should work," she said softly.
He gave a faint smile.
"Yeah."
But for a second—
Neither of them moved.
Then he stepped back.
And walked away.
Jisoo looked down at the document.
But she wasn't reading.
Because something had shifted.
Quietly.
Slowly.
But clearly.
And for the first time—
She didn't try to ignore it.