Chen Yuxi sat at her desk, fingers hovering over her mind-linked system. Her heartbeat raced as she silently asked:
System, who's been leaking internal reports lately?
A soft voice echoed in her mind:
"Employee: Sun Jia. Motive: personal gain. Recommendation: monitor closely."
She exhaled, satisfied. This system was her edge, her little secret that kept her one step ahead in a company full of sharks.
She didn't notice Lin Guo standing just behind her chair, silent as a shadow.
"You're very thorough," he said, voice low and deliberate, making her jump.
"I—I work hard," she stammered, trying to maintain her composure, pretending she hadn't just been talking to her system mentally.
He leaned closer, close enough that she could feel the faint warmth radiating from him. "And yet…" he murmured, "…you think I don't notice your little tricks."
What tricks? she thought defensively, unaware that he could hear every mental command she sent to her system.
"You…" she mentally cursed him, this man is terrifying. How does he always appear when I least expect it?
He smirked faintly, the corner of his lips twitching. "That," he said softly, "…was amusing."
Her cheeks flamed, a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
He's… impossible, she thought, shaking her head. Then, almost against her will, admiration crept in. And smart. Very smart.
Lin Guo's eyes flickered with subtle satisfaction. He didn't need to respond—her thoughts said it all. Conflict. Fear. Admiration. Curiosity. Perfect.
For the rest of the morning, he began testing her limits subtly:
During meetings, he asked questions about internal gossip that only her system could have told her.
He gave her tasks that required her to think quickly, observing how she processed information.
When she mentally insulted him out of frustration, he smirked. When she praised a clever move, his eyes softened slightly.
By lunchtime, Chen Yuxi felt drained and exhilarated at the same time. She couldn't understand why one man could make her heart race while simultaneously terrifying her.
Lin Guo observed her carefully, letting her believe she was still in control. Yet with every mental command she sent to her system, he silently gathered more truths—not just about the office, but about her, her fears, her instincts, her heart.
She thinks she's the hunter, he thought. But she doesn't know I've been reading her every move. Every thought. Every secret.
And as she left the office that afternoon, slightly flustered, he let a tiny smirk play on his lips. The game had just begun, and he intended to win—slowly, subtly, irresistibly.