Chen Yuxi didn't sleep well that night.
Not because of Yue Xinyan.
Not because of the leaked scandal.
But because of one thing—
Lin Guo.
Morning came too quickly.
The office was quieter now, but the tension hadn't disappeared. It had simply… settled. Waiting.
Yuxi walked in, calm on the outside.
But inside—
She was already planning.
System, run in passive mode. No responses unless I request.
"Confirmed."
Good.
Today… she would test him.
Lin Guo was already in his office when she arrived.
Of course he was.
Always one step ahead.
"Good morning," she said lightly.
"Is it?" he replied, not looking up.
Still arrogant, she thought.
His lips curved slightly.
Almost unnoticeable.
But she saw it.
And her heart skipped.
Again…
She stepped closer, placing documents on his desk.
Then—
Casually. Quietly.
She thought:
System, display fake data set A. Don't link it to real records.
Silence.
No visible reaction.
But she wasn't watching the system.
She was watching him.
Lin Guo flipped a page… then paused.
Just for a second.
Then continued.
Too smooth.
Too controlled.
Yuxi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Got you.
"Something wrong?" he asked calmly.
"Nothing," she replied.
You hesitated.
His gaze lifted slowly.
Sharp. Direct.
Dangerous.
"And you're overthinking again," he said.
Her breath caught.
He's doing it again… answering things I didn't say.
She turned slightly, pretending to organize files.
Then tried again.
System, initiate silent protocol B. No output.
No sound.
No response.
Nothing.
But behind her—
A voice.
"You're testing something."
Her hand froze.
Just for a second.
Then she turned slowly.
"Am I?"
Their eyes locked.
This time, neither of them looked away.
The air shifted.
No more pretending.
No more coincidence.
Just tension.
Raw. Sharp. Dangerous.
Lin Guo stood, walking toward her slowly.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
Like he already knew the outcome.
"You've been… different," he said.
Yuxi tilted her head slightly. "Have I?"
Say something. Slip. Give me something.
His gaze darkened.
She's pushing. Testing. Clever girl.
He stopped just in front of her.
Too close.
Way too close.
Her heart started racing.
Why is he always this close…
His lips curved faintly.
"Curious minds," he said softly, "tend to get into trouble."
Her breath hitched.
That sounded like a warning.
She didn't step back.
Didn't break eye contact.
Instead—
She leaned slightly closer.
"Then maybe," she said quietly, "I should stop being curious."
But her mind betrayed her instantly—
No. I want to know exactly what you are.
Lin Guo's expression changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Enough for her to see it.
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
Then—
He smiled.
Slow. Dangerous.
"Too late."
Her heart dropped.
Not from fear.
But from realization.
He knows.
Not guessing.
Not observing.
Knowing.
Before she could react—
His hand lifted slightly, brushing past her shoulder as if adjusting something that wasn't there.
A simple gesture.
But it sent a shiver down her spine.
"Be careful, Yuxi," he murmured.
Low. Close.
Too close.
"There are things you're not ready to understand yet."
He walked past her.
Calm. Unbothered.
As if nothing had happened.
But Yuxi stood frozen.
Her mind racing.
Her heart pounding.
Her system… silent.
For the first time—
She wasn't sure who was in control anymore.