Not close

Emma sat in a luxurious waiting lounge, her posture stiff with a ramrod straight back. Her face was an expressionless mask, but due to her delicate features which gave her a natural innocent look, she still looked adorable and alluring to onlookers. Due to her stillness, she resembled a porcelain doll, except her eyes which darted around following the employees rushing by intent on their daily duties.

Rumours had spread around the company of a strange woman claiming to be the CEO's sister suddenly showing up. Naturally the employees were very curious, since no one had ever heard of their fearsome CEO having a sister. However, their professionalism and the company's strict rules kept them from gawking or gossiping.

Ying sat besides her, having eyes only for her, completely oblivious to the curious glances cast by people as they passed. He had no difficulties discerning the emotions hidden under her cool and collected facade. To him, her discomfort and nerves were obvious. But he was more interested in the reason behind it.

His smooth brow creased with worry, as he watched her. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her in a warm comforting hug, but was prevented by 'rule no. 1'.

"Why are you so nervous about seeing your sister?" he asked, snapping Emma out of her reverie. She frowned at him. How did he know she was visiting her sister?

After the receptionist had finally passed on Emma's request and gotten instructions to being her up to the top floor, Ying had materialised as if out of thin air next to her with a determined look that told her in no uncertain terms that he was coming along. However, she was sure that he had been seated too far away from her to be able to overhear her conversation with the receptionist.

"How did you know that I'm going to see my sister?" she asked. The staff who escorted them upstairs had only referred to her sister as 'CEO Huang' or 'the CEO'.

Ying looked at her like she was stupid. "You told the shiny man that you are here to see you sister. Was it a lie?"

"No. I just mean... How could you possibly have heard?" She was momentarily distracted from her nervousness by this puzzle.

He raised an eyebrow at her, looking smug. "I can hear the fly buzzing against the windowsill two floors below us, the sniffles of a man with a cold on the floor below that, and the blood rushing through your veins. Why would I not be able to hear a conversation from across the a noisy room?" He grinned at her stunned expression. "But you did not answer my question. Why does meeting your sister make you nervous?"

Emma looked away. "We're... not close." she said. Then added in an almost inaudible whisper. "And I think she hates me."

Ying frowned at her last words, which he of course had no problem hearing. Before he could ask anything else, however, a short man in a crisp suit approached them.

"Miss Huang," he said, bowing politely. "I'm CEO Huang's personal assistant, Xu Delun. She is ready to see you now. Please come this way."

He gestured down the corridor to an impressive looking wooden door. Emma stood up, her calm expression and stiff posture returning in an instant. Xu Delun cast a questioning glance at the still seated Ying.

"He will wait here," Emma supplied, giving Ying a stern look.

His lips tightened in displeasure, but he made no comment. Nonetheless, his eyes stayed glued to her back, as she moved down the corridor, and didn't leave her until she disappeared into the CEO's office.