Crossing Boundaries
Xia Yi sat at her desk the morning after their late-night meal, reliving the talk she had had with He Shihan the night before.
She didn't want to acknowledge how long his words stayed with her. Curiosity is insufficient. However, it's a beginning.
Her phone buzzed while she was trying to think. An announcement from He Shihan:
He Shihan: "In ten minutes, we have a meeting. Yiyi, don't be late.
The insolence of his casual tone made her frown. Yiyi? He had never used her nickname so casually before.
Time compelled her to hurry before she could choose between amusement and annoyance.
___
He Shihan was already sitting in the meeting room, looking through some papers.
As she stepped inside, his gaze briefly locked with hers.
He responded, "You're cutting it close," with a playful tone.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Sitting opposite him, Xia Yi shot back.
Although the meeting went well, tension was present in every look they shared.
He Shihan once leaned over to display a graph on her side of the table.
He muttered, "You missed this adjustment," as he purposefully brushed her shoulder.
Xia Yi tensed, but her voice remained steady.
"Not everything requires your micromanagement, Mr. He."
His smile was slow, self-assured, and unbelievably beautiful.
It's what you call micromanagement. I refer to it as teamwork.
She gave him a glance.
"Be cautious. You'll discover where my patience stops if you keep going."
He Shihan said, "Maybe I like pushing boundaries," with ease.
___
Xia Yi made the decision to clarify later that day.
After their meeting, she cornered He Shihan in the corridor.
Her voice was forceful yet quiet as she said, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
He seems amused. "What do you mean?"
The words "You know exactly what I mean," Xia Yi growled.
"Every single one of these little moments. The moniker, the late-night meal, the extraneous details. "He Shihan, what game are you playing?"
His gaze never left hers as he relaxed against the wall.
"Yiyi, no game. I'm still learning about you.
"And if I don't want you to?"
His eyes grew softer, but his response was unhesitating.
"Then tell me to stop."
Xia Yi opened her lips to speak, but nothing came out. She was momentarily ensnared—trapped in the grip of his eyes. He was waiting for her to make a decision, not only toying with her.
He Shihan said, "I thought so," grinning knowingly.
"I'll see you at dinner tonight."
She stood in the hallway, her heart pounding, until he left before she could reply.