Chapter Twenty-Six: A Step Closer

Lu Xiao sat at her desk the next morning, staring blankly at the screen in front of her. The warmth of last night lingered in her thoughts like a shadow she couldn't shake. Lei Han had been more vulnerable, more open than she had ever seen him, and it was both comforting and unsettling.

She had been so sure she could keep him at arm's length, maintain the boundaries she had drawn so meticulously. But his words, his actions—his sheer presence—were steadily dismantling the walls she had spent years building.

A soft knock on her office door broke her reverie.

"Come in," she called, trying to compose herself.

The door opened, and there he was. Lei Han stood in the doorway, his tailored suit immaculate, his presence commanding. But his smile was different today—softer, less guarded.

"Good morning," he said, stepping inside.

"Good morning, Mr. Lei," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

He raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Lei? After last night, I think we've moved past formalities, don't you?"

Her cheeks flushed. "What can I do for you?"

Lei Han chuckled and handed her a folder. "This is the preliminary report for the Chongqing expansion. I thought we could review it together before the afternoon meeting."

She took the folder, her fingers brushing his for a brief moment. The contact sent a jolt through her, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"Of course," she said, opening the folder and scanning its contents.

---

They spent the next hour poring over the details of the project, their conversation focused and professional. Yet, beneath the surface, an unspoken tension simmered. Every time their eyes met or their hands accidentally brushed while flipping through pages, Lu Xiao felt her resolve waver.

Finally, Lei Han leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.

"You're quiet today," he observed.

"I'm focused," she countered, not looking up.

"Focused or avoiding?"

Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. "Avoiding what?"

"Me."

His bluntness caught her off guard, and she struggled to find a response. Lei Han leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk, his gaze locking onto hers.

"Lu Xiao, I know last night meant something to you. I could see it in your eyes."

She bristled, her defenses kicking in. "You're assuming a lot."

"Am I?" he challenged, his tone calm but firm. "You can keep pretending this is just about work, but we both know that's not true. I'm not going to push you, but I won't let you run away from this either."

---

The air between them grew thick with tension, and for a moment, neither spoke. Finally, Lu Xiao sighed, closing the folder and setting it aside.

"Why me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lei Han frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you so determined to… to pursue this? To pursue me?"

His expression softened, and he reached across the desk, his hand resting lightly on hers. "Because you're worth it, Lu Xiao. You're strong, intelligent, and compassionate. You've faced challenges that would break most people, and yet here you are, standing tall."

She stared at him, her heart pounding. His words were sincere, his gaze unwavering. It terrified her how much she wanted to believe him.

"You've always had this wall around you," he continued. "But every now and then, you let me see what's behind it. And what I see is incredible."

Her throat tightened, and she looked away, unable to hold his gaze any longer. "I don't know if I can do this," she admitted.

"You don't have to decide anything right now," he said gently. "Just… don't shut me out."

---

The afternoon meeting came and went in a blur. Lei Han maintained a professional demeanor throughout, giving no indication of their earlier conversation. But every time he glanced in her direction, Lu Xiao felt the weight of his words pressing down on her.

After the meeting, she retreated to her office, hoping to find some clarity. But as the hours passed, her thoughts only grew more tangled.

When her phone buzzed, she nearly jumped. It was a message from Lei Han.

Lei Han: Dinner again tonight? No pressure, just a chance to talk.

She stared at the message for what felt like an eternity. Part of her wanted to say no, to put more distance between them. But another part—a part she had tried to suppress—wanted to say yes.

Finally, she typed a response.

Lu Xiao: Okay. One more dinner.

His reply came almost instantly.

Lei Han: One more? We'll see about that.

She rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

---

That evening, Lei Han picked her up from her apartment. As they drove through the city, Lu Xiao found herself relaxing in his presence. He didn't press her for answers or try to steer the conversation toward their earlier discussion. Instead, he asked about her day, her siblings, her favorite childhood memories.

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, the tension that had lingered between them all day had eased.

As they sat down to dinner, Lu Xiao found herself laughing at one of Lei Han's stories about his time in London. For the first time in years, she felt something she hadn't realized she had lost: ease.

---

After dinner, Lei Han walked her back to her apartment. They stood outside her door, the cool night air wrapping around them.

"Thank you," she said, her voice soft.

"For what?"

"For… being patient with me," she admitted.

Lei Han smiled, the kind of smile that reached his eyes and made her chest ache. "You're worth the wait, Lu Xiao."

She didn't know what possessed her, but before she could overthink it, she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Lei Han," she said quickly, turning and slipping inside before he could respond.

As she leaned against the closed door, her heart pounding, she couldn't help but smile.