Playing By His Rules
Ruolan didn't sleep that night.
Not because she was crying or wallowing in self-pity.
No, she was furious.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Li Yichen's cold expression as he dismissed her like she was nothing. He didn't even bother defending her.
If he wanted a perfect assistant, she would give him one.
But on her terms.
Back to Work~
At exactly 5:30 AM, Ruolan arrived at Li Corporation's headquarters.
She was thirty minutes early—before Yichen, before even Xu Tian.
The security guards blinked in surprise as she marched inside with purpose.
By the time Yichen entered his office at 6 AM sharp, Ruolan was already seated at her desk, dressed in a sleek black blouse and fitted gray skirt. Her hair was styled into a neat bun, her posture straight.
She didn't even look up when he walked past her.
"Morning, President Li," she said coolly, typing away.
Yichen paused mid-step.
Something about her felt different.
Gone was the flustered girl from yesterday. Instead, she was calm, composed… untouchable.
He narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
"Coffee. No sugar," he ordered.
Ruolan nodded, standing gracefully. "Of course."
Then, she placed a steaming cup on his desk.
Yichen frowned. "You already made it?"
She smiled sweetly. "I anticipated your request."
For the first time, Li Yichen had nothing to say.
~~
The morning passed without a single mistake.
Ruolan handled Yichen's calls, organized his meetings, and responded to emails with efficiency. She anticipated his needs before he even voiced them.
By noon, Xu Tian approached Yichen in private.
"She's… adapting quickly," he commented.
Yichen leaned back in his chair, watching Ruolan through the glass wall. She was reviewing documents, her expression serious, unreadable.
He smirked.
"So she's fighting back."
Xu Tian adjusted his glasses. "You seem amused."
Yichen's eyes gleamed with undisguised interest.
"She's interesting."
~~
At 1 PM, Ruolan accompanied Yichen to another business meeting.
This time, the venue was an exclusive corporate lounge, where industry giants gathered.
As soon as they entered, Ruolan sensed something tense in the air.
Then she saw him.
A man sat at the far end of the lounge, dressed in a navy suit and gold cufflinks. He had an arrogant smirk, his dark hair slicked back.
The moment he saw Yichen, he stood up.
"Li Yichen," he drawled. "Still as punctual as ever."
Ruolan felt the energy shift.
Who is this man?
Yichen's expression was ice-cold.
"Lu Zeyan," he greeted flatly.
Ruolan blinked. Lu Zeyan?
She had heard of him. CEO of Lu Enterprises, one of Li Corporation's biggest competitors.
And from the way they were looking at each other… they were more than business rivals.
They were enemies.
Zeyan's gaze flickered to Ruolan.
"And this?" He smirked. "Your latest secretary?"
Ruolan forced a polite smile. "Assistant."
Zeyan chuckled. "They never last, do they?"
Yichen's jaw tightened slightly. "She's not your concern."
Ruolan stiffened.
That sounded like a warning.
But Zeyan just laughed. "Relax. I'm just making conversation."
He turned back to Ruolan, his tone mocking. "Good luck working for him. You'll need it."
Ruolan met his gaze without flinching.
"I don't believe in luck," she said smoothly. "Just hard work."
Zeyan's eyes gleamed with amusement.
Yichen, however, was watching her closely.
For some reason…
He was impressed.
The meeting ended, but Ruolan's day wasn't over yet.
As she exited the building, her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
I heard you're working for Li Yichen. Call me when you're free.
Ruolan's heart stopped.
She knew this number.
She hadn't seen it in years.
Her fingers trembled as she typed a response.
Who told you?
The reply was instant.
I have my ways. Let's meet.
Ruolan clenched her phone, her breath unsteady.
What was he doing back?
And why… after all these years?