Unravelling Threads

The morning air was crisp as Xia Ruolan stepped into the towering Li Group headquarters, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors. Despite the countless employees buzzing around her, she felt the weight of something unseen pressing down on her shoulders.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from a restless night or the fact that both Jiang Wei and Yichen were demanding her attention.

Either way, she had a feeling today wouldn't be easy.

Yichen's message had been brief but clear: "Come to my office first thing in the morning."

And now, here she was.

The tension in the air was immediate the moment she stepped into Yichen's office.

He stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, dressed in a tailored dark suit, his sharp profile illuminated by the early morning sun. But it wasn't his usual cold elegance that unsettled her. It was the way he stood unnaturally still—as if restraining something.

"Close the door," he ordered without turning around.

Ruolan hesitated for a fraction of a second before obeying.

She crossed her arms, leaning slightly against the door. "Alright, I'm here. What's so urgent?"

Finally, he turned to face her.

His dark gaze was unreadable, but there was something different today. Less composed. More dangerous.

"Jiang Wei contacted you last night."

Ruolan's breath caught.

She had barely processed the fact that Jiang Wei had messaged her—how did Yichen already know?

She forced herself to remain calm. "And if he did?"

Yichen's jaw tightened, his fingers curling slightly into a fist before he exhaled, shoving them into his pockets. "What did he say?"

Ruolan tilted her head, watching him carefully. "You seem awfully interested in Jiang Wei all of a sudden."

Silence.

That was her first answer.

The second came when Yichen stepped closer, his movements slow, deliberate. "Because I know what kind of man he is." His voice was low, controlled—but edged with something deeper.

Ruolan swallowed, refusing to be intimidated. "Funny. He said the same thing about you."

That got a reaction.

Yichen's gaze darkened instantly.

Something in the air shifted, thick with tension.

Ruolan held her ground, but her heart pounded as Yichen closed the distance, stopping just a breath away.

"What exactly did he tell you?" His voice had dropped even lower, dangerously soft.

Ruolan couldn't look away.

She should have been focused on his words, but instead, her mind betrayed her—noticing the way the morning light highlighted his sharp cheekbones, the faintest hint of stubble along his jaw.

Damn it.

She forced herself to snap out of it.

Crossing her arms, she answered, "That I should be careful around you."

Something flickered in Yichen's eyes. Amusement? Annoyance?

"And?"

Ruolan exhaled. "And that he knows things about you. Things I wouldn't want to find out the hard way."

Silence again.

Only this time, there was a storm brewing beneath Yichen's icy exterior.

For a moment, she thought he would snap. But instead, he let out a short, humorless laugh.

"He really hasn't changed."

Ruolan frowned. "What does that mean?"

Yichen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a step back, as if regaining control over himself.

Then, with perfect calmness, he said:

"You're not to see him again."

Ruolan blinked. What?

"Excuse me?"

Yichen's gaze locked onto hers, unreadable but unquestionably serious. "I don't want you anywhere near him."

Ruolan scoffed. "You don't get to decide that."

Yichen's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "You work for me, Ruolan. I decide more than you think."

She bristled. "I don't belong to you, Li Yichen."

For a second, something dark and unreadable flickered in his expression.

Then, he murmured, "Not yet."

Ruolan's breath hitched.

Before she could demand what the hell that meant, Yichen turned away.

"This conversation is over," he said smoothly. "I have a meeting in ten minutes."

Ruolan stared at him, still stunned, before huffing in frustration.

This man was infuriating.

But as she turned to leave, something in her gut told her—this wasn't over.

Not even close.

~

Later that afternoon, Ruolan was still fuming when she met Feng Xinya for coffee.

The elegant heiress was perched gracefully in her seat, stirring her latte as she listened to Ruolan rant.

"So let me get this straight," Xinya mused. "Li Yichen—cold, untouchable CEO—told you not to see Jiang Wei?"

Ruolan exhaled sharply. "Yes."

Xinya smirked. "And instead of feeling annoyed, a small part of you found it hot?"

Ruolan choked on her drink. "What?! Absolutely not."

Xinya's smirk widened. "Mhm. Sure."

Ruolan groaned. "Not the point, Xinya."

Xinya laughed before pulling out her phone. "Well, if you're looking for a distraction, you might like this."

She slid the phone toward Ruolan.

Ruolan glanced at the screen—and froze.

It was an invitation. A highly exclusive charity gala.

Hosted by none other than… Jiang Wei.

Ruolan's stomach twisted.

"Oh, sweetheart," Xinya murmured, watching her reaction. "Looks like your ex isn't done with you yet."