The First Collision

The wooden cabin stood alone on the mountain, wrapped in the hush of early morning. A faint chill lingered in the air, curling around Xiang Yei's skin as she stepped toward the window, barefoot on the cold wooden floor.

Outside, the world was painted in gold—soft streaks of sunlight spilling over the horizon, kissing the mist that clung to the valley below. The wind whistled through the trees, tangling in her long black hair, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

She was still waiting.

For him.

Her fingers rested against the window frame, cold and unmoving, as memories rushed in like a tide she couldn't stop.

And so, she let herself remember—

---

Shanghai had been merciless that morning. The streets pulsed with restless energy, car horns echoing through the narrow roads, the air thick with the scent of rain that had fallen hours ago.

Xiang Yei rushed through the glass doors of the towering office building, balancing a coffee cup in one hand and her phone in the other. She was late. Again.

She turned a corner too fast—

Crash.

A sharp inhale. The sharp scent of coffee. A quiet but heavy sigh.

She blinked up, horror settling deep in her chest.

The man before her was tall, his crisp white shirt now ruined with deep brown stains. His light brown eyes, unreadable and cold, flicked down at the mess before meeting her gaze. His expression didn't change—no anger, no frustration. Just silence, like the calm before a storm.

Her heart pounded.

"You should watch where you're going," he said, voice quiet but firm.

She scrambled to pull tissues from her bag, hands moving frantically. "I—I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking—I mean, I was, but not at you—ugh, here, let me—"

He stepped back, his movements calculated. "Enough."

One word, and she froze.

Her first impression was clear: Zhang Yan was not the forgiving type.

She swallowed, gripping the tissues, unsure what to do. He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his slightly messy brown hair. The coffee stain spread across his shirt like a wound.

Before she could stammer out another apology, a voice interrupted them.

"Ah, Xiang Yei! You're the new recruit, right? You'll be working under Zhang Yan from today."

The world tilted.

Under him?

Her stomach dropped as she glanced back at him. He was already looking at her, his expression unreadable. Then, ever so slightly, his lips curved—not into a smile, but something colder.

"Let's see if you last a week."

And with that, he walked away, leaving her standing in the hallway, heart racing, coffee scent still lingering in the air.

---

The office was nothing like she had imagined. Everything was sleek, modern, and slightly intimidating. Employees moved with purpose, typing furiously, flipping through files, barely stopping to acknowledge the new girl.

Xiang Yei stood awkwardly in the middle of the break room, clutching a paper cup of coffee she didn't really want.

"First day?" A voice piped up beside her.

She turned to see a woman, maybe in her late twenties, with a sharp bob and an easy smile.

"Uh—yeah," Xiang Yei nodded. "You can tell?"

The woman laughed, tapping her own coffee cup. "You have that 'I don't know where anything is, but I'm pretending I do' face."

Xiang Yei chuckled, relaxing slightly.

"I'm Liu Wen," the woman said. "Marketing. You?"

"Xiang Yei. I'm in…" she trailed off, sighing. "Zhang Yan's team."

Liu Wen's eyebrows shot up. "Oh."

"Oh?"

"Nothing, nothing," Liu Wen said quickly, though the amused glint in her eyes said otherwise. "He's just… intense."

"Yeah, I got that," Xiang Yei muttered.

A second voice joined them. "Oh, you're the new girl? The one who spilled coffee on him?"

Xiang Yei whirled around to see a guy, maybe her age, grinning at her. He was tall, messy-haired, and had an energy that instantly felt friendly.

"News spreads fast here," she muttered.

"I'm Lin Hao," he said, offering a hand. "Finance. And don't worry—everyone in this building has wanted to throw coffee on Zhang Yan at some point."

Liu Wen smacked his arm. "Stop it, she's new!"

"What? I'm just saying." Lin Hao turned back to Xiang Yei. "Surviving in his department means two things: One, don't take anything personally. Two, make friends. You already got us, so you're off to a good start."

Xiang Yei felt warmth spread through her chest.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

The morning passed in a blur of emails, meetings, and endless instructions. Zhang Yan barely acknowledged her, his words clipped and precise whenever he spoke to her. But Xiang Yei kept up, determined to prove she belonged here.

By the time lunch rolled around, she was feeling good—like she had survived the hardest part of the day.

"You coming?" Lin Hao leaned over her desk, spinning his ID card around his finger. "We always eat in the cafeteria. It's decent… well, as long as you avoid the mystery meat."

Xiang Yei laughed, standing up. "Lead the way."

Liu Wen joined them, and together they navigated the crowded halls. The cafeteria was massive, filled with employees chatting over their trays. The smell of freshly steamed dumplings and stir-fried vegetables filled the air.

Xiang Yei grabbed her food and followed the two to an empty table—

Only to be stopped by a sickly sweet voice.

"Oh my gosh, you're the new girl, right?"

Xiang Yei turned, her tray wobbling slightly.

The woman before her was stunning—tall, long sleek hair, perfectly done makeup. But there was something about her smile that felt… sharp.

"I'm Jia Ling," she introduced herself, tossing her hair. "I work under Zhang Yan too. I'm kind of his go-to person, so if you ever need help, you should ask me first."

Xiang Yei gave a polite nod. "Oh, nice to meet you—"

"I mean, he's so strict, right?" Jia Ling cut in, laughing. "I don't know if you can handle it. You look more like the cutesy type."

Xiang Yei blinked. Was that… an insult?

Lin Hao cleared his throat. "She's doing fine."

Jia Ling barely glanced at him. Instead, she leaned in toward Xiang Yei, lowering her voice. "Just a tip—Zhang Yan hates it when people are too nice. He prefers strong, independent women." She twirled a strand of her hair, smiling. "Not the type who… try too hard to be liked."

Xiang Yei stared at her, the words settling like a weight in her stomach.

Was she implying—?

Liu Wen raised an eyebrow. "Wow, that's such helpful advice, Jia Ling."

Jia Ling shot her a glare before flipping her hair dramatically. "Anyway, just don't embarrass yourself." With that, she walked away, her heels clicking against the tile.

Xiang Yei exhaled, gripping her tray tighter.

Lin Hao rolled his eyes. "That's Jia Ling for you. Thinks she's the queen of this place."

Liu Wen sighed. "She's had a thing for Zhang Yan for years. Hates anyone new in his department. Don't let her get to you."

Xiang Yei forced a smile, but something gnawed at her.

She had just started. And she had already made an enemy.

Was she really ready for this?

Xiang Yei exhaled as she finally sat down with Liu Wen and Lin Hao, the tension from her encounter with Jia Ling still lingering in the air.

"Don't let her get to you," Liu Wen said again, picking up a dumpling with her chopsticks. "She does this to every new girl. Especially the ones in Zhang Yan's department."

Lin Hao snorted. "Honestly, I think she believes she owns him."

Xiang Yei forced a laugh, but deep down, she already knew Jia Ling wouldn't be easy to ignore.

Still, she shook it off and focused on her food. The dumplings were warm, stuffed with pork and chives. The tofu soup was light but comforting, the rice perfectly steamed, and the cucumber salad had just the right crunch. She took slow bites, letting herself enjoy the meal.

"This is good," she murmured.

Lin Hao grinned. "Told you, as long as you avoid the mystery meat, it's not bad."

They ate and chatted, talking about random office gossip, weekend plans, and the strict deadlines Zhang Yan was famous for. By the time lunch was over, Xiang Yei felt lighter—like maybe she could handle this place after all.

---

7:00 PM – The Workday Ends

The office buzzed with the sound of employees packing up, chairs rolling back, keyboards clicking for one last email. Xiang Yei stretched, letting out a quiet sigh.

Her first day was over. And she had survived.

She grabbed her bag, shutting down her computer before waving to Lin Hao and Liu Wen.

"See you tomorrow," she said, smiling.

Lin Hao leaned back in his chair. "Try not to spill coffee on anyone this time."

Liu Wen smacked his arm. "Ignore him. Get home safe."

Xiang Yei laughed, waving one last time before heading toward the elevator.

---

Taking the Bus Home

The evening air was crisp as she stepped out of the building. The city lights flickered against the darkening sky, headlights glowing as cars sped past.

She pulled her coat tighter and walked to the nearest bus stop, tapping her card when she stepped inside. The familiar hum of the bus, the soft chatter of passengers—it all felt comforting after such a long day.

As the bus rolled forward, she leaned against the window, watching the city blur past.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

She had done it. She had made it through day one.

And maybe, just maybe, she could make it through the rest.

---

Home – A Place of Warmth

By the time she stepped through the door, the scent of home-cooked food filled the air.

"Jiejie*!"* A small voice called out, and before she could react, arms wrapped around her waist.

Xiang Yei laughed, looking down to see her younger brother, Xiang Rui, grinning up at her.

"You're back late," he pouted.

She ruffled his hair. "Work, Rui. That's what adults do."

"Sounds boring," he muttered.

Her mother peeked out from the kitchen, smiling warmly. "You must be exhausted. Come eat."

Her father was already seated at the table, flipping through a newspaper. He glanced up, nodding. "First day went well?"

Xiang Yei paused, thinking of everything—Zhang Yan's cold stare, Jia Ling's sharp words, but also Liu Wen and Lin Hao's kindness.

She smiled. "It wasn't bad."

She took her seat, letting the warmth of her family surround her.

No matter how exhausting the outside world was, home would always be her safe place.

And for now, that was enough.

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