Yufan sat in his leather chair, the afternoon sun casting muted shadows across his sleek, orderly office. The quiet hum of the AC filled the room as he flipped through the latest batch of reports, his pen gliding effortlessly across the pages as he signed document after document.
The atmosphere was peaceful, until it wasn't.
The door suddenly creaked open with no knock in sight, and in came the unmistakable voice of an overly familiar presence.
"Son-in-law!"
Yufan's pen paused mid-signature.
He looked up slowly, already knowing who it was even before the white lab coat was dramatically flung off and tossed onto the sofa. Guan Wenhao. Meilin's father strolled in with an exuberant grin and the energy of someone half his age.
"Uncle Wenhao," Yufan muttered, setting his pen down, expression neutral but inner calm disturbed. "What brings you here?"
Guan Wenhao plopped into the seat opposite him, leaning back like he owned the place. "Uncle? That's too distant. Shouldn't you be calling me dad by now?"
Yufan blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Well," Wenhao said, spreading his arms with exaggerated patience, "you're dating my daughter. You've met her grandparents. You've been at family dinners. My wife is already calling you 'our Yufan'. And Meilin, my precious girl has made it painfully clear she's smitten. So, shouldn't we start talking about formalities?"
Yufan let out a low breath, trying not to rub his temple. "Uncle Wenhao..."
"Dad," Wenhao corrected with a wide grin.
Yufan gave him a look. " Dad". "Meilin and I are still getting to know each other. We're… taking our time."
Wenhao leaned forward, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Taking your time? Son, you two act married already. Now, let's cut to the chase, when do you plan to propose?"
Yufan blinked, completely thrown off. "Propose?"
"Yes! Or do you want me to plan it for you? I have ideas! Skywriting, fireworks, maybe even a flash mob, though Meilin might hate that."
Yufan stared at the man in front of him, genuinely questioning the reality he had stepped into.
"Uncle Wenhao," he said slowly. "shouldn't I be the one deciding when and how I propose?"
"Of course! Of course!" Wenhao nodded, though the sparkle in his eyes said otherwise. "But just know, the family is ready. And I've already told your parents they should start preparing too."
Yufan sighed at the man's enthusiasm.
Guan Wenhao leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Anyway, no pressure. Just remember, good men don't hesitate too long or some other lad might come knocking."
With that parting shot, he stood up, snatched his coat with dramatic flair, and walked out like he hadn't just turned Yufan's perfectly calm afternoon into chaos.
Yufan stared at the door long after Guan Wenhao had left, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against the polished surface of his desk. He leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh, the corners of his lips twitching in faint amusement.
The peace in his office didn't last long.
A few moments later, the door swung open again this time without a knock. Meilin strolled in with the confident ease of someone who had long claimed her place in his world. Dressed in her usual chic yet simple ensemble, she carried the air of both a surgeon and a princess.
Yufan immediately dropped the pen in his hand and looked up, a genuine smile stretching across his face. She didn't waste a second before striding across the room and settling herself on his lap, as if it was the most natural thing to do.
"Why are you so busy these days?" she asked, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck.
He raised a brow, amused. "Is it really that unusual?"
She nodded. "Yes. I always knew Yifan was the workaholic in the family, but not you."
Yufan let out a soft chuckle, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Well, I guess that makes it a Zhao gene after all."
Meilin pouted. "I liked you better before you became obsessed with files."
"Would you prefer I was jobless then?" he teased, squeezing her waist gently.
"Maybe," she shrugged playfully. "But then again, I wouldn't be sitting in the office of the CEO of Yang Capital."
Yufan's grin deepened, but it quickly faded when she added, "I'll be heading back to the hospital after lunch. I've got a surgery scheduled at four. I might not be able to come to your place tonight."
His expression shifted immediately. "You're not staying over?"
"I'll head straight home after work," she said, casually. "It'll be late."
Just as he was about to throw a silent tantrum, a knock sounded at the door.
It opened before he could answer, and in stepped Lian, followed by Ren Zixuan. Both were holding documents in their hands. Lian approached the desk with her usual professionalism, a little fazed by Meilin's position on Yufan's lap but brushed it off
"Good afternoon, sir," she greeted calmly, placing the folder on the desk. "This is the report on Zhu Wave Marketing Company, a compiled document of all the relevant data and strategic notes, including projections for the upcoming quarter."
Then, she politely dipped her head in Meilin's direction. "Good afternoon, Miss Guan."
Meilin blinked, momentarily taken aback by the formality, before shaking her head quickly. "Lian, please don't bow to me like that ever again. Yifan will murder me if he finds out."
Yufan chuckled softly at that, his hand brushing Meilin's back as he glanced at Lian. "You're dismissed."
Lian gave a slight nod, ready to turn away, but paused just as she reached the door.
"Oh and sir," she added, turning to face him. "I've completed all my tasks for the day. I'll be heading home now."
Yufan raised a brow at that, eyes narrowing just slightly. "Alright."
She nodded, gave a polite smile to Ren Zixuan, and walked out, leaving the air behind her lightly scented with lavender.
Meilin turned in his lap. "She is sharp," she muttered.
Yufan gave a hum of agreement, but his attention was already shifting back to Ren Zixuan. "Let's go through the Zhu Wave projections."
Meanwhile
The taxi came to a slow halt in front of the towering glass building. Li Lian stepped out, gazing up at the sleek structure of Zhaoyi Holdings. The sunlight bounced off its reflective surface, making it shimmer like a blade in the sky. It was intimidating, polished, powerful, and a little too pristine for someone who has mostly seen messy bookstores and quiet corners.
She clutched the strap of her shoulder bag and took a deep breath, determined not to draw any attention. The last thing she wanted was drama. As she stepped away from the curb, she pulled out her phone and dialed Zhao Yifan's number.
He answered on the second ring.
"I'm outside your building," she said, quietly. "Just letting you know. I don't want to wander around and get lost."
His voice was as calm and clipped as ever. "I'm in a meeting. I'll send Shen Rui down to get you."
Before she could even reply, the call ended.