Chapter 28
The drizzle had turned into a downpour by the time Lu Xiao got home that evening. Her small apartment felt even smaller with the sound of rain beating against the windows, the air damp and heavy. She set her bag down, peeled off her coat, and collapsed onto the couch.
Dinner at Lei Han's family estate. The words circled her mind like a restless bird.
She tried to convince herself it was nothing — just business. She was his assistant, and assistants sometimes accompanied their bosses to formal events. But her instincts whispered otherwise. The glint in his eyes when he told her… the way he'd said you'll come with me as if it wasn't up for debate…
Lu Xiao sighed, rubbing her temples. Lei Han's world was one of polished manners, high-stakes negotiations, and old-money etiquette. She didn't belong there. She never had.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.
[Unknown Number]: Wear something elegant. I'll pick you up at 6. – LH
No greeting. No "please." Just a directive that carried the weight of inevitability. She stared at the message for a long time before tossing her phone aside. She wasn't going to overthink it. Not tonight.
But of course, she did.
---
By Saturday afternoon, her apartment was a battlefield of clothes. Dresses she hadn't worn in years, heels she'd almost forgotten she owned, a small jewelry box tucked away in the corner of her closet. She finally settled on a navy blue dress — simple, fitted, the kind that said she'd made an effort without trying too hard.
At exactly 6:00 p.m., a sleek black car pulled up outside her building. Lei Han stepped out himself, umbrella in hand, the faint scent of his cologne drifting toward her as he held the door open.
His gaze traveled over her, slow and deliberate. "You look… appropriate."
She arched a brow. "That's your version of a compliment?"
The corner of his mouth twitched. "You're fishing for praise now?"
She said nothing, sliding into the car. The ride to the estate was quiet, though not uncomfortable. Lei Han seemed lost in thought, his fingers tapping lightly against the leather seat.
---
The Lei family estate was nothing short of intimidating — a sprawling mansion surrounded by manicured gardens, the kind of place where every stone seemed older than she was. Warm lights spilled from the tall windows, but the grandeur only made her stomach knot tighter.
Inside, the air was rich with the scent of roasted duck, wine, and polished wood. A butler greeted them and led the way to the dining room.
Lei Han's mother was the first to rise from her seat. She was elegant, poised, her eyes sharp enough to cut glass.
"So this is your assistant," she said, looking Lu Xiao over with the precision of a jeweler inspecting a gemstone. "You didn't mention she was… charming."
Lu Xiao forced a polite smile. "It's an honor to meet you, Madam Lei."
Dinner began, and though the dishes were exquisite, Lu Xiao could barely taste a thing. The conversation was a delicate dance — Lei Han's mother asking about her work, her background, her "future plans," all under the guise of casual interest.
At one point, an older man — Lei Han's uncle, she gathered — leaned forward. "An assistant for five years? That's a long time to stay in one position."
Before Lu Xiao could respond, Lei Han's voice cut in, firm. "Some positions aren't about climbing ladders. They're about trust. And trust is harder to earn than titles."
The table fell silent for a moment. His mother's eyes lingered on him, a question in her gaze, but she didn't press.
As dessert was served, Lu Xiao realized something unsettling — this wasn't just a dinner. It was a test. Every question, every look, felt like they were trying to place her on some invisible scale to see if she measured up.
When they finally stepped back into the cool night air, she exhaled deeply, as though she'd been holding her breath the entire evening.
"You didn't tell me it was going to be an interrogation," she muttered as they walked toward the car.
He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "If I had, would you have come?"
"Probably not."
"Exactly."
They stopped by the car. For a moment, neither moved. Then he said quietly, "You handled them better than I expected."
She let out a humorless laugh. "Is that another one of your half-compliments?"
His eyes softened — just a fraction, just enough for her to notice. "No. That one's real."
And as they drove away from the estate, the rain began again, steady and unrelenting, like something that refused to let go.