Su Rui had never imagined she would one day hide from a man—
especially not him.
She had faced all kinds of stares under blinding lights: admiring, jealous, lecherous, hateful. She could handle every look, every question, every hidden agenda.
But now?
She was crouching outside the break room with a mop, trying to use it as a shield—like a kid in school hoping the teacher wouldn't call her name.
She didn't want Shen Yichen to see her.
Not because she was afraid he'd recognize her.
But because she was afraid he wouldn't.
That morning, the company held a fire drill. Alarms blared, people swarmed the hallways like startled ants.
Su Rui had been sent to the basement storage room to fetch extra first-aid kits. On her way back, she turned a corner outside the conference rooms—and the door opened.
Shen Yichen walked out with two executives. They were mid-conversation, but when he saw her, he paused.
She dipped her head instantly, hoping to disappear.
"Wait—"
Her heart stopped.
She turned around slowly. He stood a few steps away, a folder in his hand, brows slightly furrowed.
It wasn't suspicion.
It was something else. Like déjà vu.
"Have you… worked in another department before?" he asked casually, eyes still fixed on her.
Her throat tightened. She forced calm into her voice.
"I'm with janitorial services. We rotate floors."
He said nothing, still watching her.
She turned, ready to walk away.
"Wait. What's your name?"
She froze.
Lying was pointless. Every employee had records. He'd only need a moment to confirm whether she was who she claimed.
She inhaled through her nose. Then turned back, voice low and steady.
"Lin Yueying."
He repeated it slowly. "Lin… Yueying?"
Like he was trying to memorize it. Or match it to something in his head.
Her pulse quickened.
"I need to get back to work," she said stiffly. "Supervisor's waiting."
She didn't wait for his reply. She walked off without looking back.
Behind her, Shen Yichen remained standing in place, eyes fixed on her receding figure.
That night, she sat in the supply room and lit a cigarette.
It wasn't hers—she'd found it buried beneath gloves in Lin Yueying's old toolbox.
Su Rui had never smoked in her life. But today, she needed something to shut her mind up.
She couldn't even get it to light. Her hands trembled.
Eventually she gave up and just sat there, back against the wall, staring at the cracked ceiling.
"He didn't recognize me," she murmured.
"Good."
"…Liar."
She hugged her knees and rested her chin on her arms.
"If he did recognize me looking like this… that would've been the real horror."
And yet—
some part of her had hoped he would.