The next morning at Xuantech Group began like any other.
Coffee machines hissed. Emails flew. People grumbled about deadlines. And the Financial Department buzzed with the energy of people pretending to work while actually watching office gossip unfold.
But for three people in that room, things were anything but normal.
---
At desk 18C, Lu Haoran sat typing casually, eyes on his monitor, but his brain fully on Xia Yuwei, who was across the floor quietly cleaning the glass dividers.
Every time she crouched to wipe a smudge, he casually leaned back to get a better view.
Every time she stood up to stretch her back, he coincidentally checked the time on his watch.
Subtle?
To him, yes.
To others?
Not really.
---
Meanwhile, behind the frosted glass of his office, Chen Yuxuan was seated, pen in hand, paperwork ignored, eyes locked on one thing:
Lu Haoran.
Every move. Every glance. Every faint smile.
Yuxuan's eyes followed.
He watched the way Haoran looked at Yuwei. The way he adjusted his glasses. The way he politely shifted to the side when Yuwei passed — but not too far, just enough to stay within reach.
It was like watching a slow, painfully obvious romance drama unfold.
And Yuxuan was watching like an irritated producer.
---
Enter Zhao Lei, Yuxuan's assistant, walking in with coffee.
He placed the mug down, looked at Yuxuan staring out the window, and followed his gaze.
Direct line of sight: Lu Haoran.
He squinted.
Then stared at his boss.
Then at Haoran.
Then back at his boss.
Then it clicked.
Zhao gasped.
"Oh my god."
Yuxuan raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Sir… is this why you've been… watching?"
"Watching what?"
"Watching him."
"What?! I'm not watching—"
Zhao's eyes widened in fake understanding. "It's okay. I mean, wow. I didn't expect it. But love is love."
"What are you TALKING about?"
Zhao leaned in, whispering.
"Sir... do you have a crush on Lu Haoran?"
Yuxuan choked on his own breath.
"What?! No!"
Zhao crossed his arms, unconvinced. "You keep looking at him. You've been monitoring his desk on the CCTV. You even zoomed in on his face last night—"
"That was surveillance!"
"For his face? Sir... just admit it. This is a safe space."
Yuxuan groaned.
"I'm watching him because he keeps talking to Yuwei."
Zhao blinked. "...The cleaner?"
"Yes."
Zhao thought for a moment.
"Ohhhh. Wait. So you're jealous?"
Yuxuan looked away, muttering, "I'm not jealous."
Zhao grinned. "Sir, that's literally the definition of jealous. Sir, blink twice if you're in denial."
Yuxuan grabbed a file and smacked it lightly on Zhao's arm. "Go file this before I fire you."
Zhao smirked and walked out, muttering,
"First sign of denial: Violence."
---
Back outside, Yuwei was standing near the water dispenser, unscrewing the soap refill bottle.
Her mind was empty. She was just doing her job.
Then Haoran walked up with his coffee.
"Good morning, Yuwei."
She looked up, slightly surprised. "Morning."
"Need help with that?"
She smiled politely. "No, I've got it."
Haoran stayed nearby, sipping his coffee, pretending not to stare at the way her hair was messily tied.
Then suddenly—
"Hey! Lu Haoran!"
It was Zhao Lei, walking past.
Haoran turned. "Yes?"
Zhao smirked.
"Just wanted to say... great taste."
Haoran frowned. "Huh?"
"Never mind," Zhao said with a grin, walking away.
Haoran watched him go, confused.
Yuwei blinked.
"Do you know him?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Haoran muttered.
From his office, Yuxuan watched all of it unfold, gripping his pen like he was about to snap it.
Why was she smiling at him like that? Why is he standing so close? Why is he sipping his coffee like a model in an ad?
---
In Zhao's mind though, the story was completely different.
My boss is into Haoran, but Haoran's into the cleaner... wow, what a love triangle.
Poor sir. He's gonna have to compete.
---
By lunch break, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a plastic spoon.
Yuwei just wanted to refill the soap bottles.
Haoran wanted to make sure she ate.
Yuxuan wanted to punch Haoran in the face but settled for signing documents aggressively.
And Zhao?
He sat in the break room, sipping his bubble tea, whispering to himself:
"This is better than any drama on iQIYI."
---
To be continued...