The doors of the executive floor whispered shut behind her with a soft hiss, but Li Meilin's heartbeat sounded like a war drum in her chest.
The rich scent of mahogany and espresso lingered in the air as her heels tapped against the pristine marble floor. This place didn't look like any regular office — it looked like power itself had been polished to a shine. Every step deeper into Su Group's executive wing felt surreal.
Just a few weeks ago, she had walked out of Zhenhua Media Group with a cardboard box and her pride barely intact. And now… she was here.
"CEO Su will see you now," Zhao Junhao said after twenty minutes, gesturing toward the corner office.
He had promised the secretary would guide her to the CEO later, but he himself had come to do exactly that.
Meilin gave him a small nod, smoothing the front of her cream blouse. She had picked the outfit carefully — neat buttons, pressed fabric, a pencil skirt to match. Sharp enough to look competent, but soft enough not to scream try-hard. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if she looked out of place. Or if she looked corporate enough for such an intimidating organization.
She stepped into the office.
The room was spacious and minimalistic — a sharp contrast to the ornate excess she expected. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in the golden hue of afternoon light, casting long shadows on the sleek floor. In the middle of it all, behind an obsidian desk, sat Su Yichen.
He looked just like she'd seen in magazines while researching Su Group — only better. Wearing a dark navy suit that hugged his broad frame, his features were calm but undeniably intense. His eyes flicked up from the tablet in his hand, landing on her with the precision of a spotlight.
"Miss Li Meilin," he said, rising to his feet.
Her throat went dry. "CEO Su," she greeted, bowing her head slightly.
Zhao Junhao stood at her side, his professional smile fixed. "Sir, as requested, this is Miss Li Meilin. I interviewed her this morning as discussed. I believe she more than fits the bill."
Su Yichen nodded once. "You may wait outside, Zhao Junhao."
"Yes, sir." Zhao Junhao bowed politely and left, the click of the door shutting behind him making Meilin feel as though the room had grown both larger and smaller at once.
Su Yichen's gaze rested on her again and Li Meilin's breath caught — the man was… beautiful. Too beautiful.
Her heart fluttered with a ridiculous thought.
Did such beauty even exist in real life?
"Oh, he's not beautiful. He's handsome. A man can't be called beautiful!" She muttered slowly.
A deep, intimidating chuckle rolled across the room, and Meilin froze. Her head snapped up to find his lips curved, his eyes glinting with amusement. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She'd been caught staring at the man dreamily.
"Did you hear me?" Su Yichen asked, voice smooth but sharp enough to cut.
Meilin nodded so quickly it was a wonder her head didn't fall off. "Y-yes." Her voice was small, trembling between mortification and awe. Then she realized she hadn't heard him address her at all. She winced at her own foolishness and blinked. "I mean, no. Apologies. I didn't catch what you said."
Yes, Li Meilin was in awe. But she was also fully aware of where she stood — in the office of Su Yichen, the man who could change her life with a single decision.
Su Yichen was the kind of man who seemed carved out of dreams and discipline — the kind of beauty that didn't need light to be seen.
His features were precise, almost cruel in their perfection: sharp jawline, straight nose, lips that curved neither too soft nor too hard, and eyes the color of midnight silk — dark, reflective, and unfathomable.
His hair, black as ink, was swept back with deliberate carelessness, revealing a forehead that spoke of confidence and control. Everything about him radiated quiet power — from the immaculate tailoring of his charcoal suit to the commanding stillness with which he occupied space.
There was something ethereal about him, something that made reality feel thinner in his presence.
He wasn't merely handsome; he was magnetic — the kind of man people turned to look at twice, not out of attraction alone, but reverence. Even the air around him seemed to hum with restrained intensity, as though he carried storms in his veins and only his iron will, kept them at bay. One could easily forget to breathe when caught in his gaze — a gaze that could strip you down to your most guarded truth without saying a word.
Su Yichen gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit."
"Thank you."
Trying not to make it obvious that she wanted to gawk at him all day long, Li Meilin sat, straight-backed, palms flat against her skirt to hide the slight tremor in her hands.
He watched her for a moment — silent, unreadable. Then, in one smooth motion, he slid a slim portfolio across the desk to her.
"I've gone through your employee record," he began. "The official version, at least. HR files don't always tell the whole story."
Li Meilin blinked, her lips parting slightly. "You… personally reviewed my file?" she asked in surprise.
He raised an eyebrow, as though the thought of leaving such matters to someone else was foreign. "I make it a point to know who works under me, especially if they'll be representing my name in any capacity. I had Zhao Junhao retrieve your full employment history the moment your name came during the selection process."
Selection process?
What was he even talking about?