The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing Lin Xinyi—radiant in a soft ivory blouse, her once sharp frame now carrying a faint roundness. It wasn't obvious yet, not unless you looked closely. But He Zhiyuan had been looking closely for months.
Every morning, his eyes found her first before the spreadsheets, before the board meetings, before the world.
"Morning, Director Lin," greeted Assistant Zhou cheerfully as he passed by, clipboard in hand. "You're glowing today."
"Must be the lighting," Xinyi replied smoothly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Zhou blinked. "It's fluorescent."
She smiled, tight and polite. "Exactly."
From behind his glass wall, Zhiyuan watched the exchange with quiet amusement. Fluorescent light, he thought, lips twitching. Sure, if only Zhou knew.
The office buzzed with usual activity—printers whirring, heels clicking, distant phones ringing—but today there was a different kind of whisper floating around.
"Did you notice Director Lin's been wearing loose blouses lately?" one assistant whispered near the copier.
"I thought it was just fashion."
"Fashion? She turned down coffee three times this week! Director Lin never refuses caffeine!"
"And Vice President He's been… different too. Always hovering near her office, always bringing her water or snacks. You think—?"
"Shh! Don't say that!"
The voices trailed off when Zhiyuan passed by, his tall frame and calm expression instantly silencing the gossip like a shadow sweeping through light. He didn't glance their way, but his steps slowed ever so slightly—just enough to make them pale.
By the time he reached Xinyi's office, the corners of his lips were curved faintly.
He knocked twice and stepped in. "Director Lin, you have a visitor."
Her head snapped up, startled. "Visitor?"
He arched a brow. "Me."
She exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "You're the vice president. You can walk in whenever you want."
"Good," he murmured, walking closer. "Then I won't knock next time."
"Zhiyuan," she whispered in warning, eyes darting toward the glass wall.
He only smirked and set down a cup of warm milk on her desk. "You didn't drink anything this morning. Doctor said you need calcium."
She stared at the cup. "You're going to blow our cover."
"I'm feeding my marketing director," he countered softly. "Very responsibly."
By afternoon, the whispers had doubled.
"Did you see that? Vice President He brought her milk!"
"Maybe she's sick?"
"Sick? He smiled at her! He never smiles!"
"Oh no… you think they're—"
"Shh, shh! He's coming!"
Zhiyuan walked past them, utterly unbothered, files in hand, though a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
Inside her office, Xinyi was resting a hand unconsciously over her stomach. She caught his reflection through the glass before he entered. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"I'm simply observing workplace dynamics," he said smoothly, shutting the door behind him.
"Zhiyuan," she said softly, her voice gentler than her expression. "If this keeps up, someone's going to find out."
He crossed to her, resting his hand lightly atop hers, just for a moment—skin to skin, warmth to warmth. "Then let them. We're not doing anything wrong."
She hesitated, glancing toward the blinds. "You know what the policy says."
His smile dimmed slightly, replaced with something quieter—steady, protective. "And when the time comes, I'll handle it. You just focus on taking care of you."
That evening, as most of the employees left for home, Assistant Zhou lingered behind to finish some reports. He glanced toward the corridor—toward the faint glow of Director Lin's office light.
Inside, Zhiyuan was crouched beside her chair, helping her pack her things, murmuring something that made her laugh softly.
Zhou blinked, half-squinting through the frosted glass. Their silhouettes were close—too close.
He frowned, shook his head, and muttered, "No way. I must be seeing things."
But when he turned back for a second look… the light was off, and the office was empty.
Only the faint smell of milk tea lingered in the air.
Later that night, in the privacy of their penthouse, Xinyi curled into Zhiyuan's side as he reviewed a contract on his tablet.
"Do you ever worry we'll be caught?" she murmured.
He smiled faintly, not looking up. "Every day."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's reassuring."
He finally set the tablet aside and looked down at her. "But I also know something else."
"What?"
"That if the world finds out, I'll still hold your hand." He traced the back of her hand gently. "And you'll still be mine."
Her heart swelled, eyes misting with warmth and exhaustion.
"Promise?" she whispered.
He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Always."
That night, as the city lights blinked outside their window, the world still didn't know their secret.
But within that quiet apartment—their secret was everything.