Inside the small, confined cabin of the elevator, there was only Zain and Anya. Anya moved as far away from him as possible, clutching her bag tightly. She was dressed in a long white oversized T-shirt and baggy pants, her shoulder-length hair disheveled, her face partially hidden behind those large spectacles. She looked like a frightened kitten.
Zain scrutinized her from head to toe. In his mind, the image of the seventeen-year-old girl who had saved his sister's life clashed with the girl who had spent time in college with Ruan Jian—the man Zain loathed with a passion simply because he had been close to Anya.
Suddenly, without touching her, Zain leaned in. He slammed one hand against the elevator wall right behind Anya's head. He was so close that Anya could smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne.
"What... what are you doing?" Anya stammered, her eyes widening behind her glasses.
Just then, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened on the 17th floor—the floor where Anya's interview was supposed to take place.
The night in Shenzhen had fully come alive.The scene outside was one for the history books. The office employees, who usually trembled at the mere mention of their 'ruthless and merciless' Boss, stood frozen in shock. Zain Yan, who never allowed anyone to get close to him, was looming over this ordinary-looking girl in an incredibly intimate position!
In the crowd, Huan Jing's heart skipped a beat when she saw her best friend in such a state. She whispered under her breath, "Anya... forget about your dream of going to Korea or meeting Jungkook. If you come out of this alive today, it'll be a miracle."
The employees began to whisper frantically:
"Did you see that? Look at the way the Boss is looking at her!"
"Like a predator eyeing its prey... Poor girl, will she even survive until tomorrow?"
"I bet the Boss has planned a truly horrific punishment for her."
Ignoring the crowd, Zain stared deep into Anya's eyes. There was a strange sense of possessiveness in his gaze, as if he were declaring to the world that this girl belonged to him—always had, and always would.
Looking into her eyes, Zain spoke in a cold but firm voice, "So, you've come here for an interview? Fine. You're selected. From today, you are an employee of this office and will work in the HR department, where your friend is."
Anya asked in bewilderment, "But... my interview? I haven't even told you anything about myself yet."
Zain leaned in further, his voice dropping into a deeper, more menacing register, "An interview is not necessary. You can work here, but on one condition... You came here of your own free will, but now, you are a captive. You cannot leave without my permission. From now on, you will only leave this place in a casket."
The entire office fell into a deathly silence. Everyone watched as their dangerous Boss trapped this innocent girl in his web. Anya's heart hammered against her ribs—she couldn't tell if this was a job offer or a life sentence.
Zain's eyes held the glint of a hunter who has finally cornered his prize. Anya took a deep breath. She remembered her brother Lu Wei's mocking face. She thought of her mother, Lu Feng, and her dream of going to Korea.
"Fine..." Anya gritted her teeth, looking Zain directly in the eye. "I accept your condition. I will work here."
A dark, mysterious smile spread across Zain's lips. Without moving his hand, he leaned toward her ear and whispered, "Remember, Anya, stepping through these doors was your choice... but the only way out is through me."
Scene 5: Huan Jing's Terror
Outside, Huan Jing's face had turned pale. Hearing Anya accept Zain's 'bizarre' condition made her soul tremble. She prayed silently, "Oh God! What has Anya done? She only wanted a job, but she just handed herself over to the 'Wolf.' Forget Jungkook—she'll be lucky to escape with her life!"
Scene 6: The Homecoming Reveal
When Anya returned home that evening, her face carried a strange glow of victory despite the exhaustion and fear.
"Mom! Wei! Where is everyone?" Anya shouted as she threw the door open.
Lu Wei walked out, munching on an apple. "What happened? Back with your 12th rejection? Or did Global Tech offer you a job as a security guard?"
Anya slammed her bag on the table and waved a paper in front of his face. "Open your eyes and look! I got a job at ZY Empire. And the salary... it's more than you've earned in the last three years!"
The apple nearly fell from Wei's hand. "ZY Empire? Zain Yan's company? Anya, are you crazy? People are terrified to even walk past that building!"
Anya's mother, Lu Feng, hurried out of the kitchen. "Really, Anya? Thank God! But dear, I've heard the owner there is very strict."
Anya looked at the Jungkook poster on her laptop and thought to herself, "Strict? Mom, he's the God of Death himself. But there's no turning back now."
Scene 7: Inside the Empire
Back at the ZY Empire, Zain stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass window of his cabin, staring out at the shimmering city lights. His mind was still replaying that moment in the elevator with Anya.
"Qian!" Zain called out without turning around.
"Yes, Boss?" Qian stood at attention.
"Find out everything there is to know about Anya Lu. Where she was for the last five years, who she met, and specifically... what is her relationship with Lu Kang?" Zain's voice carried a sharp edge of bitterness.
He still had no idea that the girl he was keeping captive was the niece of the very man whose 'Dragon' tattoo haunted his darkest nightmares.
To celebrate her new job (and perhaps to alleviate the mounting pressure), Anya planned a lavish dinner with her old friends. She had pre-booked everything at her favorite restaurant in Shenzhen.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was enchanting, bathed in the soft glow of red Chinese lanterns while traditional music echoed through the halls. Anya appeared unusually relaxed today. She had already ordered a spread of Chinese delicacies and drinks—the fragrance of Dim Sum, Kung Pao Chicken, and noodles permeated the private cabin.
Kaiya and her husband, Nan Pan, were the first to arrive. Seeing them brought a spark of genuine joy to Anya's eyes.
"Anya! I still can't believe you managed to break into ZY Empire!" Kaiya exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. Nan Pan shook her hand, teasing, "Brother, we thought you'd be buried under files forever, but look at you—throwing a party already!"
They were mid-conversation when Huan Jing arrived, breathless and flustered.
"Sorry, sorry! Passing by the Boss's cabin is like putting your life on the line; that's why I'm a bit late," Jing said, shedding her jacket.
Laughter erupted around the table. Anya served the drinks and declared, "No work talk tonight. Tonight is only about us, this food, and our old memories."
However, worry still lingered in Jing's eyes. She leaned in and whispered into Anya's ear, "Everything is fine, but you're playing with fire by accepting Zain's 'condition.' Do you even realize what you've signed?"
Anya took a long sip of her drink and smiled, "Jing, let me be happy today. Starting tomorrow, I'll be back in that 'Wolf's' cage anyway."
In the shimmering night of Shenzhen, the restaurant was filled with the echoes of laughter, but outside, there was only silence and a pair of cold, watching eyes.
Scene 2: Drunken Fog and the Distant Hunter
Amidst empty bottles and plates of Chinese cuisine, Anya was swaying, completely intoxicated. Her hands were still trembling—the same hands that had been exhausted all day by Zain's terror and office paperwork.
"I... I just want to go to Korea!" Anya slurred, waving her hand in the air. "The guys there... oh! I want a Korean husband! Tall, cute, and... and just like Jungkook!"
Kaiya and Huan Jing burst into laughter. Jing grabbed her hand, "Oh, my K-Drama Queen! Save yourself from Zain Yan's clutches first, then go find a husband."
The friends were all heavily drunk; some were reminiscing about the past while others sang off-key. Anya felt a fleeting sense of freedom. She had no idea that right outside the restaurant, parked in a dark corner of the street, was a luxurious black Rolls Royce.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was glacial. Zain Yan sat in the backseat, a wine glass in his hand, staring directly at Anya through the tinted glass. Every detail inside the restaurant was clear to him.
"Boss, Miss Anya and her friends seem quite intoxicated," Qian whispered from the front seat. The driver waited in silence for Zain's next command.
Zain watched how Anya laughed, how she dreamed of a 'Korean husband.' A strange mixture of rage and jealousy raced through his eyes. Five years ago, this was the girl who taught his heart how to beat; today, she was dreaming of men from another country?
"Korean husband?" Zain repeated in a low, dangerous whisper. "Does she think she can get away from this city... and from me?"
He drained his wine glass in a single gulp.
Scene 3: The Unintended Passenger
Anya and Huan Jing's intoxication showed no signs of fading. Kaiya and Nan Pan eventually guided them out of the restaurant. The cool night air jolted them for a moment, but the alcohol still held sway.
Nan Pan hailed a taxi and managed to usher Huan Jing into the backseat. Anya sat down beside her, but just as the taxi was about to pull away, Anya screamed, threw the door open, and stumbled out.
"Wait! My... my thing is still inside! My 'Kookie' (Jungkook) keychain is left there!" Anya cried out, staggering back toward the restaurant.
Huan Jing tried to stop her, but she was so drunk she simply slumped into the seat. "Anya... crazy girl... come back..." she muttered.
Kaiya and Nan Pan assumed she would be back in two minutes, but the streetlights dimmed slightly, and they failed to notice the door of the black Rolls Royce standing nearby had opened.
Zain saw that Anya was alone and stumbling. He signaled Qian. There was a strange obsession in Zain's eyes—this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
Scene 4: The "Handsome" Driver
In her drunken state, Anya mistook Zain's magnificent car for a high-end taxi. She stumbled toward it, opened the door, and collapsed into the backseat right next to Zain.
"Shenzhen... Fuan Road... Let's go, buddy!" she slurred her home address and then, in her daze, began humming Jungkook's 'Seven.'
Zain sat frozen like a statue. His eyes were a storm of anger and bewilderment. In the front, Qian was breaking into a cold sweat—he had never seen anyone dare to intrude into the Boss's car like this.
Anya placed both hands on her face, turned toward Zain, and said with innocent curiosity to the 'driver,' "Oh! Mr. Driver... you are quite handsome! Are you as cute as our Jungkook? But you look a bit... a bit grumpy."
Zain slowly turned his head toward her. His voice was a cold whisper, "I am not your driver, Anya. I am Zain Yan."
Anya narrowed her eyes as if trying to recall something. "Huh? Zain? Oh! I remember... that 'vicious wolf'! My new boss! Ugh... he's so rude. Do you know? He looks just like a villain. I wish my boss was a Korean actor... they are so sweet and gentle, aren't they?"
Hearing this, Qian's face turned pale. He expected Zain's temper to explode. But Zain just stared at her, his fists clenched tight. Anya's words had reopened old wounds and fueled a possessive jealousy within him.
Zain raised his hand, and for a split second, it looked as if he would shove Anya away in anger. Qian's heart stopped; he thought it was over for Anya and that the Boss would throw her out of the moving vehicle. But Zain's hand stopped near her hair. He very gently tucked a stray strand behind her ear and straightened her glasses.
Suddenly, in her drunken stupor, Anya rested her head on Zain's broad shoulder and fell into a deep sleep. Zain felt a moment of discomfort and tried to move her, but in her sleep, Anya gripped his coat tightly.
Qian watched the scene in the rearview mirror and asked softly, "Sir... should we drop her at her home? Or somewhere else..."
Zain looked at Anya's innocent face, sleeping so close to him. The old magnetic pull had returned to his eyes. He spoke in a cold but firm tone, "She is my prey, Qian. And a hunter never leaves his prey unprotected. Drop her at her home."
Throughout the journey, Zain stared silently out the window, but one of his hands remained braced behind her seat to keep her from falling.
Scene 5: The Dragon's Fear
Zain's car came to a halt outside Anya's house. As Qian reached out to open the door and help Anya up, Zain stopped him with a sharp, stern gesture.
Zain himself shook Anya's shoulder to wake her. Anya opened her eyes groatily, saw the 'Handsome Driver' (Zain), and smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Driver! 5-star rating for you!" She stumbled out of the car.
Suddenly, Lu Kang emerged from the house. Seeing his niece in such a state, he began to shout in anger, "Anya! Drunk again? How many times have I told you to stop this!"
Anya just laughed loudly and hugged Lu Kang. Lu Kang's gaze then fell upon the expensive black car. His eyes widened in shock and terror as he caught a blurred glimpse of the person sitting inside.
But Zain did not cast a single glance toward Lu Kang. He stared straight ahead, his face a mask of cold hatred. Without looking back, Zain signaled Qian, and the car sped away in an instant.
Lu Kang's heart began to race. He looked at the 'Dragon' tattoo on his wrist and thought to himself, "Is it him? Has death finally arrived at my doorstep?"