The restaurant's noise gradually returned to normal, but a heavy weight still pressed on Su Wan's chest, suffocating her with every breath. The supervisor stormed toward her, her face a mask of fury. She pointed a finger at Su Wan, shouting, "Su Wan! Do you have any idea how much that suit cost? You could work ten years and still never afford it! The assistant of Mr. Ling has already sent over the compensation amount — 500,000! If you can't come up with it in three days, get ready to be sued!"
Five hundred thousand.
The number struck like lightning, freezing Su Wan to the core. Her fingers clenched around the hem of her uniform, nails digging into her palm as she rasped, "I... I don't have that much money."
"Don't have money?" The supervisor sneered, "Then how dare you spill coffee on Mr. Ling? Let me tell you, either you pay up, or pack your bags and get out! You're done here!"
Su Wan walked out of the restaurant, her steps dazed. As soon as she reached the door, she was blocked by Zhang Lei, who had been waiting for her. His earlier timid demeanor was gone, replaced by a smug grin. "Xiao Wan, you're really something, huh? You spilled coffee on Mr. Ling's suit? Five hundred thousand — how are you going to pay for that?"
"None of your business!" Su Wan averted her gaze, desperate to get away.
"None of my business?" Zhang Lei stepped forward, blocking her path. "You're part of our family, your debt is our debt! My mom said, either you get married quickly and bring the dowry to pay it off, or... you go beg Mr. Ling. Maybe if he likes how you look, he'll let it slide."
"You're despicable!" Su Wan's anger flared, her eyes instantly filling with tears. She never imagined her aunt and cousin would try to take advantage of her like this.
With a forceful shove, she pushed Zhang Lei aside and ran back to what she called "home" — a cramped, rundown rental apartment that reeked of cheap tobacco and alcohol. Her aunt, Wang Cuilan, was sitting on the couch, cracking sunflower seeds. As soon as she saw Su Wan, she tossed the shells aside and grabbed her arm. "You're back! Where's the 500,000? Hand it over now!"
"I don't have the money." Su Wan struggled to break free, her voice thick with exhaustion. "Auntie, I really can't gather that much."
"No money?" Wang Cuilan's eyes widened in anger. She slapped Su Wan across the face. "Worthless! If we hadn't taken you in, you'd have starved on the street by now! And now that the family's in trouble, you think you can just wash your hands of it? I'm telling you, you have to come up with that 500,000, or I'll sell you to some old bachelor in the countryside!"
The sharp sting of the slap made Su Wan's face burn. She covered her cheek, tears finally streaming down her face. After her parents died, she thought her aunt's family was all she had left, but for years, she had worked tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs just to support herself and contribute to the household. And all she got in return was endless exploitation and manipulation.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Wang Cuilan, thinking it was a creditor, turned pale with fear and hid behind Su Wan, too scared to make a sound. Su Wan took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and went to open the door.
Two men in black suits stood outside, their faces serious — it was Ling Yao's assistant and bodyguard. The assistant pushed up his glasses and spoke in a formulaic tone, "Miss Su Wan, we're from the CEO's office of Yaoshi Group. On Mr. Ling's orders, we've come to see you."
Su Wan froze, her heart sinking. "Mr. Ling... What does he want?"
"Mr. Ling is aware of your current situation," the assistant handed her a document. "The gambling debt owed by Wang Cuilan, along with the compensation for your coffee spill today, totals 800,000. Mr. Ling has paid it in full on your behalf."
"What?" Both Su Wan and Wang Cuilan exclaimed in shock. Wang Cuilan's face immediately transformed into a simpering smile. "Oh, Mr. Ling is such a good man! Please, come in, come in!"
But the assistant didn't enter the apartment. He merely gave Wang Cuilan a cold glance and continued speaking to Su Wan, "Mr. Ling said this money is not a gift. He has one condition. He wishes for you to become his exclusive assistant for one year. During this year, your salary will be paid according to the standard for senior executive assistants at Yaoshi Group. The 800,000 debt will be deducted from your salary monthly, but the remaining amount will be enough for you to live on."
Exclusive assistant?
Su Wan was stunned. She was a girl who hadn't even finished high school, barely scraping by with part-time jobs. How could she possibly handle a senior executive assistant position at a company like Yaoshi Group? Why would Ling Yao offer such a condition?
"Why... Why would Mr. Ling help me?" She couldn't help but ask.
The assistant shook his head. "Mr. Ling's motives are not something we, his subordinates, can speculate on. You just need to answer — yes or no. If yes, sign the contract now. If no, the 800,000 debt will immediately take effect, and Mr. Ling will pursue legal action to recover it."
Wang Cuilan, seeing the debt was paid off, quickly changed her tone, grabbing Su Wan's arm and whispering urgently, "Of course, agree! This is your lucky break! Mr. Ling is a big shot, and becoming his assistant is a huge opportunity! Hurry up and sign!"
Su Wan stared at the contract with Yaoshi Group's logo on it, her fingertips trembling. She knew this might be a trap. Ling Yao might be holding a grudge over what happened earlier and wanted to keep her around to make her life miserable. But she had no choice. The 800,000 debt was like a mountain on her chest. She couldn't afford to be sued, nor could she let her aunt sell her off to some rural man.
And, deep inside, there was a flicker of curiosity. That man, with his cold purple eyes and intimidating aura, why had he suddenly decided to help her? What was he really after?
"I agree." Su Wan took a deep breath and signed the contract with shaky hands. The pen scraped across the paper, the sound almost like the gears of fate turning.
The assistant took the document, nodded, "Tomorrow at 8 AM, report to the CEO's office on the top floor of Yaoshi Group. Mr. Ling doesn't like tardiness, nor does he tolerate disobedience. Here's the address and your employment materials. Prepare well tonight."
With that, the assistant and bodyguard turned and left, leaving Su Wan standing there, her emotions tangled in confusion. Wang Cuilan, seeing that the debt was cleared, instantly changed her attitude, pretending to be sweet as she grabbed Su Wan's hand. "Xiao Wan, you really are lucky! Don't forget about Auntie and your cousin when you hit it big."
Su Wan jerked her hand away, not saying a word, and walked straight into her tiny room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she gazed out at the dark night, filled with unease and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, at the top floor of Yaoshi Group's headquarters, the lights in the CEO's office were still on. Ling Yao sat in his large leather chair, holding an unlit cigar between his fingers. The computer screen in front of him displayed Su Wan's personal file — orphaned at a young age, adopted by her aunt, poor, working multiple part-time jobs, self-taught in design... A few simple lines, yet they outlined a figure both resilient and fragile.
"Mr. Ling, Miss Su has signed the agreement," the assistant's voice came through the phone.
Ling Yao's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, and a dark gleam flickered in his violet eyes. "Good. Have her come to my office tomorrow. I'll personally 'train' my new assistant."
He hung up the phone, stood, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the lights of Xinghai City. The full moon was drawing closer, and the wolf inside him was becoming harder to suppress. Last night, he almost transformed in his sleep, tearing his bedsheets to shreds. But the scent of greenery on Su Wan was the only thing that calmed him.
He had to keep her close, within his sight. Not only to break the curse, but also for that unique, intoxicating scent that had him captivated.
"Su Wan," he whispered, his fingers grazing the cold glass. "From tomorrow, you're mine. Don't even think about escaping."
The night deepened, moonlight pouring through the window, casting a long, cold shadow on the floor. The shadow hinted at a wild, almost inhuman nature. And far away, in the rental apartment, Su Wan had no idea that she had just stepped into a carefully woven trap. A tangled fate, crossing species and status, was about to unfold.