"Could you be a little gentler, Boss?"
The voice broke the silence of the meeting room, a space wrapped in the cold hum of the air conditioner and the faint scent of untouched black coffee. A man with long brown hair stood straight, though caution flickered in his eyes. He was not joking. He was negotiating for the sake of his own survival.
Across from him, Ji Yuxuan sat calmly in the head chair. Her slender figure carried effortless elegance. Her black hair fell neatly past her shoulders, catching the crystal light above them in a soft sheen. Her face was almost expressionless, as if emotions were a luxury she had long ago decided not to indulge.
"What do you mean? In which part do I look harsh?"
Her voice was clear, level, and far too composed to be called warm.
The five people standing before her lowered their heads in unison. They looked like kittens who had just broken their owner's favorite vase. Afraid to move. Afraid to breathe too loudly.
Ji Yuxuan's gaze swept across them one by one. Her eyes were naturally sharp, not because of anger, but because her features were carved with an innate firmness. Even when she showed nothing, others still felt judged beneath her stare.
Her slender fingers tapped lightly against the wooden table. The soft sound echoed in the room, subtle yet heavy, like a silent countdown.
She stood.
The movement was smooth, but enough to make the air grow denser.
"I only called you here to discuss something. Not to become a tiger's meal."
The five exchanged quick glances. A shared sigh of relief almost escaped them, though they maintained their posture.
"New Year is approaching. I want to hold an annual event for our restaurant."
She paused, letting her words settle into the carefully arranged silence.
"What do you think?"
Enthusiasm burst out like fireworks waiting for permission.
"That's a great idea, Boss!" exclaimed the brown-haired man, Lu Yichen, flashing a bold grin.
"It's very exciting!" Mo Siyue added, her eyes sparkling.
The other three were about to speak, but Ji Yuxuan raised her hand slightly, enough to silence them again.
"That's enough. It's not a bad idea."
They immediately lowered their heads once more, disciplined and obedient.
"In that case, I'll leave it to Gu Jinhai to handle."
Gu Jinhai, standing on the right, straightened his shoulders. His firm yet warm expression showed determination.
"Understood, Boss."
In the corner of the room, Mo Yuxing, who had been quietly exchanging glances with Qin Wanqing, finally gathered his courage and stepped forward slightly.
"Boss, won't you take a vacation during New Year?" he asked hesitantly.
He swallowed before adding, "I mean, won't you go on a date?"
The atmosphere froze again.
The other four stared at him pale-faced, as if he had just stepped onto a battlefield without armor.
Ji Yuxuan's brows knitted faintly.
A date.
The word felt unfamiliar, like something that belonged to another world entirely.
"No."
Her answer was short, clean, leaving no room for interpretation.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already late.
"You may go home now. Thank you for today."
This time, their nods carried visible relief.
"Thank you, Boss. See you tomorrow."
One by one, they left the room, until only Gu Jinhai remained.
"Yuxuan, are you really not going back to your home?" he asked softly, more as a friend than a subordinate.
Ji Yuxuan fell silent. Her gaze shifted to the large glass window, revealing the glittering night of Yunzhou, traffic lights flowing endlessly like streams of restless stars. The city shone beautifully at night, as if it could hide every wound beneath its glow.
"I don't have a home. If you put it that way, let me clarify."
She inhaled quietly.
"I live alone in an apartment. That cannot be called a home."
The words slipped out after a nearly imperceptible pause, yet heavy enough to linger.
Gu Jinhai stood beside her, watching the moving traffic below.
"You're back in Yunzhou. What about Yan Zeyu?"
The name caused a subtle shift in her eyes. Just a fraction of a second, but enough for someone who knew her well.
"No. And perhaps never."
Her voice returned to its flat composure.
"If we ever meet again, we would simply be two strangers who have never known each other."
Outside, the lights of passing cars continued to flow, like time itself, never stopping.
Inside the quiet restaurant, two figures stood in silence, each drowning in thoughts left unspoken.
Yunzhou held too many memories.
And some memories never truly leave.