Chapter 6: Refusal

Shi Ran truly needed to think things through.

Given Zuo Yelin’s status and background, he would surely seek a woman of equal standing; she was unworthy, not even qualified to entertain such thoughts.

Her movements could be easily tracked, yet so far there had been no reaction. What was he implying? Shi Ran dared not overthink it, yet her mind involuntarily wandered.

The next day, Shi Ran received a reply to her previous interview—she had been accepted by the illustrious Senmu Architecture. Though the position was that of a designer’s assistant, it was enough to make her stand out among her graduating peers.

Her excitement dispelled the gloom as she dressed in a neat, professional outfit and headed to report for duty.

Her major had indeed been architectural design, and working beside Zuo Yelin was purely an emotional decision. But applying was not a whim; she had pondered it for a long time and never expected to be hired.

The onboarding process was simpler than she'd imagined. The receptionist escorted her to human resources for a brief interview and paperwork, then led her to the design department where she was assigned as a temporary assistant to a senior designer.

Shi Ran’s striking appearance made her stand out in the predominantly male office, naturally attracting some attention—and flattery.

Sitting at her desk, she gazed at the computer screen, kindly powered on by a colleague, the words “Senmu Architecture” glowing before her. Suddenly, a realization dawned—perhaps coming here had been a hasty decision.

Zuo Yelin was not yet aware. Even if he were, would he stop her?

“Newcomer, stop daydreaming. An important client is arriving soon. Go help in the conference room.” Being called around was a privilege reserved for newcomers. She set aside her thoughts and went.

From the setup in the conference room, Shi Ran guessed the gathering was small but high-level; the coffee beans were premium imports, matching a certain someone’s taste. Everything was arranged perfectly. She returned to her post methodically, only to unexpectedly run into Zuo Yelin, as if the stars themselves had conspired.

He barely spared her more than a fleeting glance. For the next hour or so, Shi Ran sat on pins and needles, a whirlwind of thoughts crashing in her mind, so much so that she repeatedly mixed up the photocopy materials. When questioned, Zuo Yelin was being escorted out by others, casting her an intentional yet casual glance.

Only moments after they left, a message popped up on her phone: “Come down immediately.” She knew that sequence of numbers by heart.

After weighing her options, Shi Ran hurried downstairs. Seeing the familiar car, she paused then approached. The window rolled down, and a voice floated out: “Get in.”

In the bustling CBD office district, Shi Ran dared not hesitate. She climbed in and noticed the man reading her name tag aloud: “Senmu Architecture, designer assistant.” Then he smiled faintly, appraising her. “Trying to distance yourself, accepting Zuo Jiaqi’s proposal?”

He spoke casually, yet when mentioning Zuo Jiaqi, disdain dripped from his voice.

The more indifferent he was, the more her hands trembled violently.

Shi Ran knew Zuo Yelin’s temperament well; even if he had no feelings for someone, as long as he wasn’t tired of them, he would never allow another to touch them.

Was he tired of her?

Summoning courage, she met the cold, merciless face before her and stammered, “Jiaqi didn’t propose. It was just a confession.”

He nodded, voice low and cool: “So you consider him your fiancé. That counts as a proposal, right?” Pausing, a trace of regret crept in. “Though, he didn’t give a ring, so maybe it doesn’t.”

Unable to predict his mood and unwilling to debate, she changed the subject: “Young master, I’m not cut out for the role of personal assistant...”

She barely finished when the anticipated furious outburst failed to come. Instead, Zuo Yelin signaled to drive, leaning back in his seat in silence.

The air in the car was suffocating and oppressive. Shi Ran lengthened her breathing, afraid to utter another word.

They arrived somewhere unknown to her and were led into an office. Only then did she notice a large screen on the wall displaying a video of Zuo Jiaqi embracing and kissing a voluptuous, alluring woman. The truth of his intention finally hit her.

“Look carefully. It’s quite a show.”

The high-definition footage and surround sound filled the room with scenes of Zuo Jiaqi tangled with the woman.

Shi Ran turned her face away, glaring at Zuo Yelin. “Despicable!” With his snobbery and cunning, fabricating such a scenario was child’s play.

Zuo Yelin was visibly provoked by her words, emanating a dark, sinister aura.

From the video, a voice sneered, “You’re the best. That bitch Shi Ran, pretending to be innocent in front of me, just trying to string me along...” His face twisted into a hideous grimace.

Shi Ran covered her ears, but the words remained crystal clear, intermittently: “Sooner or later, I’ll make her wish she could neither live nor die!”

She could not reconcile this filthy visage with the sincere, radiant youth she had seen just yesterday.

“See that? This is the Zuo Jiaqi you’ve been obsessing over!” He slammed the keyboard, making the screen go dark, then scoffed and stood, checking his watch. He glanced at her with utter disdain, the scorn and contempt stabbing at her heart.

“So, am I right to assume you told him my schedule? That you arranged for me to work at Senmu Architecture? Why?” Tears welled in her eyes, defiant yet unspilled, she stared at the increasingly blurred figure before her and demanded fiercely, “Is it fun to toy with me like this?”