Zain and Aanya were sitting together at the dining table, having breakfast.
Aanya kept thinking to herself, "I wish I hadn't drunk so much at Huan Jing's dinner party. Then whatever happened that night wouldn't have happened. I said so many things after drinking... I even slapped her… but why did she apologize to me?"
Just then, the notification sound of her phone rang.
Aanya looked down — it was a message from Huan Jing.
The message said:
"Are you ready for the office?"
Aanya quickly replied,
"Yeah, I'm just having breakfast. Are you ready?"
Huan Jing: "Yes."
Aanya thought to herself, "I really need to talk to Huan Jing about that night…"
At the same time, Huan Jing, sitting in her apartment, was also thinking, "I have to tell Aanya that my niece was supposed to visit that day… that's why I asked Tiang to pretend to be my fake boyfriend."
Both of them started texting each other at the same time —
Aanya: "I have a problem. I need to talk to you."
Huan Jing: "I am a problem. I need to talk to you too."
Both sent the messages simultaneously — and when they realized, they both laughed.
Zain noticed Aanya smiling at her phone. Watching her, a slight frown crossed his face.
He thought, "Who's making her laugh this early in the morning? Don't tell me it's that 'D'? Who is he anyway?"
Aanya typed another message:
"Maybe this time we're both in trouble together."
Huan Jing: "I know the root of your problem."
Aanya: "Yeah, you're right. Did your mom say something to you again?"
Huan Jing: "Nothing like that."
Then Aanya sent a laughing emoji and said,
"Bye, I'm having breakfast."
She suddenly noticed that Zain was peeking at her phone.
She looked up and said teasingly, "Boss, what happened?"
Zain stammered,
"Uh... I... I was just checking the time. But you were busy texting. What time is it, by the way?"
Aanya glanced at the clock on the wall and thought, "I know exactly why you're acting like this…"
With a confident smile, she said aloud, "It's 7:01," and then lifted her phone toward him.
"I was talking to Huan Jing."
There was a calm, confident smile on her face — as if she was silently saying, "You don't have to misunderstand anything."
Zain replied quickly,
"Nothing like that. Have you finished your breakfast?"
Aanya nodded.
"Yes."
Zain said,
"Then we should leave now."
Aanya smiled lightly,
"Yes."
They got up, started the car, and left for the office.
When they arrived, Zain parked the car.
Just then, Daichen walked over. Seeing Aanya, he smiled and said,
"Good morning!"
Aanya smiled back warmly,
"Good morning! And welcome to our department, our new designer."
Daichen: "Thanks."
Seeing Aanya and Daichen talking, a strange irritation rose inside Zain.
He thought, "D… means Daichen? Don't tell me he's the one because of whom she joined Yan Empire…"
As both Aanya and Daichen walked inside, Zain clenched his fist tightly, his jaw stiff.
He muttered under his breath,
"I won't let Aanya drift away from me."
A little later, in the office…
Aanya was at her desk, Daichen at his.
Huan Jing entered, lost in thought.
Aanya looked up,
"Hey, you wanted to talk, right?"
Huan Jing nodded and told her everything about yesterday — how she had asked Tiang to act as her fake boyfriend because her niece was supposed to come over.
Huan Jing: "But now… my niece's flight got delayed. She'll arrive tomorrow or maybe the day after."
Aanya: "What did Tiang say? Did he refuse?"
Huan Jing: "No, he agreed."
Aanya: "Then there's no problem."
Huan Jing: "By the way, what were you going to tell me?"
Aanya hesitated, then told her everything that had happened that night — how she had slapped Zain, how he had suddenly hugged her and said sorry, how later he made her noodles, and… how in the end she kissed him.
Huan Jing burst out laughing,
"Oh my god! You two — what a chemistry! First a slap, then a sorry, then noodles and finally a kiss — it's like a full drama in one scene!"
Aanya rolled her eyes playfully,
"I knew you'd react like that."
Both of them started laughing again.
A soft aroma of coffee filled the office.
Everyone was busy with their work.
Inside the meeting room, discussions were going on about a new dress design and model concepts.
After the meeting ended —
Aanya and Daichen stood together near the design board, reviewing a project.
Daichen: "I thought I'd finish this layout by last night, but my laptop froze. I need your opinion on this new cover."
Aanya: (smiling) "I think if we soften this color palette a bit, the presentation will look much better."
Daichen: "Got it. I'll try that."
Zain, standing at a distance, watched them. His eyes burned with jealousy.
Tiang was beside him, teasing,
"Hey, isn't that the guy from the interview? I heard he joined for someone special... maybe he found her, huh? Look at his eyes — totally on your 'bhabi'."
Zain's jaw tightened. "So now I know who 'D' is," he thought.
He walked straight toward th
He couldn't stop himself anymore.
Zain: "Daichen, weren't you told the company rules? Every project report should go through me first."
Daichen blinked, startled.
"Yes, sir… I was just asking Miss Aanya's opinion."
Zain's voice was low but cold,
"You have an entire team to ask. Personal discussions aren't necessary."
Aanya looked at him, shocked.
"Why is Zain acting like this? Everything was fine just this morning…"
But Daichen didn't look scared.
He calmly said, "Okay, sir. I'll keep that in mind next time."
He picked up his file and went back to his seat.
A few moments of silence followed.
Aanya turned to Zain and said softly,
"Zain sir, it was just about work… don't you think you overreacted a little?"
Zain looked at her — his eyes sharp, his tone firm but hiding something deeper.
"I know, Miss Lun. But I want professionalism to stay intact in this office."
Aanya opened her mouth to reply — but before she could, Huan Jing walked in holding a file.
She walked straight toward Zain's desk, but seeing Aanya there, she smirked playfully and whispered near her,
"So… what were you two talking about, Mr. and Mrs. Yan?"
Aanya's eyes widened, cheeks flushing pink.
Zain frowned,
"Miss Jing, are you here to hand in the file or to gossip?"
Huan Jing chuckled, placing the file on his desk.
"Sir, I came to discuss the new dress project updates — and yes, we'll need to lower the market price a bit to improve the stock circulation."
Zain nodded curtly,
"Fine. You can go now."
As Huan Jing and Aanya started to leave together, Zain's voice came again — deep and commanding,
"I told Miss Jing to leave. Not you, Aanya. Come to my cabin. Now."
Huan Jing grinned,
"Go, Mrs. Yan. Your Mr. Yan is calling."
Aanya glared playfully,
"We'll talk at lunch, okay?"
Huan Jing: "Okay."
Aanya walked toward his cabin, while Huan Jing headed to her own desk.
On her way, Tiang approached her.
"Huan Jing, your niece isn't coming today."
Huan Jing: "Yeah, her flight got canceled. She'll arrive tomorrow."
Tiang: "Got it."
Huan Jing: "Don't worry. You just have to act as my fake boyfriend, okay?"
Tiang: (grinning) "Okay."
The office cafeteria was lightly crowded.
At one corner table sat Aanya, Huan Jing, and Daichen — three friends, smiling like it was high school all over again.
Huan Jing placed her tray down and said happily,
"Who would've thought the three of us would work together again? So much has changed since school!"
Aanya: (smiling warmly) "Yeah, remember? Our 'Crazy Trio' — you, me, and Daichen! Even the principal used to get tired of us."
Daichen: (laughing) "And now look at us — those same troublemakers are working professionals in the same company."
He paused, then said shyly,
"By the way… since I just joined, how about dinner tonight? My treat?"
Aanya: (teasing) "Dinner treat? So soon?"
Daichen: "Why not? I passed the interview, and I want to celebrate with my old friends!"
Huan Jing: (winking) "Then it's settled — tonight, 7 PM, our old school spot — Blue Café! Remember how we used to hang out there every weekend?"
All three burst out laughing together.
It had been so long since Aanya's smile looked this real, this carefree.
But far away, Zain was watching — that smile of hers lit up something inside him… and burned something too.
He thought, "So now Daichen's inviting her to dinner? She doesn't even realize how easily she lets him get close…"
---
At the table, Huan Jing leaned closer and asked in a teasing whisper,
"So... what were you two talking about in his cabin?"
Aanya: (nervously) "Uh… he just made me read all the office rules."
Huan Jing: (giggling, whispering) "Your husband is such a strange man!"
Daichen: (laughing) "Hey, what secrets are you two keeping from me?"
Huan Jing: (playfully) "Oh, it's girl talk — boys not allowed."
All three laughed together.
Daichen: "Alright, ladies! But I'm not missing that dinner. 8 PM sharp at Blue Café, okay?"
Aanya & Huan Jing (together): "Okay!"