The chime of the digital clock echoed softly in the quiet room.
Bai Zhiqi opened her eyes sharply, the ceiling coming into focus in an instant. No confusion, no hesitation—she remembered exactly where she was. Ji Yanluo's private condominium.
The last two days had been a strange limbo. No commands. No questions. Just silence. Aside from Xiao Lin bringing her meals and showing her around the place, no one disturbed her—not even Ji Yanluo.
Until today.
She sat up, stretching. Her body had long since adapted to hard beds and early mornings in prison. This—this soft mattress, the clean sheets, the warmth—it was disorienting in a dangerous way. Comfort made people weak.
And she didn't come back to be weak.
A soft knock landed on her door.
Xiao Lin's voice came through gently. "Miss Bai, breakfast is ready. Sir asked to see you in the study after you eat."
"Understood."
She didn't waste time. A quick shower. Black slacks, a white blouse, a fitted blazer—classic and sharp. She'd found them in the closet two days ago, all in her size, tags intact. She'd said nothing, but the message had been loud and clear.
She was expected to play her part.
After a quiet breakfast in the dining room, she made her way down the hall and into the study. The tall double doors were slightly ajar.
Ji Yanluo was already there, standing by the window with a cup of coffee in one hand, tablet in the other. As she stepped in, he looked over his shoulder.
"You're on time," he said.
"Were you expecting me to be late?"
He turned fully, eyes calm. "No. But I value confirmation."
She stepped forward. "You said I'd start today."
"You do." He placed the tablet down on the desk and motioned toward the seat across from him. "Sit."
She complied, legs crossed, back straight. His gaze dropped to her attire for a brief second—no comment, no praise—but something in his expression shifted slightly. She couldn't read it.
"Your name, in the company, is Bai Zhi. You'll be entering as a personal operations assistant at *Lingfeng Media*," he began. "It's one of my subsidiaries."
She frowned. "Entertainment?"
"Content production. Logistics, finances, event oversight. You won't be near the spotlight, if that's what concerns you."
She gave a short nod. "And my boss?"
"You report to Su Ming, Director of Operations. He's aware of your background—enough to know you're under my protection, not enough to question your qualifications."
Her eyes narrowed. "So I'm a kept project?"
"You're a capable project. Don't forget that part."
There it was—that cold steel underneath the polished words. Ji Yanluo didn't do things out of sympathy. Everything he touched had purpose.
"Do I have freedom at work?"
"Limited," he replied coolly. "You're free to move as long as it doesn't endanger you—or me. Your past is sealed but not buried. Step out of line, and it resurfaces."
"And my job description?"
"You're going to observe, analyze, and rebuild from the inside out. Lingfeng's internal systems are bleeding money. You're not there to smile and file papers. You're there to fix."
A flash of intrigue passed through her eyes. "You're trusting me with your company's internal affairs?"
"I'm trusting you not to waste your second chance."
Silence fell between them again, heavy and sharp.
Bai Zhiqi tilted her head. "And if I impress you?"
His voice was ice. "Then you'll have something worth protecting."
She stood up, brushing her blazer smooth. "Noted. When do we leave?"
"A car will take you at 8:30. Xiao Lin will brief you on the employees you'll meet. And Bai Zhi…" He paused.
She turned.
"Keep your head low, but your eyes sharp. Everyone there smiles too easily."
She smirked. "I know the type."
He looked at her a moment longer, then returned to his tablet. "You may go."
As she stepped out of the study, her heels clicking confidently across the marble floor, a strange thought brushed her mind.
This wasn't a second chance.
This was war in disguise.
And she planned to win.