Can't let it go

The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of the office, casting a golden glow over the modern furnishings. Lu Xiao walked in, her thoughts still tangled from the events of the previous evening. The memory of the suspicious contract she had stumbled upon lingered like a shadow, and Lei Han's guarded response only added to her unease.

As she stepped into Lei Han's office with a fresh pot of coffee, she found him staring at his computer screen, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Good morning, Mr. Lei," she said softly, placing the cup on his desk.

He glanced up briefly, offering a faint smile. "Morning, Miss Lu."

She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is there anything urgent you'd like me to handle today?"

Lei Han leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Not at the moment, but stay close. I might need you later."

Lu Xiao nodded and retreated to her desk just outside his office. She had barely sat down when her phone buzzed with a text message.

"Meet me in the lobby during lunch. I have something to tell you. – Chen Wei"

Her breath caught. Chen Wei had never contacted her outside of formal interactions. What could he possibly want? She stared at the screen, debating whether to ignore the message or go and see what he had to say.

---

When lunchtime came, curiosity got the better of her. Lu Xiao made her way to the lobby, her heart pounding. She found Chen Wei leaning casually against a pillar, his usual smug smile firmly in place.

"Miss Lu," he said, straightening as she approached. "I'm glad you came."

"What do you want, Mr. Chen?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral.

Chen Wei smirked. "Always so formal. Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble."

She crossed her arms, waiting for him to get to the point.

Chen Wei leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You've been working closely with Lei Han for a while now. Tell me, have you ever wondered how clean his hands are?"

Lu Xiao frowned, her stomach twisting uneasily. "I don't know what you mean."

"Oh, come on," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "You're smarter than that. Surely you've noticed that Lei Han's empire isn't built entirely on honest work."

Her fists clenched at her sides. "If you have something to say, say it outright."

Chen Wei chuckled. "Let's just say that Lei Han isn't the man you think he is. And when the truth comes out, you might regret standing so close to him."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the middle of the lobby, her mind racing.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lu Xiao couldn't focus on her tasks, Chen Wei's cryptic words echoing in her head.

As evening approached, she decided to confront Lei Han. She needed answers.

"Mr. Lei," she said as she stepped into his office, closing the door behind her.

He looked up from his laptop, his expression calm but questioning. "What is it, Miss Lu?"

She took a deep breath. "I ran into Chen Wei today. He... he implied that you're hiding something."

Lei Han's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "And you believed him?"

"No," she said quickly. "But I can't ignore what he said either. He seems to know something, and I think you should tell me the truth."

Lei Han stood, walking around his desk to stand in front of her. "Miss Lu, there are things happening behind the scenes that I cannot involve you in. Not because I don't trust you, but because I need to protect you."

"I don't need protection," she said, her voice firm. "I need to understand what's going on."

For a long moment, Lei Han studied her, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "Chen Wei is playing a dangerous game. His goal is to sow doubt and confusion. Don't let him manipulate you."

"But what about the contract I saw? The one with Chen Wei's name on it?" she pressed.

Lei Han sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's a matter I'm handling. Trust me, Miss Lu, I know what I'm doing."

She searched his eyes, hoping to find reassurance. Instead, she saw a flicker of something else—fear.

---

That night, Lu Xiao couldn't sleep. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but the picture they formed was still unclear.

She sat by her window, staring out at the city lights. Lei Han was clearly protecting something, but what? And why was Chen Wei so determined to expose it?

One thing was certain: she couldn't stand by and do nothing. If Lei Han wouldn't tell her the truth, she would have to find it herself.

With a newfound determination, Lu Xiao resolved to uncover the secrets that Lei Han was so desperate to keep hidden—even if it meant putting herself in danger.