By the time she reached the company, half the building's lights were already out.
The first floor was still the familiar reception desk, the security office beside the revolving door. The guard nodded and called her Ms. Lu when he saw her come in.
She'd only quit a few days ago, yet coming back here felt like another lifetime in an instant.
She hurried upstairs. Ann was already waiting at the elevator.
"Don't panic. What happened?"
"It's like this—"
Another woman's voice cut her off. "It's my fault."
Only then did Raina Lu notice someone else standing there. The floor lights weren't fully on. The girl stood in the shadows—at first glance easy to miss.
"Mr. Han asked me to organize materials for tomorrow morning's meeting. It should have been simple. I wanted to finish fast, so I had Ann help me. We were almost done and I was about to take a break and grab coffee when I didn't notice—the materials I'd set down were taken by the cleaning lady for trash and fed into the shredder… None of those documents had any backup. I'm still not familiar with anything here. There's no way I can recreate them. I wanted to find Mr. Han, but I've already made so many mistakes. If I mess up again I'll definitely be fired… Ann said we could ask you, so I…"
Clarity flashed through Raina Lu's mind. She suddenly asked, "You're Mason Han's new assistant?"
The girl looked up at her. "Yes…"
It was a remarkably pretty, pitiable face. Her straightened long hair had a faint light brown tint. Her large eyes now held a glimmer of moisture, her expression on the verge of tears.
Probably no man could refuse.
"What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Liana Xue."
Raina Lu withdrew her gaze, her voice flat. "What kind of materials? How much do you roughly remember? Where did they come from? About how much content? Any special requirements?"
Liana Xue hurriedly answered each question.
Raina Lu sat back at her old desk—the window seat where a breeze always passed and blew away her irritation. She'd always loved it. But now it was covered in pink trinkets. Frowning slightly, Raina Lu turned on the computer.
"C-can you fix it?"
The corner of Raina Lu's mouth lifted. She smiled. "Being Mason Han's assistant isn't that easy. If you want to do it well, you can watch."
Her tone was confident and sure.
In truth, the moment Liana Xue finished describing the situation, Raina Lu remembered the matter. It was material for a Han Corp merger proposal—a small enterprise, an old manufacturer, modest annual profits. The only thing worth anything was the land it sat on.
Ridiculous, really. Back then she'd gathered this proposal material like searching the ocean for a needle. Even the data analysis on enterprise value and future appreciation had been calculated by her bit by bit. Fortunately she'd done it not long ago—all of it was still stored in her mind. Now she only had to do it again.
Liana Xue watched Raina Lu's confident, casual—even somewhat arrogant expression.
Suddenly resentment surged in her heart.
From the moment Raina Lu stepped into the elevator, she'd felt uncomfortable all over.
True, she'd transferred in as Mason Han's assistant through some back channels. She'd heard Mason Han was difficult and assumed it was only because he hadn't met a smart woman who could handle him… someone like herself.
But after arriving she learned Mason Han was basically a machine, almost never ruled by emotion.
And the work under him was so much and so complex it was beyond belief. It was only natural she couldn't do it well.
Yet at precisely this moment, someone kept bringing up one name.
Raina Lu.
No matter what she did, people compared her to Raina Lu—and the conclusions every time drove her mad.
What was so great about this woman? Pretty, but not that pretty. And not the slightest bit feminine in how she carried herself…
Over there Raina Lu's fingers flew across the keyboard, the mouse clicking rapidly. She seemed to say out of habit, "Ann, get me a coffee. No sugar."
Ann heard and quickly dashed to the pantry.
Raina Lu still didn't look away from the screen.
Liana Xue stood quietly to one side, voice lowered as if unwilling to disturb her. "Um… about how long will it take you?"
"What, you're in a hurry? Isn't it due tomorrow?"
"No, I just—"
Raina Lu cut in, replying evenly, "You won't get yelled at."
Liana Xue choked on that, and looked at the screen unwillingly.
Her pupils widened unconsciously. Only now did she notice that in the last few moments, the documents on screen had been growing line by line at incredible speed. In an instant several screens had flashed past. Raina Lu's hands were so fast they were dizzying. She didn't seem to be searching for material—just copying and pasting step by step.
Female robot.
Liana Xue cursed silently in her mind.
As if sensing it, Raina Lu curled her lips. "Think it's fast? Practice for three years and maybe you can reach this speed."
Ann brought the coffee. Raina Lu took it, sipped, set it down, and kept typing.
After standing a while and seeing the other woman had no intention of acknowledging her, Liana Xue checked the time and forced a smile. "Then I'll leave it to you. When you're done, just leave it on the desktop. I'll head back first."
Ann cried "Ah—" but Liana Xue was already picking up her bag and walking to the elevator.
Raina Lu glanced over briefly and said without concern, "Ann, you go back too."
"But Raina, you're helping us, and you're alone…"
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
After a moment Raina Lu noticed Ann had dragged a chair over and sat beside her, smiling. "Raina, I'm fine too. I'll keep you company."
Raina Lu neither agreed nor disagreed. She'd sensed the other woman's faint hostility from the start. Though Liana Xue had tried to hide it at first, she wasn't good enough…
Mason Han's new assistant?
She suddenly wanted to laugh.
When all the materials were ready, dawn was breaking.
Looking at the finished documents on the desktop, Raina Lu moved the mouse and slowly clicked shutdown. She was only helping Liana Xue out of consideration for Ann—and so Mason Han wouldn't be embarrassed at tomorrow's meeting.
She still couldn't be cold enough toward Mason Han. She really was… more than a little pathetic.
She helped Ann, asleep at the desk, to the lounge. Raina Lu herself was exhausted too, her eyes barely staying open.
Sure enough, after a few days of easy living, she couldn't even pull an all-nighter anymore.
After a quick wash, she took the elevator down, planning to grab breakfast first.
But the longer she stayed in the elevator, the dizzier her head felt. Holding the elevator wall, Raina Lu had a moment of blurred consciousness. Only when she heard a ding did she wake slightly and slowly step out.
It was still early. Only a few office workers passed through the first floor, all in a hurry.
After two steps she felt light-headed.
One hand on her bag, one hand supporting her head.
Raina Lu thought, once I'm outside, I'll get a taxi and it'll be fine.
Before the thought finished, her mind went blank and she pitched forward.
In the instant before she fell, Raina Lu heard the guard shout, "Ms. Lu." She prayed the building security was fast enough to catch her…
The next moment she fell into a broad, solid embrace.
Well… at least she was doing a good deed. Heaven had mercy—she wasn't completely out of luck.
That was her last thought before losing consciousness.
Mason Han caught the woman who'd thrown herself into his arms, stunned for an instant.
The next moment Raina Lu instinctively clung to him to keep from falling. Mason Han frowned involuntarily.
"Mr. Han, should we take Ms. Lu to a doctor?"
The guard had clearly been a step too late, but still looked at the half-conscious woman in his arms with concern.
Raina Lu was still draped over Mason Han's shoulder, her chin resting on his collarbone, almost her entire weight pressing on him.
Her breath was hot against his ear. Mason Han wanted to push Raina Lu away. His fingers touched her forehead—burning hot. She had a fever.
His mind weighed taking Raina Lu to the hospital against going to work.
He checked his watch. There was still a while before the morning meeting, but not enough time for the hospital.
Mason Han felt Raina Lu's forehead again. She didn't look unconscious—more like asleep.
After only a second's deliberation, Mason Han decided to take Raina Lu first to the lounge beside the general manager's office. He remembered there should be some fever medicine in the office. After the meeting, he'd take Raina Lu to the hospital.
The lounge was simply furnished—a bed, a desk, a bookcase—in the same minimalist tone as his office. It was where he usually napped at midday.
He helped Raina Lu lie down and searched through the drawers.
Mason Han didn't use medicine often and momentarily forgot where he'd put it. Mid-search he said absently, "Lu—"
Then he remembered Raina Lu was still asleep.
He had to admit, Raina Lu had been an utterly competent assistant.
He searched the bedside drawer and found a small medicine kit at the bottom.
Mason Han had just started to rise when he glanced to the side—Raina Lu's face.
This face was naturally one he'd seen more than enough of, yet it always seemed somehow different.
He was used to her spirited, serious, or challenging expressions. In memory he rarely saw Raina Lu vulnerable, let alone crying.
Perhaps because Raina Lu was too strong and forceful, Mason Han often forgot she was also a fragile, sensitive creature called a woman, treating her only as a capable aide and work partner.
Now Raina Lu lay unguarded on her back, hair scattered messily over her shoulders and cheeks. Fever flushed her face. Her sharp eyes were hidden beneath faintly trembling lashes, a ring of dark shadow under them. Her expression was relaxed. Her face, untouched by makeup, had an unworldly purity.
Mason Han suddenly remembered… Raina Lu was only twenty-five this year.
Finding the fever reducer, Mason Han helped Raina Lu sit up, lightly pinched her chin, and once her mouth opened quickly fed her the pill, helping her swallow with warm water.
Watching Raina Lu's throat swallow the medicine, Mason Han laid her down again.
Only after all of this did Mason Han quietly slip out to handle his own affairs.
In the room, Raina Lu heard the door close and slowly opened her eyes, her gaze complex.