The Crimson Vow

The Shanghai skyline glittered under the evening sky, towering skyscrapers casting golden reflections across the Huangpu River. Among them stood the illustrious Chen Corporation headquarters, a glass-and-steel monument of power and ambition.

Inside, Xiaoyi Lin adjusted the lapels of her blazer, exhaling softly as she stepped into the grand lobby. The rhythmic clatter of her heels against the marble floor barely masked the pounding of her heart. This was it-the biggest career opportunity of her life.

She had spent the past four years rebuilding herself from the ground up after her father's company crumbled under betrayal. Now, at 22, she was one of the youngest rising stars in the corporate world, determined to prove herself at every turn. The opportunity to work with Chen Corporation, one of the most influential tech giants, was both an honor and a challenge.

Her confidence wavered slightly as she approached the elevator, where a small group of executives waited. A low murmur of conversation filled the air, but Xiaoyi remained silent, mentally reviewing her strategy for the upcoming merger discussions.

As the elevator doors slid open, she stepped inside, positioning herself toward the back. The atmosphere shifted when a man entered behind her-his presence commanding, almost suffocating.

She didn't have to look to know who he was.

Zhenyi Chen.

The name carried weight-an empire in itself. At 28, he was one of the youngest and most formidable CEOs in China. Ruthless in business, elusive in his personal life, and dangerously magnetic.

Xiaoyi had read countless articles about him, studied his negotiations, and prepared herself for the possibility of working under his scrutiny. But none of it prepared her for the reality of his presence.

Tall and striking, Zhenyi exuded authority with every step. His sharp black suit was tailored to perfection, framing a body sculpted by discipline. His dark eyes, cold and calculating, flickered briefly over the group before landing on her.

Xiaoyi forced herself to hold his gaze, unwilling to shrink beneath the weight of his attention.

The elevator doors slid shut. Silence settled between them, thick with unspoken tension.

The descent to the executive floor was swift, but to Xiaoyi, it felt like an eternity under Zhenyi's silent scrutiny.

As the doors opened, he stepped out first, his voice smooth but firm. "Miss Lin. My office. Now."

A few heads turned at the unexpected command, but Xiaoyi maintained her composure. Without hesitation, she followed him, her heart hammering with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

-

Zhenyi's office was nothing short of breathtaking-a floor-to-ceiling window offering a panoramic view of the city, sleek black furniture reflecting his personality: cold, refined, and untouchable.

He walked to his desk, his movements precise, controlled. "Sit."

Xiaoyi obeyed, crossing her legs as she settled into the plush chair. She met his gaze head-on, refusing to let him intimidate her.

"I assume you know why you're here," he began, leaning back.

"The merger," she replied smoothly. "My company has been selected to collaborate on the AI development project."

Zhenyi's expression remained unreadable. "Correct. However, I don't make decisions based on proposals alone. I judge people."

A challenge. She recognized it instantly.

"Then judge me by my work," Xiaoyi countered, her tone even. "Not assumptions."

A flicker of amusement-barely there, gone in an instant. "Confidence. I appreciate that." He studied her, as if peeling back layers she hadn't realized she was wearing. "But confidence without results is nothing."

"I have results," she said firmly. "My team is the best at what we do. We're here because we earned this opportunity."

For a moment, the tension crackled between them, the air thick with unspoken battles. Then, Zhenyi stood, walking toward the window. His presence was unsettling, but Xiaoyi refused to be the first to break.

"I don't waste my time," he said finally. "I expect complete dedication. You will be working directly under me."

A spark of something unfamiliar flared in her chest-an unsettling mix of excitement and wariness.

"I understand."

"Do you?" He turned, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Because working under me means being ready for anything. I don't tolerate failure. I don't accept excuses. And I don't trust easily."

Xiaoyi's pulse quickened. His intensity was suffocating, but she matched it with her own resolve.

"Then I'll just have to earn your trust."

Silence. And then, the barest tilt of his lips-a ghost of a smirk.

"Good," Zhenyi murmured. "Let's see if you can."

-

The following weeks were a whirlwind of meetings, late-night revisions, and the suffocating presence of Zhenyi Chen. He was relentless-demanding perfection, pushing limits, and never once showing an ounce of patience.

Yet, through it all, Xiaoyi held her ground.

She met his impossible deadlines. She countered his cold remarks with logic and confidence. And somewhere in the midst of their professional battles, something shifted.

It was in the stolen glances across the boardroom table. The way his gaze lingered a second too long when she spoke. The nights when they worked late, their conversations slipping from business to something dangerously personal.

She told herself it was nothing. That it was just tension-just the pressure of working under an impossible man.

Until the night everything changed.

-

The rain poured heavily outside as Xiaoyi packed her things, exhausted from yet another brutal meeting. The office was empty except for one other person.

Zhenyi.

She barely noticed him at first, too focused on closing her laptop. But then, his voice cut through the silence.

"Stay."

Xiaoyi froze, turning slowly. "It's late."

His eyes darkened. "Five more minutes."

She hesitated but nodded, settling back into her seat.

Zhenyi stood, moving toward her with deliberate steps. The air thickened, the distance between them shrinking.

"You challenge me," he murmured.

Xiaoyi's breath hitched. "I thought that's what you wanted."

A small, unreadable smile played on his lips. "It is."

And then, before she could react, he reached out, his fingers brushing a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

It was the smallest touch. Yet, it ignited something dangerous.

Neither of them spoke. Neither moved.

But in that moment, Xiaoyi knew-this wasn't just business anymore.

It never had been.

-