Author's POV
While working at her desk, Xia Na received an application regarding Xingyue's leaves. Being concerned, she texted her.
Xia Na: Is everything alright, Xingyue? Did you meet her?
As she waited for her reply, someone called her name out. "Ms. Xia, someone came to meet you. I've asked her to wait in the lobby."
"Alright, thank you."
Leaving her phone at her desk, she walked towards the lobby.
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As she arrived in the lobby, her eyes fell on a familiar figure. Approaching the lady, she bowed. "Mrs. Ling." 
She had a quizzical smile when she saw Ling Xiao's mom. There was a continuous debate over the reason she came.
After a short conversation, his mom came to the main point. She grabbed a piece of paper from her bag and gave it to her.
"Here, Ms. Xia, a blank check for you. You can fill the amount as per your wish and leave my son alone."
Upon hearing it, she scoffed and replied. "Mrs. Ling, my love is not something you can buy off. I'm not dating him for his money."
"Is it so? Then, I'm left with no other option, Ms. Xia." She sighed as a smirk formed on her lips. "I'm one of the associates of this company. How about firing you from the job? Will this work?"
Wrinkles formed across her forehead as her eyes widened. Her hands trembled, showing anxiety.
"Don't worry, Ms. Xia. I'm giving you one last chance to make up for your mistake. Either your career or my son, the choice is yours."
While picking up her bag to leave, she added fuel to her burning heart. "I heard you have a lot of responsibility for your family. Make sure your parents don't feel disappointed by your choice. How would they feel if you chose a guy over them?" Gazing at her for the last time, she left the place, leaving her wrecked.
Lowering her head, she clenched her fist, trying not to scream.
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Summoning his day's weariness, Han Shuo had just stepped out of his cabin when he caught sight of Tang Xue.
"Ms. Tang? What are you doing here?" Turning back, she looked at him and said, "Mr. Han, I wanted to complete the pending work. So, I thought of staying a little longer."
Nodding his head, he asked. "Well, have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet, Mr. Han."
"Then, would you like to join me for dinner?"
She was amazed by his sudden invitation, but then what he said pushed her to join him.
"I'm a lonely person. I'll be glad if you accompany me."
Pausing, she replied, "I would love to."
His lips curled into a tiny smile as she picked up her stuff, and they left the place.
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Looking around, he sighed. "I thought you would choose an expensive restaurant, as I'll pay, Ms. Tang. I wonder why we are here."
Grinning, she glanced at the lady and ordered two bowls of rice noodles and one plate of dumplings.
"Because expensive restaurants can't make my favourite rice noodles like this place. It's a tiny shop, but the taste is richer."
After a while, the food came, and glimpsing her exciting face behind the rice noodles, he began giggling. Maybe he found her cute.
"Ummm... the perfect taste." Just in one bite, she could feel heaven.
With his lips turned down, he asked. "Tang Xue, do you hate me like others?"
Frowning, she glanced at him, baffled by this random question.
"Why would anyone hate you, Mr. Han? You're a kind person, a cool boss, and a loveable son."
Cutting her words off with a tiny laugh, he doubted. "Am I a cool boss? I heard my own staff talking about how their current boss doesn't deserve to be the CEO, and they miss their old boss." His eyes showed the despair he hid when he added. "A loveable son? I'm sure I gave him more regrets for having me than moments of being proud of me." His words described his lonely state. He was craving love, care, and comfort like he never had before.
"Are you sure about this? Because Chairman Han loves to blab about his son a lot. He always told us how talented his son is and how proud he feels to be his dad. And don't take their words to heart. They must be missing our workshops."
"Workshops?"
"Chairman Han used to hold a workshop once a year for us. It was actually a picnic for us to relax."
"Can we do that? I want to organise a workshop too."
"Sure, Mr. Han. I'll make a plan and let you know the details."
Finally, a smile appeared on his face when he tasted rice noodles.
"Now I know why it's your favourite, Ms. Tang."
"You know it's made of a special recipe, and you can only find this taste here-"
"Did someone ever tell you how talkative you are?"
The moment of silence turned into a burst of laughter when Tang Xue agreed with him.
Although he didn't say it, deep inside, he was thankful to her. Realising how he never had a proper dinner and laughed at silly things, he felt a corner of his heart turning into spring.
The cold heart that believed he would never feel the warmth of having someone seemed to get broken. And the spring of love lately, but finally found a corner in his heart.
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Tang Xue's POV
After getting out of there, we stopped near a bus stop.
"Let me drive you home, Ms. Tang."
"No, it's okay, Mr. Han. We live in two opposite directions, and we have a meeting tomorrow. It's better for me to take a bus."
"Still-"
Noticing the glares I threw at him, he gulped. "O- Okay. As you say, Ms. Tang."
After saying good night to him, I made my way to the road when he suddenly pulled my arm. "Watch out!"
A speedy motorcycle passed by us. But I could care less about that.
The moment I found myself in his arms, I felt a sudden rush in my body. I was unaware of why, but my heart beat so fast as I caught a glimpse of his face. His sharp jawline, plump, soft lips, and those lonely, deep brown eyes—for a moment, I was not in my right mind. Or did I always want to be in this state?
I was caught off guard when he lowered his head to meet my eyes.
"Ms. Tang, are you okay?"
He shook my arms, making me come out of my fantasy. Instantly, I stood up.
"Are you really okay?" He asked again in his concerned, soft voice.
Striking my hair strand, I replied. "Yes, I'm okay. Thank you, Mr. Han."
Before it could turn into an awkward moment, the bus arrived, and I successfully escaped from his sight.
But I wondered, "What if the bus arrived late and he found my cheeks turning red? What if he felt my heartbeat at that moment?"