Shen Han woke up that morning in an unusually good mood. And who could blame him? It was his first day at a new job after what felt like forever bouncing between applications and interviews. But if he were honest with himself, that wasn't the only reason he felt excited.
Jia Wen worked at the same company.
Alongside the joy, though, came a quiet nervousness that had been lingering ever since he found out. He couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like to see Jia Wen again. How would he look him in the eye? How should he start a conversation or even control his expression? Shen Han knew—just imagining it was already difficult. Doing it for real would be something else entirely.
And besides, he probably shouldn't get his hopes up about seeing Jia Wen too often. After all, he was just a regular employee, and Jia Wen was the boss.
He still remembered how happy his parents were when he told them he finally got a job, but of course, he left out one small detail: that the company belonged to Jia Wen. That he would be working under him. Telling them that didn't seem like a good idea at all.
"I'm heading out!" After finishing the breakfast his mother prepared, Shen Han quickly said goodbye and rushed out the door. Being late on his first day wouldn't help him keep the job.
There was something strange about the feeling. Usually, he'd be leaving home to chase job openings—but this time, he was leaving for an actual job. It felt weird, unfamiliar, but he liked it.
Upon arriving, Shen Han was directed to the HR department, where the manager escorted him two floors down to the finance division. There, he was left alone with the finance manager—someone he thought was a little eccentric, but seemed kind enough.
"Lin Shen Han, right?"
He nodded.
Noticing his nervous energy, she offered a reassuring smile. "I remember what it's like being nervous on your first day. You'll be fine, okay?"
Shen Han nodded again, returning her smile, though his fingers were gripping tightly at the strap of his bag—trying to find something to ground him.
"I'm Huang Ai Lin, by the way." She extended a hand toward him. Shen Han quickly shook it, smiling again.
The first hour of his day was spent being introduced to everyone in the finance department. During that time, he did his best to memorize all the faces and names. It would be embarrassing if he called someone by the manager's name.
After that, they began teaching him the tasks he'd be doing. Shen Han was relieved when he realized he wasn't alone. There was another newcomer like him, and that helped ease the isolation.
Her name was Bai Yu.
"You know, this was my forty-fourth job application," she told him as they sorted through a chaotic pile of documents. Shen Han listened as she continued chatting. "I told myself, if this one turns me down too, I'm done applying."
If Shen Han could take away anything from their conversation, it was that Bai Yu talked a lot. She didn't seem to run out of things to say.
"Have you seen our boss yet, Shen Han?" Bai Yu's tone suddenly dropped, and Shen Han blinked at the sudden change.
"Zheng Jia Wen," she whispered.
Shen Han didn't want anyone knowing about his past with Jia Wen. That chapter of his life was something he wanted to keep private.
He could've told her. But he chose not to. So instead, he shook his head and pretended he had no idea.
"No way! Seriously? You've never seen him? He was on the cover of Orbes, for crying out loud." Her disbelief was genuine. "Hold on, I've got something."
She stood up and went back to her desk, rummaging through her bag with suspicious secrecy. Shen Han didn't know what she was doing until she returned, hiding something behind her back like it was top secret.
It was a magazine—with Jia Wen's face on the cover.
He had to admit, Jia Wen never looked bad in photos. He always had that same effortless charisma.
Shen Han took the magazine, eyes locked on Jia Wen's face. Bai Yu probably thought he was reading the articles, but he wasn't. He didn't care about the headlines or interviews. All he saw—all he wanted to see—was Jia Wen.
"What do you think? Handsome, right?" she said cheerfully.
Shen Han just nodded, smiling slightly as he handed the magazine back. If anyone in this world could truly validate how handsome Jia Wen was, it would be him. They had spent enough time together in the past—too much, maybe.
"I wonder when we'll get to see him in person," Bai Yu murmured, propping her chin on one hand while the other tapped repeatedly on Jia Wen's forehead in the magazine.
"You probably have to mess something up first," Shen Han said, tugging her hand away playfully.
"No way. I just started. I don't want to get fired on my first day."
After that, the conversation quieted. They both focused on their work until lunch break came.
Shen Han and Bai Yu walked together to the cafeteria, ordered their meals, and began looking for an empty table. Holding the food tray awkwardly in his hands, Shen Han scanned the room, hoping they wouldn't have to stand too long.
"Shen Han! Bai Yu!" They turned and spotted a few coworkers from the finance department waving them over from a table in the back.
Pretending not to see them wasn't an option, so they walked over and joined the table.
While they were busy eating and chatting, a commotion rippled through the room.
"Hey, hey! The boss is here," someone whispered.
Shen Han looked up from his lunch.
There he was—Jia Wen. Standing at the cafeteria entrance. And beside him was Yuan Qi.
Every part of Shen Han wanted to look away, but he couldn't. His eyes stayed on Jia Wen, soaking in every detail. Nothing had changed about his appearance. If anything, Jia Wen looked even more mature, more striking than the last time Shen Han saw him.
The way he walked, the way he slid his hands into his pockets—every movement, every gesture was just as he remembered.
And there he sat, watching like some lovesick stalker from across the room, too afraid to say anything. But that was fine. If Jia Wen didn't notice him, it was better that way.
At least, that's what he thought—until their eyes met.
For a moment, Shen Han felt the entire world go quiet. Like it was just the two of them in the room, no one else.
But Jia Wen broke the gaze first.
Instead of continuing into the cafeteria, Jia Wen turned abruptly and left—ignoring Yuan Qi's voice calling after him.
Shen Han could only sit there, his heart sinking.
He wasn't stupid. It was obvious he was the reason Jia Wen left. Maybe Jia Wen couldn't stand to be in the same space as him. Maybe he was disgusted. Maybe…
Maybe Shen Han had made a mistake taking this job after all.