The next morning.
When Sang Lu opened her eyes, Feng Yan was already up and no longer in the bedroom.
She yawned, scratching her messy hair.
Glancing at the time, she paused in confusion for a few seconds.
Weird.
She had only slept for six and a half hours—less than usual—yet she felt more energetic than ever.
After freshening up, she stepped out of the bedroom.
Feng Yan was at the dining table, leisurely sipping his coffee.
She greeted him with a bright smile:
"Good morning~ I slept so well last night, I feel like I could wrestle a bull today."
A new day.
Time for more small talk.
Her verbal barrage was second nature.
As she spoke, she noticed Feng Yan’s grip on his mug falter slightly. His dark, inscrutable eyes lifted to meet hers, carrying an unreadable emotion.
Sang Lu couldn’t decipher it.
So she pulled out a chair and sat down.
Taking a bite of toast, she casually asked, "Did you not sleep well last night?"
As far as she knew, Feng Yan had a strict internal clock.
He rarely needed an alarm, always waking up at the same time.
Seeing him up earlier than usual, she guessed he must’ve had a restless night.
And just like that, a natural conversation starter presented itself.
Without waiting for his response, she pressed further:
"Why couldn’t you sleep? Something on your mind?"
The moment the words left her mouth.
Feng Yan’s gaze flicked up again, heavy and lingering on her face for several seconds.
Finally, his lashes lowered.
He gave a slight nod—barely an acknowledgment—before resuming his breakfast in stoic silence.
"???" Sang Lu was baffled.
What was going on?
Just yesterday, he’d been perfectly willing to entertain her trivial questions.
Now, after one night, his attitude had turned lukewarm?
Had she overdone it with the chatter?
Fine. She’d dial it back today, keep the talking to a minimum.
The sudden silence from the usually talkative Sang Lu cast an awkward tension over the table.
So quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Even the faint sound of her peeling the crust off her toast seemed amplified.
She popped a piece of crust into her mouth, idly swirling her glass.
Chewing absently, she mused.
Ugh, Feng Yan’s moods were impossible to predict.
One moment warm, the next cold—completely unpredictable.
Just like his random bursts of speech, following no discernible pattern.
She was starting to wonder if Feng Yan was like those domineering CEOs from the novels she read.
The kind who’d fire an employee for stepping into the office with their left foot first.
Just… utterly baffling.
Feng Corporation headquarters.
CEO’s office.
Feng Yan leaned back in his chair, brow slightly furrowed, lost in thought.
All morning, whether signing documents or listening to reports, his expression remained tense.
One question gnawed at him relentlessly.
What was wrong with him?
How could he have unconsciously wrapped his arm around Sang Lu’s waist in his sleep?
The usually composed man’s eyes darkened.
What troubled him most was his own reaction.
Logic told him to let go immediately.
But emotion had shoved logic aside.
He hadn’t released her right away.
This loss of control sat heavily in his chest, disrupting his usual calm.
He was irritated by his own lack of discipline—and equally confused by Sang Lu’s sudden embrace. Yet judging by her tone this morning, she seemed completely unaware of it.
His thoughts tangled into a messy knot, with no loose end to unravel.
Buzz—
His phone vibrated on the desk.
Fang Assistant: [Sir, what would you like for lunch today? Dining upstairs or heading to the cafeteria?]
His fingers hovered over the screen.
He’d already decided, but at the last second, he changed his mind.
[Feng: Cafeteria.]
The executive dining area was separated from the employee section by just a wall, allowing snippets of lively chatter to drift over.
The less-than-silent environment.
Might help drown out the thoughts that had plagued him all morning.
Let the noise overpower the chaos in his mind.
……
Lunchtime.
The cafeteria buzzed with energy.
Feng Corporation was renowned in the capital as a dream workplace—not only for its above-market salaries but also for perks like biannual overseas trips, a well-stocked snack bar, and employee meals rivaling five-star hotel buffets.
Naturally, lunch and dinner were the most relaxed moments of the workday.
Near the entrance, a group from the marketing department chatted cheerfully over their meals.
"There’s this trending topic online—physiological attraction. Seen it?"
"Oh, I’ve come across it a bunch. What’s it mean?"
"It’s when someone’s body reacts to another person before their mind even realizes there’s attraction."
Another chimed in, "What kind of reactions? Give examples."
Someone quickly pulled up an article and read aloud:
"Stuff like smiling at you constantly, holding eye contact when talking."
"What else?"
"Deeper stuff—like sleeping better next to them, or being drawn to their scent."
Their voices carried across the room.
Just then.
The crisp sound of dress shoes echoed near the entrance.
Feng Yan walked in, passing their table.
"Wow, the CEO actually came down for lunch today?"
The group hushed briefly as Feng Yan entered the executive dining area, then resumed their chatter.
"Haven’t seen him here in ages."
"Hope he comes more often. Just looking at his unfairly handsome face makes my food taste better."
"That’s called physiological attraction!" someone teased.
"Ha! Don’t joke—I wouldn’t dare. Let’s call it… appetite-boosting admiration!"
"Pfft—"
Laughter melted into the cafeteria’s ambient noise.
No one noticed the usually icy CEO’s expression flicker imperceptibly as he walked past.
……
After lunch.
The private elevator dinged open on the top floor.
Feng Yan strode toward his office, his cool demeanor intact as he scrolled through his phone.
Fang Assistant trailed half a step behind.
Suddenly.
Fang Assistant’s expression froze.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of his boss’s screen.
The search bar displayed a phrase: physiological attraction.
Fang Assistant’s eyes widened in shock.
He quickly averted his gaze.
Internally, his mind was reeling.
Why on earth was the CEO searching for that?
