The morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains of Daniel Han’s room, gilding the sleek furniture in soft gold.
It should’ve been a peaceful start to the day.
It wasn’t.
Daniel stared at the envelope in his hand like it had just threatened his bloodline.
“Notice of Appointment” was printed in elegant gold cursive across the top. Below it, in neat black ink:
> Miss Jia Li has been appointed as Special Executive Consultant at Han Corporation, effective in three days. She will be granted full access to corporate records, operations, and strategic meetings, and shall function at equal rank to Director Daniel Han for the duration of the trial period.
Daniel blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then threw the letter across the room.
“Are you kidding me?!”
His shout startled Pearl, who had been peacefully curled up on the foot of his bed. The silver kitten leapt straight into the air, did a full 360° spin midair, and bolted under the out of the door with a hiss.
A knock came at the door a moment later.
“Danny?” came Lucas’s voice. “Are you okay? Did Pearl came in here?”
Daniel flung the duvet off and stomped to the door. “Yeah, I think I scared her off.”
Lucas stood there in dinosaur pajamas, blinking up at him with a half-eaten slice of toast in one hand. “You look like a fried octopus.”
“That’s because someone just declared war on me,” Daniel muttered darkly.
“Huh?” Lucas peered behind him. “Is Jia beating you again?”
“Again?” Daniel spluttered.
Lucas nodded cheerfully. “She beats you in chess. And brain teaser games. Remember when she solved the murder mystery app in twenty minutes and you needed three hints?”
Daniel stared at him.
Lucas took another bite of toast.
A voice called from downstairs.
“Breakfast’s ready!”
And just as Daniel was about to snap something snarky, she appeared.
Jia Li.
Wearing a crisp white shirt half-tucked into tailored slacks, hair swept into a ponytail, and Pearl perched smugly on her shoulder like a smug royal falcon.
She held up a travel mug.
“Morning, partner,” she said sweetly.
Daniel felt his eye twitch. “We’re not partners.”
She turned her head, gave him a once-over, and tilted her head with mock curiosity. “Why’s your face all puffed up? You look like a—” She paused, then smirked. “A very offended pufferfish.”
Daniel looked scandalized. “Excuse me?!”
Lucas burst out laughing. “You do! Like when he gets mad and his cheeks go poof!”
“I do not—”
Jia reached out and gave his cheek a light poke. “Puffy. Perfect.”
“I swear—” Daniel stepped back, ears going red.
“Puffer Han,” Jia said with faux elegance, clinking her mug against his arm like a toast. “Has a nice ring.”
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”
She winked. “Alright, Puffy.”
Lucas leaned into Daniel’s side, whispering conspiratorially, “Do volcano monsters get puffier when they’re mad too?”
Daniel sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Go finish your toast, Lucas.”
Downstairs – Breakfast table,
The table was set with a generous breakfast spread: eggs, toast, fruit, and tea. Madam Han sat at the head of the table, impeccably dressed as always, flipping through a newspaper.
She looked up as Jia entered and smiled faintly. “You’re early.”
“Efficiency is my love language,” Jia replied smoothly, sliding into her seat.
Daniel walked in a second later, slightly more composed but still visibly sulking.
Madam Han glanced between them. “You look tense, Daniel.”
“I’m fine,” he said flatly, taking his seat.
Lucas slid in beside him and whispered, “Puffy’s still mad.”
Madam Han arched a brow. “Puffy?”
“Don’t ask,” Daniel growled, stabbing his scrambled eggs.
Jia sipped her tea innocently.
Madam Han gave her a calm nod. “I trust you’re both prepared for what’s coming.”
Daniel raised a brow. “I’ve already accepted the challenge, haven’t I?”
Madam Han folded the newspaper and set it aside. “Correct. That brings us to the first test.”
Jia leaned back, calm and unreadable.
Madam Han continued, “You’ll be tested within the Han Corporation itself. Starting next week, Jia will join as a Special Executive Consultant. Both of you will be given equal access, and one week to execute an original project. Your performance will be judged blind by the executive board.”
“That’s the point,” Madam Han said coolly. “No favoritism. No bias. Just merit.”
Jia offered a pleasant smile. “Sounds fair to me.”
Daniel folded his arms. “And who’s assigning the projects?”
“You’ll propose your own. I want to see your initiative.”
Daniel glanced at Jia, who met his stare evenly.
No smugness. No mockery.
Just that same steady, unreadable calm that irritated him more than any insult could.
Daniel muttered, “More like playing chess with a shark.”
Jia lifted her teacup. “Good luck, Director Han.”
At the Han Corporation, Executive Floor,
“Here,” Daniel said shortly, holding open the frosted glass door.
Jia stepped inside her new office — minimalist, sleek, with panoramic views and a tablet already set up on the desk.
Pearl leapt from her shoulder onto the desk, curling up immediately as if claiming territory.
Jia glanced back at him. “Not bad. You sure you’re not threatened, Puffy?”
Daniel closed the door behind them with a sharp click.
“I don’t care what you’re planning,” he said. “You won’t win just because you like playing mind games.”
She looked up, her expression shifting — still calm, but with a dangerous glint beneath.
“This isn’t a game, Daniel,” she said. “You started it when you tried to humiliate me. I’m just playing by your rules.”
Daniel’s jaw clenched.
She walked up to him, close enough that he could smell her cologne — sharp, fresh, unbothered.
“And you’re right,” she murmured, leaning in just a little. “I’m not here to play fair. I’m here to win.”
Daniel didn’t flinch. But something flickered in his eyes. Not anger. Not pride.
Weariness.
Like someone tired of defending a kingdom that no one knew was already in ruins.
But Jia had already turned, strolling toward the desk like she’d simply delivered the weather report. She paused halfway, then glanced over her shoulder casually.
“Oh, and tell Madam Han the Wi-Fi password’s wrong,” she said with a small smirk.
Daniel stared at her for a beat. Then sighed, rubbing his face as Pearl — who had been silently observing like a royal judge from her curled-up position on the desk — yawned and blinked at him as if to say, You brought this on yourself.