Chapter 2: Reel Her In

The elevator rose slowly, its inner walls reflecting the figures of the two women.

Bai Jin was a touch shorter than Lu Huan, dressed in a thinner light brown trench coat with fluffy curls cascading down her back. Compared to Lu Huan’s crisp blue shirt and suit pants, she appeared more youthful. At first glance, they did indeed look like sisters.

Lu Huan said nothing, and the atmosphere hung unusually quiet.

The hum of the elevator was especially clear in their ears until it settled to a stop on the sixteenth floor.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Huan grabbed the suitcase and stepped out, Bai Jin following silently behind her.

The door lock clicked open, and with a soft snap, the lights flickered on, revealing the simple furnishings to Bai Jin’s eyes.

It was a clean, minimalist style with bright lighting. A soft gray sofa sat before a glass coffee table, the polished floor free of any dust, and the air carried a faint, unique fragrance.

Lu Huan carried the suitcase inside first, changed her shoes, then bent down to pull a new pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet for her.

She didn’t utter a word throughout, then took Bai Jin’s luggage and headed to an empty room.

By the time Bai Jin slipped on the slippers and walked over slowly, Lu Huan had already hauled several items out of the cabinet.

Among them were unopened new duvet covers and fresh bedding.

“Put the bedding on yourself. I’ll stock new toiletries on the bathroom counter. The house has a washing machine for clothes—hang them up after washing. For special items, there’s a dry cleaner at the neighborhood gate, or you can call them to pick up.

“The fridge has drinks and milk, the cabinets are stocked with ingredients. There’s a gas stovetop; cook whatever you want yourself. Don’t expect me to look after you. And besides these things, don’t touch anything else.”

After issuing these cold instructions, she headed to the bathroom amid another bout of cabinet rummaging.

She always kept spares of her daily essentials for easy rotation. Toothbrushes, towels, bath towels—she could usually find matches in different colors.

After sorting everything out without pause, she strode straight back to her own room.

The door shut with a sharp click, as if she couldn’t bear to stay outside a second longer.

Bai Jin glanced at the new toiletries that had appeared on the bathroom counter—same style as hers, but a different color.

They sat spaced a short distance apart.

Placed together like that, it stirred unintended thoughts.

She stepped out, letting her gaze linger on the firmly closed door for a moment before withdrawing it and returning to her new room to unpack.

“……”

A second door slam echoed, and the outside fell silent too.

Alone on her bed, Lu Huan rubbed her fingertips together, then closed her eyes against a budding headache, pinching the bridge of her nose.

How had she actually brought this person home?

She’d really gone and done it…

The thought of living together from here on out made her head throb like it might explode.

“Tsk.”

And now she even had to join the company…

What kind of mess was this, day in and day out?

A three-month internship period to boot.

Lu Huan sighed, raked a hand through her hair, swiveled to her desk, and booted up her computer. She tapped the phone beside her and issued some orders to the other end.

Minutes later, the new employee’s file arrived.

She clicked it open with the mouse and navigated to Bai Jin’s resume.

Narrowing her eyes, her ink-dark gaze reflected the text onscreen. Once she’d read through, she saw that Bai Jin had been placed in the Planning Department.

Bai Jin had always been sharp, top of her class since childhood, admitted to a top out-of-province university. Her skills were beyond reproach.

Firing her outright would hand her leverage—and her mother would come down hard. Standard dismissal tactics wouldn’t cut it.

Lu Huan closed her eyes and exhaled steadily, forcing calm. She’d deal with it later.

Opening her eyes again, she noticed the flashing email icon in the corner—likely the new planning proposal mentioned earlier that day.

She opened the attachment, scanned it, and soon her slender fingers danced across the keyboard as she worked.

Time slipped by unnoticed, the house silent for ages.

The quiet was so profound that Lu Huan almost felt like she was still alone.

When she finally finished and surfaced, two hours had passed.

Why hadn’t there been a peep from outside?

Lu Huan checked the time, shut her laptop, and stepped out.

The living room sofa sat empty, that room’s door shut tight. The person must still be inside.

Lu Huan approached the door and paused, hesitating. But this was her home—what was there to fret over? She knocked twice.

No sound from within.

“Bai Jin.”

Lu Huan called out, eyes narrowing as she knocked again.

“Wait just a second.” A faint voice drifted out.

She waited longer, but still no sign of her.

Impatience stirred in Lu Huan.

At the same moment, an unwelcome suspicion bubbled up.

Was she up to something in there behind her back? Hurting herself on purpose to frame her, maybe—to tug at her mother’s heartstrings, or cook up some revenge.

Their history went back further than a day or two, after all.

The notion darkened Lu Huan’s face further.

Ears pressed to the door, she detected almost no movement inside.

Lu Huan skipped a third knock. In the next instant, she twisted the handle and pushed the door open.

But the sight that greeted her wasn’t her grim imaginings. Instead, it was a flawless white body.

Hair swept forward, exposing a jade-smooth back and the gentle curves of her form, all laid bare.

The figure seated on the bed’s edge, facing away from the door, sensed it open and turned her head slightly.

“…Sorry.”

Bang—

Lu Huan slammed the door before Bai Jin could fully turn.

Staring at the sealed door, Bai Jin felt an odd sense of flustered retreat.

Her lips curved lightly.

Into an enigmatic smile.

“……”

Outside.

Lu Huan’s eyes held rare traces of shock, her sharp mind blanking for an instant. That exquisite pale form had seared itself into her thoughts with one glimpse.

She’d nearly forgotten: shared living meant occasional privacy breaches.

Neither her mother nor this girl knew.

She liked women.

Her mother had never meddled in that side of things since she was young, and Lu Huan had never brought it up.

Another woman appearing suddenly at home was… awkward.

“……”

Leaving now would look suspicious. So Lu Huan stayed put by the door, waiting, her composure slowly returning.

Footsteps soon sounded from within.

The door opened, spilling light into the hall.

Lu Huan looked up to see Bai Jin, now dressed. Loose short sleeves draped softly over her frame, her slender pale limbs extended, curls falling across her chest.

Their eyes locked.

Lu Huan had to admit: those were striking eyes. Fox-like, with lashes sweeping upward, thick and dense, shadowing the subtle pouches beneath in faint indigo.

The irises gleamed pure as spring water, untouched by disturbance or blemish.

A real siren.

Bai Jin regarded her. “What is it?”

Lu Huan shoved the memory aside. “Company at eight tomorrow. Get sorted early.”

Bai Jin nodded. “I’ll shower in a bit.”

“Fine.”

Bai Jin stepped inside; Lu Huan closed the door behind her and added, “Lock it next time you change.”

The girl departed, but the words hung in the room, reluctant to fade.

—

The next morning, a sliver of sunlight pierced the curtains, angling across the floor.

Lu Huan’s internal clock woke her. She’d slept fitfully—probably the second presence in the house grating on her, or that evening glimpse refusing to leave her mind.

She threw back the covers, rose, and headed to the bathroom as usual. The door swung open—and collided straight into someone, shattering her lingering drowsiness.

Bai Jin, headband securing her hair, brushed her teeth at the mirror. Spotting Lu Huan, she turned to meet her eyes.

Tsk…

Lu Huan inwardly clicked her tongue in irritation, averting her gaze from the generous swath of snowy skin at Bai Jin’s collarbone.

She shut the door, retreated to the living room to wait her out, and only then washed up once Bai Jin emerged.

The night before, she’d locked every cabinet holding valuables in the room and stowed the living room’s sensitive items away.

She’d secure the room door tight before leaving too.

Only then did her annoyance ease a fraction.

A little past seven, they climbed into the car. Lu Huan fired up the engine. “Company’s close. I’ll drive you today; after that, you’re on your own—walk, cab, whatever.”

“At work, don’t count on my help. Trouble comes, I won’t bail you out. And don’t mention knowing me.”

Her words rang flat, emotionless.

“Mm. Got it.”

Bai Jin’s easy agreement left Lu Huan’s simmering frustration with nowhere to vent. She drove on in taut silence, face grim.

It ought to have felt heavy, oppressive. Yet to certain onlookers, it resembled a child’s petulant sulk.

Bai Jin stared ahead, serene, but her sidelong glances stayed glued to her companion, the barest smile ghosting her lips.

This woman hadn’t changed one bit.

“……”

At the company, Lu Huan didn’t enter with her. Ten minutes after Bai Jin went in, she took the elevator up to her office.

Finally, a stretch alone since yesterday.

The AC droned, pumping cool air.

After a brief respite, a knock sounded. Her assistant entered with a stack of files.

Zuo You cut a professional figure in a tailored hip-skimming suit skirt and heels that clicked authoritatively. Mid-twenties and razor-sharp at her job.

She handed off the documents, briefed Lu Huan on updates, and departed.

Lu Huan plunged into work.

Moments later, the glass door burst open.

The young woman sported a sleek black tube top, loose jeans slung low with chunky black platform sneakers, a glinting silver chain swaying at her waist—her endless legs stealing the show.

Vivid red lips hooked into a grin.

“Ha—comfier than ever in here.”

Zhong Ruo flopped onto the sofa without ceremony.

Lu Huan flicked her eyes up once, then returned to her tasks, unfazed. “What brings you by?”

Zhong Ruo was her friend from way back; their families did business, so they’d known each other forever. She stayed tight with Zhong Ruo and a few others now, hitting up the occasional unwind session.

“Beaten out by my darling folks again, of course—” Zhong Ruo sprawled, eyes shut in bliss.

“Not that I’m complaining, but your sofa’s criminal. Where from? Gotta snag one for home.”

Lu Huan flipped the page. “Take this one.”

Zhong Ruo exclaimed, “Ah, really? No way—I’ll call someone to come move it right now.”

“Really. Go ahead and move it,” Lu Huan said.

“Hm?” Zhong Ruo shifted to find a more comfortable position on the sofa. “Lu Huan, you’re acting really off today.”

“Off how?”

“The usual you would say something like, ‘How about I throw in the company too!’ Or, ‘Zhong 80K, why don’t you go dream about it.'”

Lu Huan couldn’t help but laugh at that. “That just shows you’ve got some self-awareness.”

“Come on, spill it. Did something happen?” Zhong Ruo glanced at Lu Huan’s expression, then lay back flat and propped her legs up in the air. “You never used to furrow your brow over files like that. Today it’s all knotted up.”

She had hit the nail on the head. Lu Huan really was lost in thought.

And it was all because of her—Bai Jin.

Bai Jin’s very existence had always made Lu Huan uneasy.

She knew her mother had always favored Bai Jin, the girl the Lu Family had taken in.

When Lu Huan was ten, her mother had arranged for Lu Huan’s aunt—her father’s younger sister, known as Little Aunt—to legally adopt Bai Jin.

Little Aunt lived by a no-marriage philosophy and was an avid traveler, rarely staying in the country. Using her as the legal guardian had made the adoption process easier.

Lu Huan could guess the reasons had mostly to do with the hassle of the paperwork.

Back when Bai Jin had first come to live with them, Lu Huan had spent every day scheming ways to drive her out. But her mother always took Bai Jin’s side and scolded Lu Huan instead.

Now that they were grown, her mother had forced Bai Jin into the company and put Lu Huan in charge of training her. It was probably all to give Bai Jin better exposure to the business.

Given how much her mother doted on Bai Jin, this was very likely a step toward having them run the company together someday.

A chill flickered in Lu Huan’s ink-black eyes, and a cold aura emanated from her entire body.

But why?

Everything here should belong to her alone. Why should she have to share it with anyone else?

Zhong Ruo noticed and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Lu Huan pulled her thoughts back and replied ambiguously, “I’m wondering how to get someone under my complete control.”

Heart and soul, willingly under her thumb.

If Bai Jin would just listen to her and sever her adoption ties with Little Aunt, everything would be so much simpler.

“Ha, you’re pulling my leg, right? That’s easy.”

Zhong Ruo toyed with a lock of her hair and drawled, “With our President Lu’s charm, is there anyone she can’t take down—”

Lu Huan’s fingertips paused slightly. “Speak clearly.”

Zhong Ruo’s eyes lit up with sudden excitement. She flipped over on the sofa, propping her chin with both slender hands and curving her lips into a grin, her bright eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Reel her in.”