Among all the people in the meeting room, one gaze was especially intense.
It came from Lin Xinyer.
She was staring at Ethan Yu with undisguised admiration in her eyes. Her gaze shimmered with respect, worship, appreciation—and the faintest trace of infatuation.
She took notes with focused precision, as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist and only Ethan Yu remained.
Lin Xia watched her silently, somewhat impressed. Just days ago, Lin Xinyer had been hospitalized. Now she was already back at work, calm and poised as if nothing had happened.
Talk about dedication.
No wonder Ethan Yu had chosen her in the previous timeline.
She was not only beautiful and capable but also fiercely loyal—and clearly adored him. The perfect partner for a man like him.
So it made sense that she had lost back then.
Luckily, she wasn't clinging to Ethan Yu anymore. If she still had feelings for him, she'd be setting herself up for heartbreak all over again.
Still… knowing she'd once failed so miserably did leave a bitter aftertaste.
Trying to clear her thoughts, Lin Xia glanced back toward Ethan Yu.
He looked calm and commanding, sitting at the head of the table like a monarch. That sharp side profile, the way he leaned back in his chair with relaxed authority—it all added to his magnetism.
She could still admit it: he was flawless.
But that was all.
No matter how perfect he was, she no longer wanted to be anywhere near him.
And she had every reason to keep her distance—from now until forever.
Just as she turned to leave, she collided straight into Ethan Yu's secretary, who had been hurrying over with a cup of steaming hot coffee.
The impact sent the coffee flying.
"Aah!" Lin Xia cried out in shock as the scorching liquid splashed across her arm and down her white skirt. She reflexively let go of the bag she'd been holding—lunchboxes tumbled out and crashed to the floor.
The secretary looked mortified. "Ma'am, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you! I—I wasn't trying to—!"
She quickly pulled out a handkerchief and started dabbing at Lin Xia's soaked dress in a panic.
But the damage was done: her once-pristine skirt was stained, and an angry red patch had bloomed on her forearm.
The poor secretary looked like she might cry. "What should I do? You're hurt! I'll go get a doctor—right now!"
"No need," Lin Xia cut in before she could run off. "It's not that serious."
It was just a minor burn. Nothing worth making a fuss about.
But then came a low, stern voice behind them.
"What happened?" Ethan Yu emerged from the meeting room, his dark eyes already narrowing.
The secretary turned pale. "I—I spilled coffee on Mrs. Yu! I didn't mean to—I'm really sorry! It's all my fault!"
Lin Xia stood calmly, her tone light. "I'm fine. It's just a small burn."
But Ethan Yu's gaze landed on her arm—and darkened at once.
Without another word, he strode over and took her by the wrist, inspecting the burn. "This is what you call fine?" His voice was sharp.
"It's really nothing," she insisted, pulling slightly away. "Doesn't even hurt."
Ethan Yu paused, his expression unreadable as he looked at her. Something about her composure caught him off guard. She wasn't angry. Not even flustered. If this had happened before, she would've made a scene.
Now she was just… distant.
"Get some burn cream," he ordered the secretary. "And a new skirt."
Then he turned, still holding Lin Xia's hand, and marched her off toward the restroom.
She blinked. "Wait—what are you doing?"
"You need to rinse that burn," he said without turning back.
Behind them, Lin Xinyer stepped out of the meeting room just in time to see them disappear around the corner.
Her brows furrowed slightly, but she quickly smoothed out her expression and turned to the secretary. "The burn cream is more urgent. You go get that—I'll buy the skirt for Mrs. Yu."
The secretary looked grateful. "Really? Thank you so much!"
"It's no problem," Lin Xinyer replied with a warm smile as they both headed to the elevators.
But the glint in her eyes as she turned away said otherwise.