There are some people who, once disliked, are forever intolerable—no matter how kind they appear, how good their intentions seem, or how right their words may sound.
Lin Xin'er was one of those people in Hailey Tang's world.
It didn't matter what she said, how talented she was, or whether she smiled with grace or reason—Hailey simply couldn't stand her. The animosity wasn't always logical, but it was deeply personal. It was instinctual.
But what Hailey didn't know… was that Lin Xin'er harbored her own storm.
Yes, Hailey didn't understand design. She didn't have formal training, academic degrees, or real experience. In Lin Xin'er's eyes, she was an intruder in their professional world, a clueless outsider who had no right to meddle in serious architectural work.
But beyond the professional scorn, buried underneath layers of pride and envy, there was something far more dangerous fermenting in Lin Xin'er's chest.
Fear. And jealousy.
Hailey Tang was supposed to be useless.
She was supposed to be a spoiled, sheltered rich girl with no ambition and zero capability—just a pretty face who married into power.
But she wasn't.
From the moment Lin Xin'er saw the rough sketches that emerged from Hailey's trembling hands, she knew—this girl has talent. Raw, untamed, but frighteningly real.
And that terrified her.
What if… what if Hailey truly developed that talent?
What if she grew stronger, smarter, more capable?
What if, one day, even in this one area where Lin Xin'er reigned supreme, Hailey stood shoulder to shoulder with her—or worse, surpassed her?
Lin Xin'er had always prided herself on being better. Better at designing, better at thinking, better at working. That was her one edge over Hailey Tang's privileged life. But now… even that was at risk.
She had to stop it.
So yes, maybe she had been a little cruel. Maybe she'd gone too far during the critique earlier.
But if she didn't nip Hailey's confidence in the bud now, she might never get another chance.
And yet, to her disbelief, Hailey came back.
Unshaken. Determined. Even more focused than before.
Lin Xin'er glanced at her across the room. Hailey was seated at her desk, immersed in a pile of documents and notes. Her eyes were fixed on the pages, her brows furrowed in intense concentration. There was no trace of the fragile, pampered girl who had entered this company.
She looked… serious.
Damn it. Lin Xin'er's chest tightened.
She couldn't relax. Not now. Not with this woman breathing down her neck—threatening to shatter the one thing she thought made her special.
She clenched her fists under the table. Fine.
If Hailey Tang wanted to be a designer so badly, then let's see who comes out on top.
She pulled her drafting pad closer and began sketching, her strokes sharp and decisive. I will outshine you. Even if the world bends in your favor, even if the CEO orders your design to be chosen—I'll prove I'm better. I'll design something so flawless, he won't be able to ignore it. He'll have to choose me.
And maybe then, he'll finally look at her… not as a subordinate, but as a woman.
As the right woman.
That hope alone fueled her resolve.
Meanwhile, Hailey was lost in her own world of focus. The documents Ethan had given her were surprisingly well-structured, with clear diagrams and concise explanations. She marked the pages she didn't fully understand, making notes to research later.
She didn't want to waste a second.
This wasn't just about a project. This was about dignity. About proving that she wasn't some disposable ornament in Ethan Yu's life.
She may not have a fancy degree, but she wasn't stupid. And if there was even a sliver of talent in her, she would dig it out and polish it until it shone brighter than anything Lin Xin'er could throw at her.
So when lunch break arrived, and the entire office flocked to the cafeteria, Hailey stayed at her desk, unmoved.
She didn't need food. She needed answers.
She didn't even notice how much time had passed until she heard footsteps approaching the empty office.
In the executive cafeteria, Ethan Yu had barely taken a bite of his lunch when he noticed something—or rather, someone—was missing.
He glanced around.
"Where's Hailey?" he asked casually.
Zhou Hua quickly answered, "Mrs. Yu said she wasn't hungry and wanted to stay and work through lunch."
Ethan's brow furrowed, but he said nothing. Instead, he stood abruptly.
"Order delivery," he instructed over his shoulder to Ji Chuan as he walked away.
Ji Chuan didn't need to ask. He already knew—it had to be two portions.
"Right away, sir."
But when Ethan returned to the office with the lunch in hand, he found the room empty.
She's not here?
He set the bags on her desk, his jaw tightening. He looked around but found no trace of her.
A sense of irritation—no, unease—curled in his chest. She was working too hard. Pushing herself too far.
Was she doing it just to get away from him?
Just for that damned divorce?
He sat down in her chair, absentmindedly fingering the corner of the design textbook she had left open. Her notebook lay beside it, filled with scribbles, diagrams, underlined words, and notes scrawled in red pen.
There was fire in these pages. Effort. Passion. Determination.
He leaned back, gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Why does she have to be so serious? So stubborn?
Had she always been like this and he just never noticed? Or had she changed… because of him?
He didn't like the feeling swelling inside him. It felt too much like guilt.
Or worse—care.
That evening, when Hailey returned to her desk after digging up materials from the archives, she found a steaming meal waiting for her, neatly packed and still warm.
She froze.
There was no note, but she didn't need one.
She stared at the food for a long second, lips pressed together, before finally sitting down and quietly opening the box.
She didn't eat much, but the warmth of the food seeped into her bones.
It wasn't a grand gesture. But it was… enough.
Enough to make her feel something she really didn't want to feel.
Maybe… maybe he doesn't want to ruin me.
But that didn't change anything.
The next morning, she came in early, dressed in a crisp white blouse and light gray pencil skirt. She looked fresh, radiant, professional.
Lin Xin'er arrived ten minutes later and caught sight of her from across the room.
Her lips curled in a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
You want a battle, Hailey Tang?
Fine.
Let's see who wins.