Lin Waning sat at her desk, diligently organizing a thick stack of documents. She buried herself in work, trying to keep her mind occupied—trying to pretend that her world hadn't been thrown into chaos just the night before.
The torn-up contract.
Shen Sihan's sudden shift in attitude.
She couldn't make sense of it, so instead, she worked. Focus was her only antidote.
She was reviewing a critical cooperation agreement when her phone buzzed. Startled, she looked down and saw an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. A faint frown crossed her face as she reached for the phone and answered it.
"Hello?"
A crisp male voice came through, tinged with cautious nervousness. "Miss Lin? Hello, I'm the Public Relations Manager of the Shen Group. I'm calling to inform you of something."
"Public Relations?" Lin Waning's frown deepened. "Go ahead."
"The President has decided to relaunch a high-priority collaboration project with Hua Yuan Group. However, he specifically requested that you… that you serve as the female representative at the press conference."
There was an obvious hesitation in his voice, as if he was unsure of her reaction.
Lin Waning's heart skipped a beat. Her fingers trembled slightly.
She should have seen this coming. Of course Shen Sihan wouldn't simply let things end. And this—this was his method of pulling her back into his orbit, one calculated move at a time.
She wanted to refuse.
But now that she had taken over a portion of the company's shares and was operating as an official partner to the Shen Group, a refusal would seem inappropriate—perhaps even unprofessional.
"…Alright," she said finally. "I'll attend."
She ended the call and let out a long, heavy breath. Her eyes darkened.
She was no longer that powerless girl without a background or voice. She now had her own company, her own future. Shen Sihan's presence didn't define her anymore.
By the time Lin Waning stood in front of the Shen Group headquarters, the sun had risen high, casting golden rays through the towering glass facade. She stood tall in a tailored suit, the light illuminating her calm, composed face.
She looked up at the skyscraper before her—a place that once made her feel insignificant. Now, she stood firm, without a trace of fear.
Walking inside, the receptionist greeted her with a respectful nod. "Miss Lin, President Shen is expecting you."
"Thank you," she replied politely, her emotions a complex swirl beneath her composed exterior.
As the elevator ascended, her thoughts drifted. She didn't know whether she was avoiding something or hoping for something. Their once simple contractual arrangement had evolved into a tangle of unresolved emotions and silent misunderstandings. Every time she tried to walk away from this marriage, something—some invisible thread—pulled her back.
When the elevator doors finally opened, she stepped into the conference room. Her eyes immediately fell on Shen Sihan.
He was standing near the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to her, posture rigid and commanding. Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a golden halo around him. He looked like a figure cut from stone—mysterious, powerful, untouchable.
"President Shen," she greeted softly, her voice betraying a slight tremor.
He turned around slowly, his gaze meeting hers.
In that instant, time seemed to stop.
He said nothing at first. His eyes, calm as a still lake, locked onto hers—waiting.
Lin Waning felt a strange pressure in her chest. She drew a deep breath and took a step forward.
"This collaboration," she began, trying to sound professional, "I'll do my best."
But Shen Sihan ignored her statement. Instead, he walked to the table, picked up a document, and handed it to her. "Here are the adjusted terms of the project. Considering your company's recent developments, I've modified some clauses. Have a look."
She took the file, flipping it open briefly. A flicker of doubt passed through her eyes.
She didn't read further. Instead, she looked up at him, her voice steady now. "Did you call me here just to discuss business… or is there something else you want to say?"
Finally, Shen Sihan spoke. His tone was low, with a quiet intensity. "There's something else."
Lin Waning's breath caught.
Her heart started to race. Her instincts screamed that whatever came next would be far from a standard negotiation.
"You…" she started to ask, but he interrupted her.
"Do you know what I did last night?" His voice was deeper than before.
She froze. "…What?"
"I didn't leave," he said, stepping closer. "I waited outside your door the whole night—until you signed the termination agreement. I didn't knock. I didn't speak. I just waited."
He stared into her eyes, his own gaze unwavering. "I've never given up on you, Lin Waning. Not for a second."
Her heart clenched.
This man—cold, powerful, and always in control—now stood before her, exposing raw emotion she had never expected to see.
She was shaken.
They had reached the end. She had torn up the contract. They had parted ways.
And yet his words stirred something deep in her chest—a painful, undeniable longing.
Just then, the door to the conference room swung open.
A tall woman stepped inside.
She had long, voluminous hair, expertly applied makeup, and an aura of effortless elegance. But there was also a cold arrogance in her eyes as she surveyed the room.
"President Shen. Miss Lin. Apologies for being late," she said in a voice that sounded like fine crystal—sweet on the surface, but laced with challenge.
Lin Waning's heart dropped.
She knew immediately who this woman was.
The one Shen Sihan had never mentioned but who had always lingered like a shadow in his past.
His white moonlight—Cheng Xinyi.