Li Qiao thought for a moment, then smiled brightly.
"Not yet. Has Master Yan eaten?"
Shang Yu didn't respond. He simply turned his head to look at her, his cold, deep eyes as calm as still water.
Their gazes met. The sunlight from the window lit up his sharp profile, making every feature appear striking and defined.
But the tight press of his lips and the faint frown between his brows made it clear—he was not pleased.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Li Qiao softened. She stepped forward, placing both hands on his desk and leaning in with a coaxing smile.
"You weren't around when I left. Next time I'll let you know before I go."
Shang Yu reached out and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He lifted his eyelids lazily, then nodded toward the coffee table.
"Go warm the food," he said, sounding slightly exasperated.
"Yes, boss," Li Qiao replied with a sweet smile, then turned and picked up the lunchbox before leaving the office.
…
In the break room, Li Qiao placed the elegant Shuijing Garden lunchboxes into the microwave one by one.
As the machine hummed to life, she found herself deep in thought.
With her increasingly frequent interactions with Shang Yu, she had begun to sense a certain domineering side to him.
It wasn't overly obvious—yet—but the signs were there.
He had a strong, almost obsessive desire to control certain people and situations.
Did she dislike it?
Li Qiao asked herself honestly.
After some consideration, she lowered her gaze and chuckled softly.
Of course not.
To her, his domineering ways and possessiveness were simply another form of attention and care.
This lunch from Shuijing Garden alone was enough to prove that.
A few minutes later, the food was warm. Li Qiao carried the boxes back to the Chairman's office.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside—only to be stopped short by a sharp voice.
"Why didn't you knock? Who let you enter the Chairman's office without permission?"
It was a woman's voice.
Li Qiao narrowed her eyes and calmly looked toward the lounge area on her left.
There stood a woman dressed in all black—black top, black pants, and combat boots.
Her eyes were sharp and her features angular.
She wasn't what most would call pretty—perhaps because of her high cheekbones and short hair, she had a harsher, more masculine edge.
She stood shoulder to shoulder with Liu Yun at the coffee table. The two were about the same height, both tall and slender—at least 178 cm.
Shang Yu was seated on the sofa, arms resting lazily along the backrest.
His posture was relaxed, yet undeniably attractive.
After the woman's snappish comment, Liu Yun bumped her shoulder lightly in warning.
Shang Yu looked over and met Li Qiao's gaze. The tension in his brows eased, and he lifted a hand, beckoning her.
"Come here."
Expressionless, Li Qiao stared straight at the woman as she walked forward, placed the lunchbox on the table, and sat down without hesitation.
She leaned back against the sofa with her legs crossed, head held high, and looked directly at the woman with cool arrogance.
The woman was visibly startled by the bold move.
Shang Yu took one look at Li Qiao's indifferent expression and chuckled softly.
He introduced, his tone low and magnetic,
"This is Luo Yu."
Li Qiao raised an eyebrow with idle interest.
So this was Luo Yu—one of the four elite assistants.
"Boss… she is…?" Luo Yu asked, trying to suppress her surprise as she openly sized Li Qiao up.
Liu Yun glanced at her and quickly whispered,
"This is Miss Li—the boss's special assistant."
Special assistant.
That sounded… pretty special.
Luo Yu's expression flickered. She gave Liu Yun a side-eye, her tone laced with edge.
"So Chasing Wind was because of her—"
Before she could finish, Shang Yu's gaze sharpened.
His brow arched slightly as he gave her a long, meaningful look.
"Have you been in Parma so long you've forgotten how to behave?"
Luo Yu's face instantly went pale. She lowered her head quickly, her tone respectful.
"I apologize, Boss. I was just… surprised."