Chapter 5: First weekend

One week had dragged on from Lianna's first day at Sheng Global Industries, and it had felt like an eternity. Relentless tasks, late nights, endless responsibilities-the grind was wearing her to the bone. Day in and day out, it was a struggle as Sheng Rui piled on more work, more challenges; it seemed like he was testing her limits. Yet she fought on and would not quit, even when exhaustion overwhelmed her.

Her diet had dwindled to just cup noodles, the flavors and brands of each melding into one monotony. Still, Lianna made do; she knew she had no other choice now that every penny counted.

It was her first day off, and for the first time in days, she allowed herself to collapse onto her couch, sans the worry of deadlines and office tasks. With a deep, relieving sigh, she turned on her laptop and scrolled through her dramas list. A sweet, light-hearted **C-drama** caught her eye-just what she needed to forget work, her father, and the harsh reality of her life.

The moment the theme song of the soap opera sounded, and the cute misunderstandings and love triangles took over the screen, Lianna's attention wandered away and she was free for a while. **It wasn't until her phone rang.**

First, an identification on the screen flashed: her father.

Lianna groaned; her eyes narrowed irritably. She knew already what this was about. She hadn't spoken to him since she'd left the house, and it wasn't rocket science to figure out why he was calling now. Bracing herself, she picked up reluctantly.

"What do you think you're doing?" her father's voice boomed through the phone before even she had a chance to say hello.

Lianna winced, pulling the phone an inch away from her ear. "Hello to you too, Dad."

"Don't 'hello' me," he snapped, his voice honeyed with irritation. "I just found out where you're working."

Lianna's heart sank; she had been very careful not to mention Sheng Global to her father, knowing he would only raise a ruckus. His business rivalry with the Sheng family was well documented, and she had no interest in getting in between crossfire.

"Why in the world are you working for Sheng Rui? His father and I have been sworn enemies for decades!" her father burst. "You quit that job this instant!"

Lianna let out a sigh, her eyes rolling. "I'm not quitting. I got this job on my own, and I don't care about your old grudges."

"Don't be ridiculous, Lianna. I won't have my daughter working for the son of my enemy. You can get a job anywhere else."

She muttered under her breath, "Good luck with that. I've already applied to over a hundred companies. Sheng Global was the only one that hired me."

Her father's voice turned even colder. "Then I'll find you something else. Quit that job, or—"

She cut him off, her patience snapping. "Or what? You can't control me anymore, Dad. I'm doing this on my own." Without waiting for his response, she hung up the phone and tossed it aside, rubbing her temples.

**Typical.

It was always the same. Her father had never allowed her to make her own decisions. He still found a way even when she tried so hard to prove herself to him now. She knew that he had someone out there spying on her, making sure he knew of every move she made. Surprising it wasn't, but it wasn't any less infuriating.

Lianna sighed deeply and returned her attention to the drama, their cute and innocent romance hopefully riveting her enough to lose herself in it. But before this could happen, a knock came on her door.

The frown immediately appeared on her face, and she paused the show, rising into a standing position. What was she to do? Nobody was expected to visit her. She opened the door and felt her heart skip a beat.

It was **Sheng Rui**, standing in the doorway, looking cool and collected, just as he always did.

"Mr. Sheng?" she asked, her voice full of bewilderment that he was there at all. "What brings you here?"

"I need a favor," he said without using any words he didn't need to, speaking briskly and professionally. "There's a business party tonight. I was supposed to go with a partner, but they canceled at the last minute. I need someone to go with me."

Lianna blinked, still trying to process what was going on. "And… you want me to go with you?"

Sheng Rui's eyes swept over her, his expression unreadable. "Yes. If you agree, I need to make sure you look presentable."

Lianna scowled, folding her arms across her chest. "You could've just called, you know."

A faint, sardonic smile had curled his lips. "I needed to make sure you understand the importance of this event. If you're coming with me, you can't just show up looking like that."

Lianna looked down at her worn-out clothes suddenly and felt self-conscious. That's when she was going to make an indication to tell him to forget it, that she had no interest whatsoever in attending any party when he added, "I'll give you a $1,000 bonus with your next paycheck. And an extra day off."

Her jaw opened somewhat. Now, that was tempting, especially considering how tight her purse strings were. She could buy something more substantial for the first time than cup noodles.

She exhaled a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine. I'll go."

Sheng Rui's face softened by a fraction, but quickly he turned away, his cold mask hauled back on. "Good. Come with me. We don't have much time."

---

The drive to the boutique was dead silent, save for the purring of the engine. Lianna sat stiffly beside Sheng Rui, unsure of what to say. When they got to the upscale shop, he took her inside with his usual silence. The staff, who were quite accustomed to him, greeted him with deep bows and respectful smiles before turning to Lianna.

The next hour was a blur of dresses, shoes, and accessories. Sheng Rui was sparing no expense, making sure everything was perfect. They finally settled on this gorgeous black gown-elegant, fitting, with a subtle sparkle that would catch light perfectly. Lianna couldn't even recognize herself as she stood in front of the mirror with her hair professionally done and her makeup fully completed.

She caught his reflection behind her-the normally impassive face tinged with something she couldn't quite place. His eyes softened as they trailed over her, and for a brief moment, she thought he might be… blushing? But before she could say anything, he quickly looked away, his cold mask snapping back into place.

"You look fine," he said gruffly, clearing his throat. "Let's go. We're late."

Lianna frowned, mouthing silently that she must have been mistaken when the flash of emotion crossed his eyes. Sheng Rui never blushed. He was emotionless. He was cold, remote, and unreachable.

---

The party venue was a very exclusive place to be in, filled with the wealthiest and most influential people of the city. The moment Lianna and Sheng Rui stepped inside, everyone looked in their direction, whispers spreading like wildfire.

"Did you guys hear about Lianna Han?”

"I heard she just came back from abroad."

"She's engaged to Zhao Ling, right? What a perfect couple they'll make."

Lianna's stomach churned. She had hoped to be able to live without the spotlight for a while longer, but seemed her reputation had followed her even here. Everyone here knew her name, even if they didn't recognize her face.

Sheng Rui leaned in a little, the low, husky amusement dripping in his voice. "I forgot you share the same name as Lianna Han."

Lianna gave him a raise of an eyebrow at the reason behind his comment.

He chuckled again, which is what sent her to pause. The sound was rare enough to have this effect. "The only thing common to her is your name. She is rich, spoiled, and probably would not survive a week in the real world."

Lianna's jaw clenched, but she said nothing, letting the comment slide. If only he knew.

As they mingled with the guests, Lianna couldn't help but wonder exactly how long she could continue with this act. She wasn't that girl which Sheng Rui thought her to be, but for now, it was time to play along.

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