Rain poured outside the glass windows of Raheja Innovations Shanghai Branch, and Lin Xiaoyu was convinced it was a divine warning.
Her very first client presentation.
Her slides—ready.
Her voice—shaky.
Her heart—having an out-of-body experience.
“Relax,” Mei Ling whispered as she straightened Xiaoyu’s blazer. “You’ve practiced this ten times.”
“I’ve also fainted once in rehearsal,” Xiaoyu muttered.
“You’ll do fine. Just don’t look directly at him.”
“Him?”
“Your kryptonite in a grey suit.”
As if summoned, Li Junhao walked in, calm and composed, holding his tablet.
He nodded at Xiaoyu, his voice soft but steady.
“You’re leading today. Don’t worry about being perfect—just be you.”
Her brain screamed, But being me is the problem!
The Meeting Room – 10:30 AM
The clients—two serious men in black coats—sat across the table, expressionless.
Xiaoyu stood at the front, fingers gripping the clicker like it was a weapon.
“Good morning,” she began, her voice smaller than intended. “I’m Lin Xiaoyu, the project coordinator for—uh—the Zhang account. Today, I’ll be presenting—uh—”
Click.
Next slide.
Wrong one.
The screen displayed a meme of a dancing panda with the caption:
“Motivation Level: Coffee Needed.”
A long silence.
Mei Ling slapped her forehead.
Junhao, seated beside the clients, raised an eyebrow—but his lips twitched.
Xiaoyu’s face burned. “Ah—technical error! Just a moment, please!”
She fumbled with the remote.
The clients exchanged glances.
Then she stuttered, “Our goal is to expand your brand’s reach—uh—”
Her laptop froze.
Junhao’s voice broke through gently.
“May I?”
She nodded, mortified.
He stood up, took the remote from her trembling hands, and smoothly continued,
“As Ms. Lin mentioned, our goal is not just expansion—it’s connection. Her strategy focuses on emotional branding, which is exactly what your market lacks.”
The clients leaned forward, suddenly interested.
His tone was confident, his explanations elegant—but he kept glancing back at Xiaoyu, as if silently saying You started this. I’m just finishing it for you.
When he wrapped up, one of the clients smiled.
“Impressive insights. Ms. Lin, very creative concepts.”
Xiaoyu bowed awkwardly. “Th-thank you!”
After the meeting, she slumped into her chair like melted pudding.
Mei Ling whispered, “You didn’t faint. That’s progress.”
“I also didn’t breathe for ten minutes,” Xiaoyu replied.
Junhao walked over, placing the clicker on her desk.
“Good work today.”
She blinked. “Good work? I crashed the slideshow!”
He shrugged lightly.
“But your ideas were solid. Next time, focus on the message, not the slides.”
She hesitated. “You saved me back there.”
“It’s part of my job,” he said softly, then added with a teasing glint,
“Also, that panda meme—very motivational.”
Her eyes widened in horror. “You saw that?!”
He smiled.
“Hard to miss.”
That evening, as rain continued outside, Xiaoyu sat in her small apartment, staring at her phone.
A new WeChat message popped up.
Unknown: “You did better than you think. Confidence looks good on you.”
Unknown: “—Your secret admirer ☕”
She clutched her pillow. “It’s him… It has to be him.”
But across the city, Li Junhao sat in his penthouse, watching the rain too, replaying her nervous smile in his mind.
He typed a message, then erased it before sending.
“You’re not just good at your job. You’re unforgettable.”
He deleted it, sighing.
“Not yet,” he murmured, smiling faintly. “She’ll know when the time’s right.”
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments