The alarm on Ke Xin’s phone buzzed to life at exactly 7:30 AM, vibrating gently against the bedside table.

She groaned.

For a moment, she didn’t move. Just laying still, bundled in the soft warmth of her bed, the morning light slowly creeping in through the glass of the solarium.

The solarium wasnt originally her bedroom. It was actually a shared space she spent a lot of time in with her sister when she was younger. Playing and doing homework.

About a year after her sister moved out and got her own house, Ke Xin moved into the solarium, turning it into her bedroom.

With a soft grunt, she pushed herself upright and shuffled into the bathroom.

The water in the shower was hot and steady. She took her time, washing her hair thoroughly, letting the steam wake her up properly. Afterward, she towel-dried her hair and carefully blew it out smooth and glossy.

A touch of subtle eyeliner with the faintest wing, and some lipstick in a muted peachy tone.

Nothing too bold.

Just enough to look alive.

She dressed in high-waisted black slacks, the kind that flared slightly at the bottom and complimented her long legs. Her blouse was a cream-colored silk button-up with long sleeves, tucked neatly into her waistband. It shimmered faintly in the light, catching movement like water. Her shoes were simple black flats.

Her look was polished and reserved.

She carried herself downstairs, her footsteps soft on the steps.

The scent of breakfast greeted her before anything else.

One of the maids had already prepared the table. Warm congee with pickled vegetables, boiled egg, fresh cut fruit, and soy milk. Madame Li was already seated, delicately sipping tea in a navy silk robe with her hair swept up in a loose twist.

Ke Xin paused before sitting.

“Where’s Mo Jing?”

Madame Li glanced up and smiled. “He left early. He has a full schedule today.”

Ke Xin nodded once, sliding into her seat.

As she reached for the congee, her mother reached over with one hand and gently brushed Ke Xin’s hair back behind her shoulders, tucking it neatly so it wouldn’t dip into her bowl. Her fingers lingered, drawing soft circles across her daughter’s upper back in that absent, affectionate way only mothers could manage.

Ke Xin sighed under her breath, leaning forward slightly, eyes half-lidded in quiet bliss. She's always loved back rubs.

After breakfast, Ke Xin stood and adjusted the cuffs of her blouse. She picked up her black leather satchel from the entryway bench and draped her blazer over her arm.

“I’m going,” she said softly.

Her mother stood and followed her to the door. “Good luck, sweetheart. Have a good day.”

Ke Xin nodded and walked out the door.

She took the elevator down to the underground parking lot.

On the first level, nestled among other pristine vehicles, sat a sleek, slate-blue car with cream interior. The lights flicked on automatically as she approached.

She got in, started the engine, and pulled out of the space with ease.

The drive to Sheunghua Fashion would take about twenty minutes, traffic willing. Outside her window, the streets of the city slowly came to life, with commuters, market stalls already buzzing, and the sun climbing higher with golden confidence.

She kept one hand on the wheel, the other adjusting the volume of her playlist. Piano and orchestral only. Nothing too distracting.

Her expression stayed neutral, calm. But deep down, she could feel it.

A flicker of anticipation.

Today, she would walk into a company where no one knew her name, her legacy, or the weight behind it.

Today, she would be seen for what she could do.

And that was exactly how she wanted it.

—

Ke Xin parked in the staff lot, which was across the street from Sheunghua Fashion’s sleek glass building. The lot was a little less glamorous, but the car park was spacious and orderly. She paused for a moment after turning off the engine, giving herself a quiet moment to breathe before stepping out.

She draped her blazer over her arm, pulled the strap of her satchel over her shoulder and began the short walk across the street.

The breeze felt soft and refreshing, the morning sun kissed her skin, but she could already feel the weight of attention on her.

As she entered the building, a small group of employees passing through the lobby happened to notice her and couldn’t help but glance in her direction. One of them leaned over the receptionist’s desk, whispering, “Is that a new model the company’s working with?”

The receptionist blinked, clearly taken aback by the unexpected beauty in the doorway. She shook her head. “I don’t know, but she is stunning.”

Ke Xin didn’t look back as she approached the elevator, but she could feel the eyes following her as she waited.

She barely acknowledged the stares.

She was used to them.

Others who approached to wait for the elevator glanced at her with curiousity. No one spoke. What would they say?

The elevator doors opened, and Ke Xin entered, the rest of the group quietly following. The ride up was marked only by the occasional cough, and the air was stiff with the question of which floor she would get off on.

The elevator chimed and the doors opened on the floor that housed the Design and Managerial team.

Ke Xin stepped out, walking with purpose past workers standing around the area, talking with their morning coffee in had. She was focused, eyes scanning the office as she walked toward the assistant’s desk at the front of the floor.

“Excuse me,” she said politely, her voice soft but clear. “I’m new. I’m part of the Design and Managerial team. Can you direct me to where I should go?”

The assistant held a finger up for Ke Xin to wait, distracted by her computer screen. She looked up and became a little disoriented. It took a moment before the assistant reacted and processed the person standing in front of her.

“Down the left hall,” the assistant said, blinking out of it quickly. “Thank you.” Ke Xin offered a small, appreciative smile before turning down the hall.

She walked steadily to the office area, where rows of desks buzzed with activity. The floor was full of employees typing, talking, making calls, and moving in a quiet whirlwind of productivity.

At the side of the room, two women were standing by the wall, exchanging a quiet conversation. One of them was shorter, with shoulder-length curly brown hair. She wore a pink skirt and blazer with a white and black polka-dot blouse that had ruffles along the front, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. The other woman was a little taller than the woman in pink, wearing a fitted green dress. She seemed impatient, tapping her high heels on the floor, her posture stiff and unapproachable.

When Ke Xin approached, the green woman's gaze snapped to her, taking in her tall elegant figure, her smooth porcelain skin, and the aura of effortless beauty she exuded. It was the same reaction everyone had, the one Ke Xin was used to.

But the woman quickly shook off her surprise, pushing herself to speak first.

“Are you Li Ke Xin?” she asked, tone sharp.

Ke Xin nodded. “Yes.”

The woman’s lips twisted into a thin line. “Work starts at 9, you’re supposed to be here before then.”

Ke Xin glanced down at the thin silver watch on her left wrist. The watch face was on the inside of her wrist. She wore her watch like this so if she was ever caught in a long conversation,  then she could check the time more subtly by checking her inner wrist.

“It’s 8:50,” she said softly. “I’m already ten minutes early.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed, her irritation evident. “You should be here thirty minutes early, at least. Especially on your first day.”

Ke Xin opened her mouth to reply, but the woman waved her hand dismissively.

“I don’t want to hear any excuses,” she snapped, cutting her off. “Follow me.”

She led Ke Xin and the other woman, who had been silently observing, down the hallway to a row of empty desks. They were situated next to each other, their desks currently void of personal decor, making them appear uniform with each other.

“Since it’s your first day,” the woman in green continued, “you won’t have much work right now. But you’ll need to go through the coursework we give new hires. It’s about how you’d handle certain situations when presented with them. Just something basic to get you into the routine.”

She gestured toward a pile of binders and files stacked up in the corner of the office. “Once you finish, you can help make a dent with reorganizing and refiling these.”

With that, the woman, whose name was apparently Wei Yi Zhu, turned and walked away, disappearing into the sea of workers.

Ke Xin sat down at her desk, her expression neutral, but she was alert. She turned her head to the window behind her desk. It perfectly faced the east, where the sun will shine at her back all day. The office was all very different from the calm of her home with all the chatter and typing noise, but she didn't mind.

The real work, after all, would begin soon.