Chapter 5 Their Colleagues Notice the Chemistry Between Them

Mei Ling arrived early at the office, as usual. The fresh morning air flowed through the open windows, and the city's bustle gradually filled the space with familiar sounds. As she settled at her desk, she began organizing the papers she had left from the previous day. She always enjoyed these first moments of the day for their tranquility, before the frantic pace of work took over.

Suddenly, the office door opened with a soft chime. Mei Ling looked up and saw Jian Wei, as always, carrying his usual confidence. He smiled at her and greeted her with a slight nod, as if it had already become part of his routine. However, she noticed something different in his gaze-something she couldn't quite interpret.

"Good morning, Mei Ling," he said with a slight smirk as he walked toward her. "How are you today?"

Mei Ling glanced at him briefly and then looked away, feeling a slight discomfort. Even though she was still trying to keep her distance, something in her chest was beating faster than it should.

"Fine, thank you," she replied shortly, turning her attention back to her papers.

Jian Wei didn't seem bothered by her coldness. He walked over to the printing area and began reviewing some documents. Mei Ling continued working, but her thoughts strayed toward him more often than she would have liked.

Around her, their colleagues began to notice the situation. Esther, the always observant coworker, raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile mischievously.

"See that?" she whispered to Li Wei, the young employee in charge of the morning deliveries. "I think something's going on between Mei Ling and Jian Wei!"

Li Wei, sipping his coffee, nodded with an amused grin.

"Really? Well, that would explain a lot. He always finds an excuse to come here and talk to her. Haven't you noticed how he always seems to seek her out?"

Mei Ling looked up at that moment and saw them murmuring among themselves. She felt a slight heat rise to her face, realizing that her colleagues had started speculating about her relationship with Jian Wei. Her discomfort grew instantly. She couldn't let things take this turn-not after everything that had happened.

"What's going on?" Mei Ling asked, trying to sound neutral.

Esther gave her a discreet but curious smile.

"Oh, nothing, nothing," she replied in an overly innocent tone. "It's just that you've been smiling a lot lately. It's rare to see you so relaxed at work."

Mei Ling tensed at those words. She knew exactly what they were implying. Over the past few weeks, Jian Wei had been coming to the office more frequently, and although he always had plausible excuses for his presence, she couldn't deny that something had changed. There were moments when, upon seeing him, her heart beat faster than normal, and that sensation unsettled her.

"I'm not relaxed," she replied quickly, trying to maintain a serious expression and leave no room for misunderstandings. "I'm just busy, that's all."

Esther studied her for a few seconds, evaluating her words. Mei Ling, seeing that her friend wasn't convinced, attempted to change the subject.

"Esther! Could you help me with this package?" she said, pointing to a box that needed to be prepared for the next client, hoping to distract from the conversation.

Esther didn't press further, but the knowing look she exchanged with Li Wei made it clear that she had already drawn her own conclusions. Mei Ling sighed under her breath, cursing inwardly. She wasn't ready to talk about this with anyone-especially not her coworkers. No matter what she felt for Jian Wei, she didn't want her personal life mixing with her professional one. The office was her sanctuary, the space where she could focus and do her job without distractions.

From a distance, Jian Wei had already finished his business and was approaching her desk for a final review. Mei Ling glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, immediately feeling a strange mix of nervousness and confusion. She tried to avoid eye contact, but he reached her before she could look away.

"I left some documents on your desk," he said casually, as if nothing was happening. "Oh, and by the way, thanks for your help with the shipments yesterday. It was really quick and efficient."

Mei Ling nodded briefly, unable to stop her face from turning slightly red. Though his words were kind and professional, the warmth in his tone made her uncomfortable. She tried to hide her nervousness behind a professional facade.

"It was nothing, just doing my job," she replied, trying to downplay the situation.

Jian Wei observed her for a moment, as if assessing something. Then, he nodded, as if he had understood something she hadn't said out loud, and left without another word. However, the atmosphere between them had shifted-just like the perception of their colleagues in the office. The silence that followed felt even heavier.

Mei Ling couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but she couldn't let her coworkers notice, much less let them get ideas about something she hadn't even figured out herself.

Inside her, confusion and discomfort intensified. What should she do? Should she ignore what she was feeling and continue with her professional life as if nothing had happened? Or was it time to let herself embrace the emotions she had been trying so hard to avoid?

She sat at her desk with a sigh, determined to focus on work, but knowing deep down that things between her and Jian Wei would never be the same.