The air in Qin Feng's office crackled with an unspoken tension. Lin Wei stood frozen, the carefully rehearsed answers for her interview dissolving into a bewildered silence. The man who had caused her a morning delay, the infuriating Qin Feng from her past, was the very person who held her professional future in his hands.
Qin Feng leaned back in his executive chair, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he observed her stunned reaction. "Surprised, Ms. Lin Wei?"
Lin Wei finally found her voice, though it was sharper than she intended. "Surprised is an understatement, CEO Qin. I had no idea…"
"That the arrogant brat who always cheated at robotics competitions grew up to run the city's leading tech conglomerate?" He finished her sentence, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Life has a funny way of unfolding, wouldn't you agree?"
Lin Wei bristled. "I wouldn't call it funny. Inconvenient, certainly. And highly unprofessional, considering your… involvement in my delayed arrival."
Qin Feng's smile widened, a flash of the old, infuriatingly confident Qin Feng she remembered. "An unforeseen circumstance, Ms. Lin Wei. One that, I believe, has now placed us in a rather… advantageous position."
Advantageous for whom? Lin Wei thought, her mind racing. He clearly knew who she was before the interview. Was this entire process a setup?
"I fail to see the advantage," she said coolly, trying to regain her professional footing. "I came here for an interview based on my qualifications and portfolio, not on a chance encounter with someone from my past."
"Your qualifications are indeed impressive," Qin Feng conceded, gesturing to the datapad on his desk. "Your designs for the Vertical Gardens project are innovative and ambitious. Precisely the kind of vision Stellaris Tech needs."
Lin Wei felt a flicker of hope, quickly extinguished by the suspicion gnawing at her. "Then why the charade? Why not simply conduct a normal interview?"
Qin Feng's expression turned serious, a hint of something unreadable in his dark eyes. "Because, Ms. Lin Wei, our history adds a… unique dynamic to this situation. A dynamic I find… intriguing."
Intriguing for him, perhaps. For her, it felt like walking into a viper's nest.
"I'm not interested in 'intriguing dynamics,' CEO Qin," Lin Wei stated firmly. "I'm interested in a fair opportunity based on my merit."
"And you shall have one," Qin Feng said, his voice smooth as silk. "But let's be honest, Ms. Lin Wei. Our paths crossing like this… it feels like more than just coincidence, doesn't it?"
Lin Wei refused to acknowledge the unsettling feeling that prickled her skin. "Coincidences happen in a city this large."
"Perhaps," Qin Feng allowed. "But I've never been one to rely on chance. Especially when opportunity presents itself." He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "I'm going to offer you this position, Ms. Lin Wei."
Lin Wei blinked, genuinely surprised. "You are?"
"Yes," he confirmed, his eyes never leaving hers. "Your talent is undeniable. And frankly, having someone with your… spirited nature on my team could prove… interesting."
Suspicion coiled tighter in Lin Wei's stomach. This was too easy. There had to be a catch. "What are the conditions?" she asked, her voice wary.
Qin Feng's lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile. "Conditions? Only that you accept. And that you understand that working here… under my leadership… will be unlike any other job you've ever had."
"I expect to work hard and contribute to innovative projects," Lin Wei replied, meeting his gaze steadily. "That's what I came here for."
"Hard work is a given," Qin Feng said. "But I'm talking about more than just architectural designs, Ms. Lin Wei. I'm talking about… a closer working relationship. One where our past… informs our present."
Lin Wei felt a chill run down her spine. His words were deliberately ambiguous, yet the underlying implication was clear. He wasn't just offering her a job; he was offering her something else entirely, something tied to their shared history and his undeniable power.
"I'm not sure I understand," she said, though a part of her understood all too well.
"I think you do," Qin Feng said softly, his gaze unwavering. "We have a history, Lin Wei. A competitive one, yes. But also… a memorable one. I believe that energy, that… spark between us, could be… harnessed."
"Harnessed for what?" Lin Wei challenged, her defiance rising. She wouldn't let him manipulate her, even if it meant sacrificing this incredible opportunity.
"For success, Ms. Lin Wei," Qin Feng said, his voice regaining its professional edge. "For the success of Stellaris Tech. And perhaps… for our mutual… enlightenment."
Lin Wei stared at him, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of her, the ambitious architect eager to make her mark, desperately wanted this job. But another part, the Lin Wei who remembered the sting of his past victories and the arrogance in his eyes, recoiled at the thought of working so closely with him, especially under these veiled conditions.
"I need time to consider your offer," she said finally, her voice firm despite the turmoil within.
Qin Feng steepled his fingers again, a hint of impatience flickering in his eyes. "Time is a luxury in this city, Ms. Lin Wei. But I will grant you until the end of the day. However," his gaze intensified, "understand this. This isn't just a job offer. It's an opportunity. One that I rarely extend."
He stood up, his imposing figure dominating the room. "My assistant will show you out. I expect your answer by 18:00 hours."
Lin Wei met his gaze one last time, her own filled with a mixture of apprehension and a stubborn refusal to be intimidated. This was more than just an interview gone sideways. This was a challenge, a power play orchestrated by the one person she had always instinctively resisted. And as she walked out of his office, the panoramic view of Neo-Shanghai suddenly felt less like a symbol of opportunity and more like a stage for a battle she hadn't even realized she had joined. The forced proximity had begun, and Lin Wei knew, with a certainty that chilled her to the bone, that her life was about to become a lot more complicated – and a lot more entangled with Qin Feng – than she ever could have imagined.