chapyer 20: tired

Feng poked his head in, his usual nervous energy somewhat subdued. "Sir? Is there anything you need?"

Chenxiu turned, fixing his assistant with a penetrating stare. "Bring me the files on Project Nexus, and a scotch."

"Right away, sir," Feng nodded, hesitating for a moment before adding, "Are you... alright, Mr. Liang?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across Chenxiu's face. "I'm fine, Feng. Just... tired."

As Feng scurried off to fulfill his requests, Chenxiu sank into his leather chair, allowing himself a moment of quiet reflection. The board meeting had gone as well as could be expected, perhaps even better. He'd reasserted his dominance, crushed the budding rebellion, and secured his position.

So why did victory taste so bitter?

Feng returned with the requested items, setting them on the desk with uncharacteristic care. "Will there be anything else, sir?"

Chenxiu waved him off, already reaching for the amber liquid. "That will be all. You can go home for the day."

Left alone once more, Chenxiu sipped his scotch, relishing the burn as it slid down his throat. He flipped open the file on Project Nexus, forcing himself to focus on the rows of figures and projections.

As the minutes ticked by, color slowly leached from his face. The strain of the day, coupled with his still-recovering body, began to take its toll. Yet he pushed on, driven by a combination of stubbornness and the need to prove—to himself as much as anyone—that he was still in control.

The sky outside darkened, the city's lights coming alive like a constellation of earthbound stars. Chenxiu barely noticed, lost in a haze of reports and strategic planning.

It was only when his vision began to blur that he finally conceded defeat. Leaning back in his chair, he pinched the bridge of his nose, willing away the encroaching headache.

"You should be resting."

The soft voice startled him. He looked up to find Mina standing in the doorway, concern etched on her features.

"Dr. Han," he acknowledged, his voice rougher than he'd like. "What brings you here at this hour?"

She stepped into the office, her clinical gaze assessing him. "I heard about the board meeting. Thought I'd check on my most stubborn patient."

Despite himself, Chenxiu felt a warmth bloom in his chest at her words. "Your concern is noted, but unnecessary. I'm perfectly fine."

Mina's eyebrow arched skeptically. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, you look like death warmed over."

A dry chuckle escaped him. "Such flattery, doctor. You'll turn my head."

She moved closer, her expression softening. "Chenxiu, you've just been through a major trauma. Physically and emotionally. You need to give yourself time to heal."

For a long moment, they held each other's gaze, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Finally, Chenxiu sighed, some of the tension bleeding from his shoulders.

"Perhaps you're right," he conceded. "It has been... a tiring day."

Mina's smile was gentle but firm. "Then let's get you home. Doctor's orders."

As they left the office together, Chenxiu felt a curious lightness in his chest. The challenges ahead were still daunting, the shadow of Yun's ambitions still looming. But for now, in this moment, he allowed himself to simply be.

Tomorrow would bring new battles. But tonight, he would rest. And perhaps, in the quiet moments before sleep claimed him, he would ponder the strange warmth that seemed to bloom whenever Dr. Han was near.