The office was unusually quiet.
Man Ning stepped into LH Company.
Mr. Kim wasn't with her.
"Handle it," he had said.
She nodded.
Professional.
Calm.
Inside—
The building felt… different.
Too silent.
Minji was busy on another floor.
Shen Yan wasn't in the office yet.
Man Ning walked into the meeting room.
Placed her file down.
"…Let's finish this quickly," she murmured.
Outside—
A shadow moved.
Unseen.
Unknown.
Another presence—
From a different direction.
Two intentions.
Separate.
But dangerous.
Inside the room—
Man Ning felt something.
A strange uneasiness.
She turned—
Nothing.
Silence.
Then—
A sudden sound.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
The lights flickered.
Her breath paused.
"…Who's there?" she said firmly.
No answer.
Another sound.
Closer.
Man Ning stepped back slightly.
Her heart started beating faster.
But she stayed strong.
"Show yourself," she said.
Silence.
Then—
Everything went wrong.
A sudden impact.
She lost her balance.
Fell hard.
Pain shot through her.
Her vision blurred.
"…No…" she whispered.
Her strength—
Fading.
The room spun.
Darkness slowly closing in.
Outside—
Shen Yan arrived.
His steps stopped.
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
"…Man Ning?" he called.
No answer.
His expression changed.
For the first time—
Fear.
He rushed forward.
The door—
Locked.
"Open it!" he shouted.
No response.
His patience broke.
He stepped back—
And kicked the door open.
The door slammed against the wall.
His eyes searched—
And froze.
Man Ning—
On the floor.
Unconscious.
"…Man Ning!" his voice broke.
He rushed to her.
Dropped beside her.
His hands trembled slightly.
"…Hey… wake up…" he said.
No response.
His heart pounded.
Loud.
Fast.
"Damn it…" he whispered.
He lifted her carefully.
Into his arms.
Holding her close.
As if she would disappear.
"Stay with me…" he said urgently.
His voice—
Shaking.
Something he never showed before.
He carried her out.
Fast.
Calling for help.
"Call the doctor. Now."
His tone—
Sharp.
Desperate.
At his place—
He laid her down.
Her face pale.
Too still.
"…No…" he whispered.
He checked her breathing.
Weak.
His hands tightened.
"…Don't do this…" he said.
He leaned closer.
Trying to bring her back.
Calling her again—
"Man Ning… stay with me…"
No response.
Time felt frozen.
Then—
He acted.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
He tried to help her breathe again.
A moment.
Close.
Too close.
Their faces inches apart.
Then—
That moment happened.
Their lips met.
Not love.
Not confession.
But desperation.
A silent plea—
"Come back."
Seconds passed.
Then—
A breath.
Man Ning's chest moved.
Weak.
But real.
Shen Yan froze.
Relief hit him.
Hard.
"…You're okay…" he whispered.
His voice soft.
Unfamiliar.
The doctor arrived soon after.
Taking over.
But Shen Yan—
Didn't move.
His eyes stayed on her.
Unshaken.
Because something had changed.
Something deep.
Something real.
👉 Sometimes it takes one moment—
👉 To break every wall you built