The sleek, self-driving hovercar hummed with quiet efficiency as it navigated the bustling aerial traffic lanes of Neo-Shanghai. Inside, Lin Wei clutched her datapad, her brow furrowed in concentration as she reviewed her portfolio for the upcoming interview. The city sprawled beneath her, a glittering tapestry of towering structures and interconnected skywalks, a testament to fifty centuries of relentless progress. Yet, despite the technological marvel surrounding her, Lin Wei's mind was firmly rooted in the tangible, the practical – the precise angle of a solar panel, the load-bearing capacity of a new composite material.
Suddenly, a jarring lurch threw her forward. Her datapad skittered across the plush synth-leather seat as the hovercar screeched to an abrupt halt, its emergency lights flashing an angry crimson.
"Report!" Lin Wei's voice was sharp, honed by years of managing demanding construction crews and even more demanding clients.
The car's calm, synthesized voice responded, "Minor collision detected, Madam. Another vehicle entered our designated lane without proper authorization."
Lin Wei sighed, rubbing her temples. This was all she needed. Her schedule was tighter than a newly tightened bolt, and any delay could throw off her meticulously planned arrival time for the interview at Stellaris Tech. This opportunity was crucial; landing a position here would be a significant step in making her mark on Neo-Shanghai's competitive architectural scene.
She glanced out the window, expecting to see a dented fender and an apologetic drone operator.
Instead, her blood ran cold.
Standing beside a similarly sleek, obsidian-black hovercar, its door smoothly retracting, was a figure that instantly ignited a familiar, white-hot fury within her. Tall, impeccably dressed in a tailored dark grey suit that seemed to defy gravity with its perfect drape, he exuded an aura of effortless power. His dark hair was neatly styled, and even from this distance, she could see the sharp angles of his jawline and the infuriatingly composed expression on his face.
Qin Feng
Just the sight of him was enough to send a tremor of resentment through her. Their paths hadn't crossed in years, not since that disastrous intelligent-robotics competition back in their academy days – the one he'd somehow managed to win with a last-minute, suspiciously flawless upgrade to his automaton. The memory still stung, a constant reminder of his infuriating arrogance and uncanny ability to always be one step ahead.
He turned, his gaze sweeping over her vehicle, and then – inevitably – it locked with hers through the tinted window. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his features, gone so quickly Lin Wei almost doubted she'd seen it. But then, a slow, infuriatingly familiar smirk spread across his lips.
Before Lin Wei could even formulate a suitably scathing mental retort, his car's door had fully opened, and he was striding towards her vehicle with an air of unhurried confidence that made her teeth clench.
"Well, well," his voice, smooth and deep with a hint of playful mockery, carried easily through the open air. "Lin Wei. Fancy meeting you like this."
Lin Wei finally managed to regain a semblance of composure, though her hands were still clenched into fists in her lap. She activated the window, the transparent barrier sliding down with a soft hiss.
"Qin Feng," she replied, her voice dangerously low. "I should have known it was your kind of careless traffic violation that caused this."
Qin Feng leaned against her car, his arms crossed, a picture of infuriating nonchalance. "Careless? My dear Lin Wei, my vehicle operates with the precision of a surgical laser. Perhaps your… slightly older model was experiencing a momentary lapse in its navigational capabilities?"
"Older?" Lin Wei sputtered. "This is the latest Longteng X-Series! And unlike some people, I actually adhere to designated flight paths."
"Oh, I do adhere to them," Qin Feng said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It's just that sometimes, a more… direct route presents itself."
Lin Wei knew exactly what he meant. Qin Feng had always believed the rules were for everyone else. What she didn't know was that he was the enigmatic CEO of Stellaris Tech, the ubiquitous company behind nearly every life-enhancing AI gadget in Neo-Shanghai – the very company she was on her way to interview with.
"Direct route or not, you caused a collision," Lin Wei stated, her voice firm. "I have a very important interview to get to. This delay is unacceptable."
Qin Feng straightened up, his gaze suddenly more intense. "An interview, you say? Interesting. Where might that be?"
Lin Wei hesitated. Why was he so interested? "That's none of your business, Qin Feng."
He chuckled softly. "Oh, but I think it might be. You see, I too have some… business to attend to at Stellaris Tech this morning."
A cold dread coiled in Lin Wei's stomach. What were the odds? In a city of millions, what were the chances of her colliding with her childhood nemesis, and now finding out they were headed to the same company?
He offered a deceptively charming smile. "Perhaps, instead of dwelling on this minor… inconvenience, we could proceed together? My car is perfectly functional, and I wouldn't want to further delay such a driven woman from her aspirations."
Lin Wei glared at him, her jaw tight. This wasn't just an accidental collision. This was Qin Feng, always interfering, always knowing how to push her buttons.
"I would rather take public transit," she said icily.
Qin Feng chuckled, a low, resonant sound that sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine. "Public transit all the way to Stellaris Tech? In those rather exquisite, but hardly practical, heels? My dear Lin Wei, even your legendary stubbornness has its limits. Besides," his eyes held a disconcerting intensity, "I insist on ensuring the other party involved in this… incident arrives safely at their destination."
With a reluctant sigh that she hoped masked her growing unease, Lin Wei finally conceded. "Fine, Qin Feng. But don't think for a second that this changes anything between us."
Qin Feng simply smiled, a knowing, almost possessive curve of his lips. "Oh, Lin Wei," he said softly, his gaze lingering on her. "I have a feeling it's about to change everything."
Later, after a tense and silent ride, Lin Wei found herself seated in a sleek, minimalist waiting room at Stellaris Tech. Her name was finally called, and she walked into a spacious office with panoramic views of the city. Behind a large, polished desk sat a man she hadn't expected to see again so soon.
Qin Feng.
He was leaning back in his chair, a picture of effortless authority, his gaze sharp and assessing as it met hers. The smirk was gone, replaced by an expression that was both coolly professional and undeniably… knowing.
"Ms. Lin Wei," he said, his voice losing its earlier playful tone and taking on a deeper, more commanding resonance. "Welcome to Stellaris Tech. I am Qin Feng, the CEO."
Lin Wei froze, her carefully constructed composure shattering into a million pieces. The arrogant childhood rival who had just caused her a traffic delay was the CEO of the company she desperately wanted to work for? The world seemed to tilt on its axis.
Qin Feng steepled his fingers, his eyes glinting with an amusement that didn't quite reach his cool gaze. "It seems our earlier… encounter was more serendipitous than either of us realized. Now, Ms. Lin Wei, let's talk about why you believe you are the right architect for Stellaris Tech."
Lin Wei stared at him, speechless, the familiar fury battling with a sudden, terrifying realization. This wasn't just an unexpected meeting; it felt like the beginning of a carefully orchestrated game, and she had just walked right into the first move.a