Misidentification

[Inline comments are open, feel free to join the discussion] ▎Mutual pining / reunion after years apart / a love story of two brilliant idiots who keep missing each other ▎Gloomy and stern with separation anxiety vs. sharp and rational with an extreme weakness for good looks 1. After cutting ties with her wealthy family, Yu Chiye left home and spent years working her way up. She was rewarded with the classic three-piece set for a sucker of an office worker: a boss who shifts blame, backstabbing coworkers, and a medical report that tells her to call the police. She stormed off to a resort hotel, determined to quit. Her family dropped hints, but she only said she wanted a meal without having to work overtime. She'd milked the company for all the business-travel perks she could, and had absolutely no plans to go home. A friend warned her that, as a hopeless face-con, she should watch out for someone at the hotel trying to snag a rich woman. Yu Chiye typed: [Don't worry, absolutely not...] The next second, she saw that gloomy, disheveled, cold-faced truant from high school in the executive lounge. He looked calm and handsome, with none of the sharpness he'd had as a boy. Oh no. Had he really fallen so far that he was selling his looks? Yu Chiye deleted the message. She would. She absolutely would... if it was that face. 2. During an online meeting at her new company, Yu Chiye yawned in boredom as her boss suddenly brought someone into the call. On camera, she saw a familiar face, usually fixed on her as if his gaze were glued to her, now utterly stern. Yu Chiye: "..." She silently picked up her phone and asked about resigning. Human Resources was stunned and asked what the highly paid expert found unsatisfactory. Yu Chiye was silent. Did a carefully nursed, broken boyfriend turning into a nightmare boss count? As if he'd guessed what she was up to, Sheng Chiqing came to find her after the meeting. "Can we talk?" His gaze clung to her, his dark eyes deep and heavy. "Don't just turn around and leave." Yu Chiye glanced up at him, moved her thumb, and emotionlessly messaged her mother: [Mom, does that thing you said about investing in and buying my company still stand?] 3. The first time Sheng Chiqing was ever late, he ran into the school's most energetic student on duty. She recited the school rules as she dragged him inside by his uniform. She had no idea how she pulled him out of the mire that day. Years later, he finally saw her again. She smiled brightly and raised a hand. "Is that you?" Sheng Chiqing: "...?" Confused, he caught sight of a well-groomed man nearby looking flustered, as if he wanted to call her over. He instinctively blocked the man and met Yu Chiye's gaze. "Yeah, it's me." Sheng Chiqing had found his lifeline. From then on, no matter how wildly she grew or which direction she ran, even if... she only wanted him for his face and body, he would cling to her, hold on tight, and never let go again. *Love-struck CEO x career-minded algorithm expert *Slow-burn growth, a workplace fairy tale *Modern city setting interspersed with school memories, the push and pull of flirtation between mature adults *All companies, locations, products, and people are fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. The workplace details, especially the technical content, are mostly based on research and a small amount of interviews and surveys, with some artistic license. Please politely point out any errors, inaccuracies, or unrealistic details. Creating isn't easy, so I hope you'll be understanding and tolerant. Thank you so much. Revised for the second time on July 20, 2026, screenshot saved Blurb archived on October 21, 2021 Theme: Every unseen corner deserves to be illuminated by algorithms