I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

The steel mill gates were still chilly in the early morning. The hazy light of dawn had just spilled over the factory walls, and the north wind, whipping up snowflakes, stung her face, making her bones ache. Jiang Yuebai had been waiting at the gate for a long time, her thin, old cotton-padded coat wrapped tightly around her, her hands tucked into her sleeves, her face pale. She hadn't slept a wink all night, her mind filled with the humiliation she'd suffered at the dinner table the night before. But thinking of her children at home and her husband, who was coughing so hard he couldn't straighten up, she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Not long after, the sound of bicycle wheels rolling across the snow grew louder as Li Jing'an rode up slowly. He spotted Jiang Yuebai huddled in a corner from afar, and a smile played on his lips. He stopped his bike smoothly, propped it up on the kickstand, and looked up at her: "Come on, follow me."

Jiang Yuebai didn't dare to look up, her steps stiff as she followed behind him, her heart pounding wildly.

Li Jing'an pushed his bicycle, strolling slowly ahead, his eyes constantly fixed on Jiang Yuebai, his gaze flirtatious and unrestrained. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned to look at the uneasy woman beside him, chuckled, and said with a deliberately seductive tone, "Yuebai, it's still early. The HR people haven't even started work yet. It's freezing outside. Come to my office; it's heated, warm yourself up."

Upon meeting his meaningful gaze, Jiang Yuebai instinctively shrank back, her voice weak yet tinged with resistance: "Leader Li, I... I'd better wait here, no need to trouble you."

"Troublesome?" Li Jing'an scoffed, his face instantly darkening as he looked down at her. "I kindly offered you shelter from the cold, and you're putting on airs? If you don't want to deal with the files or go to work, then just wait here. I have no objection; do as you please."

Jiang Yuebai instantly lost her confidence. Her lips turned white, and her hands, hanging by her sides, gripped the hem of her clothes so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh. She couldn't say a word and could only lower her head resignedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"That's right, you have to listen to me." Seeing this, Li Jing'an immediately put on a smug face and gently patted her shoulder. "I won't treat you unfairly. You should know that I specially transferred the head of the guesthouse to make room for you. I've already done you a favor and paved the way for you. You know what to do next, right?"

Jiang Yuebai trembled and whispered, "I...I understand..."

After saying that, he didn't say anything more and led Jiang Yuebai straight into the guesthouse, all the way to the office on the third floor. As soon as they entered, Li Jing'an slammed the door shut from the inside, cutting off all sound and sight from the outside.

The small office was stiflingly hot from the heating, yet it chilled Jiang Yuebai to the bone, making her feel as if she were in an ice cave. She stood motionless in the doorway, her hands tightly clasped together, her head bowed low, barely daring to breathe. Li Jing'an turned around, slowly leaning against the desk, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her, as if appraising an object within easy reach.

"What are you afraid of?" Li Jing'an chuckled lightly, his tone flippant. "I don't eat people. Come closer, I have something to tell you."

Jiang Yuebai's steps were heavy as she moved forward little by little, each step feeling like she was stepping on a knife's edge.

"I know your family's situation." Li Jing'an spoke slowly, his tone carrying an air of absolute certainty. "Your husband is sick, your two children are waiting to be fed, and you have household registration, food coupons, and jobs—any one of these could crush your family. In the entire steel mill, in the entire neighborhood committee, no one but me can help you."

He paused, stepped forward, reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to raise her head: "Remember, your job, your family, are all in my hands."

Forced to meet his gaze, Jiang Yuebai finally couldn't hold back her tears, her voice choked with sobs: "I...I understand..."

"Why are you crying?" Li Jing'an frowned impatiently. "I'm helping you, not hurting you. Serving me well is a hundred times better than working yourself to death."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The office door didn't reopen until 10 a.m. Li Jing'an walked ahead with a carefree expression, straightening his collar and looking relaxed and self-satisfied; Jiang Yuebai followed behind him, looking as if all her energy had been drained away, her steps unsteady and each one heavy.

The two walked towards the personnel department. There weren't many pedestrians on the road. Li Jing'an walked beside her and lowered his voice, "I've already taken care of all the paperwork. You can just sign and start working. You're an apprentice now, but as long as you keep me happy, I guarantee you'll be a full-time employee within a year. Plus, there's some extra income from the guesthouse, enough for your family to eat and drink."

Jiang Yuebai followed behind with her head down, saying nothing.

After completing the onboarding procedures and returning to the guesthouse, Li Jing'an looked at her distraught state and coldly instructed her, "Behave yourself at work, talk less and do more work, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't say what you shouldn't say. If you dare to say anything out of line, I can fire you anytime."

Jiang Yuebai nodded gently, her voice barely audible: "I understand..."

In the afternoon, Qin Huairu arrived at the guesthouse on time for work and was called to Li Jing'an's office.

Qin Huairu knocked on the door of the office on the third floor.

"Enter."

Li Jing'an's voice came from inside. Qin Huairu pushed open the door: "Brother Jing'an, you wanted to see me?"

The atmosphere in the office was tense. Li Jing'an sat behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the surface. He looked up at Qin Huairu: "Now you're the only shift leader left at the guesthouse. Wang Caixia has been transferred. From now on, you'll be responsible for all the daily management, room arrangements, and shift handovers. When you hand over your shift, you must clearly explain the other shift's tasks, room conditions, and any precautions. Don't make any mistakes. Understand?"

Qin Huairu quickly bowed and nodded, her face plastered with a respectful and ingratiating smile: "Don't worry, Brother Jing'an, I understand. I will definitely arrange the work properly and won't cause you any trouble!"

"There's one more thing." Li Jing'an looked up at her, his tone indifferent. "A new employee joined today, named Jiang Yuebai. She'll be working at the guesthouse from now on. I specifically arranged for her to come here, so please take good care of her."

"Yes, I will definitely do as you say!" Qin Huairu readily agreed, knowing in her heart that this was the person Li Jing'an had specially arranged for Wang Caixia to be transferred away.

After saying that, Li Jing'an beckoned to Qin Huairu, signaling her to come over.

Qin Huairu stepped forward a few paces: "Brother Jing'an, please speak."

Just as she got close, Li Jing'an suddenly reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her sharply towards him!

"Hiss—" A sharp pain shot through Qin Huairu's head instantly. She trembled all over and almost cried out. Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.

Li Jing'an leaned close to her ear, his voice as cold as ice: "Qin Huairu, don't think I don't know anything."

"You'd better tone it down," Li Jing'an tightened his grip, causing her to cry out in pain. "If nothing happens, all will be fine; but if anything does, you'll be out of here, you hear me!"

"I...I understand..." Qin Huairu's voice trembled with pain, but she dared not cry out. She could only endure the excruciating pain and answer in a low, trembling voice, "Brother Jing'an, I understand."

Li Jing'an snorted coldly, released his grip, and impatiently waved for her to leave.

Qin Huairu felt as if she had been granted a pardon. Clutching her chest, she left the office in a disheveled state.