---
The night wind swept gently across the rooftop of a luxury hotel, carrying with it the distant hum of city life.
Neon lights blinked in rhythmic patterns, casting their colored glow across the glass and metal skyline.
On the rooftop lounge, away from the noise and celebration inside, two men sat quietly.
The chill of early spring bit at the air, but neither man seemed to notice.
Eric lowered his phone onto the low table beside his whiskey glass, fingers tapping against the rim. The cityscape reflected in his cold eyes.
The glow highlighted the faint scar at his jaw, a token of war he wore proudly.
Beside him, William sipped whiskey slowly, his sharp profile lit by the amber drink.
"Well?" he asked, his voice low.
Eric smirked with a light clink. "Jenny says he got it," he replied, his tone dry. "Thought it was a bomb. Collapsed like a sack of old potatoes."
William chuckled. "Over a toy?"
Eric's eyes turned icy. "A metronome. That's all it took to shake him. Can you believe it?"
William chuckled. "Old bones."
Eric then leaned back, gaze drifting to the stars above. "That bastard watched my father—our brothers—burn. One whisper from him, and they were gone. Now, a ticking toy makes his chest seize? That's too merciful."
William smirked, the corners of his mouth curling with contempt. "Of course. We've waited long enough."
Eric scoffed again. "And that stupid little sister of mine… She's asking what's the need was for all this. Said she didn't even remember what father looked like."
William chuckled, shaking his head. "That's because you let her grow up here. In comfort. In safety. She forgot who she is. Forgot our roots."
Eric's jaw tightened. "Then I'll remind her."
"She's your sister. Bring her back to reality," William said with a sharp smirk. "Show her where she comes from."
---
The next morning in Yunhe Garden, sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains of Lin Yue's bedroom.
As Lin Yue was tying her hair in a loose ponytail, a sharp honk echoed through the quiet courtyard.
She glanced at the clock—still early.
She quickly slipped on her slippers and walked toward the gate, assuming it was Mo Yuwei.
As she reached the gate and opened it, she paused.
Instead of the sleek black Maybach she expected, a clean white minivan idled at the entrance.
The tinted window rolled down slowly, revealing a man in a crisp uniform behind the wheel.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Lin?" the driver asked politely.
Lin Yue blinked. "Yes, I am."
He smiled and gestured behind him. "We were sent by Young Madam. We're here to assist with the preparations."
At the mention of "Young Madam," Lin Yue's guarded expression softened.
That could only mean one person—Mo Yuwei.
She gave a small nod and unlatched the gate fully. "Alright, come in."
The driver nodded, and the van smoothly drove inside.
As the side doors slid open, a team of ten men dressed in matching chef's uniforms stepped out in unison.
Each one greeted her respectfully with a bow before beginning to unload baskets of ingredients, pots, utensils, and decorative items.
One of them, clearly the leader, approached her. "Young Madam instructed us to ensure everything is ready before your guests arrive this afternoon. She mentioned they are your colleagues?"
"Yes," Lin Yue replied, slightly overwhelmed by their efficiency. "They'll be coming with me at around two."
"That will be more than enough time," he assured her.
Just then, her phone vibrated in her hand. She glanced down—Mo Yuwei.
She answered with a faint smile. "Yuwei?"
"Yueyue," came the familiar soft voice. "Don't worry about anything. Let the guys handle it. I'll come over later, okay?"
"Mn, alright. I was surprised when I saw the van," Lin Yue said as she looked at them.
"You thought I'd show up myself, didn't you?" Mo Yuwei teased. "Sorry, I have a meeting. But I promise I'll come by later."
"No worries. I'll be at work until two anyway."
"Even on a weekend? Poor thing. Is Liang Yexuan working you that hard?"
Lin Yue chuckled softly. "Next week's the bid. It's crunch time."
"Well, take care of yourself. Don't push too hard."
"I will. Can I leave the team here while I'm out?"
"Yes, they'll handle everything. I picked them myself."
After they hung up, Lin Yue turned to the chef team. "I'm heading to work. Thank you for your hard work."
The leader gave a respectful nod. "Have a good day, Miss Lin."
---
At GlowVine Cosmetics headquarters, Mo Yuwei was sitting at her desk watching the final cut of the new product commercial on a tablet.
On the screen, Xu Jiaqi's ethereal beauty and natural acting shone.
Three directors sat across from her, practically beaming.
"President Mo, this is incredible. Xu Jiaqi fits the brand image perfectly."
"The moment the camera hits her, it's magic," another added.
"She's a natural. Graceful, elegant. Our sales will skyrocket."
Mo Yuwei nodded. . "Good. Post it immediately."
A staff member took the tablet and within minutes, the video was uploaded across all GlowVine platforms.
—
Within fifteen minutes, the video hit social media. Comments exploded:
"Wait—is that Xu Jiaqi?! She's stunning!"
"She looks like a goddess."
"Didn't know Xu Jiaqi was this gorgeous."
"GlowVine always delivers."
"What happened to Yan Qingsi though? That viral video—was it true?"
"Did something really happen to Yan Qingsi?"
"What happened to Yan Qingsi though?"
"I'm buying everything once this drops."
"Me too. I'm buying the whole set when it drops."
---
At a small private hospital suite, lying back on her hospital bed, Xu Jiaqi refreshed her feed and saw the video trending.
A warm smile spread across her face.
"Qiqi," came a saccharine voice. "You look beautiful in the ad."
Her spine stiffened.
She recognized it.
Her manager, Huang Qiming.
She'd blocked him everywhere. Guess he called her with another number.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
"The CEO wants to see you," he said. "We're impressed."
"I'm busy." Her voice was calm, cold.
"He's willing to give you anything you ask for."
"I don't want anything," she replied flatly.
"Then what do you want?"
"Release. Termination."
He chuckled bitterly. "You're joking."
"I'm not."
Then, barely suppressed anger. "Stop joking around. Don't you remember the contract you signed—"
"I know" She sat up, gaze firm. "I'll bring the contract myself. Name your price. I'll pay. Don't call me again."
She hung up.
Leaning back, she took a deep breath.
Soon.
Soon, she'll be free from Starlight Media and get justice for Yan Qingsi.
---
Back at GlowVine's headquarters, in the CEO's office, Mo Yuwei was signing off on legal documents when the door opened.
"Mr. Ou is here."
She looked up. "Let him in."
The door opened to reveal a tall man in a dark suit and sunglasses.
His aura was crisp, clean-cut, with a hint of something dangerous underneath.
Mo Yuwei smiled politely. "Welcome, Mr. Ou."
He nodded. "Mrs. Chen."
Mo Yuwei nodded at her assistant. "Leave us."
As the door shut behind him, the man stepped forward as she gestured for him to seat on the couch.
"Coffee?"
"Yes, please."
She walked to the built-in coffee machine, making two cups.
He placed a slim folder on the desk.
She returned and handed him a cup before sitting opposite.
"I heard from Mr. Chen you had a business matter," he said, removing his sunglasses to reveal sharp, unreadable eyes before taking a sip.
"Yes," she said, her eyes steady. "I need your help with an investigation."
His hand paused mid-sip. "What kind of investigation?"
She met his gaze, unblinking. "A death."
He coughed, startled.
"What?!"
---