---
Her fingers froze the moment her eyes landed on the string of payment messages.
Four million. Five million. Six million. Another four million. Three million. Three point five million.
"Is this real?" she whispered, voice barely audible.
More messages poured in, each confirming transfers from the Masters—each one over three million yuan.
Her fingers trembled as she scrolled.
The final message stunned her into complete silence.
Master Fu sent 8,000,000.
Her eyes widened. "Am I dreaming?"
Mo Yuwei, walked to her side and leaned in peeking at the screen.
Her sharp eyes sparkled with delight. "Looks like the Masters really loved your paintings. They didn't just praise with words, they came bearing gold."
Lin Yue's lips parted, but no words came out. Her heart pounded erratically, torn between disbelief and excitement.
The kind of money she was staring at... it was life-changing.
A few months ago, would she have even dreamt of this?
Then a sudden thought jerked her out of her trance.
"Wait... Yuwei," she turned to look at her. "I only invited you, your husband, and a few of my friends. Why did the Masters show up?"
Mo Yuwei exchanged a look with Chen Linfei, who casually walkes back to their side with his hands in his pockets chuckling lightly. "Because of my grandfather."
Lin Yue blinked. "What?"
"The first day we met, I bought some of your paintings, remember? I sent them to my grandfather. He's been collecting art since before I was born. He was so taken by your work that he couldn't stop showing them off to his old friends." He grinned. "And you can guess who his friends are."
"Master Fu saw them first," Mo Yuwei chimed in with a small smile. "He was surprised. He asked where the paintings came from, and when he heard it was a young girl from this city, he didn't believe it."
"So I told them you were opening a gallery soon," Chen Linfei added. "Master Fu took the liberty to invite the others."
"He invited the others?" Lin Yue asked in disbelief.
Chen Linfei nodded. "He personally called Master Li and Master Lu. And well… you saw what happened."
Lin Yue gaped at him. "And the reporters?"
"My doing," Chen Linfei said with a wink.
Lin Yue shook her head slowly, lips twitching with amusement. "You guys are too much... but thank you. Really."
Mo Yuwei looped her arm through Lin Yue's. "Come on, superstar. Your guests are waiting."
---
They strolled toward the hotel.
Lin Yue was still in a haze of disbelief as they arrived at the entrance.
Her guests, a mix of old colleagues and newly made friends, were gathered outside, chatting excitedly.
The moment they saw her, a small cheer went up.
"Our host has finally arrived!"
"You really outdid yourself today, Lin Yue!"
Lin Yue laughed as she led them in.
She'd already booked the largest private room so a staff member guided them, and they sat down for the meal.
The room buzzed with excitement as everyone settled in.
Dishes were soon served—steaming, aromatic, and lively like the chatter that filled the room.
As everyone ate, Lin Yue's former coworkers couldn't stop whispering among themselves.
"She used to be so quiet in the office."
"Yeah. Look at her now. Hosting big shots."
"I still remember the girl who used to work overtime and sneak instant noodles," one said.
Lin Yue smiled as they are but said nothing.
---
In the towering skyscraper of Liang Conglomerate, Liang Yexuan sat behind his massive oak desk, flipping through reports with his usual composed expression.
His expression was unreadable, sharp features reflecting the cold light of the office.
Jin Shu entered with a laptop and a stack of documents.
Without a word, he placed them in front of his boss and opened the laptop.
"What is it?" Liang Yexuan asked without looking up.
Jin Shu turned the screen toward him. "This might interest you. DreamLight Gallery's opening ceremony."
Liang Yexuan's brow raising. "DreamLight Gallery?"
Jin Shu nodded. "The owner is your saviour."
It was a live-stream replay.
The screen displayed a breathtaking scene – the DreamLight Gallery ceremony.
He watched the video briefly—Lin Yue smiling, the camera panned to her giving a short thank you speech.
The corners of his eyes narrowed slightly.
"She opened a gallery," Jin Shu added. " She refused compensation before—"
"She didn't want anything," Liang Yexuan interrupted coldly. "But I don't like owing people. Send her a transfer as a thanks."
Jin Shu nodded. "Yes, sir."
Without another word, Liang Yexuan returned to his work.
---
Elsewhere in the capital, Lin Xingyan lay curled up on a plush white sofa, wrapped in a designer bathrobe.
A crystal bowl of chilled strawberries sat beside her as she watched TV lazily.
Her latest film had skyrocketed to the top charts, her CP with Zhang Zeyan causing waves across social media.
For once, her manager was pleased, and the company had granted her a week off.
She was currently lounging at one of Zhang Zeyan's private villas, enjoying the quiet luxury.
She scrolled through her phone absentmindedly when a sudden voice from the TV caught her attention.
"Today, a rare gathering of major figures from both the capital and surrounding districts was seen at DreamLight Gallery's grand opening..."
Lin Xingyan's brow raised.
Who was this lucky owner?
She glanced up, uninterested at first, until she saw something that made her heart skip.
The camera zoomed in.
---