---
On the screen, Lin Yue stood next to Mo Yuwei, a dazzling smile on her lips, framed by soft natural lighting.
Her dress was simple yet elegant, flowing down like morning mist, her eyes clear as spring water.
The shot was perfect, the way the camera caught her—like a dream.
Lin Yue stood beside Mo Yuwei, the elegant and renowned CEO of GlowVine Cosmetics, both smiling warmly at the camera.
The screen zoomed in slightly, catching Lin Yue's soft, almost serene expression.
Lin Xingyan's stomach turned.
That was Mo Yuwei, the very woman she'd been trying to win over for months.
GlowVine was the hottest cosmetic brand in Asia right now, and their upcoming campaign was already rumored to be global.
She had practically begged her manager to arrange a meeting.
Flirted with an agent and director.
Even bought ridiculous products just to make conversation at pop-up events.
And now—now, Lin Yue was standing beside her?
Lin Xingyan's jaw tightened.
Lin! Yue!
"When did she become so impressive?" she whispered, her grip on the remote control tightening until her knuckles turned white. "Isn't she just an adopted unwanted bastard?"
Lin Xingyan hated that face.
She had hated it since they were children.
The memory was fresh.
Lin Yue, always sitting quietly in the corner, her porcelain face drawing attention wherever she went.
People had called her baby-faced, soft, gentle.
Strangers mistook her for the youngest, even though she was older than Lin Xingyan by six months.
Adopted little bastard... unwanted trash…
A deep, unspoken hatred had lived in her heart ever since.
Hatred that festered every time someone praised Lin Yue's beauty or gentleness.
Even after Lin Yue had left the family, she had hoped she would quietly disappear.
But now?
She was on screen — dazzling.
And beside Mo Yuwei.
Her blood boiled.
Didn't Lin Yue just cut ties with the family?
When had she gone from a pathetic and abandoned daughter to...
The thought made her fingers itch.
Lin Xingyan glared at the screen once more, jealousy flaring like poison in her chest.
---
The next morning was quiet in Lin Yue's neighborhood.
Birds chirped softly above in the trees, and the scent of early spring filled the air.
The sun filtered gently through the clouds as Lin Yue stepped out of her apartment wearing a loose white blouse over some dark jeans.
Her belly hadn't visibly grown yet, but she could feel it — the slight flutter, the tiny shifts within.
Her baby.
A quiet miracle.
Her hand went unconsciously to her stomach as she walked slowly down the street, heading toward the supermarket.
A peaceful smile played on her lips.
She had been trying hard not to think about Liang Yexuan.
It hurt too much.
But she understood they were from different worlds, and she didn't want to drag her baby into danger, into uncertainty.
Even if she still loved him.
'No', she told herself. 'The baby comes first.'
She reached the corner and turned, the supermarket coming into view.
But then... something made her stop.
A prickling sensation crawled up her spine.
She turned.
Three men. Well-dressed, familiar-looking.
Her eyes widened slightly — she recognized them.
They were the same three men who had come to thank her after she had saved Liang Yexuan.
She hadn't expected to see them again.
What did they want now?
She looked away and kept walking. Faster.
She didn't want any more "thank-yous."
She didn't want gifts or rewards.
She didn't need anything from Liang Yexuan.
She already had the greatest gift — her baby.
Their baby.
The love they once shared, even if it was fleeting, would always be enough.
The men reached her just as she walked into the supermarket.
"Miss Lin," one of them said politely." Hello."
She ignored them, pretending not to hear.
She walked straight to the dairy aisle and picked out her usual yoghurt. Then milk. Then fruits.
She weaved through the aisles, picking items slowly.
But the men followed her.
Her eyes narrowed.
Were they seriously going to follow her the whole time?
She sighed and headed toward checkout.
Maybe if she just kept ignoring them, they'd eventually go away.
But they didn't.
"Miss Lin," One of the men said." We're—"
She paid and left but they followed.
Seriously?!
---
Outside, she adjusted her bag on her shoulder and headed to the mall.
If they were going to follow her, they'd better be prepared.
Alright. Let's play a little game.
She continued walking—to the nearby mall this time. Still, the men trailed behind her like ghosts.
She browsed the shoe store and bought a pair of soft flats.
She walked into a boutique and tried on two jackets—bought one.
Went into a small local brand store and picked out a cotton dress for summer.
The bump would soon need looser clothes anyway.
But even as she wove from store to store, they didn't budge.
Didn't lose her.
Even two hours later, when her legs began to ache.
She'd had enough.
She turned suddenly outside a boutique and faced them, arms crossed.
"Are you going to follow me until nightfall?"
The man in front, a square-jawed figure in his thirties, bowed slightly. ""Miss Lin, we mean no disrespect. Our Young Master sent us—"
"I don't know any Young Master," she interrupted coldly.
With that, she turned and walked toward the escalator, heading to the rooftop garden restaurant.
She needed to sit.
To breathe.
She hadn't walked this much in weeks.
Pregnancy probably made her tire faster.
But still—they followed.
They just don't quit…
---
Once seated, Lin Yue placed her bag down and leaned her elbow on the table, rubbing her temple.
The men remained beside her, standing like statues.
She sighed, loud enough to be heard. "Sit. If you're going to annoy me, at least sit and do it like normal people."
They hesitated but obeyed.
"We were instructed to offer our Young Master's appreciation."
---