*Chapter 23: Cracks in the Facade*
One evening, they all gathered again — Zhao Liang, his two friends, and Mei Yan. The friends were arguing about business failures, their voices loud with mockery.
"You call that a strategy? My five-year-old nephew could outsmart you."
"At least I don't gamble with stocks like a drunk at a casino!"
Li Xue sat quietly, until Mei Yan leaned closer and whispered, "They sound like schoolboys, don't they?"
Li Xue laughed — a small, fragile sound that earned her a glance from Zhao Liang. His eyes lingered, cold and sharp, until the smile faded from her lips.
Later that night, one friend walked Mei Yan home. He teased her endlessly, yet when she tripped on the curb, his hand caught hers — steady, warm. Mei Yan's cheeks burned, though she rolled her eyes.
Back at the penthouse, Zhao Liang found Li Xue sketching again. The page held not his face this time, but the skyline of the city, dotted with the hotel his friend had built.
"Wasting your time again?" he murmured.
Li Xue looked up, her voice steady. "At least I create something. Not everything has to be profit."
For a moment, silence stretched — and in it, a flicker of something crossed his face. But then, like always, he turned away, leaving only the crack of the door as it closed behind him.