The morning sun filtered through the silk curtains of Wang Manor, painting the hall in shades of gold and ivory. Xu Ling stood near the window of her studio, her hands moving delicately over a half-finished necklace — gold threads, pearls, and a single jade centerpiece that gleamed like captured moonlight.
It was her newest piece, one she called "Rebirth."
A symbol of herself.
---
Xu Ling's Morning
Her salesgirl, Mei'er, rushed in, holding a tablet. "Madam Xu! The Golden Spoon just confirmed your slot for the charity showcase!"
Xu Ling blinked. "So soon?"
"Yes! Madam Song personally approved your designs." Mei'er's eyes glowed with excitement. "You'll be presenting alongside Lu Holdings and Zhao Luxury Arts! This could make your atelier the most talked-about brand of the year!"
Xu Ling smiled faintly. "Then we'll have to make sure the pieces are perfect."
She bent over her work again, unaware of the undercurrent swirling beneath the quiet elegance of her new life — the power plays, the spies, and the family that had begun to move heaven and earth to find her.
Outside, the air was peaceful. Inside, fate had already shifted.
---
The Arrival of the Investigators
Across the border, at the bustling capital airport, two men stepped out of a private jet bearing the Chen insignia.
They were dressed in charcoal suits, blending easily into the crowd. But everything about them — the way they scanned the exits, the precision of their stride — spoke of military discipline and quiet authority.
Chen Heo's voice echoed faintly from the encrypted line in their earpieces.
> "No contact with her directly. We find out where she is, who she's with, and what she remembers. Quietly. No mistakes."
"Understood, Third Young Master," one of them replied.
The mission had begun.
Their first destination: Golden Spoon Academy.
---
At the Golden Spoon
The academy was as breathtaking as ever — white marble steps, delicate bonsai gardens, and elegant women gliding across the courtyards in silk and diamonds.
Madam Song Lihua was presiding over a morning class when her assistant approached, whispering something that made her pause.
Two men in suits waited at the edge of the garden.
She excused herself gracefully, the rustle of her cheongsam soft against the tiled floor.
"Gentlemen," she greeted, her voice calm and refined. "Golden Spoon is a private institution. What brings you here?"
One of the men bowed slightly. "We're here on behalf of the Chen family. A discreet inquiry."
Madam Song raised a brow. "The Chen family? That's not a name one hears lightly."
He handed her an envelope sealed with gold wax. "Our employers believe a woman under your tutelage may be connected to them. We request confirmation — privately, of course."
Madam Song didn't open it immediately. Instead, she smiled the kind of smile that said I know more than I will ever tell you.
"Golden Spoon is a place of refinement," she said gently. "We don't traffic in gossip, not even for dynasties."
The agent inclined his head. "We mean no offense, Madam. Our family has been searching for their lost daughter for years."
Her gaze softened. "The Chen heiress…"
For a fleeting moment, her mind flashed to Xu Ling — the grace in her silence, the steadiness in her eyes, the unspoken pain that no one else noticed.
But she said nothing.
"I will keep your message," she replied smoothly, "and if such a woman exists under my care, I'll contact you first."
They bowed and left.
---
Madam Song's Thoughts
As soon as they were gone, Madam Song turned the envelope over in her hand.
Inside, a simple note read:
> "She wears the Chen crest. Her name may not be her own."
Her eyes narrowed. "Xu Ling… who are you really?"
That evening, as the women gathered for their tea ceremony, Madam Song's attention lingered on Xu Ling — her calm movements, her quiet aura, the delicate strength she carried.
Every motion was too graceful to be learned.
Every glance too noble to be ordinary.
There was no doubt anymore.
The woman crafting jewelry in silence had once belonged to a dynasty.
---
Meanwhile, at Wang Manor
Wang Zheng returned from the airport late that night, unbuttoning his shirt as he stepped into the quiet glow of the living room.
Xu Ling was still awake, sorting gemstones by color.
He paused, watching her.
The soft lamplight caught the strands of her hair, the curve of her wrist, the faint shadow beneath her eyes from long nights of work.
"You haven't slept," he said.
"I will," she replied, without looking up. "Just need to finish this last set."
Wang Zheng walked closer, stopping just behind her. "You said that two hours ago."
She smiled faintly. "You've been counting?"
His lips twitched. "I always count when it comes to you."
She froze for a second — the quiet confession slipping into the space between them like warmth and lightning.
---
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. "You don't have to do everything alone."
"I'm used to it," she whispered.
"Then get unused to it," he said, voice low but firm. "You have me now. You have us."
Her chest tightened. For years, she had carried herself like a shadow — silent, unseen, safe. But with Wang Zheng, it felt different. As if she could finally breathe.
Still, she didn't answer.
Instead, she turned slightly, catching his gaze. "Tomorrow's the Golden Spoon charity selection. I can't afford mistakes."
He smiled. "Then let me be there. Not as the tycoon everyone fears — but as the man who believes in you."
Their eyes met, something soft and dangerous sparking in the quiet space between them.
Neither moved closer. But neither stepped away.
---
The next morning, laughter echoed through the manor as the twins ran around in their uniforms.
"Daddy Zheng! We're going to school today!" Tianming shouted, while Yuze struggled to tie his shoelaces.
Xu Ling knelt beside them, fixing their collars. "Don't cause trouble."
"Me? Never," Tianming said — right before tripping over Yuze's bag.
Wang Zheng chuckled, scooping them both up. "Your mother needs peace to focus on her big day. So you two—"
"—will behave!" they chorused, already plotting their next prank.
Xu Ling rolled her eyes fondly. "They take after you."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Wang Zheng teased, leaning closer just as she blushed and turned away.
---
In the Capital
That same morning, the Chen investigators reported back.
> "Sir, no clear confirmation yet. But the woman Madam Song mentors fits the description. She's guarded, graceful, and… she wears the Chen crest as a pendant."
On the other end, Chen Heo closed his eyes.
"Then it's her."
He ended the call and turned to Chen Wei. "We've found her."
Wei nodded slowly, his voice steady but his hands tight around his glass.
"Then it begins. No contact yet. Let's see what kind of life she's built… before we remind her who she truly is."
Back at the Golden Spoon, Madam Song placed a call to Xu Ling.
"Xu Ling," she said softly, "prepare your best work for the charity event. The eyes that will be watching this year are not ordinary."
Xu Ling smiled. "Then I'll make sure they remember it."
What she didn't know — was that among those eyes would be her blood, her past, and her fate.