Morning sunlight spilled through the curtains of Xu Ling's small jewelry studio, scattering across the delicate trays of silver and jade. The air was still scented with lacquer and polish — the quiet proof of a long night's work.
But quiet no longer followed her.
The moment she switched on her phone, notifications flooded the screen like a storm.
Her name — or rather, her brand name — was trending.
"Ling Atelier – The Star of the Golden Spoon Showcase."
Articles. Photos. Comments. Invitations.
Reporters were suddenly calling her the mysterious designer who outshone every elite wife in the capital.
Xu Ling scrolled through the headlines with disbelief.
"Unknown Jeweler Stuns the Upper Circle."
"Wang Group's Personal Designer Steals the Show."
Her chest tightened. It was too much, too soon.
She'd wanted recognition, yes — but this level of attention? It felt like a light too bright, one that could expose everything she'd worked so hard to hide.
---
At the Wang Residence
Wang Zheng was already waiting in the dining room when she came down. He was reading a news tablet, jaw tense, eyes unreadable.
"You're trending," he said simply.
Xu Ling froze mid-step. "That's not good, is it?"
He set the tablet down, turning to face her. "Not for someone who wants to stay invisible."
Her lips pressed together. "I didn't plan for this. I just—"
He interrupted softly. "You were brilliant. And brilliance never stays quiet."
For a moment, silence stretched between them — soft, complicated.
Then his tone changed, protective, commanding. "I've doubled your security. No reporters near the shop. If anyone asks about your past, you say nothing. Understand?"
Xu Ling frowned. "Zheng, you make it sound like someone's coming after me."
He didn't answer. But the way his fingers tapped the table told her he already sensed something brewing.
--
By noon, her jewelry studio had turned into a circus.
The sales girl — Mei, a bright college student with a loud voice and quick hands — was juggling reporters, phone calls, and deliveries.
"Boss, another magazine wants an exclusive!" Mei blurted, waving her phone. "And a luxury brand from the capital wants to collaborate! Do we say yes?"
Xu Ling was stringing a pearl necklace, trying to stay calm. "Say no for now. I don't want exposure — I just want stability."
Mei blinked. "But isn't this what you wanted? Recognition?"
Xu Ling smiled faintly. "Recognition, yes. But peace first."
The girl sighed, muttering, "You're the first designer who runs away from fame."
Xu Ling only chuckled — unaware that fame had already marked her.
---
At the Chen Group's Temporary Office
Meanwhile, across the city, the Chen brothers were watching everything unfold on multiple screens.
Chen Lu tossed a newspaper aside. "She's making headlines again. Jewelry, art, elegance — the whole package. And Wang Zheng's shadow is everywhere behind her."
Chen Heo leaned forward. "She's talented. Always was. Even as a kid, she used to take apart our mother's necklaces just to rebuild them better."
Wei's eyes stayed fixed on the monitor, where Xu Ling's photo filled the screen — her poised smile, her calm gaze. "Talent isn't what concerns me," he said slowly. "It's how fast she's rising. Fame like that attracts enemies."
Heo nodded. "Then we'll watch from the dark. If she's in danger, we move."
Lu grinned. "Protect her like a secret guardian? How noble. What if she doesn't even remember us?"
Heo's voice dropped low. "Then I'll make her remember."
Wei's gaze hardened. "No. Not yet. The Wang family is too involved. We wait until they make a mistake."
---
Back at the Studio — Evening
The sun had barely set when a black car stopped across the street from Xu Ling's store. Two men stepped out — dressed in suits, quiet, professional.
Mei noticed first. "Uh, Boss? Those guys have been standing there for ten minutes."
Xu Ling glanced through the window — they weren't reporters. Their stance was too controlled, too deliberate.
"Don't open the door to anyone," she warned quietly. "I'll handle this."
When she stepped outside, the men approached politely.
"Miss Ling," one said, bowing slightly. "Our employer wishes to discuss a partnership."
"Who's your employer?" she asked.
"Mr. Li Wei of the Li Group."
The world seemed to tilt for a second. Her fingers tightened around the doorknob.
"Tell your boss I'm not interested."
Before they could respond, she turned back into the studio, shutting the door firmly.
Mei gawked. "Wait — the Li Group? The Li Wei? You just turned him down?"
Xu Ling exhaled slowly, forcing a smile. "Not every offer is worth taking."
But her heart pounded. Why now? Why would he suddenly be interested in her designs, after all these years?
---
Somewhere in the Dark
In a car parked two streets away, Chen Heo ended the call he'd just received from one of his operatives.
"They've found her shop," the man said. "Li Group's men approached her today."
Heo's eyes narrowed. "Li Wei… the tycoon."
Lu, sitting beside him, smirked. "Looks like fate's turning the screws."
Heo looked out the window, toward the faint glow of Xu Ling's studio in the distance.
"She's standing in the open," he murmured. "And every vulture in the capital is starting to circle."
He leaned back, eyes cold, voice quiet but absolute.
"If the Li family tries to touch her again… they'll regret ever crossing the Chens."