Morning sunlight filtered through the windows of Ling Atelier. The air shimmered with quiet productivity — polished stones, half-finished pendants, and sketches scattered across the worktable.
Xu Ling stood by the counter, inspecting a new batch of emerald stones. She had been in this same rhythm for weeks now — work, care for the twins, sleep, repeat. It wasn't easy, but it was hers.
"Miss Xu, the courier's here!" Mei called out, rushing to the door with a clipboard.
Xu Ling smiled faintly, wiping her hands. "That must be the shipment from the gallery."
But when she reached the counter, the courier looked uncertain.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said. "We were told to hold back your delivery. There's a... discrepancy in the paperwork."
Xu Ling frowned. "What discrepancy?"
The man handed her a document. "They said the gallery's contract with your studio is being reviewed due to allegations of copied designs."
The words sank like ice water.
"Copied designs?" she repeated quietly. "That's not possible."
But even as she said it, her heart began to thud harder.
By noon, the news had spread across the local designer network.
"Rising jewelry artist accused of plagiarism — sources claim similarities with luxury pieces in the Li Collection."
The headline blazed across social media.
Mei burst into the studio, phone trembling in her hand. "Miss Xu! It's everywhere! They're saying your Golden Thread Necklace looks like one from Li Group's private exhibition line!"
Xu Ling froze. She had designed that piece months ago — before Li Group had even announced their event.
Her voice was calm, but her eyes turned sharp. "Who released this?"
"No source listed. But the first post came from an anonymous account. It's spreading fast."
She took the phone, scanning the comments.
'Typical small designer stealing ideas.'
'No wonder she got a sudden contract.'
'The design's too refined for her level.'
Her chest tightened. Not because of the insult — but because someone had planned this.
---
At Wang Estate
By evening, Wang Zheng received the news through his assistant.
He didn't even wait for the man to finish. "When?"
"Just an hour ago, sir. The posts originated from multiple accounts but seem coordinated. Someone wants her ruined quietly."
Wang Zheng's jaw tightened. His first thought wasn't anger — it was worry.
He stood from his desk. "Prepare the car."
"Sir, the company dinner—"
"Cancel it."
The assistant didn't argue.
---
At Ling Atelier
When Wang Zheng arrived, the studio lights were still on. The twins had already gone to bed in the back room. Xu Ling sat by the worktable, staring at a pile of rejected sketches.
She didn't look up when he entered. "You shouldn't be here."
He ignored that, moving closer. "I heard."
Her lips curved slightly, without warmth. "The capital's fast, isn't it? One rumor, and suddenly I'm a fraud."
"Ling—"
She cut him off gently. "Don't. I'm fine."
Her tone was firm, but her hands trembled slightly as she arranged the tools. He noticed.
"You're not fine," he said quietly.
Her gaze lifted — tired, defiant. "What do you want me to do? Cry? Run to someone powerful to fix it?"
She laughed softly, but it sounded hollow. "That's not me, Wang Zheng."
"I didn't say it was," he replied evenly. "But whoever did this knows how to strike. You're not just fighting gossip — you're fighting money."
Her eyes softened for a moment. "Then I'll fight back the only way I know — with work."
---
She stood, walked to her safe box, and pulled out her sketchbook.
"This," she said, flipping the pages to show a set of rough sketches, "was drawn two years ago. Every line, every gem placement. I have the timestamps, the drafts, everything."
He stepped closer, looking through the pages. Her hands shook, but her voice didn't.
"I built this with honesty. I won't let someone take it from me."
For a long moment, he just looked at her — this woman who had been through storms and still refused to break.
Then he said quietly, "If you'll let me, I can find who's behind this."
She hesitated. "You don't owe me that."
"I know," he said, a faint smile tugging his lips. "But I want to."
-
That night, while Xu Ling worked late to prepare her evidence, Mei's phone buzzed again.
Her face turned pale. "Miss Xu—someone just uploaded a video claiming they have proof you copied from Li Group. It's getting thousands of views already!"
Xu Ling froze. "What kind of proof?"
"They're showing your necklace side by side with another — same pattern, same stones — and saying your supplier leaked the design."
Wang Zheng took the phone, brows furrowed. He recognized the background of the supposed "proof" immediately — a private design studio under Li Group's brand.
His mind raced.
This wasn't coincidence. This was strategy.
Someone from Li Group was deliberately using her work as bait — possibly even recreating her design to frame her.
He handed the phone back, voice steady. "You'll need to stay low for a few days. Don't post anything. Let me handle the noise."
Xu Ling shook her head. "No. If I stay quiet, they win. I'll release the sketches publicly, with timestamps."
"That will make you a target," he warned.
"Then let them aim," she said softly. "I'm not hiding
Far away, in the Li Group Tower, Li Wei watched the viral post from his penthouse suite. His eyes were cold.
"Interesting," he murmured. "So she's still making jewelry."
The assistant behind him hesitated. "Should we take the post down, sir?"
Li Wei's smile was sharp. "No. Let it burn for a while."
He turned toward the window, voice low. "If she's truly who I think she is, she'll fight back. And that's when we'll find her."
---
Meanwhile — At Chen Group
When Chen Heo saw the same trending video appear on his feed, he didn't waste time.
He strode into his brother's office. "They found her design online. Someone's framing a small studio for plagiarism. Guess whose collection it's compared to?"
Chen Wei's expression darkened. "Li Group's."
Heo nodded. "Li Wei's making his move."
Wei's gaze turned razor-sharp. "Then it begins."
---
Back at Ling Atelier
Xu Ling's phone buzzed late into the night. Hundreds of comments. Support, hate, accusations — all mixed together.
She stared at the screen, then turned it off, exhaling slowly.
In the quiet, Wang Zheng stood beside her. "You don't have to face this alone."
She gave a tired smile. "I've faced worse. But… thank you."
He nodded once, a silent promise behind his gaze.
Outside, thunder rumbled.
The city's calm cracked — and a storm began to build, one that would last for chapters to come.
Because this was no longer just about a rumor.
It was about power, truth, and the past catching up to those who tried to bury it.