---
The late afternoon sun filtered softly through the windows of the real estate office as Lin Yue and Mo Yuwei stepped inside, the glass doors sliding closed behind them with a hushed whoosh.
They stepped inside the cool, modern lobby where a friendly receptionist greeted them and handed them over to a young, energetic real estate agent who introduced herself as Miss Zhao.
She led them through a series of model homes, each more lavish than the last.
"Let's look at this one," Yuwei said, practically dragging Lin Yue by the hand to a sprawling six-bedroom villa model with a private pool and rooftop garden.
Lin Yue smiled, amused. "Yuwei, I just want something simple. Cozy. A place I can call mine."
"You'll be living there with your baby. Space is good. What if you hire help later? Or have guests? Or just... want a yoga room?" Mo Yuwei grinned, her voice animated. "Imagine mornings in that rooftop garden. And that bathtub? It screams luxury."
Lin Yue blinked at it and shook her head. "I don't need all this."
Mo Yuwei pouted. "Why live in a shoebox when you can stretch your legs in a palace? You can raise your baby in luxury!"
As they passed another extravagant three-storey home with a fountain at the entrance and a winding staircase, Mo Yuwei clapped her hands. "This one! You have to get this one! It's gorgeous, spacious, and has a built-in music room upstairs! You could live like a queen!"
"This one comes with four bedrooms, a home theatre, and an in-ground pool," Miss Zhao chirped.
Lin Yue chuckled softly.
Lin Yue gave a faint smile. "It's beautiful... but I just need something simple. Quiet."
The reason to buy a house was simple.
The Lin Family.
Lin Yue had seen enough to know that once a rabid dog locked onto you, it wouldn't let go until it sank its teeth deep.
She had to move before they came sniffing around again.
She'd made up her mind after the encounter with the thugs and her so-called family.
A cornered dog always bites, and she couldn't risk giving them another opening.
---
After nearly half an hour of walking through different house models, Lin Yue stopped in front of a modest two-storey home tucked quietly at the edge of the development.
"This is it," she said with finality.
It had soft grey walls, a small balcony, and a tiny garden in the back.
Something about it felt right.
She loved it's simplicity.
Cozy.
Mo Yuwei raised an eyebrow and looked the house up and down, visibly unimpressed. "It's small."
"It's perfect."
"Fine, fine. But when you want an upgrade, I'll say I told you so."
With a smile, they returned to the housing company to finalize the purchase.
"You're making a wonderful choice, Miss Lin. This model is rare—we only have two left in this district. I'll just need your ID, and we can begin the transaction."
Lin Yue pulled out her ID handing her.
Miss Zhao explained the documents clearly, and Lin Yue listened carefully before signing.
"Congratulations on your new home, Miss Lin," Miss Lin said as she handed over the property certificate and house keys. "If you need assistance with moving or furnishing, let us know."
Lin Yue held the certificate in her hands as they walked outside.
---
Stepping out into the fading daylight, she glanced at her phone.
It was almost six.
"What a day!" She murmured.
She didn't want to go back to her apartment for the night. Even stepping foot in that place gave her the creeps now.
But the new house needed cleaning, and she wasn't going to sleep among dust and cobwebs.
She thought of booking a room for the night. Maybe at a mid-range hotel.
Her thoughts are interrupted by Mo Yuwei as she groaned beside her. "I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything since lunch! Let's grab something."
Her stomach grumbled in response.
"I could eat..." Lin Yue said "Hot pot?" she suggested.
"No way!" Mo Yuwei exclaimed, like she'd committed a crime. "Spicy food isn't good for your baby. Nope, denied. Get in the car. I know where to take you."
Before Lin Yue could protest, she was gently pushed into the passenger seat of Mo Yuwei's sleek black sedan.
---
They drove in silence until the large gold letters of Imperial Hotels gleamed ahead.
Lin Yue blinked. "Isn't this the place I fainted two days ago?"
"Yup. And it has the best food in the city. Let's go." She said as they walked inside.
The valet took the keys, and they were escorted by a waiter to a private dining room with dim lighting.
Soft music played from hidden speakers. The lighting was dim but cozy.
They settled in on either side of a rosewood table as a server brought them warm towels and glossy menus.
The scent of jasmine and roasted meat lingered in the air.
They settled into the plush chairs and placed their order: boiled fish, stir-fried vegetables, and a nourishing soup.
---
While waiting for the food, Mo Yuwei turned to her, her eyes sharp with curiosity.
"So? What happened? You called me out of the blue this afternoon to buy a house. What changed in just a few hours?"
Lin Yue sighed, her fingers curling into fists on her lap. "It's... complicated."
"I have time," Mo Yuwei said, leaning forward.
So Lin Yue told her.
Everything.
How she was adopted, how they treated her like a servant, how she was never given love or dignity.
How they used her, leeched off her, and then tried to sell her out.
"They told gangsters that I was their daughter and had money. Seven hundred thousand. That's what 'that man' owed."
Mo Yuwei's expression turned dark. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"And you went there with those men? Alone?"
Lin Yue nodded. "I had to end it once and for all. I made him sign a severance agreement. I'm no longer their daughter. I even warned them to remove me from their household registry."
The silence between them was thick with tension.
"They should be arrested," Mo Yuwei said through clenched teeth.
"They should," Lin Yue agreed. "But I just want peace now."
Mo Yuwei narrowed her eyes. "Still, I'll follow up and make sure they erase you from their registry. If they don't, I'll sue them on your behalf."
Lin Yue opened her mouth to protest, but Mo Yuwei raised a hand.
"Don't. Just let me help."
The food arrived, breaking the emotional weight of the moment.
They ate in silence for a while, both lost in thought.
---
After the meal and Mo Yuwei paying, they walked outside toward the lobby.
"You don't want to stay at my place tonight?" Mo Yuwei asked as they reached her car.
Lin Yue shook her head. "No, you've done too much already. I don't want to burden you."
Though they had only met a short while ago, Mo Yuwei had done more for her than anyone ever had.
Picking her up at the hospital, paying her bills...
She couldn't keep leaning on her.
She wasn't used to relying on people.
"You're not a burden," Mo Yuwei muttered under her breath, but seeing Lin Yue's determined eyes, she relented.
"I just want to gather my things from the apartment then stay at a hotel for the night. I'll clean the place tomorrow." Lin Yue said while looking at the time. It was almost eight.
"Fine. I'll drive you there."
---
Walking inside, Mo Yuwei scanned the tiny space, her lips thinning.
Lin Yue didn't have much.
A worn sofa. A chipped coffee table. Faint stains on the wall.
She wandered in, looking around with concerned eyes. "I can't believe you lived here."
Lin Yue smiled faintly. "Not for much longer."
She'd lived here since high school.
It was around two years.
Lin Yue wasted no time. She pulled out a suitcase and began packing.
She gathered all of Ah Yan's clothes, her own belongings, documents, and a few important items.
Everything else could be replaced.
These, she would take with her.
She looked at the place, the memories of Ah Yan in each and every corner of the house.
She felt a bit sad.
But she quickly shook her head.
She won't overthink anymore.
Mo Yuwei waited, quietly watching.
Once done, Lin Yue rolled her suitcase behind her.
Together, they walked back to the car.
---
Mo Yuwei drove her to the hotel where she had booked Lin Yue a room.
"Good night. Take care and...," She hesitateed for a second." Call me if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay, bye." Lin Yue waved standing at the entrance of the hotel with her suitcase.
She watched the car drive away disappearing into the night before heading inside, clutching her suitcase.
A new beginning.
But something inside told her this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning of a storm yet to come.
---