---
Liang Yexuan adjusted the cuffs of his sleek black suit, the diamond-studded cufflinks catching the restaurant's warm light.
Each step he took was measured, his expression cold and unbothered.
Jin Shu walked behind him silently, the clicking of their polished shoes against the marble entrance echoing like whispers of intimidation.
Behind them, Su Meilin sat frozen in the car, her smile stiff as her fingers clutched the hem of her sleek white dress.
He didn't even wait... in front of all these people...
Her heart twisted in her chest.
Never had she felt this humiliated in her life.
The man she was supposed to marry had just walked off into a sea of reporters and flashing lights without sparing her a single glance.
Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the valet awkwardly glance at her, clearly unsure whether to assist or ignore her.
The photographers nearby were already snapping photos, murmuring to each other with puzzled expressions.
"Who's that woman in the car? She looks familiar."
"Isn't that Liang Yexuan's fiancée?"
"Why is she still sitting in the car? Did he just... leave her there?"
"Maybe there's trouble in paradise?"
Every whispered word felt like a stab to Su Meilin's pride.
Their curious voices buzzed around the car like wasps.
Su Meilin's cheeks burned with shame.
She didn't know whether to stay inside or get out and risk the embarrassment.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The man she loved had left her behind like she was nothing.
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to breathe slowly.
No... I won't look like a fool.
Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away.
Swallowing her pain, she forced a soft smile on her lips, one hand holding her stomach as if in discomfort.
Slowly, she stepped out of the car and approached the restaurant entrance.
When she reached Liang Yexuan, who stood tall by the entrance like a cold prince, she gently reached for his arm.
"Yexuan... I didn't want to stay in the car. I'm feeling a bit better now."
He turned to look at her. That face—icy and expressionless.
He didn't speak. Not a word.
But he didn't pull away either.
She tightened her grip on his arm and leaned closer, smiling up at him like a good fiancée would.
To the surrounding reporters, the image was quickly spun.
"She must be unwell," one whispered.
"That's why he left her in the car. Look, she's insisting on being with him despite the pain."
"She must really love him."
"Such a loving couple."
They walked in together, cameras clicking, lights flashing.
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was elegant, with soft classical music playing in the background.
The host bowed and led them to their reserved table.
Still silent, Liang Yexuan took his seat, while Su Meilin forced herself to smile sweetly, trying to salvage whatever dignity she had left.
---
Meanwhile, in her cozy apartment, Lin Yue sat cross-legged on the couch, wearing a white cotton pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt.
A small bowl of fruit rested on her lap, a fork in her hand.
Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and the television in front of her was playing the evening entertainment news.
She popped a grape into her mouth and leaned back.
The news anchor's excited voice caught her attention.
"In tonight's hottest story, the reclusive CEO Liang Yexuan has made another rare public appearance with his fiancée, Su Meilin."
There he was.
Liang Yexuan.
Walking with Su Meilin on his arm.
She looked... gentle. Almost sweet.
Her soft eyes looked up at him, and the headline scrolled underneath:
"Liang Yexuan attends luxury business dinner with fiancée Su Meilin. CEO's fiancée reportedly unwell but insisted on accompanying him."
Her chest tightened, a hollow ache blooming in her heart.
The fruit in her mouth suddenly tasted bitter.
Did he really not care anymore? Were those three months just... nothing?
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for her phone.
She needed answers.
Even if it made her look crazy.
Somethings couldn't be ignored.
The more you ran away, the more they followed you.
She dialed quickly.
"Yuwei," she said the moment the call connected. "I need a favor."
---
At the Lin family home, laughter echoed off the walls.
The dining table was crowded with greasy dishes, bowls of leftover soup, and loud chewing sounds.
Li Meihua licked her fingers as she counted imaginary figures in her mind.
"I say we ask for at least two million," she said, voice dripping with greed. "That little wretch owes us that much for raising her."
Lin Chengbi leaned back, swirling cheap liquor in his chipped glass. "We'll say it's for emotional damages. That she cut us off now that she's mingling with rich people."
Lin Rui, chewing noisily, laughed. "I told you my friend said that the woman next to her in the gallery video is the CEO of GlowVine Cosmetics. It's a big company. That's a capital-based company. Big name. If they're friends, then how can she not have money?"
Their laughter filled the small living room until the door burst open.
Lin Xingyan walked in, her expression dark.
"Xingyan? What happened? Aren't you in the city?" Li Meihua was the first to get up, wiping her hands on her apron as she rushed over.
"Why the face?" Chengbi asked lazily.
Lin Rui didn't even look up. "She probably got dumped," he said with a snort, licking his fingers.
"No," Lin Xingyan said, her face pale and tight with suppressed anger.
She paused, then spoke, "It's Lin Yue."
Li Meihua's eyes narrowed. "What did that little bastard do now?"
"I went to her gallery," Lin Xingyan said, folding her arms. " After seeing her in the news. I... I confronted her. But she nearly made me fall in front of people!" She lied without blinking.
"That bitch!" Meihua cursed loudly, spitting on the floor. "After everything we did for her! We'll see about that!"
"What do we do now?" Lin Xingyan asked. "You know... we removed her name from the registry. Can we still go?"
Lin Chengbi chuckled. "Of course. We have another way to make her be obed. We'll just make a scene. Say we raised her out of pity. That she abandoned us after getting rich."
"The public eats up pity stories," Lin Rui added, slurping his soup.
Li Meihua sat down again with a wicked grin. "We go to her gallery tomorrow. Cry a little. Yell a little. Say she used us and threw us away. People will shame her. She'll pay to shut us up."
Lin Chengbi smirked, "We raised her out of pity. And now she leaves us when she's rich? The public will eat it up. We'll say we adopted her because she was abandoned. And now she abandons us in return?"
"I'm not going," Lin Xingyan said quickly, shaking her head. "If someone recognizes me, it'll ruin my reputation."
"No problem," her mother said, waving her hand. "We'll do it ourselves. You just stay out of it. Just focus on being a star and make money to buy your brother a wedding house."
Lin Xingyan brightened. "Also, mama... Can you ask her to speak to Mo Yuwei? I've been trying to become her brand ambassador for four months."
Her mother scoffed. "Consider it done. I'll tell her she owes it to her sister. I'll tell her to tell Mo Yuwei to give you endorsements too."
Lin Xingyan squealed, hugging her mother tightly. "Thank you, mama! You're the best."
She skipped into the kitchen, grabbing a clean plate and chopsticks, and returned to the table.
"This meat is good," she said, chewing happily. "Tomorrow's going to be fun. Good luck."
They all laughed together, eyes glittering with malice.
---