---
Lin Yue stepped into her room with a calm expression.
Moments later, she emerged carrying six large canvas paintings, each carefully wrapped in thin, protective sheets.
"Wait... Are those new paintings?" she asked, standing up to help.
Lin Yue nodded, "Yeah."
"You painted all these?" she asked, taking one canvas from Lin Yue's arms.
Her eyes flickered with a blend of admiration and confusion. "When?"
"Yesterday," Lin Yue replied softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Mo Yuwei stared at her like she was some mythical creature. "Yesterday? As in... just one day?"
Lin Yue nodded.
Carefully, Mo Yuwei peeled open the covering of the canvas she held.
Her breath hitched.
Her eyes widened as a single eye stared back at her—a perfectly rendered, sorrowful eye with a single tear suspended mid-fall.
The pain in the painting was visceral, hitting her like a punch to the chest.
She quickly rewrapped the canvas and blinked several times to clear the tears pricking the corner of her eyes.
"It almost made me cry," she whispered letting out a shaky breath.
Lin Yue gave her a small smile. "Let's go."
They carried the paintings out to Mo Yuwei's car and slid them gently into the backseat.
As they got into the car, Mo Yuwei glanced at her. "I don't know why, but I really like you, Lin Yue. I hope we can always be friends."
Lin Yue chuckled lightly. "I remember reading an article once... they called you the Ice Goddess."
"That old headline," Mo Yuwei said, rolling her eyes but smiling. " Fei'er was shocked too. He's like, 'Since when do you make friends?'"
Lin Yue looked out the window, thoughtful. "Maybe it's fate."
Mo Yuwei nodded slowly, a smile still dancing on her lips. "Maybe it is."
---
At the entrance stood her so-called family. Lin Chengbi, Li Meihua, and Lin Rui.
They looked suspiciously clean, as if they'd deliberately dressed to evoke sympathy.
Li Meihua was even wearing a pale pink blouse that didn't look cheap.
Li Meihua even had red-rimmed eyes and was sobbing dramatically.
"Even if she's not my biological daughter," she wept to the gathered crowd, "I've always loved her like my own... I miss her so much."
The crowd was whispering among themselves as they watched Li Meihua sob, clutching a white handkerchief to her chest like a grieving mother.
"So pitiful..." murmured a woman nearby.
"Yeah, you can tell she's really suffering. Poor mother."
"And Lin Yue hasn't spoken to them? That's so cruel."
"Wait, didn't she say she's not even her real mom?"
"Still, she raised her, right? You don't throw away your adoptive parents like that."
Lin Yue walked forward calmly, her heels clicking against the ground with quiet confidence. As she approached, Li Meihua's tear-streaked face lit up.
"Daughter!" she exclaimed, stepping forward with outstretched hands.
Lin Yue sidestepped smoothly, not letting her touch her.
Li Meihua's expression twitched, but she quickly smoothed it over into a shaky smile.
'Bitch thinks she's really my daughter?' Li Meihua thought with an ugly face she could barely maintain.
'If it weren't for money... She's not even qualified to be my daughter.'
Lin Chengbi walked up next, his face full of concern. "Yue'er, how have you been?"
Even Lin Rui came forward with a fake grin, calling, "Sis! It's been forever!"
Behind her, Mo Yuwei stared at the scene in disbelief.
'What kind of disgusting family is this?' she thought. 'This is pure performance art.'
She had to bite her tongue so as not to talk.
She had seen disgusting things even in the entertainment industry, but this family was a whole new level of shameless.
Lin Yue signaled to Uncle Song, who stood by the gallery doors.
He rushed over, and she took the paintings from Mo Yuwei and handed them to him.
"These are the new pieces. Please display them," she said, loud enough for the crowd to hear.
The onlookers shifted their attention immediately.
"New paintings?"
"Let's go look!"
"Let's go, before it gets crowded!"
One by one, the people around the Lin family turned away, following Uncle Song into the gallery, murmuring with excitement.
Within moments, the troublesome trio were left standing alone.
Li Meihua's face twisted in anger. "This little rat! Does she really think distracting them will save her?"
She spat on the ground, preparing to do what she did best—sit down and scream her lungs out.
But just as she was about to flop onto the pavement, Lin Yue smirked.
But Lin Yue gave her a slow, eerie smirk.
"Go ahead," she said calmly. " Do your thing."
Li Meihua froze, blinking in confusion. Why isn't she afraid? Isn't she worried we'll cause a scene? Why is she smiling like a devil?
Lin Chengbi frowned too. Something felt... off.
"Follow me," Lin Yue said, her voice calm.
Without waiting, she turned and walked with Mo Yuwei toward the café beside the gallery.
"What's happening?" Li Meihua asked, eyes narrowing.
"What's going on? Isn't she supposed to be scared?"
"Maybe she is," Lin Rui said, grinning. "Maybe she's scared we'll cause trouble. Wants to bribe us."
Lin Chengbi rubbed his chin. "Yes. Let's go. Let's see how much she'll offer."
Li Meihua straightened her blouse. "Five million. That's what I'm asking."
They followed her smugly.
---
The three walked arrogantly into the café, dreams of money in their heads.
Inside the cafe, Lin Yue and Mo Yuwei sat at a table meant for five.
Lin Yue took a sip of water as they approached.
Without glancing at the woman beside her, the three sat down.
They immediately flagged down the waiter, ordering expensive cappuccinos, cakes, and milk.
"I'll have the strawberry tiramisu and a cappuccino," Li Meihua announced loudly.
"Black forest cake for me," Lin Rui grinned.
"Bring us the most expensive milk," Lin Chengbi added with a smug wave.
Once their orders were placed, Li Meihua turned to Lin Yue, eyes gleaming. "So, little brat, how much are you giving us? Let's be reasonable, okay? We're family."
Lin Chengbi leaned in. "Five million. That's fair. I saw how those rich people were fighting over your paintings."
Lin Rui added quickly, "And I want a motorbike. A black one. With red flames. The ad said it's limited edition."
"And as your mother, I think it's best I hold all your savings. For marriage. I'll keep them safe." Li Meihua said.
Chengbi nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes. She's right."
Their orders arrived, and they dug in shamelessly.
The clinking of forks and exaggerated loud chewing filled the space.
"Also," Li Meihua said with a mouth full of cake, "You should tell that CEO friend of yours to help your sister. Xingyan's career needs a push. Let her be a brand ambassador or something. You guys are close, right?"
She smiled greedily. "If she can put in a good word for her, endorsements will pour in."
Mo Yuwei set her coffee down with a sharp click.
"Excuse me... are you talking about me?"
---