---
The front door clicked shut behind her with a soft thud as Lin Yue stepped into the quiet warmth of her home.
Lin Yue slipped off her shoes at the doorway and sighed, stretching her limbs. Her shoulders ached slightly, and the warmth of the afternoon sun still lingered on her skin.
All she wanted now was a hot shower and some quiet.
The house was peaceful, the only sound being the ticking of the wall clock and the soft hum of the fridge.
She padded into the bathroom, her fingers brushing against the tiled walls.
As the warm water cascaded down her back, she leaned against the wall, letting out a slow breath.
The scent of jasmine soap filled the air.
After drying off, she stood in front of the mirror, towel wrapped around her chest.
Her eyes caught the faint swell of her lower belly.
Lin Yue tilted her head slightly, brushing her fingers over the small but noticeable curve.
Lin Yue's fingers traced the gentle curve, her eyes softening with affection.
"Hello there, little one," she whispered, her lips curving into a smile.
The bump was still subtle, easy to miss by others, but to her, it was everything.
A reminder that she wasn't alone.
A fragile life was blossoming inside her.
She caressed her stomach for a moment longer before getting dressed in a loose lavender shirt and soft pants.
With her hair tied into a loose bun, she headed to the kitchen.
Her stomach rumbled softly, reminding her it was time to eat.
She tied her apron around her waist and decided on steamed rice, sautéed spinach with garlic, and grilled salmon with a drizzle of lemon.
---
As she began cooking, the aroma of sizzling garlic filling the kitchen, she pulled out her phone and dialed Mo Yuwei.
"Hello?" Mo Yuwei's voice came through.
"Yuwei, you won't believe what happened after you left," Lin Yue said, stirring the rice. "A man came to the gallery… He said he was from the Tang Group. Apparently, they want to poach the painter— me—for a six-month project."
"What? Tang Group?" Mo Yuwei's tone sharpened."That's interesting. "
Mo Yuwei sounded surprised.
"I didn't accept," Lin Yue said. "Uncle Song told them I was out of town."
Mo Yuwei hummed thoughtfully. "That's smart."
Lin Yue said, flipping the salmon. "Thanks to you. I saw the news posts. You blurred my face."
"Of course I did," Mo Yuwei said. " There can be danger since the Masters came to support you. Better late than never."
"Yeah. But what really got me was that they're trying to compete with the Liang Conglomerate," Lin Yue added. "They're looking for a designer. So I was thinking… what if use that excuse to apply at Liang Conglomerate instead?"
"Hmm…" Mo Yuwei sounded interested. "That might actually work. Actually, Liang Conglomerate has several branches—fashion, architecture, interiors. I'll find out which one is butting heads with Tang Group. Then we'll plan."
"Thank you," Lin Yue said, plating her food. "I owe you again."
"You owe me nothing. Eat, rest, and take care of yourself. That's the most important thing."
After they ended the call, Lin Yue ate quietly.
After cleaning up the dishes, she paused by the sink, her hand resting on her belly again.
"It's been a while since I went for a checkup…" she whispered to herself.
The thought nagged at her.
She didn't want to be careless.
After changing into something more suitable for going out, she grabbed her purse and hailed a taxi to the hospital.
---
The hospital was quiet that afternoon, and the check-up went smoothly.
The nurse guided her through each room, and Lin Yue patiently underwent the blood tests, ultrasounds, and general examinations.
The doctor, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, smiled as she read through the reports.
"You're doing very well, Miss Lin. Your body is in excellent condition. The baby is over a month now and developing beautifully."
Lin Yue exhaled slowly, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Thank you."
She was given a list of prenatal vitamins, dietary recommendations, and reminders about regular checkups.
After scheduling her next appointment, Lin Yue left the hospital, the setting sun casting a warm glow over the city.
Her hand instinctively covered her belly as she smiled, taking in the golden light.
---
The golden hues of the setting sun filtered through her curtains as she entered her bedroom.
She set her handbag down and collapsed onto the bed, her eyelids fluttering closed almost instantly.
---
Meanwhile, at Chen Group headquarters, Mo Yuwei lounged on the plush white couch inside the CEO's office.
Her legs were crossed, her manicured fingers tapping on her knee as she ranted.
"Can you believe the Lin family? Shameless, entitled, heartless. Honestly, I still don't get how Lin Yue grew up into such a wonderful person after all that. They never treated her like family—not even once."
Across from her, behind a sleek black desk sat Chen Linfei, dressed in a dark blue suit with the top button undone, looked up from his laptop.
He tilted his head, studying her animated expression.
His lips curved slightly in amusement.
"You really care about her," he said, eyebrow raised.
Mo Yuwei rolled her eyes and pouted.
"She's precious, okay? You can imagine her as a child. Scrawny, always so quiet, always being pushed aside by that disgusting woman and her spoiled children. It breaks my heart. And don't even get me started on her biological parents. Who abandons such a cute baby like that?"
Her voice cracked slightly at the end, her frustration evident.
Chen Linfei's lips quirked into a small smile.
"What are you smiling at?" she asked, pouting.
"You," he said. "You're complaining like a protective older sister."
"Maybe. One day, you'll know. But for now, all you need to know is that she's a good girl. She's talented, kind, and incredibly strong. People like that? They deserve to shine."
He fell silent, recalling the first time he saw Lin Yue.
Her big, sincere eyes had locked onto his with gratitude when she sold her paintings to them.
He had assumed she was just another struggling artist.
But there was something about her… a quiet strength, a painful depth hidden behind calm smiles.
The office fell into a comfortable silence.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights began to flicker on, casting a soft glow over the skyline.
---