---
"Uncle Liang, Aunt Liang, we're going back. We'll come visit Yexuan another time."
"Okay. Meilin,take care."
"Okay."
Su Meilin politely bid farewell with her parents to the Liang couple, flashing a gentle smile, all the while stealing glances at the man who hadn't spared her a single look the entire visit.
Outside, Liang Yexuan stood alone in the garden.
The morning sun spilled over the marble tiles and highlighted his angular face. His sharp jawline, tall stature, and the subtle mole under his lips exuded the kind of charm that made heads turn effortlessly.
Su Meilin's heart pounded the moment she caught sight of him.
He looked more like a character straight out of a dream—cold, commanding, and breathtaking.
This man... he can only be mine.
Her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she approached him.
"Yexuan," she called gently, her voice sweet and slightly shy. "We're heading back now."
He didn't turn, didn't speak.
Her fingers curled slightly against her palm, but she smiled regardless. "I'll see you again soon."
Still, he said nothing.
Awkwardly biting her lower lip, Su Meilin turned and walked back to her parents, trying not to let her disappointment show.
---
In the Su family car, tension was palpable.
Su Meilin glanced between her mother, who was silently scrolling on her phone, and her father, who sat in stoic silence.
"Father... will this really work?" she asked, her voice small.
Mr. Su finally looked up, his eyes cold but firm. "Do your part, Meilin. Leave the rest to me."
She frowned. "But he doesn't even acknowledge me. Today, he didn't say a word."
"Yexuan isn't an easy man. But even the hardest of stones can crack. You're his fiancée. He'll have no choice but to accept it."
Meilin nodded slowly, clutching her bag tighter, as ambition and longing flared in her eyes.
---
Meanwhile, in the district outside the capital...
The sun had just risen, and Lin Yue was already up, dressed in a simple but elegant white blouse and a flowing beige skirt.
Her hair was tied in a loose braid, strands falling softly around her face.
She looked fresh, calm, and glowing.
After checking herself in the mirror, she called Mo Yuwei.
"I'm already on the way!" Mo Yuwei chirped cheerfully.
Exactly five minutes later, the sound of a sleek engine rumbled outside.
As Lin Yue stepped into the car, Mo Yuwei looked at her with an amused smile. "You've seriously glowed up these past few days."
Lin Yue laughed. "That makes it sound like I was a mess before."
"No, no, you were always beautiful," Mo Yuwei teased. "But now, there's something extra. A calmness. Peace. "
Lin Yue looked away with a small smile.
Maybe it was the freedom from that toxic family...
Lin Yue laughed lightly. "Maybe because I finally got some proper rest."
Mo Yuwei nodded handing her a leather portfolio. "Here. These are the four options I secured. Take a look. I think the last one might be perfect. But you judge for yourself. "
---
They arrived at the first location twenty minutes later.
It was a shop located near a busy food district.
"It's too noisy," Lin Yue said, frowning slightly as the blaring honks and shouting vendors echoed. "Not really a good environment for an art gallery."
"Agreed. Onto the next."
The second store was neat, but cramped.
"It's too small... I need space for lighting, a reception corner, and a display path. This would be too limiting."
Yuwei nodded.
The third store was nestled between two tall buildings in a shadowy alley.
Lin Yue wrinkled her nose. "No foot traffic. No visibility. This one's a definite no."
When they arrived at the fourth location, Lin Yue's eyes widened slightly.
It was located on a quiet but artistic street—cafés, bookstores, and a small theater lined the surroundings.
The store had tall windows that let in natural light, a high ceiling perfect for large canvases, and ample wall space.
She stepped inside.
The flooring was a little dusty, but solid.
The air felt... right.
Relaxed.
Perfect for a painting gallery.
"This... this is the one," Lin Yue said softly, almost to herself.
Yuwei grinned. "I knew you'd love it."
They contacted the agent, and within a few hours, the transaction was complete.
As Lin Yue held the keys in her hand, a small wave of disbelief washed over her.
Her own gallery.
A start up.
"I've already contacted a renovation team. They can start this week if you approve the design plans," Yuwei added.
Lin Yue turned to her, touched. "You're doing too much for me, Yuwei."
Mo Yuwei shrugged with a warm smile. "No, I'm doing just enough. Friends help each other. "
Lin Yue's chest tightened slightly.
She wasn't used to being cared for like this.
Not without conditions.
But she didn't find any reason not to trust her.
---
"Let's go eat something." Mo Yuwei said looking at the time. It was eleven o'clock.
The restaurant was upscale but not flashy, nestled within a glass building with a serene rooftop view.
As they entered, Lin Yue turned around to look curiously.
Her gaze drifted toward the mounted TV by the entrance.
A news segment was playing.
Then her eyes widened.
She froze.
Her steps faltered, and she stumbled slightly.
Mo Yuwei turned, alarmed quickly catching her. "Lin Yue?"
But Lin Yue didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the screen.
---