---
The elevator doors parted with a quiet swoosh, revealing a tall, commanding figure standing inside.
Liang Yexuan.
The moment Lin Yue locked eyes with him, her heart nearly stopped.
His tall, commanding figure blocked the entrance like a silent wall of ice.
His sharp eyes, dark and unreadable, met hers, and in that single moment, Lin Yue's breath caught in her throat.
Her heart beat erratically, pounding like thunder in her ear, louder than the silence between them.
She instinctively took a step back.
The hallway suddenly felt too narrow.
His bodyguard walked outside stepping aside without a word, and Liang Yexuan walked forward.
The sound of his footsteps echoed down the corridor, deliberate and ominous.
She took another back and he took one forward.
His footsteps were unhurried, yet with each one, Lin Yue found herself retreating—until she could go no further as she hit the marble wall.
His cologne drifted to her nose—fresh, elegant, and sharp—just like him.
He stood so close now she could feel the coldness of his aura seep into her skin.
His voice was a low murmur, but it was laced with an unmistakable chill. "What are you doing here? Why did you enter my elevator?"
Lin Yue's mouth opened, but no sound came out for a moment.
She fumbled for words, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I didn't see... I didn't realize... I was on the phone, I didn't know it was—"
"Didn't know?" he sneered, interrupting her, his voice now sharp with disbelief. "This elevator needs fingerprint authorization. Don't tell me you just wandered in by accident."
She stammered, backing into the corner more, her hands instinctively coming to rest over her lower abdomen.
She was trembling.
'Don't panic. Don't upset the baby', she reminded herself desperately.
Liang Yexuan's eyes caught her subtle motion.
His brows furrowed.
He tilted his head slightly, tone softening just a fraction, barely perceptible. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
Before she could answer, a voice echoed down the hallway.
"CEO! I was just about to call you.There's a—" Jin Shu skidded to a stop, his words choking in his throat at the sight before him.
His sharp eyes widened.
Liang Yexuan, his aloof, untouchable boss—the man who barely spoke even to his own sister—was standing barely an inch from a woman pressed against the wall.
The young woman's face was turned slightly away, but her features were delicate, familiar even.
Jin Shu blinked.
The air was thick with awkwardness.
Liang Yexuan straightened abruptly and took a deliberate step back.
Lin Yue seized the opportunity and bolted.
Without another word, she darted and entered the regular elevator, frantically pressing the button.
Jin Shu stood frozen, blinking as if unsure of what he had just witnessed.
Jin Shu didn't get a good look at her face.
The doors closed before he could process anything else.
Liang Yexuan straightened his posture.
"What is it?" he asked calmly, as though nothing had happened.
Jin Shu cleared his throat. "The Chenhua representatives just arrived. They're waiting in the conference room."
"Let's go."
As Liang Yexuan walked past, Jin Shu stared at the elevator for a second longer.
Who was that woman? He hadn't seen her clearly.
She wasn't one of the regular secretaries, and she didn't dress like someone from upper management.
Maybe she was a guest?
Who was that woman? Why did she seem so familiar? His brows furrowed.
Then suddenly, something hit him.
His jaw nearly dropped.
Was his Young Master cheating on Su Meilin? With an employee?
Jin Shu's thoughts spiraled.
But isn't he totally against office relationships?
Still, he felt giddy.
That must mean... that girl... She might be special... Could she be the future Young Madam?
His face lit up with hope.
Serves Su Meilin right.
I never liked that arrogant peacock Su Meilin anyway.
If it's that soft-spoken girl... I support her completely.
Young Master deserves better.
—
Meanwhile, down on the design floor—
Lin Yue stumbled out of the elevator and steadied herself against the nearest wall.
Her fingers were cold, her face pale.
That was close. Way too close.
Thankfully, most of her colleagues were still out for lunch.
Otherwise, they'll be shocked by her pale face.
She trudged to her desk and collapsed into the chair.
Her chest rose and fell as she tried to regulate her breathing.
She brushed loose strands of hair away from her flushed face.
Her thoughts raced.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I not realize I was entering the CEO's elevator? Why didn't I look up? I really want to slap myself right now...
She was still berating herself when her stomach grumbled loudly.
She blinked.
Right. Food.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her lunchbox, setting it down while grabbing the final sketchbook from her drawer.
The deadline for the Chenhua bid was just a week away.
She didn't have time to waste.
As she chewed slowly, her eyes ran over her designs.
Her mind kept drifting back to that intense stare. The towering shadow.
The warmth of his breath on her face.
She shook her head vigorously.
No. No. Focus.
—
Outside the company in the sleek Rolls Royce black car parked discreetly near the side street, Liang Qianyu sat silently, her gaze fixed on the sidewalk.
There, Su Meilin stood—her expression anxious, her fingers clutched tightly around her phone.
Liang Qianyu watched quietly.
She hadn't missed it.
During lunch, Su Meilin had received a message. And ever since then, something had shifted. She'd become distracted, even jumpy.
What exactly did she receive...? Liang Qianyu narrowed her eyes slightly.
She leaned back into the leather seat and tapped the window. "Let's go home."
The man nodded and pulled away from the curb.
---
Back at the Liang estate, the place was unusually quiet.
Her father was out entertaining business friends, her grandfather had gone to visit some retired officials, and her mother was taking a nap upstairs.
She slipped off her heels as she stepped into her room, then tossed her handbag onto the chair and collapsed onto the bed.
For a moment, she stared at the ceiling, thoughtful.
Then she sat up slowly, pulling her phone from her bag.
She dialed a number.
A few rings passed before the call connected.
"Young Miss," a male voice greeted, excitement in his tone. "I was just about to contact you. We've found something... something you'll want to see."
---