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At the bustling design floor of Liang Conglomerate, the whirring of printers and the rhythmic clicking of keyboards echoed softly in the sleek, modern space.
The scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the faint scent of designer perfumes worn by the fashionable workers.
Every screen was alive—some filled with complex design software, others with color palettes and layouts for the project.
Inside her corner office, Zhang Qian leaned against her plush leather seat, one hand holding her phone to her ear, the other twirling a pen between her fingers.
Her sharp eyes darted between the sketches laid out on her desk and the people outside through the glass wall.
"Yes, double-check the print quality and get back to me by noon."
—
Outside her office, Lin Yue sat quietly at her desk, her slender fingers flying over her sketchpad and then switching back to her digital tablet.
She had been working on a new layout all morning, yet her focus wavered every few minutes.
Her colleagues' excited chatter didn't help.
"Did you see her video this morning? Su Meilin is such a beauty!"
"She's like a goddess... And she's only twenty-three!"
"I love her confidence! She's not just pretty—she's smart and successful!"
"She's so perfect for CEO Liang. They're a power couple."
"I swear I could cry. She looked so good in that maroon suit. I want one!"
"She's our modern Cinderella, but better—rich, classy, elegant, and brilliant."
"And she and CEO Liang are a perfect match. Power couple vibes!"
"If they get married, it'll be the event of the year."
The words hit Lin Yue like soft but stinging blows.
Her fingers tightened around her stylus before she slowly set it down.
A hollow lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, intending to distract herself.
But before she could even type, she saw the trending topics.
Her fingers paused. Her heart tightened.
"CEO of Elva Allure—Su Meilin."
"Su Meilin, fiancée to Liang Yexuan, proves she's more than just a pretty face."
"A match made in heaven—The heiress of the Su family and the prince of the Liang family."
"The prince of the country and the beauty queen heiress? A literal power couple."
The words on the screen blinked at her, reminding her of her own status.
Just a quiet designer with a small gallery that barely made headlines.
An orphan, more or less, without the weight of a powerful family name or a glitzy background.
What was she even thinking... Wanting him to remember her.
Her hand trembled slightly as she turned off the screen and placed her phone down.
A small sigh escaped her lips.
Was I ever worthy of him to begin with?
—
Then, the elevator pinged.
A collective gasp rippled across the floor.
Lin Yue's head jerked up.
"Oh my god—it's her!" someone hissed.
"Oh my god! Oh my god! "
"She's here!"
"It's really her!"
Stepping out of the elevator like a scene from a fashion film were Su Meilin and Liang Qianyu.
Su Meilin in her maroon fitted suit looked every bit the polished, successful woman of the hour.
Her long black hair fell in glossy waves, and her smile was dazzling yet controlled.
Beside her, Liang Qianyu wore a white and pink designer dress, youthful yet refined.
Her heels clicked against the floor confidently.
The two were the perfect picture of femininity, elegance, and wealth.
Gasps rippled.
"Oh my god, she's even more beautiful in real life."
"Future Madam Liang… she's glowing."
"She looks like she just walked out of a magazine cover."
"She's so calm. And her posture! CEO material for real."
"She's so much prettier in real life."
"Is that really her skin? How is it that flawless?"
"She's stunning… no wonder the CEO fell for her."
"The future Madam Liang... so graceful."
Su Meilin gave a gentle wave, her voice like silk. "I just came by to greet you all. I'm here with Yexuan's sister, Qianyu. She just returned from abroad and wanted to visit."
Liang Qianyu gave a graceful nod. "Nice to meet you all. Thank you for your work hard."
The floor filled with more whispers.
"She looks like a doll!"
"Welcome back!"
"Wow, she's beautiful too."
But some whispers emerged.
"She doesn't really look like CEO Liang though."
"Are you sure they're real siblings?"
Liang Qianyu didn't hear the murmurs.
If she had, the offenders might have found themselves jobless by lunchtime.
With her volatile temper, a single comment could've caused an earthquake.
But Lin Yue just sat there, her heart sinking lower.
Compared to these women, she felt like a background character in someone else's movie.
Even his sister was flawless.
They all belonged to the same world.
A dazzling, powerful, untouchable world.
—
As her eyes swept over the employees, Liang Qianyu's gaze landed on Lin Yue.
She frowned slightly.
Something about the girl seemed... familiar.
Without hesitating, she walked over, heels clicking sharply.
"Do we know each other?" she asked, tilting her head.
Lin Yue blinked. Her brows drew together. "No, I don't think so."
Qianyu studied her carefully. Where have I seen her face...?
But she said nothing, only giving a small nod, lips curling slightly.
Right... what would a commoner have to do with me? she thought dismissively.
She turned, the silk of her dress swaying lightly as she gestured to Su Meilin. "Let's go to my brother."
Su Meilin gave one last smile to the group and followed her into the elevator.
—
Once the doors closed, the office erupted like a shaken soda bottle.
"Lin Yue! You know the CEO's sister?"
"She came to YOU!! What's your connection?"
Lin Yue shook her head quickly. "I don't know her."
From a few desks down, a scoff echoed loudly. "How could someone like her know the CEO's sister?"
Lin Yue didn't need to look. She knew that voice.
Song Ziyan.
Ever since Lin Yue joined the company, Chen Yirou had made it a personal mission to pick at her every move.
She wasn't even subtle.
Du Liyao, Lin Yue's closest friend in the department, rolled her eyes. "Why do you hate her so much? She didn't even say anything."
Ma Zhen nodded. "Yeah, Lin Yue's always been quiet. You sound jealous."
Song Ziyan's face contorted briefly.
Her jealousy was almost showing.
"Jealous? Don't make me laugh. How can I be jealous of someone who can't even afford designer shoes?"
"Didn't you say your uncle's brother-in-law is a shareholder at our company?" another designer asked sarcastically.
"Exactly. That's why I know her type. Playing innocent, trying to get ahead by being pretty."
Du Liyao was about to speak, but Ma Zhen nudged her subtly.
Everyone knew Song Ziyan had gotten a fellow worker fired just last week after running to her so-called powerful relative.
The tension was broken when someone shouted, "Let's vote for the most beautiful woman in our department!"
"I vote for Lin Yue!" "Maya Ling is so pretty too!" "I think Song Ziyan is beautiful... when her mouth is shut."
Laughter erupted.
Song Ziyan glared at the speaker.
"Don't joke like that!"
"No but seriously," another designer chimed in. "If we held a vote, I'd say Lin Yue's the most naturally beautiful. She's quiet, but she has this... elegance."
"Maya Ling has that model vibe. Her features are so striking."
"Yeah, but Lin Yue's the kind of beauty that grows on you."
Song Ziyan's face twisted. "Why are you even doing this? It's work, not a pageant."
Lin Yue just went back to her screen, ignoring them all.
She wasn't interested.
Her heart, though, beat unevenly.
'Why do I feel like Liang Qianyu has seen me before?'
'Like I know her?'
---
Meanwhile, at the top of the skyscraper in the CEO's private office, Liang Yexuan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a fitted black shirt that molded to his lean form.
The cityscape behind him shimmered in the afternoon light.
He was on a call, his voice low and composed.
When the office door creaked open, he didn't turn around.
"Brother~!" Liang Qianyu called brightly.
His jaw clenched. His lips curved downward in a silent sigh.
He slowly turned, eyes narrowing as he glares at her.
Liang Qianyu grinned, unfazed.
She walked around the desk and sat on the edge of the couch, kicking off her heels casually.
The faint glint of his silver watch peeked out from under his cuff as he moved.
The small mole under his bottom lip was impossible to miss, only adding to his dangerously attractive aura.
Su Meilin stood at the door, heart racing as she took in the sight of him.
That mole.
That cold aura.
That face sculpted by the gods themselves.
Her throat felt dry, and her palms grew warm.
He's even more breathtaking today...
Beside her, Liang Qianyu rolled her eyes and inwardly gagged.
This woman... she's always thirsty.
Liang Yexuan ended his call with a curt, "Handle it within the hour," before placing the phone down.
He turned, eyes like sharp obsidian, cutting straight through to Su Meilin as she walked in.
But he didn't acknowledge her.
His gaze landed on his sister.
"What do you want?"
Su Meilin stiffened.
Her heart dipped slightly at the coldness.
Liang Yexuan hadn't even said hello to her.
Not even a glance.
He hadn't even said hello.
Wasn't she... supposed to be his fiancée?
His future wife....?
Liang Qianyu raised her brows and smiled mischievously.
Liang Qianyu only smiled playfully. "Don't be so mean. We just came to say hi, right, sister-in-law?"
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