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Su Meilin's cheeks flushed a delicate pink when Liang Qianyu called her that.
Her heart fluttered, and she smiled shyly looking at Liang Yexuan, wanting to see his reaction at the name.
However, he didn't even glance at her.
He strode to his desk, his face cold and calm with his usual indifference, not sparing her a single glance.
The temperature in the room dipped slightly.
The air shifted as he passed her, leaving behind only the faint scent of his cologne—cool, dark, and crisp like winter midnight.
Su Meilin's smile froze. Her heart, which had leapt a moment ago, now felt hollow.
Why... why won't he even look at me?
Liang Qianyu, sitting gracefully on the couch, barely hid the smirk threatening to tug at the corners of her lips.
She noticed the way Su Meilin's face went a shade paler, her shoulders slightly drooping despite her designer outfit and perfect makeup.
Ah, how satisfying.
How pitiful.
Breaking the silence, Su Meilin stepped forward, her voice soft and honeyed. "Yexuan, it's almost lunchtime... let's go together?"
Liang Yexuan, still seated, paused mid-signature. The clicking of his pen stopped.
He raised his head slowly, his gaze landing on her.
His dark, deep eyes meeting hers.
In that moment, Su Meilin felt like she'd been stripped bare under his sharp eyes.
She flinched slightly, an involuntary movement she couldn't suppress.
That look—so unreadable, so penetrating—it made her knees slightly weak.
It was like standing naked before an X-ray machine—he could see right through her.
Liang Yexuan didn't speak.
Liang Qianyu took that moment to stand up and skip over to the desk.
She pouted dramatically, leaning forward, fluttering her lashes.
"Brother~" she drawled in a sweet, overly coquettish voice.
His brow twitched.
"Don't ever do that again,"he said as he closed his eyes.
She giggled, triumphant. "I won't if you take us out for lunch."
He exhaled deeply. This little sister of his…
He narrowed his eyes at her, but the edge in his gaze softened slightly.
After a long pause, he said, "Okay."
Liang Qianyu clapped her hands with glee and skipped over to the couch to put on her shoes.
"You're the best!" she chimed, a victorious glint in her eyes.
Su Meilin stood silently beside her, her fists clenched tight.
Of course, she'd known Liang Qianyu was doted on. She was his sister.
But this—this blatant favor—.
Her heart ached at how easily Qianyu could get his attention. She was his fiancée.
Why did she feel more like an outsider? Was she worse than his sister?
She bit the inside of her cheek to hold back tears.
After signing the last document, Liang Yexuan rose and spoke curtly, "Let's go."
Liang Qianyu grinned and looped her arm through Su Meilin's, dragging her up cheerily. "Come on, Sister Meilin."
—
As they stepped into the hallway, Liang Yexuan spoke into his Bluetooth headset. "Jin Shu, I'm going out."
Secretaries turned their heads, some already holding up their phones to capture the moment.
Click. Click. Cqlick.
The trio walking together was too good a photo opportunity to miss.
The atmosphere buzzed with gasps.
"Gosh, they look like a drama cast..."
"Su Meilin is so elegant, even in heels she's still shorter than CEO!"
"He's just too tall... and that face. Is he even real?"
"He's got that vibe. Like… ethereal. Is it the mole under his lip? Or the eyes?"
"CEO Liang's legs are unfair. How can a man have legs like that?"
"Ahh! CEO Liang and Miss Su really are a perfect couple!"
"They look amazing together!"
Then—
Liang Qianyu turned around suddenly and shot a glare at the gossiping staff.
Like a needle popping a balloon, the noise died instantly.
Heads lowered, necks shrank.
Phones were tucked away like guilty candy.
Su Meilin headed instinctively to the CEO's private elevator. But then—
Ding!
The regular elevator opened, and Liang Yexuan stepped in.
With him, Liang Qianyu.
Su Meilin halted in her tracks, confusion spreading across her delicate features.
Her feet felt heavy.
What did he mean?
He didn't want her in his elevator?
Heart pounding, she followed silently, cheeks burning from embarrassment as she entered behind them.
—
As the doors closed, the silence buzzed louder than any words.
The staff behind began murmuring again.
"Why didn't the CEO take his elevator?"
"Why is he ignoring Miss Su?"
"Did you see Miss Su's face?"
"Did you see Miss Liang glare? Goosebumps."
"And why did his sister look like she wanted to murder us?"
"CEO's sister looked pissed. Maybe Miss Su did something?"
One of the younger interns snickered. "Something's brewing… I can feel it. A drama's about to unfold."
Laughter filled the office again as someone uploaded the photos to the company's internal social feed.
—
"Omg! Look at Liang Yexuan's legs! He's taller than any man has the right to be."
"Is it just me or is the mole under his lip insanely sexy?"
"Su Meilin's outfit is stunning, but the CEO… Ugh, just take my heart."
"That mole under his lip… it's like he's straight out of a manhua."
"Omg! The CEO is a walking art piece! Those legs!"
—
As they exited the building through the tall revolving glass doors, the flash of cameras exploded like a storm outside.
Reporters swarmed, but were held back by security.
Liang Yexuan's expression darkened the moment he saw them.
The temperature around him dropped so drastically that Su Meilin instinctively shivered.
"I-I didn't know the media would be here," she stammered, stepping close to him. "I really didn't—"
He ignored her completely, taking out his phone. "Call the men."
His voice was like a blade dipped in ice.
Liang Qianyu's brows furrowed. Who dared to bring this circus to the Liang Conglomerate?
—
Within minutes, twenty men in black suits, earpieces gleaming, marched forward.
Their faces were stone.
Silent, cold, and intimidating, they pushed through the crowd with terrifying efficiency.
The reporters flinched back, stumbling over each other as the black-suited guards created a path.
"Clear the area," one commanded.
"Back away."
"No photos. No questions."
"Stay back," another barked, shoving a reporter's camera aside.
Photographers froze as the three walked out.
"They're coming! Get the photos!"
Some bold reporters snapped photos.
"When is the wedding, Mr. Liang?"
"Miss Su, what's your reaction to being the CEO of Elva Allure?"
"Miss Liang, as one of the top three scorers from the national entrance exams three years ago and later going abroad, what's your next move after coming back?"
Liang Qianyu smiled sweetly but said nothing.
—
They reached the black Rolls Royce Phantom parked by the curb.
The bodyguards opened the back door.
Su Meilin stepped forward, about to climb in.
She had it all planned— If she sat beside Yexuan, maybe she could pretend to trip during the ride, fall into his arms...
But—
"Sit in the front," his voice came, icy and sharp.
Her heart dropped.
She froze.
For a second, she wanted to ask why—why couldn't she sit with him?
But she stopped herself. She wasn't about to lose the one opportunity she had of going out with him.
Maybe she'll find a way to make Liang Qianyu leave them alone.
Wordlessly, she obeyed and sat in the passenger seat.
Liang Yexuan climbed into the back.
Liang Qianyu stood still.
He looked up. "What are you waiting for?"
She grinned cheekily. "Nothing."
She slid in beside him. But deep down, her heart had briefly faltered.
What if he treated her like Su Meilin?
Her brother had a temper like a blade—sharp, cold, and unpredictable.
The car pulled away.
—
Behind them, the media tried to follow, only for one of the bodyguards to block their path.
"Post anything, and you'll face our boss's wrath," he warned.
A ripple of fear passed through the reporters.
Oh god.
They had forgotten.
He wasn't just a CEO.
Any CEO.
He was Liang Yexuan—the city's King of Yama.
One reporter whispered, "Remember two years ago? That media company that annoyed him…"
"Wasn't it bankrupt within two days?"
"Wiped off the map."
A top-tier media house reduced to dust.
Everyone gulped.
Like ghosts in daylight, the reporters scattered, disappearing into cars, taxis, alleys—anywhere out of sight.
—
In the car, silence reigned.
Liang Qianyu scrolled her phone, earbuds in.
Su Meilin, meanwhile, stared quietly at the rearview mirror.
Her gaze locked on the man in the back seat.
Liang Yexuan sat with one arm lazily resting on the leather seat, his shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar.
His Adam's apple bobbed gently as he closed his eyes, relaxed.
She swallowed.
How could a man be this devastatingly handsome?
Her eyes trailed to the mole just beneath his bottom lip.
That small, dark spot seemed to hold more allure than anything.
The driver noticed her expression and nearly shivered.
The way she looked at his boss was… scary.
Like a starving dog eyeing a bone.
No—worse.
He glanced at the road again, trying not to get fired.
Suddenly, Su Meilin's phone rang.
Tring... Tring...
She jolted, glancing at the screen.
William.
Her heart skipped.
Why was he calling her?
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