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They sat on the sofa, the warm afternoon light pouring in through the sheer curtains and casting soft patterns on the polished floor.
Mo Yuwei turned to Lin Yue with a casual smile, but then her gaze dropped.
She blinked.
Once.
Then her expression changed.
She froze. "Yueyue…" she said slowly, eyes widening. "Why does your stomach look a little bigger than before?"
Lin Yue blinked, then instinctively looked down at her abdomen.
It wasn't much, just a subtle swell beneath her loose blouse, but now that Mo Yuwei mentioned it…
She gently placed a hand over her belly. "I noticed it this morning too," she murmured. "I don't know..."
"You should go for a checkup tomorrow," Mo Yuwei said, frowning. "It's definitely not normal."
Lin Yue nodded slowly. "Yeah. I will."
There was a beat of silence before she shifted topics.
Her tone softened.
"Now, tell me what's bothering you. You didn't sound like yourself on the phone this morning."
Mo Yuwei hesitated.
Then she sighed, leaning back against the cushion. "You know we just finalized our new brand ambassador."
Lin Yue nodded. "Xu Jiaqi. I saw the press release."
Mo Yuwei's lips twitched in a grim smile. "She's also almost blacklisted in the industry. From Starlight Media. And not for lack of talent. She offended someone powerful."
Lin Yue tilted her head, brows pinching together. "Who?"
Mo Yuwei's eyes darkened. "Let me explain."
She took a deep breath.
"This is what happened…
—
When she finished, Lin Yue was sitting very still.
Her fingers were interlaced tightly in her lap.
"The entertainment industry is so dirty," she muttered.
"It is," Mo Yuwei muttered.
Lin Yue tilted her head. "So what's your plan?"
"I have a private investigator following up. But it's going to take time."
Lin Yue tilted her head. "This Gu Yanchuan… he was the director that night, right? And Xu Jiaqi says he was pursuing her?"
"Yes."
"And a young extra saw him arguing with Yan Qingsi the night she died?"
Mo Yuwei gave a sharp nod. "That's right."
Lin Yue's expression turned serious.
She looked down, thoughtful. "Even if something happened… there's no evidence. That makes it hard."
She leaned back slightly, tapping her index finger against her lips. "Let me think."
Mo Yuwei tilted her head, curious. "What's going on in that brain of yours?"
Lin Yue didn't respond at first. Her mind raced.
Then—she looked up as she tapped her fingers against her arm. "It's hard to prove a crime without a body. Or at least, without time. You said you've already hired a private investigator?"
"Yes."
"It'll take time," Lin Yue said quietly. "And you're just about to release a new product line, right?"
Mo Yuwei nodded slowly. "Exactly. This could blow everything up if we're not careful."
Lin Yue looked at her, eyes suddenly clearer. "There's a way to get them to confess."
Mo Yuwei blinked. "What?"
Lin Yue shifted, stretching her legs along the sofa, a small mischievous smile curling her lips. "From what you've told me… these three—Fang Zemin, Gu Yanchuan, Su Xiao—they're not just powerful. They're that type."
Mo Yuwei blinked. "What type?"
"The type that grooms young actresses. Manipulates. Promises fame. Then threatens when rejected."
Mo Yuwei nodded slowly. "Exactly."
Lin Yue's voice dropped a tone. "So if they did something that night… we need to make them confess."
Mo Yuwei looked at her. "How?"
Lin Yue's eyes sparkled a little.
She tilted her head.
Then smiled—soft, innocent, sly.
"I have an idea."
Mo Yuwei raised her brows. "What kind of idea?"
Lin Yue crossed her legs gently on the sofa, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "From everything you've said, it's clear the actress' death wasn't normal. But proving it? That'll take time."
Mo Yuwei looked confused now. "Okay… and?"
Lin Yue turned, her smile deepening into something foxlike. "Let's just say... if the snakes are already biting each other, you don't kill them."
She leaned in, her voice dropping.
"You just throw them into a glass box—and let the world watch."
Mo Yuwei stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
There was a beat of silence.
Then two.
Mo Yuwei's jaw dropped a little. "Wait, wait… What does that mean?"
Lin Yue didn't answer yet.
She sat back against the couch with a little sigh, her eyes drifting lazily toward the ceiling.
In her head, the pieces were already falling into place.
She then smiled.
Softly.
This was going to be fun.
She glanced back at Mo Yuwei.
Her voice low.
"This is what we'll do..."
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