---
The warm golden light filtering through the tall windows had softened to a lazy hue, filling the house with a cozy calm.
Mo Yuwei stretched a little and glanced at her phone. "I should go." She said brushing imaginary lint off her coat. "Fei'er will start complaining again if I'm late."
Lin Yue smiled softly, sitting up straighter. "Okay, see you later. You better tell me how it goes."
"Of course," Mo Yuwei tapped her chin lightly. "I'll go arrange that the first video drops tomorrow morning."
She paused, glancing sideways at Lin Yue. "What about our product line? Are we still releasing as scheduled?"
Lin Yue nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Nothing changes. We don't delay our dreams just because of their dirt."
Mo Yuwei's eyes gleamed with pride. "Following your arrangements then, Boss Lin."
Just as she was about to move, the head chef walked into the room, wiping his hands on his apron.
"We're done with the cleanup, Miss Mo," he said politely.
Mo Yuwei gave him an approving look. "Good job. Your salaries has been doubled this month because of your hard work."
The chef's jaw dropped slightly, stunned.
Doubled?!?
Then bowed repeatedly, smiling broadly. "Thank you, thank you very much!"
He turned and left, his footsteps light with happiness.
Mo Yuwei turned to Lin Yue. "Talk to you later."
Lin Yue nodded, stepping forward. "Let me walk you out."
—
They moved together through the quiet hallway, past flower arrangements and warm lamps.
As they reached the doorway, Mo Yuwei casually asked, "So… how's it going with Liang Yexuan? The project is almost wrapping up, right? You'll be back in school soon. Has anything major happened between you two?"
Lin Yue blinked, startled by the sudden switch in topic.
Mo Yuwei's gaze subtly drifted to Lin Yue's stomach.
"It'll be showing more soon," she murmured with a raised brow.
Lin Yue sighed. "I don't know what to do, Yuwei."
She glanced sideways, then continued, her voice lower. "This morning… something happened. I was taken—by force—to see Xu Mingze."
Mo Yuwei froze mid-step. "Taken?"
Lin Yue nodded. "His men dragged me to him. Said he wanted to meet. When I got there, he asked for my sketch… said he wants me to join Xu Group. I… recorded the whole thing, luckily. But…"
Her voice faltered for a second before she added, "Liang Yexuan might have been nearby when I was taken. I think he overheard at the door and got angry. Almost misunderstood the whole thing."
She sighed again. "I explained. Quickly. Thank God he believed me… otherwise, I don't know what I'd have done. We're working on trapping Xu Mingze. I know he won't stop… even if I don't give him the sketch, he'll find another way."
Mo Yuwei was staring at her now, expression frozen in disbelief. "Wait—Yueyue. You're saying you were kidnapped?"
Lin Yue gave a faint smile. "Not exactly. Just… forcefully 'invited.'"
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Mo Yuwei reached forward, worry etched on her face.
"I promise. I'm okay."
Mo Yuwei shook her head in frustration. "Xu Mingze is infamous for being stubborn and arrogant. If he wants something, he doesn't stop until he gets it."
"I know."
Lin Yue's voice turned more thoughtful. "But there's something else."
Mo Yuwei looked up.
"He knew I'm Yue."
"What?! That's impossible. We mosaiced every image, every video online. Your face has never been shown."
"I thought so too. Maybe he guessed. Uncle Song has been telling anyone who asks that I'm out of town, so maybe that gave him a clue."
Mo Yuwei's face hardened. "I'll check. Maybe some footage slipped through without us realizing. He must've seen something. I'll get to the bottom of it."
"Okay. Thanks."
—
As they stepped out into the courtyard, they found the chefs carrying tables and chairs back toward the pickup truck.
"Leave them," Mo Yuwei called out. "Lin Yue might have guests again. There's no need to haul everything back to the restaurant."
The chefs nodded and began turning around.
Lin Yue tried to protest. "There's no need. I'm not expecting anyone."
Mo Yuwei raised a brow. "Still. Let them be. Never know who might show up."
Lin Yue sighed, offering a helpless smile. "Thanks."
She watched as the chairs and tables were returned to the house, her heart warming and aching all at once.
Mo Yuwei always did too much for her. And she never knew how to repay it.
"Okay then," Mo Yuwei said, stepping toward her car. "Bye."
"Bye."
Lin Yue watched as the sleek vehicle pulled out of the gate and disappeared into the road beyond.
The yard was quiet again. Still. The sky above was painted with early hues of sunset, but the compound felt suddenly vast and hollow.
She looked at the time.
4:30 p.m.
Too early to sleep. Too late to sit doing nothing.
Her gaze drifted to her small, gently rounded stomach.
Without hesitating, she turned back inside.
—
She went to her room and changed into a light trench coat and sneakers, slipping her phone into the pocket.
Then she grabbed the gate key and access pass and headed back out.
The chefs were just finishing up, the pickup and van reversing toward the gate.
"Have a good time, Miss Lin!" the head chef called out cheerfully as he waved.
Lin Yue smiled faintly. "You too."
The gate shut softly behind them.
And then, silence.
Lin Yue stood there for a moment, letting the stillness wash over her.
It had been nice, having people around. Noise. Warmth.
But she pushed the thought aside.
She locked the door, pocketed the key, and headed for the hospital.
---
The pale green of the hospital walls somehow made everything feel colder.
Lin Yue lay back on the scanning table, her fingers nervously clasped together on her chest.
The air was cool. The lights above her bright.
The doctor, a gentle-faced woman in her early forties, hummed as she prepared the ultrasound device.
"Relax," she said kindly. "We'll just take a quick look."
Lin Yue nodded, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
The soft gel was applied.
The machine beeped to life.
The doctor moved the probe carefully across Lin Yue's lower abdomen.
Silence.
A few more seconds passed.
Then the doctor's hand paused.
She squinted at the screen.
And gasped.
"What…" she whispered.
Lin Yue sat up abruptly, her heart thudding. "Doctor? What is it? Is my baby okay? Am I sick? What is it— "
Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Please tell me. Is something wrong with my baby?"
The doctor blinked. Then looked at her, wide-eyed.
And laughed.
"Relax! You're fine—"
"Then why—"
"You're having triplets."
The world tilted slightly.
Lin Yue's mouth fell open.
Her eyes rounded as the words echoed in her mind.
Triplets.
She blinked.
"W-What?"
The doctor turned the monitor so she could see.
"Three heartbeats. Three sacs. Congratulations, young lady."
Triplets!?
TRIPLETS!!!!
---