---
The car glided silently through the city, the lights of the metropolis painting moving patterns across the windowpanes.
Liang Yexuan sat in the backseat, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, a slim laptop resting on his thigh.
The bluish screen reflected against his cold, expressionless face as his fingers moved quickly, swiping and navigating through emails and documents.
Jin Shu sat in the passenger seat up front, occasionally glancing through the rear-view mirror to check on his boss.
After a few moments, he turned around slightly.
"Young Master," he said, his voice low and respectful, "the hospital called earlier."
Liang Yexuan didn't look up. "Mm."
"They said... they couldn't accept our payment. All of Miss Lin Yue's medical bills are cleared."
There was a brief pause. The tapping stopped.
Liang Yexuan didn't lift his head.
He stared at the screen for two seconds more before responding flatly, "They confirmed that?"
"Yes."
He didn't respond right away. A faint furrow creased his brows as he leaned back against the leather seat.
"I see," he said at last, his voice low and unreadable. "Then there's nothing more to be done."
Liang Yexuan's gaze finally left the screen, his eyes clouding with something unreadable.
He leaned back in the seat and closed the laptop with a faint click.
Lin Yue.
Her face appeared unbidden in his thoughts—pale, startled, with eyes full of conflict.
He remembered the way she had tried to explain herself that day, her voice trembling as she denied using a painting to get close to him.
He scoffed inwardly.
Scheming women always had their ways.
He had seen her type too many times before. Pretending to be innocent, pretending to be kind. But in reality, always calculating. Always waiting for an opening.
Still, no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, something about her just didn't fit into the mold. And that contradiction irritated him more than he cared to admit.
He shook his head, trying to push the memory away.
---
The soft beeping of machines mixed with the rhythmic sound of Lin Yue's breathing.
Night had fully descended, and the hospital lights cast gentle shadows across the pristine floor.
Lin Yue had just drifted off to sleep, her chest rising and falling in an uneven pattern. The strain of the day had clearly taken its toll.
Her face, even in rest, looked pale and tired.
Mo Yuwei, who had been sitting silently on the couch beside her, stood up slowly. She picked up her bag, careful not to make any noise, and tiptoed to the door.
As she gently closed it behind her, her phone rang.
She checked the caller ID. It was her assistant.
"Yes?"
"Director Mo," the assistant said, "I thought you should know. President Liang sent his men to the hospital to pay all the bills for Miss Lin Yue. But they were turned away. We'd had already settled her bills."
Mo Yuwei's brows shot up. "Why would he do that now?"
"They said President Liang mentioned that since Miss Lin Yue was his savior, he'll make sure she's taken care of. That she should never lack anything."
Mo Yuwei stood frozen for a second. The words felt like a slap.
"That man..." she whispered, her tone laced with disbelief and rising anger.
"Okay. Got it."
She ended the call and stared down the hospital corridor, jaw tightening.
So that's how he wants to show gratitude? With money? After humiliating her, doubting her, accusing her of manipulation and scheming?
She looked at the time. It was only seven ten.
She dialed a familiar number.
He picked up after two rings. "Yuwei?"
"Fei'er, can you come with me to visit Grandfather Liang?"
"Tonight?"
"Yes. I need your support. Please."
He paused. "Alright. I'll meet you at the Liang Mansion gate."
A soft smile tugged at her lips. "Thank you."
---
Mo Yuwei stepped into the elevator, her reflection staring back at her in the mirrored doors.
As she descended in the elevator, her mind was already racing.
---
When she reached the parking lot, she got into her sleek black car and drove off, navigating through the city's night traffic with sharp focus.
Along the way, she stopped at an upscale mall and bought some gifts for Grandfather Liang. Wine, health supplements.
Driving to the Liang Mansion, she felt the storm brewing inside her.
She pulled up outside the grand gate, the guards recognized her at once and let her through.
She parked neatly beside the fountain. Just as she checked the time, her phone buzzed.
Chen Linfei.
She answered. "Are you close?"
"Behind you."
A honk confirmed it, and she smiled faintly, watching as her husband's car pulled up behind hers.
He got out, dressed in a sleek navy coat, and walked toward her with his usual calm grace.
He walked over with a warm smile and took the bags from her hand.
As they turned to head inside, the car beside them door's opened.
Jin Shu stepped out first. "Young Master Chen. Young Madam Chen. Good evening."
"Jin Shu," Chen Linfei nodded politely.
"Good evening," Mo Yuwei replied with a polite smile.
Then Jin Shu opened the rear passenger door.
Liang Yexuan stepped out, dressed in an all-black suit, his hair slightly tousled, his expression cool and distant. His eyes landed on the couple.
"Sister Yuwei. Brother Chen. You're here?"
"Yexuan," Mo Yuwei replied with a pleasant smile.
But her eyes?
A glare.
"We're here to visit grandfather Liang. We'll go inside first."
Without waiting for his reply, she turned and walked inside with Chen Linfei beside her.
Liang Yexuan raised a brow as he watched her retreating figure.
He frowned.
"Did Sister Yuwei just... glare at me?" he asked, glancing sideways at Jin Shu.
Jin Shu scratched the back of his neck and forced a small laugh. "Maybe you saw wrong, Young Master. It was dark."
How could he say he seemed to see her glaring too?
Liang Yexuan narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing more.
"You can go back now," he said simply, walking toward the entrance.
"Yes, sir."
---