She hung up and attempted a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Mr. Lu will see you now. If you follow , I’ll escort you to the executive floor."
"All of us," Shuyin said, gesturing to her entire group. "Every single one of us."
The receptionist’s eyes darted to Tank, Blade, and Razor, the people she’d dismissed less than two hours ago, and realization dawned with visible horror.
"Of... of course. All of you. This way, please."
She ca around the desk on unsteady legs, gesturing toward the bank of elevators.
As they walked across the lobby, heads turned. Whispers spread. People recognized Shuyin from the news, from social dia, from the scandal that had briefly dominated entertainnt circles.
That’s her. That’s Lu Zeyan’s ex.
What’s she doing here?
Who are those people with her?
Is that silver-haired girl.....
Yuyan walked with perfect posture, clearly accustod to being stared at because of her unique features but she didn’t give a damn. Chen Xiao pressed close to her side, and she kept a protective hand on his shoulder. Tank, Blade, and Razor radiated barely contained satisfaction, enjoying watching the receptionist squirm. Ting Fei remained alert, her eyes constantly scanning for threats.
They reached the elevators. The receptionist used her badge to call one of the executive cars, and the doors opened imdiately with a soft chi.
They all filed in. The space was large but felt crowded with eight people.
The receptionist pressed a button, and the elevator began its smooth ascent.
Silence filled the car except for the soft hum of machinery.
Shuyin caught her reflection in the polished steel doors. She looked calm, collected, and professional.
Inside, her heart was racing with anticipation.
This was it. The confrontation she’d been building toward. The mont she’d walk back into Lu Zeyan’s life and show him exactly what he’d lost, exactly what kind of mistake he’d made.
The elevator climbed steadily, floor numbers ticking upward.
Yuyan squeezed Chen Xiao’s shoulder reassuringly. The five-year-old looked up at his twelve-year-old protector with trust that was heartbreaking in its completeness.
The elevator chid softly.
The doors slid open.
THE EXECUTIVE FLOOR
The receptionist led them down a wide corridor toward a set of double doors at the end.
"Mr. Lu’s office is just ahead," the receptionist said unnecessarily. "Shall I announce you?"
"No need," Shuyin said. "I’ll announce myself."
She strode forward without waiting for permission, leaving the flustered receptionist behind.
Tank, Blade, and Razor followed imdiately. Yuyan kept pace, Chen Xiao’s hand firmly in hers. Ting Fei moved to Shuyin’s side, her presence a silent promise of protection.
When they reached the doors, Shuyin didn’t slow, didn’t hesitate, and didn’t knock.
She pushed both doors open simultaneously with enough force that they swung wide and hit the interior walls with matching thuds.
The scene before her was exactly what she’d hoped for, what she’d secretly suspected might happen after yesterday’s scandals.
Lu Zeyan and Lin Yueling, caught in an intimate embrace on one of the leather couches. His arm around her shoulders, her very pregnant form pressed against his side, her head on his chest. The picture of dostic intimacy, of comfort and familiarity that spoke of hours spent exactly like this.
Before they could even react...
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Yuyan’s phone was already out, her twelve-year-old fingers flying across the screen with the speed of digital native youth, capturing photo after photo from multiple angles.
"What...." Lu Zeyan started to speak.
"Ooohhh... so interesting!" Shuyin’s laugh was bright and dangerous, edged with genuine amusent, cutting off whatever excuse he’d been about to make. "Did I interrupt sothing?"
They jumped fully apart now, Lin Yueling actually squeaking in surprise, Lu Zeyan’s expression cycling rapidly through shock, guilt, and finally settling on defensive anger.
"Lin Shuyin!" He stood quickly, putting more distance between himself and Yueling, though the damage was already done, docunted in high resolution on a twelve-year-old’s phone.
He hadn’t been notified that she was here...
Behind Shuyin, her entire entourage filed into the office, Tank and Blade and Razor spreading out with the casual intimidation of bodyguards, Ting Fei taking up position near the door, Yuyan walking forward with interest bright in her eyes, Chen Xiao sticking close to his protective older sister.
Shuyin moved further into the office, claiming one of the leather chairs like it was a throne, settling into it with elegant ease. Her team took seats on the remaining furniture, filling the space with their presence, making it clear this wasn’t a brief visit.
Lin Yueling scrambled to sit up properly, smoothing down her dress, which was expensive, fashionable, and tailored to emphasize her pregnancy rather than hide it.
"Sister!" Her voice was sweet, concerned, and perfectly pitched to sound innocent. "You’re out of prison? Why haven’t you told us? Daddy’s been waiting for you! Why haven’t you co ho?"
The performance was flawless, and the loving stepsister was concerned about family, worried about her wayward sibling.
Shuyin had to admire the audacity, even as she wanted to laugh at the transparent manipulation.
She knew perfectly well that Lin Yueling and her stepmom had visited her in prison exactly once, not to offer support, but to force her to sign over all her shares in the Lin family company. They’d presented her with papers while she was at her lowest point, vulnerable and broken, and taken everything that was rightfully hers.
"Aaaahh! I haven’t had ti yet," Shuyin replied with false regret, waving her hand dismissively. "But I will visit soon, I promise! Though I have to ask...." She leaned forward, her smile sharpening. "....are you two practicing so kind of prenatal bonding technique? I’ve heard skin-to-skin contact is important, but I thought that was supposed to happen after the baby arrives."
The crude implication hung in the air.
"Young Miss, what are you doing with that phone? Bring it here.." Lu Zeyan’s voice was sharp with alarm, finally fully registering the silver-haired girl who’d been snapping photos.
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