The warm midday sun spilled through the panoramic windows of Celeste HQ, painting golden streaks across the polished floors. The hum of productivity echoed faintly through the hallways, but within the glass-enclosed executive office, time felt slower. Liyana stood by her desk, flipping through a portfolio for the upcoming Celeste Autumn Collection, but her mind wasn't entirely on the designs.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
Mira peeked in with a teasing smile. "Your favorite guests have arrived. Shall I let them in?"
Liyana looked up, intrigued. "Favorite guests?"
Before Mira could answer, the door flung open and in burst Lu Meilin, her hair braided in twin buns, waving dramatically.
"Jie-Jie! Surprise!"
Behind her, Lu Yuhan followed, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. "Don't mind her. She refused to let me study until we came here."
Liyana's serious expression melted into a rare smile. "You two really know how to barge into a CEO's schedule."
Meilin marched over and pulled Liyana into a tight hug. "Exactly. You're too busy. We decided to fix that."
Liyana let herself be pulled into the warmth. "So, what's the occasion?"
Meilin stepped back with a dramatic gasp. "Do we need a reason to see you now?"
Yuhan shrugged as he set a paper bag down on the coffee table. "Well, we do come bearing gifts. Homemade sandwiches and bubble tea. You skipped lunch again, didn't you?"
Liyana raised an eyebrow. "Ganging up on me now?"
Yuhan grinned. "You taught us well."
She allowed herself to laugh softly, gesturing them to sit. "Alright then. You've officially hijacked my office."
As the three sat down, Mira quietly brought over glasses and a fruit platter before slipping out to give them space.
Meilin passed Liyana her favorite lavender milk tea, still cold. "I saw the rumors again," she said, her tone more serious now. "People online talking about you being cold-hearted. That you're only marrying Gege for business gain."
Yuhan's jaw tensed. "Idiots who can't handle a powerful woman being adored."
Liyana didn't flinch. "Let them talk."
"But doesn't it bother you?" Meilin asked, watching her. "You've always been kind to us. Warm, in your own way. They don't see that."
Liyana leaned back, fingers tracing the straw of her drink. "What matters is that you see it. Your brother sees it. That's enough."
The siblings exchanged a glance. Meilin's voice was quieter now. "You really love him, don't you?"
Liyana blinked. The question caught her off guard—not because she didn't know the answer, but because it came from Meilin, who had once clung to her as a friend, not fully understanding the adult complexities between her brother and this woman she admired.
"I do," Liyana said simply. "But love isn't always… loud. Sometimes, it's just choosing to stay. Again and again."
Yuhan nodded slowly. "Then we're choosing you too."
Meilin placed a small envelope on the table. "We made you something."
Liyana opened it carefully. Inside was a hand-drawn invitation: a weekend mini-festival organized by the university's design and business departments. There was a note scribbled across the bottom in Meilin's handwriting.
"Please come, Jie. You promised us memories."
Her gaze softened.
"You want me to attend a college event?"
Meilin nodded earnestly. "Not as CEO Xu Liyana. Just as… our Jie."
Yuhan added, "You'd be surprised how many students admire you already. Plus, I registered us for the food tasting panel. You can't say no to that."
Liyana feigned a sigh of surrender. "Fine. Forward me the details. I'll reschedule."
Meilin's cheer was so loud it startled Mira in the hallway. "YES! I knew you wouldn't ditch us!"
They ended up spending the next hour chatting over snacks—reminiscing about old holiday dinners at the Lu estate, the time Meilin made Liyana teach her how to walk in heels, and Yuhan confessing that he once copied Liyana's debate speech format for his school presentation.
The office didn't feel like a boardroom anymore—it felt like a home. Warm. Familiar. Loved.
As the siblings prepared to leave, Yuhan turned back at the door. "By the way… Gege's been… different lately."
Liyana raised a brow. "How so?"
Yuhan gave a lopsided grin. "Happier. Softer. He's never been like that with anyone before. Just… don't break him, okay?"
Meilin grabbed Yuhan's sleeve, mock-gasping. "As if she could. He's the obsessed one!"
Liyana shook her head, smirking. "Go before I start charging you rent."
The siblings laughed all the way down the hallway.
Left alone again, Liyana walked to the window, holding the handcrafted invitation. Below the festival date, Meilin had drawn three stick figures holding hands—a tall boy, a girl with twin buns, and a woman in a sharp blazer.
And under it:"Family. No matter what."