The morning after the gala unfolded like any other in Celeste's headquarters—smooth, organized, elegant.
But for Mira and Ruoxi, something lingered beneath the polished surface: doubt.
The kind that didn't fade with coffee.
Inside Celeste's executive lounge, Mira stirred her latte absentmindedly, the silver spoon clinking against porcelain. Ruoxi sat across from her, legs crossed in a sleek mauve pantsuit, her fingers tapping a slow rhythm against her tablet.
"She was watching every move Liyana made," Mira murmured, eyes on the steam rising from her cup.
Ruoxi glanced up. "Qin?"
Mira nodded. "Not just watching—calculating. She was focused on Aiden the whole night until he started praising Liyana. Then everything changed."
Ruoxi sat back. "I saw it too. That tight smile, the way she kept inching closer to Damien... trying to pretend she wasn't affected, but completely unraveling inside."
Mira's lips tightened. "And did you notice how she lingered by the press table? Five minutes later, that article went up."
Ruoxi's brows furrowed. "Which one?"
Mira tapped her phone and handed it across. A glossy online tabloid article glared back:
"RUMORS SWIRL: Superstar Aiden Zheng and Celeste CEO Liyana Xu Growing Too Close?"Insiders say their chemistry is "more than just professional."
Ruoxi narrowed her eyes. "Convenient timing."
Mira nodded. "Too convenient. And guess who suddenly started trending alongside it?"
She swiped to another tab. Qin Xieren's name appeared with photos of her standing beside Damien at the gala. The media buzzed about her poised elegance, her mysterious background, and—most notably—her 'presence beside the Lu heir.'
"Trying to frame herself as the perfect match," Ruoxi muttered, scowling. "She used the media moment to reposition the narrative—Liyana as the flirt, herself as the poised family candidate."
"She's good," Mira said softly. "Too good."
They fell into silence. The walls of the lounge were soundproof, but outside, Celeste buzzed with designers, managers, and PR leads—all unaware that something venomous might be slithering close to the heart of their empire.
Ruoxi's eyes sharpened. "We need to find out more about her. Officially, she's listed as Damien's old classmate from Stanford, right?"
"Graduated a year before him," Mira said. "But her LinkedIn's vague. And her company… it's only been active for two years, but already secured deals with minor Lu Group subsidiaries."
"That's too fast."
"I thought so too," Mira said, sliding her laptop across the table. "I started pulling what I could. There's no clear financial backer, but some of the investment firms that helped her get started… they have shady portfolios. Shell companies. Some overlap with firms Damien cut ties with years ago."
Ruoxi's lips parted slightly. "She's using old connections to build legitimacy—and proximity to Damien."
Mira leaned in. "And if she's manipulating the press and inserting herself into Lu Group's public image, it's not just about Damien. She wants something bigger."
"Power," Ruoxi said. "Access."
"Leverage."
Their eyes met. For two women who had fought their way through industries run by men who underestimated them, they didn't need to say more.
"I'll run background on the shell companies," Ruoxi offered. "See if any have had past ties to Lin Hao or black-market investors."
Mira nodded. "And I'll look into Qin's PR firm. If she's seeding narratives about Liyana, we need proof."
Ruoxi smirked faintly. "It's time she realized who she's messing with."
Before they could part, the lounge door opened—and Aiden Zheng stepped in.
He looked fresh despite the late-night gala, wearing a simple black turtleneck and fitted slacks. His hair was tousled, and he wore that casual celebrity glow that made the world slow down a little when he walked by.
"Oh. Plotting something, ladies?" he teased, eyes dancing between them.
Mira quickly straightened. "No more than usual."
He gave a lazy smile. "I figured. I read that nonsense article this morning. Wanted to drop by in case you needed me to say something public."
Ruoxi raised an eyebrow. "You mean a statement?"
"I don't mind clearing the air," Aiden said, leaning casually on the marble counter. "Though personally, I'd rather keep them guessing. Let the tabloids think I'm madly in love with Liyana. That'll drive the vultures insane."
Mira rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched upward.
"You're not worried it'll affect your image?" Ruoxi asked.
Aiden shrugged. "Liyana's untouchable. Anyone who tries to drag her down only ends up looking petty. Including whoever leaked that headline."
Mira's gaze sharpened. "So you believe it was deliberate?"
Aiden didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. But I don't play those games. You two are the watchdogs. I'll just keep smiling for the cameras."
He turned to Mira before walking off. "By the way, you looked stunning last night."
Then he winked—and vanished, leaving the air charged.
Ruoxi raised a brow at Mira, who looked down quickly, cheeks tinted.
But Mira recovered fast. "Alright. Let's get to work."
They weren't just Liyana's allies anymore.
They were her shield—and if Qin Xieren wanted to play dirty, she had no idea who she was up against.