The soft clinking of teacups echoed through the airy halls of Liyana's villa as the late afternoon sun cast golden patterns across the marble floor.
Lu Meilin and Lu Yuhan were home again.
At least, that's how it felt every time they returned to Liyana's villa.
Yuhan was the first to burst into the living room, flopping onto the velvet cream couch with zero shame. "Finally!" he sighed, stretching. "I've been dreaming about Mira-jie's brownies for a week. Where's the tray?"
Liyana walked in behind them, arms crossed, lips twitching in amusement. "You're not here for me. You're here for the food. Duly noted."
Yuhan grinned, looking completely unbothered. "I'm a growing boy, jiejie. Don't shame my metabolism."
Behind him, Meilin rolled her eyes and walked over to hug Liyana gently. "Ignore him. We missed you."
There was something comforting in her tone—quiet and genuine, the kind of fondness that couldn't be faked. Liyana returned the hug, momentarily leaning into the younger woman's presence. It had been a whirlwind week—between Qin Xieren's manipulations, public rumors, and the sudden need to launch a full PR counterstrike—so this moment of domestic calm was something she hadn't realized she craved.
"You both said you had a surprise planned?" Liyana asked, sitting down with them as Mira brought over the infamous brownie tray and a pot of fresh jasmine tea.
Yuhan immediately stuffed one into his mouth before muffling, "We do!"
Meilin, more composed, grinned. "We actually talked to the Student Council at our university. They're doing a career speaker series next weekend. We told them about you, and they want you to come speak. About Celeste. About building your own empire. About being a powerful woman."
Liyana blinked, surprised—and slightly touched. "You vouched for me?"
"You're the only one we'd ever vouch for," Meilin replied simply. "You're already a role model to us. We thought... maybe you could inspire others too."
Yuhan nodded quickly, still chewing. "And also—there's this professor who's obsessed with you. She literally made us write an analysis paper on Celeste's branding strategies."
"True story," Meilin added with a laugh. "Yuhan failed the paper though."
"I didn't fail!" he groaned. "I just... misinterpreted the brand values!"
They all laughed. Mira, quietly listening in the corner, tried to hide her soft smile behind her tea. The warmth in the room had shifted—less luxury and elegance, more like a little family stitched together by time and trust.
After the laughter faded, Meilin leaned forward a little. "Jiejie… I know you've been going through a lot. With Qin, with the media, and with Damien ge."
Liyana tilted her head, but Meilin continued gently, "We may not be older than you, but we're still here. We're family, even if no blood says so."
Liyana's throat tightened unexpectedly. It wasn't often that someone spoke to her like this—not with pity, but with sincerity. With quiet loyalty.
"I'm lucky to have you both," she said, voice softer than usual. "And I'd be honored to come speak at your university."
Yuhan whooped dramatically, pumping his fist. "Yesss! Jiejie at Uni! You're gonna break hearts."
Liyana gave him a withering look. "I'm not going there to break hearts, Yuhan."
"No, but the Business School Dean might propose," Mira muttered from the doorway, earning a round of muffled giggles.
They spent the rest of the evening talking—about everything and nothing. About Meilin's latest architecture project, Yuhan's ongoing war with calculus, and a wild rumor circulating in school that Yuhan was dating a senior girl from the design department. (He was not. Or so he swore.)
When they finally left, long after sunset had bled into moonlight, Liyana stood at her front door watching their car drive away. Her home felt quieter now, but not empty.
Because they would always return.
And somewhere deep inside, Liyana Xu—unshakable CEO, elegant storm—held onto that warmth as armor.
For tomorrow, the world could come at her again.
But tonight, she remembered: she was never fighting alone.