Linling, enthroned behind a desk crafted from imported obsidian glass, surveyed the city skyline with the predatory gaze of an eagle. Her fingers, adorned with rings worth a small fortune, tapped an impatient rhythm on her latest-model designer smartphone. Her expression was a glacial mask of calculated fury; her internal monologue, pure venom.
Linling (muttering coldly):
"Cash tree? More like a wilting bonsai if he's truly vanished. Someone is tampering with my primary asset."
With swift, decisive movements, she dialed a number buried deep within her contacts—a burner phone, a direct line to one of her carefully planted moles within the Lu Mansion's labyrinthine staff network. The connection crackled to life.
(CALL: THE LU MANSION SECRET CHANNEL)
Spy (voice hushed, barely audible whisper):
"Young Madam? Urgent update. Negative news. Young Master Lu... his last confirmed sighting was approximately one month ago... location confirmed as Alley 13, downtown slum district. We tracked his financials there, but the trail went cold. Vanished without a trace since that morning."
Linling's eyes narrowed instantly, pupils contracting like a hawk pinpointing its prey miles below.
Linling (voice dropping to absolute zero):
"...Alley 13? That refuse-strewn cesspit where even stray dogs fear to tread? He wouldn't set foot in such a place unless compelled... or unless he was deliberately hiding something."
Click. She terminated the call without preamble, immediately dialing another number – this one heavily encrypted, belonging to a shadowy entity dwelling in the city's digital underworld.
(CALL: SHADY TECH AGENCY – MASTERS OF DIGITAL ESPIONAGE)
A weary, perpetually tired voice answered, punctuated by the frantic clicking of keyboards in the background.
Man (voice laced with disinterest and caffeine withdrawal):
"Digital Shadows Agency. State your query."
Linling (authority radiating through the line):
"Alley 13. One month ago. Timeframe: 09:00 hours to 12:00 hours. I require complete surveillance footage. Every camera angle, every shadow, every transaction, every suspiciously discarded ramen cup. No questions asked."
Man (a flicker of confusion):
"...Hold on, lady. Alley 13? That morning? That footage is highly sensitive. It's already under restricted access due to an ongoing Lu Family internal investigation. Why should we risk our necks handing it over to you?"
A dangerous silence stretched across the line.
Linling (voice dangerously calm, dripping with implied threat):
"Oh? An 'internal investigation'? How quaint. Perhaps you've forgotten who intervened when your esteemed grandfather's self-driving luxury car 'accidentally' rerouted itself into the densest part of the jungle, conveniently outside mobile signal range, with hungry wolves circling?"
A sharp intake of breath on the other end. The man's voice lowered, laced with newfound caution.
Man: "That... that wasn't you, Madam Linling. Official records state it was Miss Su Manman who organized the rescue drone..."
Linling (a cold, humourless smile touching her lips):
"Semantics. Manman follows my directives when necessary. Do you truly wish to discover whose signature carries more weight on the authorization forms these days? Or whose displeasure can make certain digital agencies... disappear overnight?"
A long, drawn-out sigh crackled through the speaker.
Man: "...Understood, Madam. The footage will be securely transferred to your designated server within three hours. But... consider this a professional courtesy warning: what you find in that alley might make you wish your husband had simply run off with a cheap mistress."
Linling (snapping her phone shut with a decisive click):
"Hmph. If that walking glacier possessed enough charm to acquire a mistress, I'd personally cater the wedding."
She leaned back in her obsidian throne-chair, arms crossed, eyes glittering like chips of ice steel.
Linling (muttering to the empty, opulent room):
"Just what sordid secrets are you hiding, Lu Siyan… and why does it feel like the entire world, except for your lawfully wedded wife-in-name, is privy to them?"
( LINLING'S PRIVATE SCREENING ROOM )
Three agonizing hours later. The heavy velvet curtains were drawn, plunging the room into darkness. The only light emanated from a state-of-the-art projector humming softly. Linling, having changed into luxurious silk loungewear that probably cost more than the projector itself, sat curled on a plush sofa, legs crossed, clutching a crystal glass of expensive red wine, her face an unreadable mask.
The screen flickered to life, displaying grainy, time-stamped CCTV footage. A narrow, garbage-strewn alleyway. Overflowing dumpsters. A single, flickering sodium streetlamp casting eerie shadows. Then, movement—
[09:03 AM – Footage Commences]
A figure stumbled into frame. Dishevelled hair falling into his eyes. An office shirt, wrinkled and possibly torn. He looked utterly lost, out of place, radiating an aura of bewildered poverty.
Linling (leaning forward, muttering):
"...Is that him? No, the build is right, but the bearing... Wait. That face... Isn't that... Su Yu?" The name felt vaguely familiar, like a footnote in a boring financial report she'd once skimmed.
[09:10 AM – Camera Zooms, Enhances]
The man identified as Su Yu glanced around nervously, confirming his solitude. Then, with astonishing stealth for someone who looked like a startled accountant, he approached a line of beggars huddled against a wall. But instead of offering charity, he...
Linling (squinting intently at the screen):
"...Is he...? By the heavens, IS HE PICKPOCKETING THE BLIND BEGGARS?!"
The footage was undeniable. Su Yu feigned concern, adjusting their begging mats, while his fingers moved with nimble precision, subtly relieving them of coins and crumpled bills. One of the 'blind' beggars momentarily lifted his head – his eyes, clear and sharp, met Su Yu's. A silent, instantaneous understanding passed between them: I saw you. You saw me see you. We both continue the charade.
Linling (covering her mouth, stifling a horrified laugh):
"...He robbed the professional frauds?! What kind of chaotic existence does this man lead?!"
[09:27 AM – Jump Cut: Dank Back Room – Illicit Identity Emporium]
The scene shifted. A heavily tattooed thug, looking like he gargled gravel for breakfast, presided over a desk littered with fake IDs and passports. Su Yu shuffled in, looking endearingly pathetic.
Thug (gruffly): "Whaddya want?"
Su Yu (puffing out chest slightly): "A new identity. Full credentials. Top tier. I'm building an empire, you see."
Thug (grinning toothily): "Empire, huh? Got the funds?"
Su Yu dramatically slammed onto the desk the meagre salary he likely possessed, supplemented by the ill-gotten gains pilfered from the fake beggars.
Linling (nearly choking on her vintage Bordeaux):
"He paid for his fabricated CEO persona... with money stolen from beggars?! The sheer audacity!"
[09:35 AM – Unwanted Attention]
Just as the transaction concluded, a voluptuous woman in clothes too tight and makeup too thick slithered towards Su Yu, her hand reaching suggestively for his chest. Without missing a beat, Su Yu recoiled, swatting her hand away as if dismissing an annoying insect, before clutching his newly acquired fake documents like sacred scrolls and practically fleeing the den.
Linling (erupting into unexpected, incredulous laughter):
"Oh my god. Oh. My. GOD! This man isn't my cold, robotic husband! He's... he's a protagonist from some absurd third-rate comedy-drama novel!"
[09:45 AM – Footage Concludes]
The screen went black. Silence descended upon the luxurious room, broken only by the faint trembling of Linling's wineglass in her hand.
She slowly, deliberately, stood up.
Linling (muttering, pacing now with predatory energy):
"He faked his identity... fabricated his entire history... robbed professional beggars... paid thugs with stolen change... rejected advances... and now he's running some sort of... startup company?"
A long, dangerous pause filled the air. Then, she snatched her phone and barked into it:
Linling:
"Get me the transaction records for every bank account linked to Lu Siyan for the past month! And cross-reference them with activity at any major financial institutions near Alley 13! I want to know if this lunatic managed to rob a vault next!"
(SCENE: HSE LIMITED HQ - THE DEV DUNGEON - PRESENT DAY)
Whiteboards scarred with frantic flowcharts resembling arcane sigils. Laptops emitting concerning levels of heat. Stacks of instant noodle cups forming architectural marvels. Amidst this temple of startup chaos, an army of caffeine-intoxicated interns charged valiantly towards their collective dream (or perhaps, shared delusion). Su Yu stood before a flickering digital screen – the sparking projector – displaying a slide titled: "POTENTIAL SPONSOR TARGETS," featuring crudely drawn logos created by Bai Luqi in MS Paint.
Su Yu (pointing with the fervor of a general rallying his troops):
"My warriors! Our objective is clear! Secure three sponsorship deals by the end of this month! Succeed, and every single one of you graduates from intern to salaried employee! You might even get actual desks instead of these... repurposed filing cabinets!"
A ragged cheer erupted – fueled less by hope and more by the promise of escaping instant-noodle dependency. However, three figures huddled in a corner remained conspicuously subdued, looking like they'd wrestled sleep and lost decisively over the past 72 hours.
(Cut to: The Trio of Impending Doom)
Bai Luqi (Shy Girl / Design Lead) (muttering into the worn fur of her bear keychain):
"...This is precisely how it starts in those novels. Grand promises, impossible deadlines... then comes the endless unpaid overtime, the dark circles that require industrial-strength concealer... I'm far too young and aesthetically pleasing for this level of trauma."
Hang Mu (Gamer Boy / QA Goblin) (clutching his game controller like a lifeline):
"...Sponsors?! We haven't even finalized the main menu screen! It still crashes if you click 'Options'! How can we get sponsors for a game that technically doesn't exist beyond Level 3 and a T-posing protagonist?!"
Lu Yan (Back-End Dev / Server Whisperer) (eyes twitching rhythmically):
"The server infrastructure is currently held together by virtual duct tape, optimistic coding comments, and my rapidly fraying sanity. I am one misplaced semicolon away from a complete system collapse and a personal mental breakdown."
(CUT TO: OUTSIDE HSE LIMITED – ARRIVAL OF THE ICE QUEEN)
A sleek, obsidian-black luxury sedan glided to a silent stop before the decidedly non-luxurious commercial building housing HSE Limited. The chauffeur door opened.
A stiletto heel, sharp enough to be classified as a weapon, clicked onto the pavement. A woman emerged, poured into a royal-blue blazer dress that screamed power and expense. Diamond earrings flashed like captured stars. Smoky, expertly applied eye makeup framed eyes that could freeze lava. Her aura radiated untouchable elegance, absolute dominance, and a palpable undercurrent of danger. She tossed her perfect cascade of dark hair over her shoulder and strode towards the entrance with the purpose of a predator closing in on its prey.
Linling had arrived on the battlefield.
(INSIDE THE DEV DUNGEON – 2ND FLOOR)
The main glass door swung open with silent menace. A wave of expensive perfume briefly overpowered the scent of stale coffee. Work ceased instantly. Twenty pairs of student eyes widened in unison. Hang Mu dropped his controller with a clatter. Bai Luqi yelped softly and dove behind a stack of pizza boxes. Lu Yan closed his eyes briefly, muttered, "The end times are upon us," and seemed to accept his fate.
Su Yu, majestic and utterly oblivious, turned from the projector, a welcoming smile forming on his handsome face.
Su Yu (to himself, appreciatively):
"Ah… such stunning beauty! And that powerful aura! Is this one of our potential sponsors arriving in person? Or perhaps—"
His thought was violently interrupted as Linling, moving with surprising speed, seized the collar of his (only decent) shirt. Without a word, she began dragging him bodily across the tiled floor like a recalcitrant piece of luggage.
Su Yu (flailing, utterly confused):
"W-Wait! Hold on! Esteemed beautiful lady, why this sudden aggression?! Is this some kind of surprise employee recognition reward?! Did I win the lottery?!"
Linling (voice tight, gritting her teeth):
"You are Lu Siyan. My husband, contracted or otherwise. You have been missing, causing considerable inconvenience, for over a month. I am taking you home. NOW."
A collective, internal scream echoed through the minds of the interns.
Bai Luqi (peeking out from behind the pizza boxes, whispering in horror):
"CHIEF SU IS MARRIED?! TO... TO THAT WOMAN?!"
Hang Mu (eyes wide):
"But... but he told us he was tragically single just yesterday while explaining corporate loneliness!"
Lu Yan (nodding sagely):
"...Ah. This explains the intermittent bouts of megalomania interspersed with profound existential confusion."
Su Yu (digging his heels in, resisting with surprising strength):
"Unhand me, mysterious assailant! This is clearly a case of mistaken identity! A nefarious plot by rival companies to sabotage my burgeoning empire and slander my pristine reputation! I am a self-made CEO! A LONE WOLF WHO STANDS PROUDLY ALONE!"
Linling (not stopping, delivering a swift, precise kick to his shin):
"You want to stand alone?! I'll let you stand alone in the doghouse out back! How dare you posture as single?! After all the resources my family invested in propping up this sham marriage for appearance's sake?!"
She continued dragging him across the office floor, the terrified student interns parting before them like the Red Sea facing Moses, only significantly more likely to trip over discarded network cables. Lu Yan, ever the diligent developer, discreetly began taking notes on his phone, likely gathering material for a future 'Hostile Workplace Romance' DLC.
Su Yu (managing to hook one leg around a desk leg, resisting desperately):
"This woman is unhinged! She's violent! I demand protection! I demand a divorce! I demand a lawyer specializing in spousal abuse! And perhaps a therapeutic massage afterwards!"
(EXT. OUTSIDE HSE LIMITED )
Linling, still gripping Su Yu's collar with the tenacity of a hawk clutching its prey, managed to wrench open the rear door of her luxury black sedan with her free hand. The car itself seemed to gleam menacingly under the afternoon sun. She forcefully shoved him towards the plush leather interior.
Su Yu (thrashing like a toddler denied candy):
"I refuse to comply! This is unlawful detainment! Kidnapping! My students require my leadership! The barely functional coffee machine needs my moral support! Who will inspire them now?!"
Linling (exerting considerable force):
"You'll need a coffin, not a coffee machine, if you don't shut your mouth and get in this car!"
In the ensuing struggle, Su Yu slipped on a discarded flyer (ironically, advertising a rival game). Physics took over. They both tumbled awkwardly into the backseat, momentum carrying Linling directly on top of Su Yu in a pose that was... decidedly intimate and featured heavily in certain romance novel tropes.
Time seemed to freeze for a millisecond. The air crackled with unexpected tension.
Su Yu (eyes widening, a sudden, audacious smirk spreading across his face):
"Oh? My, my. Is this... love at second suplex? A rather aggressive form of courtship, wouldn't you say?"
Linling (realizing their compromising position, her face instantly flushing a furious crimson):
"You—! Pervert! Lecher!" With surprising strength fueled by pure outrage, she kicked him forcefully, sending him tumbling out the other side of the car like an ejected sack of potatoes.
She scrambled out, smoothed down her immaculate dress, stalked around the car like a furious panther, hauled the groaning Su Yu to his feet by his arm, shoved him unceremoniously into the front passenger seat, and slammed the door shut. Click. The child lock engaged with ominous finality.
Linling (voice returning to its icy calm):
"You are not leaving my sight until Grandpa Lu confirms you haven't completely lost your mind. I am finished playing games."
She slid gracefully into the driver's seat, started the engine with a low growl, and the luxury sedan sped away from the curb, leaving behind a cloud of dust and bewildered onlookers.
(INT. HSE LIMITED – 2ND FLOOR)
Silence descended upon the Dev Dungeon, thick with shock and the slowly fading scent of expensive perfume. The caffeine-fueled adrenaline high had worn off, replaced by a potent cocktail of desperation and burgeoning, fiercely protective loyalty towards their kidnapped CEO.
Bai Luqi (eyes welling up with tears, clutching her bear keychain):
"They... they took him... Our Chief... My first potential paycheck..."
Hang Mu (slamming his fist onto a desk, rattling empty noodle cups):
"Unacceptable! This is an act of war! No impeccably dressed ice queen can simply waltz in here and abduct our leader! This is HSE Limited! Not HUSBAND-SNATCHING ENTERPRISES!"
Lu Yan (already hunched over his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard, pulling up satellite maps):
"Vehicle registration traced. Direction: Westbound, towards the Lu Family's private estate district. Analysis: High-security perimeter, thermal sensors, pressure plates, laser grids, armed guards likely equipped with anti-intern tranquilizer darts, possibly patrolling Dobermans, potential private helicopter surveillance."
A random intern, hitherto silent, raised a trembling hand. "Um... shouldn't we maybe... call the police?"
A unified chorus erupted from the others:
"NO! ARE YOU CRAZY?! THE POLICE ARE PROBABLY ON THE LU FAMILY PAYROLL!"
Lu Yan slammed a tablet onto a desk, displaying a surprisingly detailed architectural blueprint of the Lu Mansion (likely acquired through means best left uninvestigated).
Lu Yan (eyes gleaming with newfound purpose):
"Forget the authorities. We handle this ourselves. Phase One: Infiltration. Phase Two: Rescue. Phase Three: Recover Chief Su and possibly acquire snacks from their pantry. Operation: CEO EXTRACTION is officially underway. Hack the planet!"
(INT. LU MANSION – MAIN HALL – THE RETURN)
The massive, carved sandalwood doors of the Lu Mansion swung inward with a dramatic CREAK. Linling, looking every bit the conquering general returning with spoils of war, strode into the cavernous main hall, dragging a dishevelled and protesting Su Yu behind her. With a final, contemptuous shove, she tossed him onto the gleaming marble floor like a discarded piece of luggage.
THUD!
Old Man Lu, who had been inspecting a priceless vase, froze. His jade-handled cane clattered to the floor as his gaze fell upon the young man groaning dramatically at his feet.
Old Man Lu (eyes widening, voice thick with disbelief and sudden emotion):
"Siyan...? My grandson?! Is it truly you?! You've finally returned!"
Su Yu, sprawled undignifiedly, face flushed, suit slightly torn, glared up at Linling with eyes blazing like twin coals.
Su Yu (muttering venomously through gritted teeth, just loud enough for everyone to hear):
"If you were actually my wife after pulling this stunt... I swear on all that is holy... I'd make sure your ending was exceedingly unpleasant and involved extreme marital dissatisfaction..."
Old Man Lu audibly choked on air, his face paling slightly.
Just then, the main doors opened again. A beautiful woman, elegantly dressed yet with tired lines etched around her eyes, stepped inside – Lu Siyan's mother, Yunqiao, the very woman Su Yu remembered only as the terrifyingly efficient, cold-faced CEO who haunted his Monday morning meetings.
Su Yu (spotting her, scrambling instantly to his feet with the ingrained reflex of a terrified subordinate):
"BOSS!! Chief Executive Officer Madam Yunqiao! You're here! Thank goodness!"
He rushed over, practically grabbing her expensive silk sleeves with trembling hands, his voice laced with frantic relief.
Su Yu (panicked):
"Boss, you won't believe this! These unreasonable people are harassing your most dedicated employee! Me! I followed all protocols – established a promising startup, recruited talent, diligently avoided major lawsuits – and as my reward, they violently abducted me and threw me before... before this highly suspicious elderly board member!" He gestured wildly towards Old Man Lu.
The woman – his mother – stared at him, completely stunned, her carefully maintained composure crumbling.
Lu Mother (Yunqiao) (utterly confused):
"...Siyan? My son? What... what nonsense are you talking about? Why... why are you calling me 'Boss'?"
Su Yu froze mid-rant. His desperate smile stiffened, cracking like cheap plaster.
Su Yu (whispering to himself, eyes darting around):
"Oh... oh damn. This virtual reality simulation is disturbingly realistic… The NPC programming is top-tier..."
Meanwhile, Linling crossed her arms, a smug, vindicated smirk playing on her lips.
Linling:
"You see, Grandpa? Just as I suspected. The frost giant hasn't just thawed; his circuits have completely fried. He doesn't even recognize his own mother."
Old Man Lu glanced from Su Yu's bewildered face to Yunqiao's shocked expression and back again, looking utterly baffled.
Old Man Lu:
"Boy, what in heavens happened to you out there? Did you get hit on the head by a falling coconut during one of your… philanthropic trips to an alleyway again?"
Su Yu (drawing himself up defensively, indignant):
"Certainly not! I was assaulted! Assaulted by fate! Assaulted by cruel reality! And assaulted by this extremely violent woman who kicks like a deranged kangaroo!" He pointed an accusing finger at Linling, who merely arched a perfect eyebrow in response.
****
(INT. LU MANSION – LAVISH LIVING Area)
Su Yu, operating under the firm delusion that he was navigating a high-stakes corporate simulation, shadowed the elegant Madam Yunqiao (his actual mother, whom he perceived as his terrifyingly powerful former CEO) with the uncanny combination of a devoted royal butler and a cunning fox preparing an elaborate scheme. As Madam Yunqiao moved with practiced grace towards a chaise lounge, attempting to create some distance, Su Yu glided smoothly behind her, always precisely one respectful step away.
Lu Mother (Yunqiao) (turning, a flicker of bewildered concern in her eyes):
"Siyan, my dear... what are you doing now? Why are you following me so closely?"
Su Yu (beaming with manufactured warmth, his eyes gleaming with strategic calculation):
"Merely ensuring your comfort, Boss! Such a heavy burden of leadership you carry, your stress levels must be astronomical! Allow your most dedicated subordinate to offer... a brief moment of therapeutic shoulder alignment optimization!"
Before she could properly react, his surprisingly adept fingers began gently massaging her shoulders, employing techniques likely learned from questionable online tutorials during his previous life's lunch breaks.
Su Yu (Internal Monologue):
"Target identified: High-Value Potential Sponsor! Exhibits signs of wealth, authority, and perhaps... maternal loneliness? Perfect! Initiate Operation: Model Employee/Ideal Adopted Son. Secure funding for HSE Limited at all costs! Must gain her trust!"
Lu Mother (Yunqiao) (stiffening slightly, gently pulling away):
"Siyan, that's... thoughtful, but unnecessary. I don't recall you ever being quite so... tactile..." She looked genuinely perplexed by this sudden display of solicitousness from her usually cool and distant son.
(INT. LU MANSION – MAIN ENTRANCE OPENS)
Just then, the grand entrance doors swung open, revealing Lu Zhenhai, the imposing patriarch-in-waiting of the Lu family, Su Yu's father. A man whose quiet dignity usually commanded instant respect, he stopped dead in his tracks, his usually impassive face registering visible shock as he took in the scene: his long-lost son, back from apparent oblivion, currently giving his wife an unsolicited shoulder massage while addressing her as "Boss."
Lu Zhenhai (eyebrows twitching uncontrollably):
"...Have I inadvertently stepped through a dimensional portal? Is this an alternate reality where my son has become a strangely attentive spa attendant?"
Lu Mother (Yunqiao) (sighing deeply, rubbing her temples):
"Zhenhai, welcome home. Your son... seems to be suffering under the delusion that I am his Chief Executive Officer."
Lu Zhenhai (striding forward, his gaze sharp with concern):
"...His CEO? What manner of head trauma did he sustain this time? Was it another unfortunate encounter with low-hanging chandeliers during a business gala?"
Su Yu, pausing his 'therapeutic optimization,' turned towards the newcomer, instantly assessing him as 'The Boss's Powerful Husband/Potential Obstacle.' He flashed a sheepish, yet utterly charming, grin.
Su Yu:
"Honorable Sir! Your reputation precedes you! I have long admired your formidable leadership presence from afar! Allow me, please, to assist you! May I carry your briefcase? Perhaps polish your undoubtedly expensive shoes? Or fetch you... refreshments?" He practically vibrated with eagerness to please.
Lu Zhenhai (staring at his son, utterly bewildered):
"...Is he... offering to fetch like a well-trained retriever?"
(INT. LU MANSION – OBSERVATION FROM THE UPPER BALCONY)
Upstairs, overlooking the bizarre domestic drama unfolding below, Linling sat curled elegantly on a velvet armchair, sipping delicately from a cup of lemon tea that tasted unusually bitter today. She watched with narrowed eyes as Su Yu fawned over Madam Yunqiao and then practically prostrated himself before Lu Zhenhai, clumsily attempting to curry favor.
Linling (Inner Monologue, voice dripping with jealous scorn):
"Tsk. Look at him grovel. That block of ice has never shown me such sickeningly sweet devotion. Not even when I wore that custom-made velvet nightgown specifically designed to tempt saints and melt glaciers... He remained utterly unmoved!"
Her grip tightened on the fragile teacup, the porcelain threatening to crack under the pressure.
Linling (muttering under her breath):
"He could never compare to Brother Hu... Brother Hu possesses true charisma, true passion! He wouldn't debase himself like this! Always pretending, always avoiding his true responsibilities... If Brother Hu were in his place, he would have come crawling back to me..."
Her glare intensified as she watched Su Yu, downstairs, nearly trip over an antique rug in his haste to open a door for Lu Zhenhai, resulting in a comical stumble.
Linling (gritting her teeth, a cold fire igniting in her eyes):
"This farce has gone on long enough. Amnesia? Delusions? Unacceptable. I swear, I will personally excavate his true memories from that cold, infuriatingly thick skull of his if it's the last thing I accomplish in this sham of a marriage."