Lin Yaoyue had just begun feeling safe.
Her days had fallen into a comforting rhythm: mornings shared quietly, evenings spent close together. Even her return to Jinlin Tower no longer felt like walking into enemy territory. Colleagues nodded respectfully now. Interns greeted her by name. Zeyan stood firmly beside her, no longer hiding their relationship. Things seemed settled, until they weren't.
The first sign was subtle.
A brief, polite email from Thalia asking for a "quick word" before Yaoyue left the office.
When she entered Thalia's office, the usually confident PR chief looked strangely troubled.
"Sit down," Thalia said, gently but firmly.
Yaoyue raised an eyebrow. "Am I being fired?"
Thalia shook her head, no trace of a smile. "You might wish you were."
She slid a folder across the desk toward Yaoyue, watching carefully as she opened it. Inside were a series of recent photos. Not blurry paparazzi shots. These were clear, careful, and deeply unsettling.
Someone had been following her.
Everyday moments: leaving the penthouse, entering the bookstore café, walking beside Zeyan, their fingers intertwined. And one photo in particular made her throat tighten, a single image of her alone, standing quietly in front of her mother's grave.
Yaoyue stared at Thalia, voice tight. "Who took these?"
"We don't know yet. They were sent anonymously."
Yaoyue felt sick. "Someone's trying to threaten me again."
"Or both of you," Thalia added carefully. "Maybe someone from the past, maybe someone new."
Yaoyue's hands trembled slightly. "Does Zeyan know?"
"Not yet," Thalia said, voice gentle. "But he should."
"I'll tell him myself," Yaoyue said quietly, closing the folder.
Thalia nodded slowly. "Whoever it is, they're careful. These pictures feel… personal. Like they want to unsettle you. Not just you, actually. Both of you."
Yaoyue stood, taking the file. "Then I'll make sure Zeyan sees them first. Before anything else happens."
——
When she arrived at the penthouse that evening, Zeyan was already there, standing quietly near the window, waiting.
He knew immediately something was wrong. "Yaoyue?"
She set the folder on the table without a word.
Zeyan picked it up, flipping through each photo carefully. His jaw tightened, eyes darkening.
"Who gave you these?"
"Thalia. They were sent anonymously."
He exhaled sharply, voice controlled. "This isn't a random stalker."
"No. It's someone who knows exactly where to strike."
He met her gaze steadily. "Someone targeting us both. Someone personal."
Yaoyue swallowed. "Tang Min?"
Zeyan shook his head slightly. "Possible. But I made sure she wouldn't dare."
"Then who?"
He hesitated, then said quietly, "Someone closer. Someone still within the circle."
Yaoyue's heart sank further. "The board?"
"Possibly. Or another associate." He looked away briefly. "I underestimated how far someone would go to threaten me. To threaten you."
She stepped closer, gently taking his hand. "We'll handle it."
His eyes softened at the quiet certainty in her voice. "Together."
She nodded firmly. "Together."
——
Late that night, they sat on the balcony again, this time not talking, just thinking.
Zeyan finally broke the quiet, his voice low and intense. "I won't let anyone hurt you again."
"I don't doubt it," she said quietly, staring into the darkened skyline. "But I'm tired of always feeling like a target."
He turned to her, reaching to gently cup her face, thumb brushing lightly over her cheek. "This is different now. You're not alone."
She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes briefly. "I know. But still."
His voice was a whisper now, urgent and serious. "I promise you. Whoever's doing this won't get close enough to touch you."
She opened her eyes slowly. "But what about you?"
He smiled slightly, faint but sincere. "They won't be able to hurt me either. Not anymore."
She sighed softly, relaxing into him. "I believe you."
But beneath her words lingered quiet fear, not for herself, but for him. For the peace they'd just started building together.
——
That night, sleep didn't come easily. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, feeling suddenly vulnerable again. She turned slightly, watching Zeyan's sleeping form beside her.
She had come so far, trusting him, believing in them. But now, once more, their world felt fragile. Like glass. Beautiful and transparent, but easily broken.
Finally, she fell asleep, holding onto him tighter than usual, silently hoping the morning would bring clarity.
——
The next morning, Zeyan was awake before sunrise, sitting quietly at his desk. His expression was dark, focused, and intense.
He had been analyzing the photos again, going over every detail. Each image was precise, deliberate. Whoever had done this had taken great care to avoid mistakes.
He knew then that this wasn't just harassment. It was someone sending a warning. Someone who knew exactly how much Yaoyue meant to him and how far he would go to protect her.
But they had underestimated something crucial: the lengths he would go to when someone he loved was threatened.
He picked up his phone, voice calm yet unmistakably sharp as he spoke quietly into the receiver. "Find out who did this. Immediately. Leave nothing untouched. No stone unturned."
After hanging up, he glanced toward the bedroom, eyes softening at the sight of Yaoyue still asleep. For her, he would tear apart his own world if he had to.
And if someone had dared to threaten the life he was finally building, they would quickly realize their mistake was bigger than they ever imagined.