The office was filled with thickening silence. Shen Linyi sat behind her desk, her phone in hand, the message on the screen glowing faintly in the afternoon light.
[When you're ready to stop pretending you don't need me, call.] Gu Liansheng
Her thumb hovered over the screen, but she didn't move. The message had been delivered hours ago, yet it still lingered in her mind, a whisper that refused to fade no matter how she tried.
Pretending she didn't need him? Her lips curved into a cold smile as she let out a scoff. The last time she'd depended on someone, she ended up bleeding on a marble floor while her so-called friend smiled down at her. She wasn't about to make the same mistake again.
She locked her phone, dropped it on the desk, and leaned back. The tension in her chest wouldn't go away.
The board meeting earlier had been brutal; they'd looked at her as though she were already a fallen monarch clinging to a crumbling throne.
And maybe she was. Although she had promised to save the company, she had no plans—she was bluffing earlier.
She shut her eyes briefly. The company was teetering on the edge. Zhou Yuanfeng was already making moves, and every contact she'd reached out to had pulled away under pressure. The Shen Group—her parents' legacy was slipping through her fingers again.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Come in," she said without opening her eyes.
The click of heels filled the silent office. When Shen Linyi looked up, her expression froze in place. It was calm, unreadable, but only she knew how long she had to steady her heavy breathing.
"Linyi," Su Mei's voice carried that same warmth she always used, the kind that once felt comforting but now made Shen Linyi's skin crawl. She was holding two cups of coffee. "I came as soon as I heard about the meeting. You must be exhausted."
Without waiting for an invitation, Su Mei walked forward, setting one of the cups on the table. "Your favorite. Caramel macchiato, extra shot."
Linyi gave a polite nod. "How thoughtful." She murmured.
Su Mei sat down across from her, crossing her legs elegantly, not paying attention to the strange expression on Shen Linyi's face.
"You didn't answer my calls, so I got worried. Yuanfeng and I… we've been talking, you know. He's really worried about you. He said you've been losing sleep over the company."
"Did he?" Linyi's tone was smooth, her face mask which hid her thoughts perfectly.
Su Mei smiled, soft and sympathetic. "Linyi, you know how much he loves you. He just wants to help. Maybe it's time you let him take some of the burden. You've done enough."
"How considerate," Linyi said mildly, stirring her untouched coffee. "But tell me, what kind of help are we talking about?"
Su Mei blinked, pretending to be surprised. "Oh—just temporary measures. He's already spoken to the legal team about a transition plan. This will only happen until things stabilize. You could focus on yourself again."
Shen Linyi slowed in her actions. "A transition plan?" She raised her head to meet her 'best friend's' gaze.
"Yes," Su Mei replied too quickly, her eyes bright with false sincerity. "You shouldn't be dealing with all this stress alone. Yuanfeng only wants what's best for you. And you know you can trust me, right?"
That line 'you can trust me' echoed like poison in her mind. She'd heard those same words in another lifetime, right before that knife had pierced her chest.
Her lips curved, faintly. "Trust… yes, I remember doing that once."
Su Mei blinked, finally sensing something strange in Linyi's tone, but she forced a laugh. "Come on, Linyi. You don't have to act so distant. We're friends."
"Friends," Linyi repeated softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me, Mei, does a friend usually discuss board matters with someone outside the company?"
Su Mei stiffened for the briefest moment before recovering. "Yuanfeng tells me things. I'm only trying to help you both."
Shen Linyi leaned back, eyes narrowing just slightly. "Then perhaps you should remind him that what belongs to the Shen family will never be his to distribute."
The warmth in the room thinned instantly, and became chilly.
Su Mei opened her mouth, then shut it again. For a moment, her facade cracked—annoyance flickered across her face before she forced a gentle smile back into place. "You're tired, I understand. I'll tell Yuanfeng you just need rest."
"That won't be necessary." Shen Linyi stood, her heels clicking softly against the floor as she walked to the window. The city skyline stretched endlessly beyond the glass. "You've done enough, Mei."
Su Mei hesitated, unsure if she should leave. The silence between them thickened.
Then Shen Linyi turned, her gaze steady and cold. "I appreciate the concern. Truly. But next time you try to convince me to hand over the company, make sure your lies sound more polished."
The mask on Su Mei's face finally cracked. "Linyi—"
"Goodbye, Mei."
Her tone wasn't loud, just calm and final. The kind of tone that left no room for argument.
After a pause, Su Mei forced a smile. "Of course. Call me if you need anything."
When the door closed behind her, the office fell silent again.
Shen Linyi exhaled slowly and returned to her desk. The untouched coffee sat beside her, had already turned cold, its sweet scent suddenly nauseating. She opened her phone, eyes falling once more on Gu Liansheng's message.
[When you're ready to stop pretending you don't need me, call.]
He was probably smirking when he typed that. Arrogant man.
But for the first time since her rebirth, she allowed herself to consider it. Gu Liansheng wasn't someone she could trust, but he was someone she could use.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
"Fine," she murmured. "Let's see how far you're willing to play this game, Gu Liansheng."
She then typed, "Let's talk. Tonight."
It was a single message, direct, and filled with no hesitation.
As soon as it sent, she set the phone down and leaned back. Her lips curved slowly. She'd do anything to save her parents' legacy.
The reborn heiress had made her first move.