The car ride was silent.
Too silent.
Chen Yuxi sat beside Lin Guo, her mind still replaying everything from the parking lot.
He knows.
Not guesses.
Not intuition.
Knows.
"We're not going back to the office," Lin Guo said suddenly.
She turned slightly. "Then where are we going?"
A brief pause.
"My family home."
Her heartbeat skipped.
Family? Now?
Before she could ask more, the car stopped in front of a massive estate.
Tall gates.
Guards.
A mansion that screamed power and control.
Yuxi stepped out, her eyes scanning everything.
This is… on another level.
Even with all her system access—
This place felt untouchable.
Inside, the atmosphere was colder.
Sharper.
Like stepping into a battlefield where everyone smiled… but no one was kind.
"Lin Guo."
A deep voice echoed.
An older man sat at the center of the room, his presence heavy, oppressive.
Chairman Gu.
His gaze shifted to Yuxi.
Cold. Assessing.
"Who is this?"
Before Yuxi could speak—
Lin Guo answered.
"My assistant."
A pause.
Then—
"Is that all?"
The question hung in the air.
Sharp. Intentional.
Yuxi felt it immediately.
This wasn't curiosity.
It was pressure.
Testing.
Judgment.
Lin Guo didn't hesitate.
"For now."
Her heart skipped.
For now?
Across the room, another voice cut in—soft but laced with mockery.
"How interesting."
Yue Xinyan stepped forward.
Perfect. Elegant.
As if nothing had happened.
Yuxi's eyes narrowed slightly.
So this is where she's been hiding.
"Uncle," Xinyan said sweetly, "this is the girl I mentioned."
Chairman Gu's gaze sharpened.
"The one causing trouble?"
Silence.
All eyes on Yuxi.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
The pressure was suffocating.
Then—
Yuxi smiled.
Calm. Polite.
Dangerous.
"If exposing corruption is trouble," she said lightly, "then I suppose I am."
Silence.
Then—
A faint chuckle.
Chairman Gu leaned back slightly.
"Bold."
Lin Guo's lips curved faintly.
She doesn't break under pressure. Good.
But Xinyan's expression darkened.
"This isn't a place for someone like you," she said coldly.
Yuxi tilted her head.
"Then why am I here?"
That question—
Wasn't for Xinyan.
It was for him.
Lin Guo stepped forward.
Calm. Certain.
And for the first time—
Publicly.
Clearly.
Without hesitation—
"She's with me."
Silence fell instantly.
Chairman Gu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interested now.
Yuxi's heart pounded.
What are you doing…
Lin Guo didn't look at her.
Didn't explain.
Didn't soften.
But his next words—
Changed everything.
"And she's not going anywhere."