Lina lifted her head.
And froze.
Her eyes widened instantly...
Not because of the crowd.
Not because of the attention.
But because of her.
Standing just outside the company entrance...
Elegant.
Poised.
Untouchable.
Elena Zhang.
But that wasn't what made Lina's breath stop.
No...
It was the memory.
A hand.
A smile.
A voice.
A room key sliding into her palm.
"Room nine."
Everything came rushing back.
Like a tide she couldn't hold back.
The hotel.
The hallway.
The door.
That night.
Her lips parted slightly.
"She… she…"
"Hmm?" Yuqi leaned closer. "I know she's pretty, but you don't have to fumble over it."
Lina couldn't hear her properly.
"She…" her voice trembled. "She's…"
"Yeah," Yuqi said, nodding like she understood. "Way prettier than I imagined."
But Lina wasn't talking about that.
Her thoughts spiraled.
Too fast.
Too loud.
It was her.
She sent me there.
Her chest tightened painfully.
That night… wasn't an accident.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Everything shifted.
Adrian.
Elena.
That room.
It connected.
All of it.
"No…"
Her voice came out barely audible.
"I can't—"
Before Yuqi could react...
Lina turned.
And ran.
Fast.
Sudden.
Uncontrolled.
"Lina—?!"
But she was already gone.
She pushed through the crowd, slipping past people who were all moving in the opposite direction—everyone rushing forward to catch a better glimpse.
It made it easier.
No one noticed her.
No one stopped her.
She blended in...
Then disappeared.
"I just got over being afraid of Adrian…"
Her breath came uneven as she ran.
"And now it's Elena?"
A short, broken laugh slipped out.
"Do you people want my life or what…?"
She didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
At the front entrance...
Adrian stepped out.
The crowd shifted immediately.
Straightened.
Focused.
Elena was arriving.
Everything was as expected.
Until...
Someone rushed past him.
Fast.
Unsteady.
He turned slightly.
Just in time to catch a glimpse.
Lina.
Running.
Not walking.
Not hurrying.
Running and totally disheveled.
For a second...
He paused.
Then...
A quiet laugh slipped from him.
Unexpected.
Low.
"Sir?"
His assistant looked at him, confused.
"Why are you laughing?"
A small pause.
"Are you happy Miss Elena is here?"
The moment passed.
Just like that.
Adrian's expression returned to normal.
Cold.
Flat.
"…no."
His gaze shifted forward again.
Like nothing had happened.
Outside...
Elena stepped out of the car.
Graceful.
Effortless.
The kind of presence that didn't need to demand attention...
It simply took it.
She smiled softly as staff lined up.
"Thank you for your hard work," she said warmly.
Boxes were handed out.
Herbal tea for the men.
Beauty products for the women.
Small gestures.
Thoughtful.
Perfect.
Yuqi stared at hers.
"…okay, I take back my words."
A pause.
"She can stay."
She looked around.
"Lina?"
Nothing.
Her brows pulled together.
"Where did she go?"
Not far from there...
Elena's smile remained.
Gentle.
Unshaken.
But her eyes...
Shifted.
Slightly.
"Did you see her?" she murmured softly to one of her guards.
The man leaned closer.
"No, miss."
A pause.
Elena's smile didn't fade.
But something underneath it did.
"Find her."
Her voice was quiet.
"And bring her to me."
A slight tilt of her head.
"For questioning."
The guard nodded.
"Understood."
And just like that...
Without anyone noticing...
The game changed.