Chapter 2222 - 716: Hypocrisy, Rationality, Cowardice, High Profile_5

That should be a photo of her when she was in eighth grade.

At that time, her mother secretly came back to see her, bringing with her trendy clothes from Yan City and that toy bear.

In her dreary life of temporary residence, those were the few moments wrapped in pure happiness.

She remembers being too happy to sleep all night, wearing the new clothes to school as soon as the semester started.

She didn’t show off, mainly wanting her deskmate to know that she also had new clothes, and she whispered to him that she had a very cute toy bear.

That little bear, too, was always treasured by her, until later when she moved from the Imperial City to Yan City for livelihood, and accidentally lost it amidst the turbulence.

Her fingertips gently slid across the cold screen.

The old photos carefully arranged by Zhou Hui slowly unfolded before her eyes.

Zhou Hui, standing by her side, spoke serenely about the origins of these photos, remembering every detail clearly.

Looking at this familiar yet strange self in the photos and listening to her mother’s words, Zhang Yan’s eyes grew slightly moist.

It turns out, her mother had always preserved these photos, remembering them so clearly.

The night deepened.

Zhou Hui held her daughter’s hand, which was now dry and thin due to illness, yet at this moment unusually warm and strong.

"Ayin, I remember you said Tang Song has a house in Yan City, right? If you go there, you’ll definitely stay at his place, won’t you?"

"Huh?!" Zhang Yan exclaimed softly, almost like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, nearly jumping up, her cheeks flushing red, "No... I... Mom, don’t say such things."

Zhou Hui looked at her daughter’s expression but didn’t expose her, only saying to herself:

"Just right, tomorrow morning, let’s go to the market to buy some fresh meat, make some Cantonese barbecued meat. You can take it over there and have it with him."

Hearing her mother’s words, Zhang Yan froze entirely, her mind buzzing.

She really hadn’t thought about her living arrangements in Yan City.

By logic, the company would have arrangements, probably a hotel.

But Sister Wen Ruan hadn’t said anything, only confirmed the hotel for the Imperial trip.

She hadn’t thought much about it before.

It seems that at that time... accommodation would become a big deal.

Surely she couldn’t really stay with Tang Song, right?

She felt like she was about to faint.

...

Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Six in the morning.

The sky over Yan City was still a deep ink color.

Lanfeng International High-end Apartment, Room 2002.

Lin Muxue opened her eyes, with no hint of reluctance to get out of bed.

She walked barefoot down from the bed, pulled open a corner of the curtain, below her was a city not yet fully awakened.

The lights flickered sporadically like scattered embers.

She just stood there in a daze for a while, then turned around and walked directly into the spacious bathroom.

After using the toilet, she couldn’t help but lean forward and closely examine herself in the mirror.

Her high nose bridge, big eyes, sharp straight brows...

Still as beautiful as ever, with a beauty filled with aggression.

From childhood to adulthood, "beautiful" was the most distinct label on her.

It was also her only advantage.

Because of it, she could do less farm work, could get more candies than her brother at New Year’s, and could hear some sour remarks like "Second girl will definitely marry into a good family someday" amidst the relatives’ idle chatter.

After a while, she smiled at the mirror.

She started using the full set of Lamer skincare products, meticulously cleansing, toning, and nourishing her skin, each step was meticulous and full of ritual.

After finishing, she changed into sportswear and did a set of high-intensity Pilates on the yoga mat until sweat soaked her back.

After the morning exercise, she drank two cups of carefully prepared healthy smoothies.

During breakfast, she couldn’t resist opening her phone to check Su Yu’s hot searches.

Yesterday, when she suddenly saw this news, it really startled her.

She didn’t expect Miss Ouyang to have such a close personal relationship with Su Yu, and that they even had intimate photos together.

What she was most afraid of was that her close relationship with Miss Ouyang, getting so many benefits, would anger Chairman Jin.

However, she quickly reassured herself.

After all, Tang Song was about to become the CEO of Xuanji Light Realm, and Miss Ouyang was the chairman of TY Precision.

This indicated that in their circle, Miss Ouyang’s network was very strong.

As one of Tang Song’s "own people," having a good relationship with Miss Ouyang was all profit and no harm.

She couldn’t possibly distance herself from this thick and long "thigh" because of some baseless speculation.

She turned off her phone, taking a serious bath, applying makeup, and changing into a meticulously ironed high-end tailored suit.

She put on jewelry and a watch.

Soon, a tall, poised figure exuding an unapproachable elite aura, "Luna," appeared in the dressing mirror.

The inferiority complex and awkwardness etched in her bones during her girlhood had long been washed away by the confidence and foundation built upon money and power, with no traces left.

She curled up a cold and alluring smile at the mirror image of herself.

"Ding Dong——" The phone notification rang.

[Emily: "Luna, the convoy is already downstairs at Lanfeng International, ready to head to the airport anytime."]

She simply replied.

Lin Muxue picked up her suitcase and bag, walking confidently out of the apartment.

The crisp "click, click" sound of high heels struck the polished marble floor, like the drumbeat of a war drum, firm and rhythmic.

Downstairs, three black Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles were neatly parked in front of the apartment entrance.

The members of the project team from Rongliu Capital, heading to Chang’an for evaluation this time, were already waiting there.

Seeing her appear, they immediately greeted her in unison.

Looking at these elite subordinates from all over the world before her.

The long-suppressed emotion of "returning home gloriously" in her chest was completely ignited at this moment.

She nodded slightly, and under the driver’s welcome, sat in the back seat of the middle main car.

The car door closed, shutting out the cold wind outside.

She looked towards the west as if her gaze had already penetrated the thin winter mist of Yan City, seeing a thousand miles away, that ancient capital city.

Chang’an, I, Lin Muxue, have returned.