---
Ma Zhen, who was standing near the printer reviewing some documents, turned his head when he heard the chime of the elevator.
He turned instinctively at the sound, but what met his eyes sent panic rushing through him.
"Lin Yue!" he called out, dropping the papers as he dashed forward.
Lin Yue stood swaying just in front of the elevator, her hand gripping the wall for support. Her face was pale—whiter than a sheet—and her lips had lost all their color.
In a heartbeat, he caught her just before she hit the cold marble floor. Her skin was deathly pale, cold sweat beading her forehead.
"Yueyue!" Du Liyao's voice rang out.
She had been returning from the pantry and had just caught sight of the commotion.
She crouched down next to them, touching Lin Yue's clammy cheek with trembling fingers. "Someone call an ambulance! Now!"
The employees gathered, panic setting in as they surrounded the trio.
They murmured anxiously as the once calm area turned into a scene of chaos.
An employee fumbled for his phone, calling the emergency hotline while another dashed off to get Zhang Qian.
Within moments, Zhang Qian arrived, commanding authority.
"What's going on here? Make way!" she barked.
"She fainted," Ma Zhen explained quickly. "I saw her standing by the elevator and then she just—collapsed."
"Everyone move back, give her some space to breathe!" she ordered firmly.
Then her eyes darted to Lin Yue's phone peeking out of her pocket and she quickly pulled it out.
The screen lit up. Luckily, no password was needed to view the emergency contacts. Scrolling through, she found a name saved as Sister Yuwei.
She pressed the call button.
---
Mo Yuwei was driving on the highway when her phone rang.
Seeing Lin Yue's name flash on the screen, she smiled and answered immediately.
"Yueyue—"
"Hello, are you related to Lin Yue?" an unfamiliar woman's voice asked.
Mo Yuwei instantly sobered. "Yes, what's wrong? Who is this?"
"This is Zhang Qian. Lin Yue just fainted at work. We've already called an ambulance."
"What?" Mo Yuwei's heart sank. "Which hospital are they taking her to?"
"First City General Hospital."
"I'll be there right away," Mo Yuwei said sharply, spinning the wheel to make a sudden U-turn.
---
Within minutes, the ambulance arrived at the entrance of Liang Conglomerate.
Paramedics quickly rushes and carried Lin Yue inside.
"Who's accompanying her?" one asked.
"Me," Ma Zhen stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'm going too," Du Liyao added.
The paramedics nodded and ushered them into the ambulance.
As the doors closed, the emergency lights flared to life, and the vehicle sped off.
---
At the hospital, Lin Yue was rushed into the emergency room. Ma Zhen and Du Liyao waited anxiously outside.
Their nerves were taut, hearts hammering with worry.
Moments later, a sleek black car screeched into the driveway. Mo Yuwei climbed out, slamming the door shut and rushing inside to the emergency floor.
Just then, Mo Yuwei burst through the hospital's sliding doors.
She spotted Du Liyao and Ma Zhen instantly.
Her designer heels clicked against the floor as she strode over.
"Lin Yue! Where is she?"
Du Liyao and Ma Zhen looked up in shock.
Even in their anxious state, they instantly recognized the woman in front of them—CEO of GlowVine Cosmetics.
Ma Zhen blinked as they looked at each other.
Wasn't this... wasn't this the CEO of GlowVine Cosmetics?
"Y-you're... Mo Yuwei," Ma Zhen stammered.
"Yes, I am," she snapped, her eyes fierce. "Are you with Lin Yue?"
They nodded quickly.
"What happened? Tell me everything."
"Yes," Ma Zhen said, snapping out of it. "She fainted just after leaving the CEO's office. We don't know why."
Mo Yuwei's gaze darkened. "What exactly happened to her?" she muttered under her breath, clenching her jaw.
Twenty minutes passed like an eternity before the emergency room door swung open.
A young doctor stepped out.
Mo Yuwei rushed to her. "Doctor, how is she?"
"She's out of danger," the woman said, but her expression was stern. "But she suffered from extreme emotional distress. She's pregnant, and the shock almost caused a miscarriage. Do you people not know how to care for a pregnant woman?"
Mo Yuwei's face was dark.
The doctor narrowed her eyes. "She shouldn't be in environments like this. If you people care about her at all, keep her away from stress. She nearly lost her life."
Mo Yuwei's fists clenched.
"Is she conscious?" Mo Yuwei asked quietly.
"Not yet. But she's stable. We'll keep her under observation."
"Thank you, doctor."
Du Liyao and Ma Zhen looked at each other again, jaws nearly dropping on the floor.
Pregnant?!
She was pregnant?!
Lin Yue was pregnant?
Soon, Lin Yue was wheeled out, her face pale as porcelain, her lips slightly parted in sleep. Mo Yuwei's chest tightened painfully.
She walked beside the gurney, never taking her eyes off her face.
---
They reached a VIP room. Nurses arranged everything efficiently before leaving them alone.
Mo Yuwei turned to Du Liyao and Ma Zhen. "Thank you. I don't know what happened to her, but I'm grateful you helped. Please, tell me what you want in return."
Ma Zhen shook his head. "We don't want anything. She's our friend."
Du Liyao nodded in agreement.
Mo Yuwei smiled faintly.
She handed them a black card with her private number. "Take this anyway. If you ever need anything, anything at all, call me."
They hesitated before taking it and excused themselves respectfully.
"We'll take our leave now." Du Liyao said.
"We'll visit after work tomorrow." Ma Zhen added.
Mo Yuwei gave them a grateful look, her eyes still fixed on Lin Yue's sleeping figure.
---
Outside the hospital, they looked at each other.
"So... she's pregnant," Du Liyao whispered.
Ma Zhen nodded, a thousand questions in his eyes. "And the CEO of GlowVine treats her like family. There's a lot we don't know about Lin Yue."
---
At the Liang Conglomerate...
Liang Yexuan stood from his desk, straightening his suit jacket, preparing to head out when the door burst open.
Liang Qianyu and Su Meilin stepped in, giggling.
"Brother! Where are you going?" Liang Qianyu asked with a cheerful smile.
His face remained unreadable. " Meeting."
She laughed lightly. "It's been a while, so I brought Meilin to visit. The company's grown so big!"
He didn't reply.
"This place is so amazing! The company grew so fast in three years," she continued, looking around admiringly.
Su Meilin, meanwhile, couldn't take her eyes off Liang Yexuan.
Her heart fluttered as she took in his strong jaw, sharp brows, and lean form with open hunger.
Even when indifferent, he exuded power.
Elegance. Cold allure.
She smiled sweetly, almost sickeningly so, trying to meet his eyes.
"We just came back from shopping," Liang Qianyu added cheerfully. "And I told Sister Meilin we should come see you."
But Liang Yexuan's face darkened.
"Why did you bring unnecessary people?"
Liang Qianyu blinked. "Unnecessary? Brother, how can you say that? Sister Meilin is your fiancée!"
Liang Yexuan's expression didn't shift, but there was an unmistakable storm in his eyes.
Su Meilin froze. Unnecessary?
She was unnecessary? His fiancée? Her heart squeezed painfully.
But she quickly forced a smile, trying to push away the bitterness. "It's alright... I saw this tie while shopping and thought of you. I hope... you'll accept it."
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small velvet box, then walked up to him with a hopeful smile.
But Liang Yexuan didn't move.
In fact, he stepped back.
A subtle but clear step away.
As though she was something filthy.
Su Meilin's heart twisted painfully.
Did... did he just recoil from her?
As though her touch would contaminate him.
Su Meilin's heart cracked. Her fingers trembled as she held out the box.
Her ears rang with humiliation.
Was she that repulsive to him?
She tried to keep smiling, but her fingers trembled.
---