CHAPTER 59 — When Shadows Start to Move
Qin Yuhan stood at the edge of the underground parking lot, frozen in the dim light.
He had heard enough.
Twins.
Threat.
Protection.
Mu Lingchen holding her as if she belonged there.
Shi Yunxi—his former fiancée—crying into another man's chest.
A man more powerful, more respected, more feared than he would ever be.
Something ugly twisted inside him.
Jealousy.
Bitterness.
And an aching, poisonous resentment.
But above all—
Fear.
Because if she truly had three children that did not belong to him, then everything Roulan whispered was true.
And everything Yuhan himself had done…
All the times he called her unfaithful.
A liar.
A stain on the Shi family.
All the times he sided against her.
All the times he refused to listen.
He had destroyed her life…
And she had survived without him.
No—she had grown stronger.
He clenched the railing until his knuckles turned white.
From below, he watched as Mu Lingchen guided Yunxi into the backseat, wrapping his jacket around her shoulders like she was something fragile. Something precious.
Something his.
Lingchen said something softly.
Yunxi nodded weakly.
The car door shut.
The Maybach pulled out of the lot.
And only then did Yuhan move.
His hands shook—part rage, part panic—as he pulled out his phone and dialed.
Roulan answered instantly.
"Yuhan? Did you talk to her—?"
"Where are you?" he cut in sharply.
There was a brief silence.
"…At the company. Why?"
"I have news. Big news. You need to hear it in person."
Roulan hummed, her interest piqued.
"Come upstairs."
He didn't say another word.
He hung up and rushed back into the elevator.
Because whatever Yunxi was hiding—
Whatever he overheard…
Roulan had to know.
Not because he wanted to help her.
Not because he cared.
But because fear was a wild, uncontrollable thing.
And Roulan was the only person who knew how to weaponize it.
⸻
⸻ Shi Corporation — 28th Floor
Roulan waited in the president's office, swirling a glass of red wine she was too excited to drink.
The moment Yuhan stormed in, she rose to her feet.
"Well?" she demanded.
"What did she say? What did you see?"
Yuhan shut the door behind him, chest heaving.
"You were right," he said hoarsely.
"Yunxi—she's hiding something. Something big."
Roulan's eyes glittered.
"Tell me."
"She was with Mu Lingchen."
He swallowed hard.
"And… and he said he would protect her and the children."
Roulan froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Her smile curled like poison.
"So it's true," she whispered in triumph.
"She really does have children."
Yuhan nodded helplessly.
"And Mu Lingchen knows?"
"He said he'd protect them."
Roulan let out a shaky laugh—the delighted, unhinged kind usually heard before a storm breaks.
"This is perfect."
Yuhan stared at her.
"Roulan… don't do anything stupid—"
She whirled on him.
"Stupid? Yuhan, this is leverage. This is everything we need. If the public finds out she hid children—twins, triplets, whatever—her career is over!"
He flinched.
"But… the father… what if people start asking—?"
Roulan smirked.
"Do you think I care who the father is? We'll make the rumors fit whatever story benefits us."
Yuhan looked uneasy, but he didn't argue.
He couldn't.
Roulan walked past him, heels clicking sharply as she crossed to her laptop.
"Now," she breathed, fingers dancing across the keyboard,
"let me show you how to bury a phoenix."
⸻
⸻ Meanwhile — Inside the Maybach
Yunxi leaned against the window, silently watching the city lights blur past.
Lingchen didn't speak.
Not because he didn't have questions.
But because he was afraid—
If he opened his mouth, rage would spill out like wildfire.
Finally, he asked quietly:
"What exactly did Roulan say to you?"
Yunxi took a shaky breath.
"She said she'd use my children against me."
Lingchen's jaw tightened until it hurt.
"And she said," Yunxi continued, voice trembling despite herself,
"that she knows which school they attend."
That snapped something in him.
"Impossible," he muttered.
"No one knows their school. No one from the Shi family has access to their records."
"But Roulan is smart," Yunxi whispered.
"And vicious. If she suspects… even a little…"
Lingchen exhaled.
Then he took her hand.
"We'll move them. Tomorrow."
Yunxi's eyes widened.
"To where?"
"To Mu family private security housing."
Her breath caught.
She shook her head immediately.
"No. Absolutely not. They'll be exposed. They'll be seen—"
"They'll be safe," he said firmly.
"And right now, that matters more."
Her lips parted.
She had no argument.
No strength.
Just fear.
Lingchen cupped her cheek gently.
"We'll protect them. I swear it."
Her voice broke into a whisper.
"Lingchen… I don't want them dragged into this. They're innocent."
He pulled her into his arms again.
"I know. And that's why no one—including Roulan—will ever get close to them."
The car turned a corner.
The city felt heavier tonight.
Like the darkness itself was watching.
Waiting.
⸻
⸻ Back at the Shi Corporation
Roulan finished typing with a flourish.
"That's it," she whispered.
"I've prepared the leak."
Yuhan swallowed hard.
"What… what did you do?"
Roulan turned the laptop screen toward him.
On it was a scheduled post:
BREAKING: Top Actress Suspected of Hiding Children From Public — Possible Connection to CEO of Mu Group?
Yuhan went pale.
"You're insane," he whispered.
"You'll drag us all down."
Roulan shrugged.
"Her downfall is our revival."
He backed away slowly.
"Roulan… this isn't a rumor. If it leaks—Lingchen will kill us."
She smiled sweetly.
"That's why it won't leak yet."
She tapped the timer.
"It goes live in seventy-two hours."
Yuhan stared.
"Why seventy-two?"
"Because," she purred,
"in seventy-two hours, Shi Yunxi won't be able to deny it anymore."
⸻
⸻ The Maybach — Arrival
The car stopped in front of Yunxi's building.
Lingchen got out, walked around, and opened her door.
"Can you walk?" he asked quietly.
She nodded—but when she stood, her knees buckled slightly.
He caught her.
Held her.
Lifted her chin gently.
"Yunxi."
Her eyes met his.
"From now on," he said softly,
"you don't face anything alone."
Her breath hitched.
"Lingchen…"
He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
"Your enemies… are now mine."
Yunxi trembled—not from fear this time.
But from the dangerous certainty in his voice.
Mu Lingchen wasn't going to protect her.
He was going to destroy anyone who tried to hurt her.
The war had officially begun.