CHAPTER 60 — The Storm That Would Not Wait
The world looked peaceful.
But peace was a lie.
Because beneath the quiet of the next morning, beneath the gentle hum of traffic and the soft warmth of sunlight—
War was already unfolding.
The kind of war that didn't begin with swords.
But with information.
With whispers.
With fear.
With the Shi family.
And with the Mu family—the one place Yunxi never wanted to step into.
⸻
⸻ Mu Group Headquarters — CEO's Office
Mu Lingchen had never looked more dangerous.
His entire department felt it before he even stepped inside.
A suffocating, icy rage clung to him like a second suit.
Assistants straightened immediately.
Managers bowed their heads.
Secretaries froze.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
"Good morning, President Mu—"
"Meeting room in five," he cut coldly, without slowing.
He didn't shout.
He didn't need to.
His silence was sharper than any blade.
Inside his office, he tossed his coat aside, rolled up his sleeves, and stabbed a finger against his phone.
"Han."
"Yes, sir?" the assistant answered instantly.
"I want a full digital sweep of Shi Corporation—internal networks, social media departments, private servers. I want every rumor draft, every deleted file, every ghost account. I want to know exactly what they're planning."
"Understood."
"And Han."
"Yes, sir?"
A pause.
Lingchen's tone dropped to something dark.
"If anyone from the Shi family is involved, pull their records."
"President Mu… do you intend to—"
"I intend to end this," Lingchen finished.
For Shi Yunxi.
For the children he was already protecting, even before he knew they were his.
For the rage that was still burning under his skin from last night.
⸻
⸻ Shi Yunxi's Apartment
Yunxi stood in the kitchen, staring into a mug of untouched tea.
Her hands still trembled faintly.
Fear.
Anger.
Confusion.
Not for herself.
But for her twins.
Her babies.
And for Mu Rui—who didn't even know yet what storm was coming.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
Yunxi jolted.
But it wasn't Roulan.
Nor the Shi family.
Not danger.
She opened the door—
"Mommy!"
Two small bodies flew at her.
Shi Yichen and Shi Qing'er wrapped their arms around her waist, their little faces warm against her stomach.
Behind them, Lin Meixi smiled gently.
"They missed you," she said softly. "They refused to sleep until I promised we'd visit first thing today."
Yunxi knelt down, gathering her children into her arms.
Her heart loosened.
Just a little.
"Did you sleep well?" she whispered.
"Mm-hmm!" Qing'er nodded happily.
"Uncle Meixi slept on the floor because he snores—"
"Qing'er!" Meixi sputtered.
Yunxi let out a tiny laugh—one she desperately needed.
But then Yichen looked up at her.
His expression serious.
"Mommy," he said quietly.
"Why were you crying in Mr. Mu's car last night?"
Yunxi froze.
Her heart stopped.
"How did you—?"
"I woke up," he murmured.
"I saw you through the window."
Qing'er nodded solemnly.
"Mommy… are you scared of something?"
Yunxi exhaled shakily.
Every instinct screamed to lie.
To protect them.
To hide the darkness.
But they were too perceptive.
Too smart.
Too much like her.
She stroked their hair gently.
"Mommy just had a bad day," she whispered.
"But I'm okay now. I promise."
Yichen stared a moment longer.
Then he hugged her again—tighter this time.
"Don't be scared anymore," he said.
"We'll protect you."
Yunxi's chest tightened painfully.
If only it were that simple.
⸻
⸻ Shi Corporation
Roulan sat elegantly at her vanity inside her private lounge, applying lipstick with a satisfied smile.
Beside her, Yuhan hovered restlessly.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked for the tenth time.
Roulan didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
Her glowing eyes said enough:
She would not stop.
Not until Yunxi was ruined.
She snapped the cap on her lipstick and looked at her phone.
72-hour countdown.
Twelve hours already passed.
"Perfect," she whispered.
"By the time the teaser leaks, she'll already be drowning."
Yuhan swallowed.
A part of him wanted to warn Yunxi.
A small, weak part.
But fear choked it down before it could grow.
Roulan glanced at him and smirked.
"Relax, Yuhan. You'll be fine—as long as you don't betray me."
He stiffened.
Roulan only laughed.
⸻
⸻ Kindergarten — Afternoon Pickup
Mu Rui ran out excitedly, backpack bouncing.
But he wasn't smiling.
He rushed into the arms of the tall man waiting near the gate.
"Daddy!"
Lingchen lifted him with one arm, adjusting his tiny backpack with the other.
"You didn't tell me where you went yesterday," Rui said seriously, little brows furrowed.
"Mommy was crying. I saw."
Lingchen paused.
So the boy had noticed too.
"I know," he answered quietly.
"And I'll protect her. I promise."
Rui's eyes softened.
"Daddy…"
"Yes?"
"There were two new kids today."
He blinked innocently.
"They look like me."
Lingchen froze.
Cold electricity ran down his spine.
"Two?" he repeated slowly.
Rui nodded.
"One boy. One girl. They have mommy's eyes."
Lingchen didn't move.
Couldn't move.
Not as Rui continued:
"And I think they're scared too."
The air shifted.
A realization settled—heavy, terrifying, undeniable.
His children.
All three.
Under the same roof.
The same school.
And Roulan knew.
Lingchen's grip tightened protectively around his son.
"We're leaving," he said.
"Where?" Rui asked.
"To keep your family safe."
He didn't say our family.
Not yet.
But the truth was already burning in his chest.
He needed to get to Yunxi.
Now.
Before Roulan made her next move.
⸻
⸻ Shi Yunxi's Apartment — Evening
Yunxi tucked the twins into bed.
Meixi had finally left.
The apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
Her phone buzzed.
A message.
From Lingchen.
"I'm coming up."
Yunxi rushed to the door and opened it before he could knock.
Lingchen stood there, Rui in his arms, his expression thunderous.
"We need to talk," he said.
She nodded.
But before she could speak, Rui whispered:
"Mommy… the other two kids… they look just like me."
Her breath caught.
Lingchen watched her reaction carefully.
Dangerously.
"Yunxi."
Her name came out low, soft, and edged with truth.
"Are they mine?"
Her pulse stilled.
Everything stilled.
Her lips parted.
But the hallway light flickered—
And somewhere outside, a camera clicked.
The moment shattered.
Lingchen's eyes narrowed.
Someone was watching.
Someone was following.
Someone was already moving.
Yunxi's voice trembled.
"Lingchen… please, we can't talk here—"
He stepped inside instantly, locking the door behind him.
"We talk now," he murmured.
"Because the danger won't wait."
His eyes burned into hers.
"Are. They. Mine?"
Yunxi's heart pounded violently.
She didn't answer.
She couldn't.
Not yet.
But the truth was there—plain, naked, unveiled—in her silence.
Lingchen exhaled.
A slow, shuddering breath.
"I knew it," he whispered.
Not angry.
Not shocked.
Just—
Devastated that she carried it alone.
And furious at the world that made her.