CHAPTER 11: SECRETS BENEATH SILK

The mysterious note haunted Mei Xing long after she tucked it away in her drawer. Its cryptic message played over and over in her mind—"Not every mask is worn on the face." The words unsettled her, not just because of what they implied, but because of how true they already felt.

Ever since Mei Li's arrival, layers of secrets had begun to peel away, revealing cracks in the perfect picture Mei Xing once believed in. If there were more lies hidden beneath their lavish life, she was determined to find them.

The next morning, she went straight to work at Lin Enterprises. Though her position was junior, she took it seriously, determined to prove herself on merit—not just name.

But the office wasn't much different from home. Whispers followed her in corridors, employees exchanged knowing glances, and a few gave her polite smiles laced with curiosity.

Still, Mei Xing held her head high and immersed herself in learning everything she could—financial reports, partnerships, internal operations. It wasn't long before she noticed odd patterns in the company's expenditures. Several transactions linked to a "private account" under a different department, but without clear explanation.

Curiosity piqued, she began discreetly tracking the trail.

Meanwhile, at home, tension continued to mount. One evening during a formal family dinner, Mei Li casually mentioned a new investment opportunity—something she'd apparently discovered on her own.

"Father, I came across a promising merger proposal from YunTech Group," she said with a practiced elegance. "I believe it could benefit our next quarter's returns."

Mr. Lin raised his brows in interest. "Really? That's impressive, Mei Li. I wasn't aware you had a background in corporate analysis."

"Oh, I've been studying quietly. Just observing how things work," she said, casting a sideways glance at Mei Xing.

Mei Xing didn't miss the smugness in her tone.

But she also recognized the name—YunTech Group was one of the companies connected to the strange transactions she had found.

Something wasn't right.

Later that night, she visited her father's study while he was away. Quietly, she slipped in and began reviewing documents. As she flipped through folders, her fingers paused on a file marked Confidential: YTG Merger Proposal.

Inside were pages detailing the deal—except something caught her attention immediately. The primary negotiator listed wasn't Mei Li—it was someone else entirely. A private broker known for shady dealings, with multiple ties to corporate fraud.

Suddenly, a realization struck her. Was Mei Li covering for someone else? Or worse—was she involved herself?

Her heart pounded. The deeper she looked, the more twisted everything became.

Then, another shock.

At the bottom of the file, tucked beneath other pages, was a letter in Madam Lin's handwriting… addressed to the broker. It was a request for discreet handling of funds—signed and dated weeks before Mei Li even joined the household.

Mei Xing's breath caught in her throat.

Her own mother… was part of it?

The masks were beginning to fall.

And the truth hidden beneath the silk was far more dangerous than she imagined.