Lin Yue's room.

The curtains were drawn, blocking out the sunlight and leaving only dim light that cast dappled shadows on the walls.

Lin Yue curled up on the bed, her body trembling slightly.

On the bedside table sat a photograph—a picture of her and Lin Fan. In the photo, the two smiled brightly, looking incredibly close, like a perfect couple.

That photo was taken when they were kids, at an amusement park.

Lin Yue reached out her trembling hand and gently stroked Lin Fan's face in the photo, her eyes filled with longing and reluctance.

"Brother Lin Fan..." she murmured to herself, her voice hoarse and low.

Memories flooded her mind like a tide, and the happy times she spent with Lin Fan flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie.

From childhood to adulthood, Lin Fan has always been by her side, protecting her and taking care of her.

She had grown accustomed to having Lin Fan around, to being pampered by him, and to acting coquettishly towards him.

She always believed that Lin Fan would always belong to her alone, and that they would live happily ever after.

However, reality dealt her a heavy blow.

Ye Yuyan's appearance shattered all her illusions.

She watched helplessly as Lin Fan treated Ye Yuyan with tenderness and care, as their sweet interactions unfolded and they grew closer, while she felt like an outsider, excluded from the conversation.

This feeling was like a sharp knife piercing her heart, causing her unbearable pain.

"Why...why did this happen..." Lin Yue's tears welled up again. She hugged her pillow tightly, buried her head in it, and cried uncontrollably.

She couldn't understand what she lacked compared to Ye Yuyan.

In terms of appearance, she was no less beautiful than Ye Yuyan; in terms of talent, she was equally outstanding; and in terms of affection, she and Lin Fan had grown up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts with deep feelings for each other.

But why doesn't Lin Fan like her?

"Could it be... really because I'm not related by blood?" A terrifying thought suddenly popped into Lin Yue's mind.

She remembered what Ye Zhengxiong had said to Lin Fan, the deep bond between father and son, and the fact that she had always been an outsider in this family.

This thought, like a seed, took root and sprouted in her heart, spreading rapidly.

The more she thought about it, the more wronged and resentful she felt.

"No... I can't give up like this!" Lin Yue suddenly raised her head, a resolute light flashing in her eyes.

She wiped away her tears, gritted her teeth, and silently vowed in her heart, "Brother Lin Fan, I will never let you leave me! I will definitely bring you back to my side!"

After a night of agonizing struggle, Lin Yue finally made a decision.

She needed to change her strategy. Instead of expressing her love indiscriminately as before, she would take a step back and stay by Lin Fan's side as a friend, slowly influencing him and letting him see her good qualities.

"Brother Lin Fan, I believe that as long as I persevere, one day you will understand my feelings!" Lin Yue looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes firm and confident.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, bringing a warm feeling.

Lin Yue tried her best to calm herself down.

She went to the bathroom, washed her face with cold water, and then carefully tidied her appearance in front of the mirror.

She changed into a light pink dress, put on light makeup, and made herself look radiant and full of energy.

"Lin Yue, keep going! You can do it!" she encouraged herself in the mirror.

Then, she opened the door and went out.

In the living room, Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan were sitting on the sofa, eating breakfast and chatting.

Both of them were somewhat surprised to see Lin Yue come out.

"Yueyue, you're awake?" Lin Fan spoke first, his tone filled with concern.

"Mm." Lin Yue nodded, a bright smile on her face. "Good morning, brother, sister Yu Yan."

Her voice was clear and melodious, like that of a nightingale, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

They didn't expect Lin Yue to take the initiative to greet them, and to be so enthusiastic.

This is a stark contrast to her behavior last night.

"Yueyue, are you... alright?" Ye Yuyan asked tentatively.

"I'm fine," Lin Yue said with a smile, shaking her head. "What could possibly be wrong with me? I slept very well last night."

As she spoke, she walked to the dining table, poured herself a glass of milk, and then sat down next to Lin Fan.

"Brother, Sister Yuyan, what are your plans for today?" Lin Yue asked while drinking her milk.

“We plan to go to the beach,” Lin Fan replied.

"Wow, that's great!" Lin Yue exclaimed excitedly. "I also want to go to the beach, but..."

She sighed with feigned regret, then said, "Never mind, I won't disturb your time together. Have fun!"

After saying that, she winked at Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan, giving them a knowing look.

Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan watched Lin Yue's performance and felt both amused and exasperated.

They knew that Lin Yue was forcing a smile, deliberately pretending to be indifferent to hide her inner disappointment and pain.

"Yueyue, you..." Lin Fan wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lin Yue.

"Brother, you don't need to say anything, I understand." Lin Yue said with a smile, "You guys go have fun, don't worry about me. I can be very happy at home by myself."

The more she said that, the more guilty Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan felt.

"Yueyue, how about... we go another day?" Ye Yuyan suggested.

"No need, Sister Yuyan." Lin Yue shook her head. "You all rarely have time to go out and have fun, don't let me spoil the fun. Besides, I'm really fine, you don't need to worry about me."

The more magnanimous she appears, the more heartbreaking it is to see her.

"Well... okay then." Lin Fan finally nodded. "Be careful at home by yourself, and call us if anything happens."

"Okay, I understand," Lin Yue replied obediently.

And so, Lin Fan took Ye Yuyan out on their date as planned.

Lin Yue stood at the door, watching them leave. The smile on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by a sense of loneliness and loss.

She knew that by doing this, she was actually deceiving herself.

However, she had no other choice but to do this in order to stay by Lin Fan's side.

The seaside resort is bathed in sunshine, with a gentle sea breeze and beautiful scenery.

Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan strolled hand in hand on the soft sand, enjoying this rare moment of time alone together.

They spent a pleasant morning playing by the sea, sunbathing on the beach, and relaxing on deck chairs.

However, just as they were immersed in happiness and sweetness, Lin Fan unexpectedly discovered a suspicious figure.

He was a middle-aged man, burly and with a gloomy face. He wore sunglasses that covered most of his face.

He moved furtively through the crowd, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, as if searching for something.

Lin Fan immediately recognized that this person's features were very similar to those of the criminal organization members he had previously investigated.

"Yu Yan, don't you think that person is a bit strange?" Lin Fan said softly to Ye Yu Yan.

Ye Yuyan followed Lin Fan's gaze and also noticed the suspicious man.

"Yes, I also feel that something is off about him." Ye Yuyan nodded.

Lin Fan and Ye Yuyan exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

“Let’s follow them and see,” Lin Fan said.

"Okay," Ye Yuyan replied.

The two followed the man discreetly, keeping a safe distance to avoid being discovered.