Chapter 1071: A Love No Longer Hidden
Chapter 1071: A Love No Longer Hidden
The following morning, the internet was in an uproar.
And the cause of it all was a single photograph.
A photograph of two hands intertwined beneath a tree illuminated by countless tiny lights. Two wedding rings glimmered against the soft golden glow, while the remnants of fireworks painted the night sky in the background.
There were no elaborate declarations of love.
No lengthy explanation.
Only a simple photograph that spoke louder than words ever could.
For someone like Han Yue Ling, who had always kept her private life away from the public eye, the post was nothing short of extraordinary.
Within hours, it had spread across countless social media platforms.
Fans who had followed her since her modeling days were stunned.
Business associates, former colleagues, and even people who rarely paid attention to celebrity news found themselves discussing the photograph.
The woman who had once been known for her mysterious elegance and untouchable demeanor had publicly revealed a glimpse of her personal happiness.
And the internet had plenty to say about it.
’I’ve followed her since her modeling days, and I’ve never seen her share anything this personal.’
’She’s finally showing off her happiness. I’m going to cry!’
’Best wishes to Yue Ling and Lu Tian!"
Naturally, not every response was pleasant.
A handful of people questioned her decision to make the relationship public, while others made unkind remarks about their relationship.
Some stated she was too good for him while some argued he was too good for her.
However, their comments were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming number of supportive messages.
Yue Ling had earned the affection of many throughout her career. Despite her reserved personality, she had always treated her supporters with sincerity.
And now, those same supporters were celebrating her happiness.
By the time she woke up, her phone was flooded with notifications.
Sitting against the headboard, Yue Ling scrolled through a few of the messages before shaking her head with an amused smile.
She had expected people to notice.
She simply hadn’t expected them to react so enthusiastically.
Beside her, Lu Tian was fastening the buttons of his dress shirt when he noticed the faint smile on her face.
"Something amusing?"
Yue Ling glanced at him.
"Apparently, I’ve caused quite a commotion."
Lu Tian raised an eyebrow.
"Apparently?"
She turned her phone toward him, showing him the countless notifications.
His gaze briefly swept across the screen.
"You’re surprised?"
"A little."
He finished fastening his cuff.
"You posted a photograph announcing to the world that our relationship is real. What did you expect?"
Yue Ling tilted her head.
"For people to congratulate me and move on."
Lu Tian gave her a look.
She laughed softly.
"Fine. Perhaps I underestimated them."
After scrolling through a few more comments, she decided there was little reason to read every response.
Instead, she composed another post.
’Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and blessings. I’m grateful for the love and support you’ve shown me throughout the years. It means more than you know, and I hope you’ll continue to share in the happiness that lies ahead.’
She pressed the button to publish it.
Almost immediately, the notifications began pouring in again.
Yue Ling quietly turned off her screen.
"That’s enough excitement for one morning."
Lu Tian watched her place the phone aside.
"Ready to leave?"
"Almost."
"I’ll drive you."
"No need. I’ll take my own car today."
His expression changed.
"Yue Ling."
She looked at him.
"Tian."
"I can drop you off before heading to the office."
"And I can drive myself."
"It’s on the way."
"It isn’t."
A brief silence followed.
Lu Tian narrowed his eyes.
Yue Ling met his gaze without the slightest intention of yielding.
They had already discussed the matter while getting ready, and she had made it perfectly clear that she wanted to drive herself to work.
Yet her husband seemed determined to revisit the argument.
"Tian, I’m going to De L’amour, not another country."
"That doesn’t change anything."
"It changes quite a lot."
He stared at her.
She smiled.
"I’ll call you when I arrive."
Lu Tian exhaled slowly.
It was the expression of a man who had already realized he was going to lose the argument.
"Drive carefully."
"I always do."
"And don’t rush."
"I won’t."
"And—"
Yue Ling stepped closer and pressed a quick kiss against his lips.
"I love you, too."
Lu Tian paused.
Then, despite himself, the corners of his mouth lifted.
"You’re becoming rather good at ending arguments."
"Only with you."
She picked up her workbag and headed toward the door.
Behind her, Lu Tian shook his head.
He had faced countless difficult negotiations throughout his career.
Yet somehow, the woman he was going to marry could defeat him with a single kiss.
By the time Yue Ling arrived at De L’amour, the building was already bustling with activity.
Employees moved between departments carrying fabric samples, design portfolios, and documents for the upcoming collections.
Everything appeared normal.
At least, until she stepped through the entrance.
"Good morning, CEO Han!"
"Good morning."
Yue Ling returned the greeting with a slight nod.
A young employee standing near the reception desk suddenly smiled.
"And congratulations!"
Yue Ling paused.
Another employee quickly joined in.
"Yes, congratulations, CEO Han!"
"We saw your post!"
"The photograph was beautiful!"
Yue Ling blinked.
Then understanding dawned.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Thank you."
The employees exchanged delighted looks.
It was rare enough to see their boss smile so openly. Knowing the reason behind that smile made the moment even more memorable.
Although Yue Ling and Lu Tian’s engagement and upcoming wedding had already been announced to the public, neither had personally confirmed their relationship.
Their silence had naturally fueled speculation, with some questioning whether the announcements were genuine while others wondered why the couple remained so private.
However, Yue Ling’s photograph from the previous night had finally put those rumors to rest.
Without revealing her husband’s face or offering a lengthy explanation, she had made her feelings perfectly clear.
And for the employees who had grown accustomed to their boss’s reserved demeanor, seeing her openly acknowledge her happiness was something worth celebrating.
As Yue Ling continued toward the elevators, several more employees offered their congratulations.
Some were discreet.
Others were considerably less subtle.
By the time she reached the design department, she had begun to wonder whether anyone in the building had managed to avoid seeing her photograph.
Apparently not.
"Boss!"
A familiar voice rang out.
Yue Ling turned just in time to see Ju Suo approaching with an exaggerated expression of betrayal.
Behind her walked Lian Ni Shang, whose usually composed face carried a similar look of displeasure.
Yue Ling stopped.
"Good morning."
"Good morning?"
Ju Suo stared at her.
"That’s all you have to say?"
Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.
"Would you prefer good afternoon?"
Lian Ni Shang folded her arms.
"Don’t pretend you don’t know what she’s talking about."
Yue Ling glanced between the two women.
Then she smiled.
"Ah. The photograph."
"The photograph?" Ju Suo repeated incredulously. "Boss, you had an entire romantic evening with fireworks, beautiful decorations, and a tree covered in lights, and you didn’t invite us!"
Yue Ling gave her an amused look.
"Why would I invite you to a romantic evening with my soon-to-be-husband?"
Ju Suo opened her mouth then closed it.
"That’s not the point!"
Lian Ni Shang nodded.
"She has a point."
Yue Ling looked at her.
"You agree that I should have invited you?"
"No. I agree that you should have told us."
Ju Suo immediately pointed at her.
"Exactly!"
She placed a hand against her chest.
"Do you know how I found out?"
Yue Ling shook her head.
"Jiangyu!"
Yue Ling blinked.
"Jiangyu?"
"Yes! Jiangyu!" Ju Suo exclaimed. "That man had a front-row seat to the entire event!"
A small laugh escaped Yue Ling.
Ju Suo looked even more offended.
"He saw everything! The decorations, the fireworks, the whole romantic atmosphere!"
"Well, he did help prepare it."
"That makes it worse!"
Lian Ni Shang sighed.
"At least you heard it from someone who was there. I found out the same way as everyone else."
She lifted her phone.
"Through social media."
Yue Ling looked at the two women, who appeared genuinely offended by their exclusion.
Then she laughed.
It was a soft, unrestrained sound that made both women pause.
"Are you two seriously upset because you weren’t invited to watch me spend time with my soon-to-be-husband?"
Ju Suo hesitated.
"Well..."
Lian Ni Shang lowered her phone.
"When you put it that way, it sounds ridiculous."
"Because it is."
Ju Suo sighed dramatically.
"Fine. But next time, at least tell us beforehand."
Yue Ling smiled.
"Next time?"
"Yes."
"Should I send invitations?"
"Boss!"
The three women burst into laughter.
After a moment, Lian Ni Shang’s expression softened.
"Joking aside, we’re happy for you."
Ju Suo nodded.
"Really happy."
Yue Ling looked at them.
Lian Ni Shang continued, "You’ve always been so private about your personal life. Even when people speculated about your relationships, you never felt the need to explain yourself."
"And now you’re showing everyone how much you love him," Ju Suo added.
Her teasing expression gave way to genuine warmth.
"It’s nice to see you aren’t afraid to let the world know anymore."
Yue Ling’s smile softened.
She understood what they meant.
For years, she had kept so much of herself hidden.
Her grief.
Her fears.
Even the happiness she had slowly learned to accept.
But the night before, standing beneath the illuminated tree with Lu Tian, she had realized something.
She no longer wanted to hide the man who had become such an important part of her life.
She wanted to love him openly.
Without hesitation.
Without allowing the shadows of her past to dictate how she embraced her future.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Ju Suo grinned.
"Just promise us we’ll get to see more photographs."
Yue Ling chuckled.
"I’ll consider it."
"That’s good enough for me."
Lian Ni Shang then seemed to remember something.
"Speaking of important things, your wedding dress is finished."
Yue Ling’s expression brightened.
"Already?"
Lian Ni Shang nodded.
"We completed the final adjustments yesterday evening. I was going to contact you, but I thought it would be better to show you in person."
Ju Suo clasped her hands together.
"And it’s beautiful!"
Yue Ling looked at them.
"Would you like to try it on?" Lian Ni Shang asked.
Yue Ling nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
"Then come with us."
The design room occupied a spacious section of the upper floor.
Large windows allowed natural light to spill across the workstations, illuminating neatly arranged fabrics, sketches, and mannequins.
At the center of the room stood a dress form concealed beneath a white protective covering.
Lian Ni Shang approached it.
"Ready?"
Yue Ling smiled.
"Yes."
With a careful movement, Lian Ni Shang removed the covering.
Yue Ling fell silent.
The wedding dress stood before her in all its delicate elegance.
Every detail had been carefully considered, from the graceful silhouette to the intricate embellishments that caught the morning light.
It was neither excessively extravagant nor overly simple.
Instead, it possessed a timeless beauty that seemed perfectly suited to her.
Ju Suo watched her reaction eagerly.
"Well?"
Yue Ling stepped closer.
Her fingers gently brushed the fabric.
"It’s beautiful."
Lian Ni Shang smiled with quiet satisfaction.
"We made the final adjustments based on your measurements. The fitting should be straightforward."
Yue Ling turned toward her.
"You’ve all worked hard."
"It’s worth it," Lian Ni Shang replied.
Ju Suo nodded enthusiastically.
"Especially when we know who’s wearing it."
With their assistance, Yue Ling changed into the dress.
A short while later, she stood before the full-length mirror.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
She studied her reflection, taking in the delicate lines and the way the fabric moved naturally with her body.
It was difficult to believe that her wedding was approaching so quickly.
Not long ago, she had been uncertain whether she would ever find the courage to embrace such happiness again.
Now she was standing in a wedding dress, preparing to marry the man who had patiently helped her find her way back to it.
"Boss?"
Lian Ni Shang’s voice gently interrupted her thoughts.
"Is there anything you’d like us to change?"
Yue Ling slowly shook her head.
"No."
She turned slightly, examining the dress from another angle.
"It’s perfect."
Ju Suo released a relieved breath.
"Thank goodness. I was beginning to worry you’d want us to redo something."
Yue Ling laughed.
"Do I make things that difficult?"
Both women looked at her.
Their silence was answer enough.
Yue Ling shook her head in amusement.
After checking the fit and confirming that no further alterations were necessary, she changed back into her work clothes.
Lian Ni Shang carefully returned the dress to its protective covering.
"We’ll keep it here until it’s time to deliver it."
Yue Ling nodded.
"Thank you, both of you."
Ju Suo waved dismissively.
"Just make sure you look happy when you wear it."
Yue Ling smiled.
"That shouldn’t be difficult."
A short while later, Yue Ling entered her office.
The familiar surroundings welcomed her with their usual quiet elegance.
Large windows overlooked the city, while neatly arranged documents rested on her desk.
She placed her workbag aside and settled into her chair.
A gentle knock sounded.
"Come in."
Secretary Jiang entered carrying a tray.
"Good morning, CEO Han."
"Good morning."
The secretary placed a freshly prepared cup of coffee on the desk.
"Your schedule for today is relatively light."
Yue Ling reached for the cup.
"Anything urgent?"
"Nothing that requires immediate attention. The design department has submitted its latest proposals for the upcoming clothing collection. You’ll only need to review the final selections."
She opened her tablet.
"There are also a few departmental reports awaiting approval, but those can be completed at your convenience."
Yue Ling nodded.
"Have the design team prepare the samples. I’ll make my rounds later this morning."
"Understood."
Secretary Jiang hesitated briefly.
Yue Ling noticed.
"Something else?"
A small smile appeared on the woman’s face.
"Congratulations, CEO Han."
Yue Ling paused then she chuckled.
"You saw it too?"
Secretary Jiang smiled.
"I believe the whole world has."
Yue Ling shook her head.
"Thank you."
After reviewing the remaining details of her schedule, she dismissed the secretary.
Just as Secretary Jiang stepped out, another familiar figure appeared in the doorway.
"Boss."
Yue Ling looked up.
"Liu Shan."
Her assistant entered carrying a tablet and several documents.
However, the moment she saw his face, her brows drew together.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
Although his clothes were immaculate and his posture remained professional, there was a noticeable weariness about him.
"Did you have a rough night?"
Liu Shan paused.
For the briefest moment, his expression stiffened.
Then he smiled.
"Not particularly."
Yue Ling studied him.
"Those dark circles suggest otherwise."
He gave a quiet laugh.
"Just a late night with the guys."
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
He had spent most of the night with the others.
What he conveniently omitted was that their time together had been devoted to sorting through information concerning Choi Li Sun.
Photographs.
Surveillance records.
Fragments of conversations.
Every lead they uncovered seemed to raise more questions than answers.
And somewhere within those unanswered questions was a truth that could devastate the woman sitting before him.
Liu Shan had barely slept.
But he had no intention of telling Yue Ling that.
Not yet.
"Nothing a little coffee can’t fix," he added.
Yue Ling watched him for another moment.
She knew him well enough to recognize when he was avoiding a subject.
Still, Liu Shan was entitled to his privacy.
If he had something troubling him, she trusted that he would speak when he was ready.
"Don’t overwork yourself," she said.
Liu Shan smiled faintly.
"Coming from you, Boss, that’s rather ironic."
Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.
"Would you prefer I assign you more work?"
"No, thank you."
She shook her head in amusement.
"Then let’s get started."