Ivy's head was spinning as she walked out of the office. The revelation about the Lu twins had thrown her entire world off balance. As she made her way to her desk, her mind raced with questions. Lu Cheng and Lu Feng, two sides of the same coin, yet completely different. The weight of the secret sat heavily on her chest.
She sat down at her desk, trying to process everything. Her phone buzzed with messages from Pearl, but she barely had the energy to respond. Instead, she stared blankly at her computer screen, replaying the moment when Lu Feng had casually revealed the truth like it was nothing more than a joke.
What else were they hiding?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her desk. She looked up to see Lin Wei standing there, his usual stoic expression in place. "You've got mail," he said, handing her a thick envelope.
Ivy frowned, taking the envelope. "From who?"
"Top priority," Lin Wei said before walking away without answering her question.
She stared at the envelope for a moment, dread creeping up her spine. The weight of it felt significant, like there was more than just paperwork inside. Slowly, she opened it, revealing a single sheet of paper.
"Trust no one."
That was all it said. No signature, no explanation.
Her heart pounded in her chest. Was this some kind of joke? Was Lu Feng playing with her again? Or worse, was someone else involved in this tangled mess?
She quickly glanced around the office, her eyes landing on Zhao Jun, who was typing away at his desk. Cheng Rui was by the window, speaking quietly into his phone. Everything looked normal, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her, waiting for her next move.
She had to talk to Pearl. Maybe she'd help her make sense of all this. Grabbing her phone, Ivy texted Pearl to meet her after work. But even as she typed, her fingers trembled. She wasn't sure whom to trust anymore.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, her nerves on edge. Every glance, every whisper around the office felt loaded with meaning. She tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept wandering back to the envelope, the twins, the secrets swirling around her.
Finally, when the workday ended, Ivy practically sprinted out of the building. Pearl was already waiting for her at their usual café, waving energetically as Ivy approached.
"Ivy!" Pearl greeted her with a dramatic flair. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What happened?"
Ivy plopped down into the chair, burying her face in her hands. "I don't even know where to start."
"Well, start somewhere!" Pearl urged, leaning forward, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Ivy sighed and began telling her everything about the twins, the interview, and the cryptic note she'd received. As she spoke, Pearl's expression went from amused to serious, her eyes narrowing as Ivy got to the part about the envelope.
"Trust no one? That's creepy," Pearl said, folding her arms. "Sounds like something out of a spy movie."
"I know, right?" Ivy groaned. "I don't know what to think. Lu Cheng is so... intense. And Lu Feng, he's-"
"Dangerously handsome?" Pearl wiggled her eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood.
Ivy let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, but also kind of terrifying. It feels like I'm stuck between them, and I don't know who to believe."
Pearl leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Well, if I were you, I'd be careful. You don't know what these guys are capable of. They're clearly keeping secrets."
Ivy nodded. She knew Pearl was right. But something about the situation made her even more curious, like she had only scratched the surface of a much bigger conspiracy.
Suddenly, Pearl leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"What if this is some big corporate cover-up? Maybe they're involved in something shady, and you're the only one who can uncover it!"
Ivy rolled her eyes. "You've been watching too many dramas, Pearl."
"Hey, stranger things have happened," Pearl said, her dramatic flair back in full force. "And besides, you're in the perfect position to snoop around and find out more. You're practically undercover!"
"Undercover? Seriously?" Ivy shook her head, but she couldn't help the small thrill that ran through her at the thought.
Pearl's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Come on, Ivy. This is your moment! Channel your inner detective, get to the bottom of this, and expose the truth."
Ivy let out a laugh, despite the tension still knotting her stomach. "You really think I can figure this out?"
"I believe in you!" Pearl said with a dramatic wave of her hand.
"Besides, you've got me as your backup. What could go wrong?"
Ivy couldn't help but smile at her friend's enthusiasm, but deep down, the anxiety still simmered. The note, the twins, the secrets, they were all connected somehow, and she needed to find out what was really going on.
---
Back at the office the next morning, Ivy returned with renewed determination. Pearl had convinced her that maybe she could uncover the truth if she played her cards right. But it wouldn't be easy.
As she approached her desk, Ivy's eyes darted to Lu Cheng's office. The door was closed, as usual. Lin Wei, Zhao Jun, and Cheng Rui were all busy, but Ivy felt the weight of their presence. Everyone seemed on edge, though she couldn't tell if it was just her paranoia setting in.
She sat down and pulled out the envelope again, staring at the cryptic message.
"Trust no one."
Her pulse quickened as she realized there was no turning back now. She was already too deep into whatever game the Lu brothers were playing, and there was only one thing she knew for certain:
She had to figure out the truth, or it might just destroy her.