Chen Lin let out a short, humorless laugh. "Li Wei, I treated Liu Yanmei like family long before I knew we shared blood. I supported her, protected her, and trusted her with things I've never shared with anyone else. Why would I lie about that?"
She stepped closer, her dark eyes sharp as they met his. "If you think I'd knowingly walk into this mess, then you don't know me at all."
Li Wei hesitated, his frustration simmering beneath his calm facade. "This isn't about trust, Chen Lin. This is about damage control. The headlines are vicious, the public's eating this up, and if we don't act carefully, your entire career—everything you've worked for—could be over."
