All Chapters of Gilded Cage,Fierce Heart: Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

The afternoon sunlight poured softly into the apartment as Lin Wei tied the last knot on her curtain. A breeze floated through the slightly open window, bringing with it the distant city hum and a sense of quiet peace. The apartment, once unfamiliar and echoing with emptiness, was finally beginning to feel like hers.Wang Xiexie stepped out from the bathroom, shaking her wet hands in the air dramatically. “You didn’t tell me your new place was this cozy!” she said, grinning as she wiped her hands on a towel. “I’m thinking of moving to this estate too.”Lin Wei chuckled. “You’re not even done packing my stuffs , and now you want to move in next door?”“Hey, who said I’d do the moving myself?” Xiexie flopped down on the small couch they had just assembled. “That’s what friends are for—emotional support and carrying furniture.”The two burst into laughter, a sound that warmed the quiet space. They hadn’t had time like this in years. Though they’d gone to secondary school together, life h

The hallway was quiet, lit only by warm yellow sconces that stretched shadows across the carpet. Lin Wei stepped out of the elevator with a file still in her hands, her steps light but her body heavy from the day’s stress. The conference had run well into the evening, far beyond the formal dinner. There had been an emergency meeting, two calls from a difficult client, and another last-minute presentation from the investment delegation that left everyone on edge. Throughout it all, she hadn’t sat for more than a few minutes,drank wines to satisfy some clients. Not once did she complain. She was still reviewing a printed email when a calm but unmistakably firm voice broke through the corridor’s hush. “Lin Wei.” She turned. Sheng Tiaorun stood outside the lounge reserved for executives, his suit jacket now draped loosely over his arm, the top button of his shirt undone. Even in that slightly relaxed state, there was something commanding about his presence. “Yes, President Sheng?”