London, Kensington.
Six in the morning.
Outside the window, the sky was still a murky lead-gray, typical of a rainy English day.
Mist clung to the window frames, drifting slowly.
"Buzz."
The phone on the bedside table vibrated. It was her silent alarm.
Lin Mu Xue quickly opened her eyes, let out a soft breath, and threw back the covers to sit up.
The first thing she did was reach for her phone and unlock it.
She first checked for any unread messages from Tang Song, then skillfully opened her notes app and began quickly organizing today's schedule.
This was a habit she had developed after studying under Director Jin. Every day's schedule was planned down to the minute.
After giving it a rough review, she finally put down her phone, got out of bed, and entered the luxuriously appointed bathroom filled with British style.
She brushed her teeth, washed her face, then began a meticulous skincare routine in front of the mirror.
Foundation, eyebrows, lipstick—
She put on a simple commuter makeup look that was enough to brighten her complexion.
The woman in the mirror looked great, her skin clear and radiant. The confusion and tension she had carried when she first arrived were gone, replaced by the sharp clarity and competence forged by an intense schedule.
Today marked the fifteenth day since she had left Tang Song and followed Director Jin to London.
A whole half month!
Heaven knew how she had survived these past two weeks.
From New York to London, her life had cast aside pleasure and entertainment, leaving only global financial briefings,
business etiquette classes, asset management case studies, and endless document reviews.
Director Jin's presence was like a sword constantly hanging over her head, keeping every nerve taut and leaving her no room to